Christine dans Deux

An Alternate Multiverse – A Phantom of the Opera Story

Nyasia A. Maire

© 2006

DISCLAIMER: See Chapter One
Chapter Eighty-Two – L'acte Final

I watched in horror as the love of my life, my husband, the other half of my soul thrashed about my dressing room. He screamed and called out my name. He fell to his knees and held his head in both hands as if he thought his head would come apart from the pain. Try as I might, I could not hear his thoughts nor could I feel his pain. I could only stand and watch in silent terror as the man I love beyond words sank to the floor. His eyes seemed to meet mine, but I realized that he was not really looking at me, but through me. In despair, I finally broke free of the invisible chains, which seemed to bind me to the spot and rushed to his side. I called his name, but no sound issued from my mouth. In an attempt to draw him into my arms, I placed my hands on his shoulders, but I found no purchase. My hands simply slipped through his body. Stunned, I fell back upon my heels and watched as he writhed and moaned my name until he moved no more.

I screamed. As my cry found its way out of my mouth, I discovered I could not stop it. The wail wound on and on, growing ever in power, until I felt as if I would burst from its overwhelming intensity.

And then, there was blessed silence.

Ω ☼ Ω ☼ Ω

There was nothingness. No, that was not right. There was something. Something or someone was shaking me. Someone was holding my shoulder and shaking me, trying to capture my attention. My mind allowed me to register the thought that I should open my eyes, which I did.

I opened my eyes and looked into the sad and slightly frightened eyes of my daughter, Trystin.

"Mom? Are you all right? I think you were having a bad dream."

Looking around, I found I was in my den. I had been sleeping on the couch, just as I always do. Seeing Trystin's anxious face, I smile at her gently and open my arms to her. She leans into my embrace and I hug her and stroke her long, black hair.

"It's alright." I croon. "Don't worry. Mommy just had a bad dream, but it's over now."

My heart broke as my mouth spoke those lying words, but at least I was able to comfort my child.

Ω ☼ Ω ☼ Ω

Life went back to the same dull routine and I found that during the day, I could convince myself that everything that happened had been a dream. A rather realistic and detailed dream, but a dream and nothing more.

However, at night if I could find sleep at all, my dreams were full of turmoil and tears. I was searching, always searching, so close to the object of my desire. I was seeking and yet, I could never find what I sought. Who or whatever it was, lay just beyond my reach.

And so, I found myself with another quiet Friday night debating with Trystin what movie we should watch. Her movie of choice was "Disney's High School Musical." I tried to protest that we had watched that movie just the night before, but she overrode my objection with a question of her own.

"How many times have we watched "The Phantom of the Opera"?"

I smiled weakly and allowed her to put her movie in the player. I handed her the remote and settled back preparing myself for the pre-teen angst and happy ending.

"There are no happily-ever-afters."

The words echoed in my head and I rubbed at my temple in a vain attempt to erase the headache forming there.

I gave an involuntary sigh and shifted slightly in an attempt to find a position, which would allow the burning in my leg to ease. Of course, there is no such arrangement and therefore, no relief. I closed my eyes and waited for the movie's menu to come on the screen. When I heard the haunting melody begin to play, my eyes flew open in surprise and I looked at Trystin questioningly.

"Surprise! I thought you might want to see Erik. I know I do. I miss him, Mom. Don't you?"

Too stunned to reply, I sat there and watched as she pressed 'play' and then proceeded to fast forward through the movie. She released the button on the remote as soon as she saw Erik's face become visible in Christine's mirror. The movie began to play and Trystin moved back from the television, as she seemed to wait for something.

The image on the screen changed to the Phantom's gloved hand reaching out for Christine and I gasped. Trystin giggled and jumped happily up and down. The gloved hand slid from the television and it seemed that the man within was drawn into the room.

There he stood in all his resplendent glory. The masked Phantom dressed for his first meeting with Christine Daae and yet, he seemed not at all confused by his appearance in our world.

"Christine!"

I moaned. His voice was just as soft and deep as I remembered. He held out his hand to me and I looked up at him and then down to his hand. I raised my hand to his and he pulled me up from the couch. My leg felt weak and I wobbled a bit, but I did not fall as he quickly drew me into his embrace. I buried my face into the warmth of his chest and savored his comforting scent.

"How is this possible?"

He gently pushed me back from him and looked into my eyes.

"Ma chère cœur! You cannot ask how or why, we earned this."

I lifted my fingers to his face and carefully slid the piece of white leather from his face.

"What is it that we earned, Erik?"

He smiled and Trystin laughed.

"Oh Mom! Don't you know?"

I looked first from the man, then to my daughter and then back to the man again as I shook my head. I heard the laughter in my daughter's voice as Erik's lips found mine.

"Oh, Mom. This really and truly is our happy ending!"

And, just as Trystin predicted, they all lived happily-ever-after.