Disclaimer: I use a lot of lyrics and words from the musical/movie. Of course I don't claim them to be my own. But I did change dialogue, etc. Whatever. You know what I mean. I don't own anything except the movie, the cds, books, etc. Yada Yada Yada.
Notes
The next morning Meg was the first to wake up amongst the ballet girls in the dormitories. Slowly she got out of her bed and quietly walked out into the hallways making her way towards Christine's room. She had little light to guide her because it was too early in the morning, probably before 6 a.m., so there were no candles burning or any gas lamps. Her right hand was on the wall to help her keep track of where she was going. Luckily Meg grew up in this Opera House so she knew where she was going.
Once she made it to the room she heard crying from inside. She knocked on the door. "Christine?"
"Hold on." She heard a reply.
A few seconds later the door opened and a very emotional Christine greeted her. "What are you doing up this early?"
"Christine? What happened? Why are you crying?" Meg questioned.
"Come in." Christine said. Meg walked through the door and sat down on the little couch that Christine had inside her room. Christine closed the door and joined her friend.
"Will you tell me what happened?" Meg asked.
"It all happened so fast...I…I didn't…" Christine sobbed, "I just wanted to know what he looked like. I didn't know. I didn't know!"
Meg hugged her hysterical friend, "Shh, Christine. It's alright. What didn't you know?"
"I didn't know he would be so angry with me. He hates me." Christine continued.
"Who hates you?"
"My angel…the…" Christine stopped.
"The what?"
"The Phantom." She replied softly.
Meg gasped and jumped back. "What did you say??"
"The Phantom. He is my angel of music." Meg tried to process everything her friend said. The Phantom, that ghost who is said to be more hideous that any beast and more dangerous than any murderer ever born was her so called angel? It was impossible!
"Christine, are you sure?"
"Yes! He had the white mask and everything. He lives underground in this lair…"
As Christine talked about her experience Meg remembered something Christine mentioned before. "I just wanted to know what he looked like." Christine told her. It then hit her…Christine must have taken off his mask. But how could she have lived to talk about it? The Phantom would have killed anyone who dared to take off his ghostly white mask.
"Did you say before that you wanted to see what he looked like?" Meg interrupted her friend.
"Yes, I didn't know how angry he would get."
"So you saw what lies beneath his mask?" Meg asked.
"Yes. But I wasn't thinking. God, how could I have been so stupid to do such a thing?"
"You were curious, I'm sure anyone would have done the same thing."
"And now he hates me." Christine continued crying. Meg held her and rocked back and forth.
They stayed like that for a few minutes until Christine started calming down. Christine looked at Meg's nightgown and giggled. "I'm sorry. I hope I didn't ruin your gown from all my tears."
Meg smiled and laughed, "Don't worry about it." After a moment Meg started to remember Raoul. "Oh Christine, I forgot to mention Raoul was worried about you last night."
"I told him several times I didn't want to go out to dinner but he just wouldn't listen." Christine laughed.
"He came back to get you and he heard a strange male voice in your room."
Christine flushed, "He heard my angel? My God, what did he say?"
"He was afraid someone kidnapped you. Either that or he thought you were seeing another man…"
"I hope that didn't break his heart." Christine sighed and Meg remained silent. "I cannot see him. I don't know how to explain all of that to him."
"It's ok. You don't have to talk to him." Meg replied.
A knock came from the door and was followed by a female voice, "Christine?"
"Come in." She replied. Madame Giry walked in and saw Meg sitting with Christine.
"My dear, what's wrong?" She noticed Christine's tears.
"I made a stupid mistake with my angel." Christine said.
"What happened? He didn't hurt you did he?"
"No not at all. It's something I did." She paused and then continued, "I took off his mask."
Madame Giry's eyes widened. "Child, why on earth did you do that?" She could only imagine Erik's reaction to that. If that had been any other person he would have killed them.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking." Christine started crying again.
"Ok, Ma chérie. It's ok." Madame Giry said. "You should sleep."
Christine nodded her head in agreement and headed for a door in the back that led to a bed within the dressing room. Maybe if she slept all of her pain and fears will disappear, if only for a few hours.
"You should try and go back to sleep too Meg."
"Ok Maman." Meg replied.
… Later that morning …
Raoul paced around examining the note he got from this "O.G." person. "Do not fear for Miss Daae. The Angel of Music has her under his wing. Make no attempt to see her again."
"Who the hell sent this?" Raoul yelled in frustration. In a determined pace he made his way to a De Chagny carriage and rode to the Opera Populaire.
… At The Opera House …
"Where is she?" Raoul stormed in.
"Who? Carlotta?" Firmin asked.
"No not Carlotta. Miss Christine Daae." Raoul replied.
"How the hell should we know?" Andre remarked.
"I want some answers! Now who sent me this note?"
Andre and Firmin glanced at each other. They seemed to be telepathically saying to each other, 'Not another note!!'
"What's all this nonsense?" Firmin said mainly to himself.
"Did you two send this?" Raoul asked.
"Of course not!" Andre exclaimed.
"She's not with you then?"
"No, of course not." Firmin replied.
