Chapter 6
Harlow University's Fullcrest male dormitory lay mere feet away from the white Honda Accord Erik sat in. He scanned the property trying to figure out how he could sneak in without being seen. The real trick would be finding the boy's room. There have to be some old air ducts behind the walls…
Suddenly, though, a cell phone in his jacket pocket began vibrating. "I was wondering how long it would take," he whispered aloud while reaching for the phone. He put it to his ear. "It's about time, Antoinette."
"Erik, where in the hell is my car?" she asked, seriously agitated.
"I see you haven't figured out the entire mystery, then?"
She growled. "Stop with the games! Bring me my car right now!"
"Ah, but my dear Madame Giry, I am in the middle of a very important project. I am afraid it would be quite impossible for me to return it just yet."
"Erik! I will have my car back! I refuse to spend the night at this Conservatory!" There was a pause. Both of them were silent, neither wanting to back down. He will not obey to screaming, though… "Erik, what are you even doing? I have never known you to… travel much."
"That, Antoinette, is none of your business." Her words insinuated that she thought he had no life whatsoever, which was causing him to become very irritated indeed.
Although it most certainly was her business, Madame Giry decided it was best not to raise her voice again. "But it is my business because you are using my car for this business."
"I believe we have already come to a clear conclusion that I have your car." He rolled his eyes at the boring repetition.
"Well, I want it back."
"Well, you cannot always get what you want," Erik reminded her, observing one of his gloved hands. It was far more interesting than their conversation.
Madame Giry had finally had enough of this and screamed, "Erik! I can and will get my car back! Do you even realize how much power I have? I could turn you in to the police! I keep all of your deepest, darkest secrets, but remember, I do not have to!"
Eyes blaring, he gripped the phone tightly and said with strong intensity, "You hold no power over me. Speak like that once more and you will never see me or your car again."
There was a long pause before he finally mumbled, "Give me fifteen minutes." He ended the call with a plan rapidly forming in his mind.
Thanks to you, Antoinette, I now know how I will distract Christine. A slight smirk emerged on his hidden features as his eyes caught a glimpse of the name of the road he was on- Cunningham Drive.
Christine was uncomfortable in her new environment, to say the least.
The poor girl had not anticipated Raoul's dorm room to resemble such a disgusting mess. It looked like he and his roommate had completely forgotten how to put a trash can and closet to use, for clothes and bits of trash were everywhere.
"Sorry it doesn't look any better than this. Looks like Carl's been trashing the place again," Raoul laughed while throwing all that was scattered on the couch aside so they could sit.
"Uh, it's ok. Don't worry about it." Maybe the mess isn't really his doing.. "So, is Carl your roommate?"
"Yeah. I have no idea where he's at.. Probably a party or something." Christine sat beside him on the couch. "Do you want something to drink?"
"What do you have?"
He opened a small refrigerator in a corner of the room. "Hmm.. some Miller Lite, Jack Daniel's, Mike's Hard Lemonade.." He looked at Christine with a grin.
Uneasily, she asked, "Anything else?"
Quickly, he replied, "Nope, sorry."
"Well, I'm fine..."
He obviously didn't think so. "Aw, come on, Chrissy. How about some Mike's? It's really good. You can't even taste the alcohol."
"That's ok, really."
"I don't want to be the only one drinking. I'd feel bad. Just try some.. please?" He looked at her with pleading eyes.
Before she had to make a decision, however, her prayers were answered. She heard the ring of her cell phone. Hurriedly, Christine rummaged through her purse to find it.
It was strange.. The number on the caller ID seemed to be 'unknown'. "Hello?" she answered the call anyway.
"Am I speaking to Ms. Daae?" a squeaky male voice asked.
"Yes.." she answered having never heard this voice before.
"Ah, good! Ms. Daae, my name is Ted Cunningham. I am a scout from Tillman's Studios. I'm in the process of searching out good singers."
Christine's eyes widened. "Oh?" she managed to ask.
"Yes, I've recently been roaming Ballad Conservatory searching for talented singers, and your voice definitely caught my attention." There was a pause. "Ms. Daae, I must say, you have a marvelous voice."
"I-.. thank you." Her heart was pounding.
