p class="MsoNormal"strongemAuthors Note: Thank you all for reading my story, I ask you would all review. good or bad comments are welcomed, I haven't quite figured out where this story is heading or how it shall end or how long it shall be. There won't be many more twist for another chapter I think. I hope everyone is enjoying this story, truly I enjoy writing it. /em/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"emChristine POV /em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em /em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emMy mind was struggling to make sense of everything, but it was muddled in between reality and fantasy. Every time I would attempt to take hold of something real, it would twist into a dream and I would fall deeper into my subconscious. An unnerving feeling taking me over, as I twisted in my sleep, drowning, falling, slipping, further and further down the rabbit hole; forgetting myself, forgetting everything. A light shone ahead and I started to run at break neck speed, grabbing onto anything and everything, begging my mind to make sense. Imagines flooding my mind, my father coughing in bed, the furry of the storm, a home, a women, a baby, blankets, a fire place, and Madeline!/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em /emI jolted awake in sweats, rubbing my clammy hand on the mountain of blankets. Desperately trying to shake off the lucid nightmare, I focused on my surroundings, touching the rug beneath me, taking in the curtains above, a smothered fire place –/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" A door swung open, as a craned my neck to see a familiar women coming through the door. MADELINE! I leaped to my feet, immediately regretting it as the room started to spin. I extended my hand, catching myself on the mantle of the fire place. emFocus Christine, focus. Yesterday's events bombarding me, with one thing in my mind/em/p
p class="MsoNormal""Papa" I whispered. In the corner of my eye Madeline's head snapped up, smiling secretively as she spoke-/p
p class="MsoNormal" "Christine before you panic, I left early this morning to fetch the mid-wife. She's right behind me. May I have the pleasure of introducing you to Madam Giry." As she gestured behind her shoulder, as an older stern woman walked through the entryway. Christine could tell this woman commanded authority with just her body language alone, her body completely upright, shoulders back, and her face worn from stress, her auburn brown hair braided up and tied into a bun. Madam Giry glanced at me, studying me underneath her unyielding eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" "Very nice to meet you Mademoiselle Daee, Madeline has spoken a great deal about you. I understand your father is very sick and we cannot waste any time with introductions and therefore, I insist we depart immediately so I may assess him." She spoke in a very thick French accent. Shocked coursed through my veins, knowing she was correct I shook it off and persevered./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Very well Madam, let us be on our way. Madame Destler, I wish to thank you for your hospitality, and if there is anything I can do-/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Please come back to visit me, I would like to know if you and your father are doing well."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""As you wish Madam, as soon as my father regains his strength I will return." I gave a low curtsy before turning towards Madame Giry, making my way towards the door. "Do you have everything you need for an examine Madame?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Yes" She stared at me hesitantly and turned to Madeline. "I will return as well to check up on the baby. Remember to take it easy." Madeline cracked a faltering smile, as Madame Giry stalked towards the door. I starred at her, observing her long purposeful strides as she headed towards me. Noticing her eyes, I saw kindness and warmth and I knew behind her cold fish personality was a caring, nurturing, kind hearted woman./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Christine" Madame Giry spoke, with concern in her voice snapping me out of my analysis. She continued "Are you going to be okay?" I nodded my head dumbly. "Than by all means lead the way" She gestured outside. Embarrassment colored my cheeks red, as I headed outside. The air was crisp and light, which is to be expected after a storm, what I was not prepared for was the depth of white snow. Taking the first step off Madeline's concrete path I immediately sunk into the ground, the white snow engulfing my small frame coming shy of a few inches of my chin. Madame Giry stifled a laugh; I glared at her, my cheeks on fire./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Tsk, Tsk, Tsk" She looked down on me, a smile softening up the rigid features of her face. She wiped the growing smirk off her face, as I continued to glare at her attempting to move forward failing miserably. It seemed every time I turned to move snow out of the way, mounds more would fall in its place, burying me deeper. Madame Giry continued to watch me as I helplessly tried to burrow my way out, frustrated I yelled at Madame Giry "Don't just stand there Madame, Help me!" She glanced at me and flashed me a steely look, she approached me steadily and plucked me from the ground like a flower./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""There is no need to yell Christine, for all you had to do was ask" She placed me gently back on the concrete path. She stepped into the blanket of snow, coming a little above her knee. She turned her back towards me, crouching down turning her head towards me./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Come along Christine, hop onto my back. It is the only way we are going to get to your house in one piece. There is no time to waste." I contemplated this for a moment, seeing the reason in her words I conceded. "Thank you Madame" I grasped at her neck with my tiny arms and wrapped my legs around her waist clutching her tightly./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""It's okay Christine, I've got you, please relax. Now point me in the direction we need to go."