Christine dans Deux

An Alternate Multiverse - A Phantom of the Opera Story

Nyasia A. Maire

© 2006

DISCLAIMER: See Chapter One
Chapter Eleven - Countdown

"So, how'd I do? Any changes?"

Erik sits still and quiet. He whispers, "No one was ever supposed to know about Raoul. I love her. She is the little sister I always wanted. She's so beautiful and appears to be very sophisticated, but in truth, she incredibly young. And I couldn't save her …"

"Erik! It may have started with her wanting you to rescue her, but she did something extraordinary. Don't take that away from her! She sacrificed herself to save you. She did something truly heroic! And no matter what that bastard does, he can never take that away from her. Besides, you saw to what lengths the Vicomte goes to change his memories of the past when he is an old man. There is a special hell for men like him."

"Wait! I didn't finish the story. I almost forgot about the rose in the cemetery. After Christine died, you take up residence nearby and take care of her grave. You see de Chagny's car coming up the road and just to unnerve him, you place the rose with Christine's ring tied to it with a black ribbon next to her headstone. You leave it there just to remind the Vicomte that there are people who know the truth about him." I snuggle into his shoulder and yawn.

"I never …Oh, you're telling the story if we had never met and I was an old man living in the year 1919. I understand."

"Christine, sit up! You were starting to doze off."

I unhappily sit up and rub my eyes.

"Erik, tell me something about you. I know almost nothing of you before Christine came to the Opera Populaire. And I talk so much! You must be bored listening to me."

"Never! There really isn't anything to tell. I've worked for the opera house designing sets and composing scores. I like to paint and I love reading my books. After Christine left with the Vicomte, he did keep his promise and kept the police away from me. So, I stayed where I was. The Vicomte's family is rebuilding the opera house and it should be ready to re-open late next year. That's why it's so quiet around here."

I glance at the clock and am immediately alarmed. Much to my dismay, the time for me to leave is fast approaching.

"Christine, no! Don't look!" Erik implores.

"How can I not? How can I leave her alone? What kind of mother would that make me?" I immediately regret those words, but refuse to take them back.

"One I would not be able to love." He replies. "I understand. I am being selfish. I just don't want to take the chance that we may never be able to find each other again."

"Erik, we crossed from my world together once. Perhaps we could do it again?"

"I suppose, but let's wait until we have no other choice, please?"

"Very well. I will wait ten more minutes, but I cannot wait any longer than that. You know, we can't even be certain that my going to sleep will take me back. I pray that Madame returns soon."

We sit in silence for a moment and then a thought crosses my mind.

"Erik. You do want to return to my home with me, don't you? You are planning to go with me whether or not Madame comes back in time, aren't you? I don't wish to be without you or my daughter. Please?"

A warm light enters his eyes and a lovely smile rolls on his lips.

"How could I refuse such a beautiful invitation? Very well. I will accompany you. I do not wish to be parted from you either. I do not wish to feel the way I did this morning when I awoke alone in my bed." His arm tightens briefly around my shoulder as if he is reassuring himself that I am real and really here.

I smile at him. "We should write Madame a note. Let her know what we are going to try to do and that we will be back just as soon as we can. We just need paper and pen."

"I am not letting go of you, so come … let us find what we need."

He stands and pulls me up with him. I lean on him and we walk to Madame's desk. Erik takes a piece of paper from a draw and opens an inkwell. He holds the quill in one hand and my hand in the other. He rapidly writes a short note, signs it with a flourish, returns the quill and closes the inkwell.

"It's time to try. We have to go. She may already be awake." My anxiety weighs heavily on me and Erik feels it.

"Yes. We must, but first …"

He takes me in his arms and we share a passionate kiss.

We walk back to the settee and sit facing one another. We tightly grasp each other's hands. I find myself staring at his hands and feel he is doing the same to mine. Slowly we raise our gaze and our eyes meet.

A clap of thunder resounds and a bolt of lightening flashes.