"Now, I am not usually so unprepared but, at the same time, I just wasn't prepared to find such a voice! I would like to discuss the possibility of you taking part in a new opera that has yet to enter the United States."
She was stunned. "Wha- me? Really?"
"Yes, really. As I have said, you have a wonderful voice. Now, I'm currently on campus. We could meet in the recital hall tonight. If that is alright with you, of course.."
"I- I- yes. It's more than alright. Uh, how soon would you like to meet?"
"Let's say... Twenty minutes?"
Christine was getting excited. "That sounds great!"
"I look forward it then, Ms. Daae. I will see you soon."
"Yes, see you soon." The conversation ended, but Christine continued to hold the phone to her ear in absolute shock.
"Hey, what was that about? You look like you've just gotten the surprise of a lifetime." Raoul sat on the couch staring at her with a beer in his right hand.
Twenty minutes… "Raoul, I'm really sorry to have to do this, but I need to go back to Ballad."
"So soon?" He looked pretty disappointed. "How come?"
"Well, that was a talent scout. He said he wants me to be in a new opera they're bring to the U.S.!" She couldn't hide her excitement and nerves.
"Really? Wow, Christine, that's great!" Raoul put the beer down, stood up, and hugged her.
Christine hadn't expected him to act quite so supportive. "Thanks!" she returned, hugging him back. "I'm supposed to meet him in the recital hall of our music building in.." She looked at the time on her cell phone. "Fifteen minutes."
"Oh, whoa. Well then, we'd better get going!" He headed towards the door of the dorm room and she followed.
"Thank you so much, Raoul. You have no idea how much this means to me."
"If my 'Little Lotte's' happy, that's all that matters."
They drove in silence without the music, and when they reached the music building, Christine got out of the car in a hurry.
"We'll get together another time," she said quickly, trying to be polite.
"Well, I certainly plan on it."
"Thanks for everything! It was really good to see you again, Raoul."
"Yes, Lotte, it's great to see you again. Good luck," he added.
"Thanks. I'll let you know how it goes. Bye!" She closed the car door and headed towards the front door of the music building.
Yes, I do hope you call me later, Christine, Raoul thought while watching her walk away. "If you don't call, I will." With that, he turned on his radio and headed back to campus.
Christine entered the recital hall expecting to see the man, Ted Cunningham, standing there waiting.
Instead, the large performance area was completely empty. She looked at the time on her cell phone. 7:30 pm… Shouldn't he be here? She decided to sit in one of the many audience to wait. I'm sure he's on his way.
Erik hurriedly handed the keys over to Madame Giry in her office.
"Erik, if you've messed my car up in any way.." There was warning in her tone.
"Do not worry, Madame. Your car is safe."
"Good."
"Now, if you will excuse me, I have business to tend to." Without waiting for a response, he quickly left the office.
Christine, I do hope you are waiting for me.
He expertly opened a hidden panel on a wall. Then, his legs led him through the secret narrow hallways of the music building to the back of the recital hall.
From backstage, Erik looked out from the shadows and saw Christine waiting in one of the seats. He watched as she continuously looked around. Very good, he thought. I suppose she truly believes there is such a man as 'Ted Cunningham'.
I must be rather good at changing my voice to sound like a 'professional talent agent'. He chuckled silently at the absurdity of the title.
Erik watched as she checked her cell phone every so often. She was surely losing her patience. Soon, she will head back to her dormitory and my business here will be done.
Where is he? She looked at her cell phone clock for over the tenth time.
The minutes were ticking by. Ten, then fifteen, then twenty, and finally twenty-five. "That's it!" she yelled aloud.
Christine stood up with her hands clenched to her sides. Was he only kidding? Have I been stood up? But why would he play such a cruel game?
She crossed her arms and something dawned on her.. What if it was a prank call? Did I really just fall for a prank? But, it sounded so real! It couldn't have been fake!
However, a voice inside her was saying, Of course it was fake, you idiot! You are so gullible!
Her face fell. "How could I be so stupid?" She let out a groan and fell into the chair she'd previously been sitting in.
I could be spending time with Raoul right now. The thought that she could be hanging out with her childhood friend instead of sitting here putting herself down made her even angrier.
Why do I always screw things up? I give into anything anybody says, even if it's untrue... I must look so pathetic right now! And I guess I am..
