Chapter 15

Christine left the party knowing exactly where she needed to go. She needed her angel.

Her thoughts were running wild as she drove towards her destination. She'd given up valuable practice time to go to the damn party.

Remembering the past, she recalled certain rules her angel had commanded when he first came to her. 'You will devote your life to the improvement of your vocal abilities. After all, that is the life of a performer.' 'There will not be time for pleasurable experiences while training is in progress. Your pleasure will come through singing.' She remembered promising to obey… Christine broke into a sweat. I have betrayed him…

She parked her car behind her dorm and ran as fast as she could towards the music building.

In minutes, she was in practice room number seven. "Angel?" she timidly asked.

No answer came.

"Angel?" she tried again a bit louder than before.

When there was no answer, Christine sank to the floor weeping. "I'm so sorry! I- I'm sorry! I broke the rules... I- I didn't put music first! I'm sorry, Angel!"

Nothing came. There was no noise. Her angel was not there.

"I'm so sorry.." she whispered. Laying on the floor and curling into a ball, she began to hum one of her repertoire pieces wishing her angel were there to forgive her and comfort her.

–

Erik approached Madame Giry's house. He longed to see Christine, but he knew she was probably in her dorm room. Perhaps she will be online..

Not caring about knocking, he entered the house. The middle-aged lady was sitting on a couch in her den. She jumped as Erik entered the room.

"Good God, Erik! Do you not know how to knock? Never enter my house without knocking!"

"Here are your car keys, Madame," he said acting as though he hadn't heard her.

"Did you.. do what you wanted to do?"

"Yes, the mission is complete."

"God only knows what you do.. Thank you for returning my car, though."

Erik bowed regally before saying, "There is one more favor I must ask of you... Will you take me to the music building?"

Madame Giry couldn't help but laugh and complied to his request.

Erik didn't know if Christine would be online, but all he could do was check. My poor darling.. He had absolutely no idea Christine was in her practice room needing her angel more than ever before.

–

Entering the music building, Erik headed straight for the library. Please be online.. He snuck in quietly and turned on one of the computers.

He was upset, to say the least, when he discovered that she wasn't on. I suppose she must be asleep. I will just have to talk to her in the morning during our lesson.

He turned off the computer and made his way to the basement, his home. But, on the way down, something caught his ear. It was an all too familiar voice. Christine is humming!

As quickly as possible, he made his way to the practice room. There she lay.. on the floor. Erik could have kicked himself. Why did I not think of this? I should have known my precious Christine would come to me.

He adjusted his clothing and smoothed his hair before speaking in his most soothing voice. "Christine.." It was just above a whisper.

Christine sat bolt upright at the sound. "Angel!" She wiped her face clean of tears and stood. "Angel, y-you came..."

"I did."

She closed her eyes in shame. "I am so sorry."

"Why are you sorry?" he asked calmly already knowing it had to do with the party.

She sniffled some and said, "I didn't put music first. I went to a party and gave up time that could have been spent practicing." Looking down at the floor, she whispered, "I have to be the worst pupil you've ever had."

He stopped her. "First of all, you are the only pupil I have ever had. Secondly, yes, I too am sorry you decided to give up practice time. You did not have a good time at the party, did you?" He made it out to be more of a statement than a question.

Christine shook her head. He knows everything. "No, I didn't."

"You now know to always put music first, right?" He had his arms crossed behind the mirror and was watching her every move carefully.

"Yes." She raised her head. "Yes, I know now."

"Very good. All is forgiven."

Christine sighed in relief but then looked at her reflection in the mirror. "I look terrible."

Erik sucked in a breath as she looked at him. Well, of course, she wasn't really looking at him, but it seemed like their eyes locked. His heartbeat quickened. "Christine, dear child, you must return to your dorm room." He couldn't keep his eyes off her, and he knew she needed to leave quickly. Erik was sure he would slip up and do something irrational, like come out of hiding, if she did not leave.

Christine nodded. Though he said she was forgiven, she knew he was probably still a bit angry. He hadn't even mentioned the recital... "So.. I'll see you tomorrow morning?" She quickly asked, "Please?"

Erik touched the mirror, the barrier separating them, and replied, "Of course." Inaudibly, he added, "My love.."

Christine quickly left the room and headed back to her dorm not knowing that Erik was following her in order to see that she made it there safely. Maybe Phantom will be online..