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"I scanned the horizon, until I saw a Forrest of trees in the distance – "That way ma'am" I pointed towards the forest, still gripping at Madame Giry uncomfortably./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Christine, please relax. It would make the trek much easier on both us. Hasn't either of your parents ever given you a piggy back ride before?" I tensed at her question, and she struggled to adjust my lead like body./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""No ma'am, my mother died giving birth to me, and my father has never been the same since that day. He has been battling illness after illness since her death, and I've been the only one to look after him. We have nobody else, but each other Madame." My voice coming out as a small somber whisper. She sighed sadly, "Know this Christine, no matter what happens with your father, you can always find a home with me. Too many times have I seen young children waste away, but not you. You remind me too much of my daughter Megan, and I couldn't bear if anything were to happen to her."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Her confession caught me off guard, but more importantly one sentenced slapped my ears and assaulted my brain: emno matter what happens to my father? The words still shocked me as I barley choked out. /em/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""W-w-w-hat do-o you mean, ab- about my father" Madame Giry cringed at the disparity of my voice. "Do not fret child, I mean no ill will, it's just… I don't want you to get your hopes up. In a perfect world, he would still be alive and I would save the day restoring his health, but as you know... We do not live a perfect world."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"The rest of the journey continued in silence, as I drearily pointed her in the direction of where our cabin would be. The trepidation I felt as Madame Giry began to approach their cabin was almost unbearable, as I began to fantasize about what fate I would face if my papa was indeed dead. She shuddered at the thought./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in"
p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 0in""Christine we are here" Madame Giry's voice cutting through my thoughts. I hopped off her back and warily approached the door. I glanced back at Madame Giry, who gave me a curt nod before I continued. "Papa" I spoke; bracing myself for whatever may be on the other side I pushed open the door. The sight before shattered my heart, "Papa!" I ran towards him and gasped when I touched him. His skin was as cold as ice, I sat frozen straining to hear if he was breathing. Madame Giry rushed over to him as well, placing two fingers delicately on his neck as she used her other hand to tilt his head backwards. Her eyes bulged out of her head, and a steady and demanding voice barked "Christine, he is still alive, barley hanging on, ready a pot of boiling water bring some towels and wash cloths now." I didn't waste any time as I bolted from one end of the house to another gathering everything in sight./p
/div
div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"strongOh no Gustave, I hope he makes it out okay. I guess you will all have tune in next time to see. Thanks for reading! /strong/div
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"emChristine POV /em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em /em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emMy mind was struggling to make sense of everything, but it was muddled in between reality and fantasy. Every time I would attempt to take hold of something real, it would twist into a dream and I would fall deeper into my subconscious. An unnerving feeling taking me over, as I twisted in my sleep, drowning, falling, slipping, further and further down the rabbit hole; forgetting myself, forgetting everything. A light shone ahead and I started to run at break neck speed, grabbing onto anything and everything, begging my mind to make sense. Imagines flooding my mind, my father coughing in bed, the furry of the storm, a home, a women, a baby, blankets, a fire place, and Madeline!/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em /emI jolted awake in sweats, rubbing my clammy hand on the mountain of blankets. Desperately trying to shake off the lucid nightmare, I focused on my surroundings, touching the rug beneath me, taking in the curtains above, a smothered fire place –/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" A door swung open, as a craned my neck to see a familiar women coming through the door. MADELINE! I leaped to my feet, immediately regretting it as the room started to spin. I extended my hand, catching myself on the mantle of the fire place. emFocus Christine, focus. Yesterday's events bombarding me, with one thing in my mind/em/p
p class="MsoNormal""Papa" I whispered. In the corner of my eye Madeline's head snapped up, smiling secretively as she spoke-/p
p class="MsoNormal" "Christine before you panic, I left early this morning to fetch the mid-wife. She's right behind me. May I have the pleasure of introducing you to Madam Giry." As she gestured behind her shoulder, as an older stern woman walked through the entryway. Christine could tell this woman commanded authority with just her body language alone, her body completely upright, shoulders back, and her face worn from stress, her auburn brown hair braided up and tied into a bun. Madam Giry glanced at me, studying me underneath her unyielding eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" "Very nice to meet you Mademoiselle Daee, Madeline has spoken a great deal about you. I understand your father is very sick and we cannot waste any time with introductions and therefore, I insist we depart immediately so I may assess him." She spoke in a very thick French accent. Shocked coursed through my veins, knowing she was correct I shook it off and persevered./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Very well Madam, let us be on our way. Madame Destler, I wish to thank you for your hospitality, and if there is anything I can do-/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Please come back to visit me, I would like to know if you and your father are doing well."