May 25th 1882
Meg's blonde waves bobbed up and down as she walked down the cobbled Parisian street side by side with the little maid from the De Chagny estate, Marie. She nibbled her bottom lip, thoughts of what to do racing through her mind: her mother had practically commanded Meg to go fetch the Vicomte, and, from the brisk pace of her companion, she could tell Marie wanted to return to the mansion. But the ballerina's mind forced her to remember Christine's actions prior to the stabbing - Meg remembered the determination of her friend to find Erik, to talk with him about the child, to be reunited. She knew bringing the Vicomte would ruin any chances the pair had of reconnecting. She knew Christine needed more time…
"Mademoiselle?" Meg was jolted out of her thoughts by a sharp pain running up her injured left arm as the other girl grasped it. Marie quickly let go and stuttered out an apology before removing her apron and offering it as a makeshift sling, the straps fastened in a neat bow behind Meg's neck to keep it firmly in place.
"Thank you," she smiled gratefully, adding: "Remind me to get my arm seen to by the doctor when we return?"
The maid sheepishly nodded. "Of course, Madem-"
"Please," The young dancer linked her good arm with the other girl's, ignoring the shock she saw plastered over Marie's face. "You can call me Meg, you know."
Marie's look of surprise was soon replaced by a tentative grin which faded as Meg tried to drag her further down the street. "Wait, Meg, you're going in the wrong direction," She tried to intervene, pulling away. "If we turn right just a bit back here then we'll get to the estate much quicker…" Marie trailed off as she saw her companion begin to shake her head in disagreement – the maid frowned in confusion.
"We won't be returning to fetch the Vicomte, Marie," Meg spoke matter-of-factly, finding her new-found friend's face drained of colour at this news. "I was thinking we could try and find a shop to get supplies, what with the baby being delivered back at the town house – though it'll be hard at this hour…"
"We have to return!" Marie's reaction was delayed but not unexpected.
Meg sighed. "No, we don't, and what's more we aren't going to – now let's…"
"You may not need to return to the mansion, but I do!" The maid finally found her voice. "I have a job there, Meg, and Monsieur De Chagny is my employer – I can't keep him in the dark about all of this! What if his wife's condition were to deteriorate, or their child-"
"Stop right there, Marie," Meg used the harsh tone she'd inherited from her mother, silencing the girl as she tried to process what she could do in the given situation. But even as she thought of endless lies she could tell, Meg knew only the truth would stop Marie from retreating back to Raoul like a dog to its owner.
Looking from side to side, her eyes met with deserted streets; Meg took Marie's arm and led her to the entrance of an alleyway whilst choosing to ignore the cries of protest she received. After scanning the area one last time to ensure that no one was in ear shot of the pair, the ballet girl finally turned back to the maid – who looked frightened half to death by her impulsive strange behavior.
"You need to know the truth, Marie," Meg started, her voice low so as to remain quiet. "But you must agree none of the information I pass to you will ever leave your own lips – you understand me?" A quick nod was all it took for Meg to continue. "As Raoul's employee, you have no doubt heard the story of the Phantom of the Opera – the 'ghost' who wanted Christine for himself?" Another silent nod as reply, "Well that man, the tall masked one who was at the house back there, is – well, was – the Phantom. He didn't just admire Christine or obsess over her voice like the rumours say; he loved her, perhaps as much as the Vicomte, and I know that Christine loved them both at heart… As far as anyone knows, Christine chose Raoul…" Meg paused for a moment, taking in the wide eyes of the girl in front of her who still seemed unsure how any of this should prevent her returning to her master.