"Let me see this note." Andre said and held out his hand. He began to read, "Do not fear for Miss Daae. The Angel of Music…"
Firmin interrupted, "The what?"
"The Angel of Music has her under his wing. Make no attempt to see her again." Andre continued
"This place gets stranger every day." Firmin said.
"It's really starting to be a pain in the neck." Andre replied.
"Where is he?!?" They heard a strong Italian accent of a woman yelling.
"Speaking of a pain in the neck…" Andre continued.
"Welcome back!" Firmin said to Carlotta.
"Where is the patron? Where is he?"
"What do you want?" Raoul asked.
"I have your letter."
"You sent her a letter?" Firmin asked.
"No I did not."
"You didn't send it?" Carlotta and Piangi asked in unison.
"No!" Raoul said again.
Firmin remarked to himself, "What's going on?"
"I don't believe you." Carlotta replied.
"Ok. Let me see this note that I supposedly sent." Raoul said and began to read, "Your days at the Opera Populaire are numbered. Christine Daae..."
"Christine Daae!" Carlotta interrupted.
Raoul continued, "...will be singing on your behalf tonight. Be prepared for a great misfortune should you attempt to take her place."
Madame Giry walked into the room with her daughter. "Miss Daae has returned."
Andre asked, "Where is she now?"
"I thought it best she was alone." Madame Giry replied.
"She needed rest." Meg continued.
Raoul walked up to Meg and asked, "May I see her?"
Madame Giry quickly stepped in, "No, Monsieur. She will see no one." And then she added, "And I have another note."
Firmin took the note from Madame Giry and read it, "Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature detailing how my theatre is to be run. You have not followed my instructions. I shall give you one last chance. Christine Daae has returned to you. And I am anxious her career should progress. In the new production of Il Muto you will therefore cast Carlotta as the pageboy and put Miss Daae in the role of Countess. The role which Miss Daae plays calls for charm and appeal. The role of the pageboy is silent, which makes my casting, in a word, ideal. I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in box five which will be kept empty for me. Should these commands be ignored a disaster beyond your imagination will occur. I remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant. O.G."
"My God!" Carlotta yelled. "It's all a plot to help that stupid little chorus girl…"
"Signora!" Madame Giry shouted. "Do not dare talk about Christine like that!"
"It's not fair that she gets all the attention. She is not talented like I am!" Carlotta cried. Meg rolled her eyes at the divas ranting. Raoul seemed just as annoyed.
Madame Giry walked away from the crowd to get away from Carlotta's annoying complaining. Raoul ran up to Meg and said, "Please Meg. I must see her!"
"Monsieur she does not wish to speak with anyone. Not even myself. She needs to sleep."
"But please tell me she is ok." Raoul said.
"Yes, monsieur she is ok."
Raoul thanked Meg and walked away towards the chapel. They both seemed to remark in unison, "What new surprises are in store?"
Before Raoul got too far he remember something. "Meg!" He yelled.
"Yes?"
Raoul ran back towards her and asked, "Did Christine ever mention an angel?" Raoul almost felt silly himself for asking.
Meg's face grew serious, "She did Monsieur."
"Ok. Thank you Meg." Raoul said and walked away again to think.
Meg turned around and headed backstage to get ready for practice and the night's performance of Il Muto.
…Practice of Il Muto …
Raoul walked into the building once more determined to speak with Christine. He noticed they were still practicing so he decided to take a seat and wait for the rehearsal to be over. On the stage he saw Carlotta with her huge pink dress. That dress draws everyone's attention to her so it was no surprise she would be wearing something like that. He then noticed Christine dressed as the pageboy. Previously he had seen this opera and thought it was very funny. It made it even better to see Christine in it. But Christine did not seem too happy on the stage. In fact, she seemed miserable. Raoul wondered why she was so sad.
"Serafimo, your disguise is perfect. Why, who can this be?" Carlotta as the Countess sang.
"Gentle wife, admit your loving husband." Piangi sang and then pretended to slap Meg's behind. Raoul laughed but then noticed Meg looked really cute in her outfit. For once in that day his mind started to wander away from Christine and towards Meg. She seemed like such a sweet girl, very caring and loving. Her face was young but very beautiful and when the lights shined down on her hair it would glow and brilliant golden color…
Raoul shook his head, why on earth was he thinking all of that? He quickly told himself to stop thinking those things and that he was being silly.
"Poor fool, he doesn't know! If he knew the truth he'd never ever go!" The Chorus and Carlotta sang.
Monsieur Reyer stopped them and said that practice would be over for the day. Raoul got up and rushed on to the stage to catch up with Christine. "Christine, wait!"
She turned around and saw him. "Hello, Raoul."
"Christine, are you alright?" Raoul asked.
"Raoul…I'm sorry but I do not wish to talk." Christine said.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Would your lover object?" Raoul asked in an accusing tone.
Christine asked, "What are you talking about?"
"That man in your room last night. Who is he?" Raoul questioned.
"I have to go Raoul. I'm sorry." Christine said and walked away.
He couldn't believe it. How could he have been so stupid? Why on earth would a girl like Christine be single? Of course she was being courted by other men. Why would he have thought otherwise? Raoul sighed and his eyes wandered to the floor. He shook his head and walked out the door and headed home.