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""As you wish Madam, as soon as my father regains his strength I will return." I gave a low curtsy before turning towards Madame Giry, making my way towards the door. "Do you have everything you need for an examine Madame?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Yes" She stared at me hesitantly and turned to Madeline. "I will return as well to check up on the baby. Remember to take it easy." Madeline cracked a faltering smile, as Madame Giry stalked towards the door. I starred at her, observing her long purposeful strides as she headed towards me. Noticing her eyes, I saw kindness and warmth and I knew behind her cold fish personality was a caring, nurturing, kind hearted woman./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Christine" Madame Giry spoke, with concern in her voice snapping me out of my analysis. She continued "Are you going to be okay?" I nodded my head dumbly. "Than by all means lead the way" She gestured outside. Embarrassment colored my cheeks red, as I headed outside. The air was crisp and light, which is to be expected after a storm, what I was not prepared for was the depth of white snow. Taking the first step off Madeline's concrete path I immediately sunk into the ground, the white snow engulfing my small frame coming shy of a few inches of my chin. Madame Giry stifled a laugh; I glared at her, my cheeks on fire./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Tsk, Tsk, Tsk" She looked down on me, a smile softening up the rigid features of her face. She wiped the growing smirk off her face, as I continued to glare at her attempting to move forward failing miserably. It seemed every time I turned to move snow out of the way, mounds more would fall in its place, burying me deeper. Madame Giry continued to watch me as I helplessly tried to burrow my way out, frustrated I yelled at Madame Giry "Don't just stand there Madame, Help me!" She glanced at me and flashed me a steely look, she approached me steadily and plucked me from the ground like a flower./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""There is no need to yell Christine, for all you had to do was ask" She placed me gently back on the concrete path. She stepped into the blanket of snow, coming a little above her knee. She turned her back towards me, crouching down turning her head towards me./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Come along Christine, hop onto my back. It is the only way we are going to get to your house in one piece. There is no time to waste." I contemplated this for a moment, seeing the reason in her words I conceded. "Thank you Madame" I grasped at her neck with my tiny arms and wrapped my legs around her waist clutching her tightly./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""It's okay Christine, I've got you, please relax. Now point me in the direction we need to go."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"I scanned the horizon, until I saw a Forrest of trees in the distance – "That way ma'am" I pointed towards the forest, still gripping at Madame Giry uncomfortably./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Christine, please relax. It would make the trek much easier on both us. Hasn't either of your parents ever given you a piggy back ride before?" I tensed at her question, and she struggled to adjust my lead like body./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""No ma'am, my mother died giving birth to me, and my father has never been the same since that day. He has been battling illness after illness since her death, and I've been the only one to look after him. We have nobody else, but each other Madame." My voice coming out as a small somber whisper. She sighed sadly, "Know this Christine, no matter what happens with your father, you can always find a home with me. Too many times have I seen young children waste away, but not you. You remind me too much of my daughter Megan, and I couldn't bear if anything were to happen to her."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Her confession caught me off guard, but more importantly one sentenced slapped my ears and assaulted my brain: emno matter what happens to my father? The words still shocked me as I barley choked out. /em/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""W-w-w-hat do-o you mean, ab- about my father" Madame Giry cringed at the disparity of my voice. "Do not fret child, I mean no ill will, it's just… I don't want you to get your hopes up. In a perfect world, he would still be alive and I would save the day restoring his health, but as you know... We do not live a perfect world."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"The rest of the journey continued in silence, as I drearily pointed her in the direction of where our cabin would be. The trepidation I felt as Madame Giry began to approach their cabin was almost unbearable, as I began to fantasize about what fate I would face if my papa was indeed dead. She shuddered at the thought./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in"
p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 0in 0in""Christine we are here" Madame Giry's voice cutting through my thoughts. I hopped off her back and warily approached the door. I glanced back at Madame Giry, who gave me a curt nod before I continued. "Papa" I spoke; bracing myself for whatever may be on the other side I pushed open the door. The sight before shattered my heart, "Papa!" I ran towards him and gasped when I touched him. His skin was as cold as ice, I sat frozen straining to hear if he was breathing. Madame Giry rushed over to him as well, placing two fingers delicately on his neck as she used her other hand to tilt his head backwards. Her eyes bulged out of her head, and a steady and demanding voice barked "Christine, he is still alive, barley hanging on, ready a pot of boiling water bring some towels and wash cloths now." I didn't waste any time as I bolted from one end of the house to another gathering everything in sight./p
/div
div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"strongOh no Gustave, I hope he makes it out okay. I guess you will all have tune in next time to see. Thanks for reading! /strong/div