Paper Doll Orphan – Chapter 2

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"What do you mean?" she asked, as surprised as Raoul.
"These sheets are wet, Christine."
"I must've left the window open."
"Yes, you must've but they're wet only on this side."

Christine observed and it was true. She slept on the side which faced the window, and yet, the sheets weren't wet there. It dawned on her that the apparition was not a figment of the unconscious mind but in fact, Erik came in the dead of night to visit her.

"Never mind, dear, I'll get Madame Clairvoie to tend the sheets."

Raoul left the room, apparently not looking convinced in the matter. Christine whispered his name like a prayer as she touched the damp sheets.

"Erik..."

And the sheets smelled of candles and rain...
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As Christine walked down the pathway leading to the garden, she tried to clear her mind--to wipe the slate clean. She tried to make sense of what had occurred. Did Erik truly visit her? No, it was impossible, or else she would've remembered what happened after they kissed. She felt herself redden and something alive erupted from within. Christine paused, she never felt this sensation before...never with Raoul. She thought constantly of his words, the way they exhaled from his deprived soul.

"...your soul is not lost. It's been absent for you have ceased to live, and to cease to live, is to cease to breathe."
"How can I learn to breathe again?"
"Through salvation..."

"Ah, my dear angel! She's finally arrived..."

Christine came out of her reverie and saw Raoul stride towards her with newfound glee. He appeared to be in a better mood since their previous encounter that same day. She smiled as Raoul softly kissed her cheek and offered her hand to him, and was led towards the guests.

"Gentlemen, I believe that you are already acquainted with my fiancée, Christine Daaè...or, I should rather say, soon to be, Christine de Chagny?"

The men greeted Christine with delight.

"Mademoiselle, it is splendid to see you once again!" exclaimed one.
"Truly it is...a real pleasure!" said the other.
"Mr. André! Mr. Firmin! I was not told that you were our honorable guests." said Christine.

The sight of the owners of the Opera house made Christine excited because she never saw anyone else from the outside world. And when she did, she received aristocrats of such high-class ignorance, that it vexed her. And yet, a certain fire rekindled...one that should've been left snuffed out until the end of time. Christine ignored it and listened attentively to the three men converse.

"So, my dear Comte, do you think she can sing for us? For the people?"

Christine held her breath...return to the Opera house? It barely took her a heart beat in to decide.

"Of course!" she intervened. The messieurs looked at her, as if she had suddenly appeared. She looked at Raoul and noticed a slight dominance in his features. She instinctively glanced at the teacup in her hand and forced a sip to ease herself.
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"What in blazes were you thinking? Return to the Opera house!? After all that's happened to you? To us?" Raoul could barely soothe his rage towards Christine after the guests retired to their rooms.

"I was just looking for my best interest." she replied defiantly. Besides, she had nothing left to do. It seemed like weeks went by rather than a single day at the de Chagny estate. She closed her eyes and turned herself away; feeling hands lightly on her arms, she sighed. At once, she smelled candles and rain and a smile etched on her face...

Erik

Christine turned towards the figure, and was somehow deceived. Raoul stood where Erik should have been, in Christine's opinion.

"Look," he said calmly, "I know that I've been a little bit of a tyrant..." Christine raised her eyebrows...a little?
"But I have my reasons; I just don't want to see any harm done to you. You have been on my mind a lot, especially when I was away. I regret not staying here with you, because I know how lonely this place can be. But..."

Their eyes locked and he said hurriedly, "do think about it thoroughly."

Christine's smile returned as she kissed him before assuring the Comte of her decision.

"Of course I will, darling."

She turned and walked away, and when she thought that Raoul wasn't listening, she began to hum. Raoul smiled to himself and said, "That's what I thought" to no one in particular.
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Deviantly yours,

AtF