"But the truth is, after all the events of last year Christine still allowed herself to return to the Phantom – Erik – one night, before she was wed to Raoul and… Well, this child isn't Raoul's." Marie gasped in seeming disbelief and Meg searched the brown eyes opposite her for any sign of judgment. "She told me herself she had mistaken her feelings within the commotion of her debut and such – that she'd never stopped thinking of her teacher during her time with Raoul. Christine begged me to take her to him when we were at the party, you see-"
"Which is why you were sneaking out the back!" Marie finally spoke, though it was barely a whisper. Meg saw a flash of understanding reach the girl's eyes as she tried to take in the whole story. "The mistress always did seem distracted from the Vicomte. Some of the other maids thought her ungrateful – not me though!" Marie quickly chipped in before she seemingly insulted Christine to her best friend. "I could tell she considered herself one of us, found it hard to accept she was of higher stature…"
There was a stretch of silence now as the two girls thought about the unusually personal exchange that had just occurred between them. At last, Meg broke it.
"So you understand that we can't inform the Vicomte… At least not yet," There was still a hesitance from the maid. "Christine needs some time to compose herself, to decide what she must do – surely you can appreciate that?"
Marie looked Meg in the eyes one final time, noting a plea within in them for the girl's agreement, to leave her master in the dark. She closed her own eyes and swallowed before looking at the dancer once more: "In that case, we best hurry to find somewhere open at this hour."
Meg embraced her new found friend at the silent bargain between them. Marie hesitated, taken aback, before she too wrapped her arms around the other girl.
The two smiled as they finally left the sheltered alleyway and set off down the street with new found energy, away from the De Chagny estate with arms linked. They talked enthusiastically, in fact if one had seen the two together, you'd have believed them to be old friends rather than a pair forced together by circumstance.
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Erik was frozen with his hand reaching out to the door, unsure of what to do. He was unclear as to how Christine had learnt his name but that was unimportant for now. He turned slightly and saw those pale green eyes between the fluttering lashes as the soprano continued to stir – he hadn't seen her since the night last year. Erik couldn't face her, not like this, so he took his chance (before she had regained her senses) and practically ran out the door.
He was met with the confused gazes of Madame Giry and the doctor, who Erik had forgotten were still in the hall. He could only gesture to the door as words still failed to come to him, but Antoinette still got the hint and rushed into the room with the other man following her, throwing an uncertain look in Erik's direction.
The masked man now began to purposefully pace, uncertain that he could be of any help in his current state. Erik knew with Christine staying in the house, he would have to finally face her at some point but he also knew it would undo all the work he had put in to burying his feelings for her these past lonely months. Even as he'd stood over her lifeless form, Erik had felt his heart grow fonder once more.
But then he forced himself to face the truth: Christine was currently in the process of having Raoul's child. He knew despite all the hostility between them, the Vicomte loved his angel as well and she clearly loved him with equal enthusiasm. Soon enough they'd have the newborn as living proof of their commitment – assuming it survived from only seven months development…
Seven months. Why did this keep setting off a spark in his mind? Erik tried to think but didn't have a chance to place his problem as the front door opened.
Marie and Meg came strolling through the entrance with packages in their arms, laughing together before spotting the man across the room. They stopped as though caught doing something wrong and Erik couldn't help but note the absence of the boy – the only reason they'd been sent out over an hour ago (for Erik's thoughts had taken up more time than expected).
He frowned at the two blondes with confusion and tried to peer round as though the Vicomte might suddenly appear behind them but Meg quickly shut the door and pressed a finger to her lips. Erik took this as a silent request to refrain from getting Madame involved.
Erik would've spoken then, in hopes of making any sense of the situation, however didn't have a chance to. Instead all three of them flinched slightly as a loud shriek of pain came echoing out of Christine's room.
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I'VE FINISHED MY EXAMS AND IT'S NEARLY SUMMER! So hopefully I can be updating more than I have (keep your fingers crossed for no more two month waits :L) and I've actually been adding to the storyline so things might get better.
I'm so sorry for how long you guys have waited ): I get bored when stories don't update, yet I fail to do it – what a hypocrite :L but thanks for all your reviews and such as well – I love to know people are enjoying the story!