When she got to her room, situated herself at her desk, and turned on her lap top, Christine was ecstatic to find that Phantom was, indeed, on. She immediately clicked on his user name.

MissDaae7: Hey Phantom.

Phantom: Hello Christine.

MissDaae7: What's up?

Erik smiled at the screen. Teenagers and their ways of communicating. 'What's up?' His eyes moved upward. The ceiling is up. He chuckled.

Phantom: Nothing, really. How did your recital go?

Erik felt worse than bad for not mentioning her recital when he'd seen her in the practice room, so he decided that he would mention it here, over the Internet. Also, he wanted to get her mind off of the party, since she didn't have a good time.

MissDaae7: It went well. I sang to the best of my ability, and I received a lot of compliments. Truthfully, I sang for my angel. He was all that mattered. But, aside from that... It always seems like I have some kind of problem when I talk to you…

Phantom: Do you have a problem now?

MissDaae7: Yes.

Phantom: Well then, please explain.

Christine decided to dive right into it and tell him everything.

MissDaae7: Well, ok, this guy named Raoul threw a party tonight. Some friends and I decided to go. I shouldn't have gone. I should have been at the music building practicing. But, what do I, stupid Christine, decide to do? Of course I don't practice.. I, instead, attend this party. It was horrible! There were so many people. And drinking.. And the guy, Raoul, came on to me, which meant that he wanted to be more than just my friend. I seriously had the worst time.

Phantom: I am sorry to hear that.

Christine swallowed. I just don't understand something, and I need to get it off my chest..

MissDaae7: The guy, Raoul.. I thought he was my friend. We used to have so much fun together. But, I guess he's not my friend. He hurt me.

Erik stared at the screen, and his eyes widened at her words. No..

Phantom: He physically hurt you? What did he do to you?

Erik thought to himself, I knew I should have killed him when I had the chance. How dare he touch Christine?!

MissDaae7: He pulled my hair. Maybe it's not that big of a deal, though. He was really drunk.

Phantom: That does not justify it!

Christine could feel his anger, and she cringed. Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned that part..

MissDaae7: I know..

Phantom: Am I to assume that you have learned your lesson now? You will not attend parties of that nature?

Erik knew he was being strict when he had no right to be. He just wanted her to obey.

MissDaae7: Trust me, I've learned my lesson.

Phantom: Very good.

MissDaae7: Ok, let's change topics. How are you?

Erik shook his head. I hate when she directs the conversation towards me.

Phantom: I am fine. But, are you alright?

MissDaae7: I'm fine now. I always feel better when I talk to you. I sometimes wonder if you are actually real. I mean, you always know what to say.

She sent that part and held her breath.

Erik read it twice. He definitely did not like where this conversation was going.

MissDaae7: I wish I could meet you. How far away do you live?

Erik gulped. Why do you wish to know such things, Christine?

Phantom: Believe me when I say I live nowhere near you.

Christine wouldn't give up. They'd been online friends for too long. Now, she wanted more.

MissDaae7: I could travel. Please, where do you live?

Erik closed his eyes. He knew their conversations would one day lead to this. He just didn't know how long it would take. He knew he needed to get away while he still could, though. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her.

Phantom: Christine, I must go.

MissDaae7: No, please don't go! Wait! At least tell me your name.

Phantom: You see my name every time I type. 'Phantom'. Now, I must be going. Goodbye.

Before she could type more, he was gone. Christine simply stared at the screen. Why can't I know anything about him?

Without bothering to get ready to go to sleep, she climbed into bed and stared up at the ceiling thinking. For some reason, it seemed like their conversation had been weird, and it wasn't just because of him not wanting to talk about himself. What was it then? What was weird about it?

She'd told him about the party and she'd told him that she wanted to meet him.. Before that, Christine.. Think of what happened before that..

Suddenly, Christine sat bolt upright in her bed, now wide awake. Without caring that no one was around to listen, she asked aloud, "How in the world did he know about my recital?" She was absolutely positive she'd never told him about it. So, how the hell did he know?...

Something very strange was going on.

Well, from here on out I have nothing to work with from the previous version of this story. The chapters will be brand new.

Updates may not come as quickly, but receiving reviews may make the ideas reach my mind faster ;)

Please review!

-Lauren