She leaned forward and buried her head in her hands. Who was that on the phone, anyway? I should've known it was fake... I mean, who would actually want me to sing in an opera? All it was good for doing was reminding me that I'm ignorant and a terrible singer..
Then, another thought crossed her mind. What will Raoul think? He'll want nothing to do with a loser like me… And Dad! I can't tell him, he'll be so disappointed.. Meg will laugh at me.. How could I think for one second that any of this was real?
Maybe she was overreacting a bit, but by this point she was beyond seeing reason.
That was when she sat up and realized she was going to cry. Tears streamed down her cheeks. "I guess it's a good thing he's not here to see this." She didn't care that she was talking to herself. "I'm such a loser..."
Erik was wide eyed while watching the scene before him. You are not a 'loser', Christine! Do not think that, dear child!
He didn't think she would take the whole situation so seriously...
He only wanted her away from the boy, nothing more. Erik was quickly finding that he could barely stand to see her in such a state.
Christine continued to cry while memories of the past came to the forefront of her mind.
She opened a letter with fear coursing through her veins. It was either the acceptance or rejection admission letter from Ballad Conservatory. Her father stood in silence.
Reading it to herself, a small smile began to form on Christine's face.
"Well?" her father asked anxiously.
"Dad, I- I got in!"
"Really, honey?"
She nodded in disbelief. Another letter was waiting to be read and Christine looked at it not knowing what to expect. "Oh my..."
"What? What is it?"
Before saying a word, she turned the envelope over making sure it was really addressed to her. Everything read 'Ms. Christine Daae', including her letters. "Dad, you won't believe it.. I got a full vocal scholarship!"
A proud smile came to his face. "Let me see, Angel." He read over the two letters before letting out a shout of excitement. "That's my girl!" He then twirled her around in the air. "Oh Christine, I knew you could do it!" He looked into his daughter's eyes. "I am so proud of you."
She couldn't help but to cry. They were tears of joy. She and her father hugged.
"Your mother would be proud, too." He, too, was misty-eyed.
"I wish she could see..." That was all Christine could manage before her crying turned to sobbing.
"But Christine, she is here. She's watching over you. The angels will always watch over you."
A tearful smile lit up her features. This was, for sure, one of the best day of her life.
Returning to reality, she questioned bitterly, "Yeah, I've really made you proud, haven't I, Dad?"
"If you only knew how horribly I'm doing so far! My voice is a disgrace. Even Dr. Gratsia thinks so. And angels? Well, they must be feeling pity for such a failure. 'Little Lotte thought of everything and nothing. Her mother once said she would send the Angel of Music.'" She choked out the words, quoting her parents' old stories.
"What- a-.. lie!" She could barely get the words out for crying so hard.
The way she was outwardly berating herself was making Erik wince, but something she said did catch his attention...
'The Angel of Music'? How interesting… Does she truly believe in angels? It was an outrageous belief, in Erik's opinion. There were no angels for Erik...
Purposefully refusing to give into his self-hatred, he thought, If only she would only calm down- But that was when she suddenly let out the most violent sob yet. Erik cringed and closed his eyes, desperately wishing she would stop. Such display of emotion was hard for him to take.
Her sobs continued to make their way to his ears. Please stop, Christine..
No matter how much he silently begged, she did not obey. Her voice.. Her future.. Have I-.. hindered it?
The question caused him to shake his head, his mind filled with despair and regret. To hurt her in such a way is unforgiveable..
He couldn't take it anymore, he just couldn't. I must make it stop! I must fix this! I have to reassure her! 'The Angel of Music'… If that is what she wants, then-.. Pure determination took over and all rationality escaped him. Then that is what she shall get!
Without another thought, he found the recital hall lights backstage and pressed the switches. All of the lights went out.
Christine gasped, sucking in her sobs. She sat in total darkness and, before she could question it, something happened.
A voice filled the room. It was.. magical.. and it felt like it was literally all around her.
It consumed the darkness making her feel strangely safe. Then, it said three words. They were maybe the most soothing she had ever heard.
"Christine, don't cry.."
Erik watched her attentively, able to see clearly through the darkness. Her reaction was interesting, causing his lips to curl upward.
It appeared she was captivated.
That was precisely what he was hoping for...