Whoosh... Wow... I had to perfect this chapter before I leave on vacation tomorrow. We won't be arriving at out destination until sunday so be expecting an update then whilst I write in my car on the way there. *Hopefully* the campground has internet! If it doesn't I wouldn't be updating until the next Saturday or sunday and if that campground doesn't have internet then I won't be updating for about two weeks, and if that does happen, then I shall have quite a few chapters ready for eyes to read. I'm dreadfully sorry to leave you on such an edge, but it's what's to happen.

Please, please, please review. If you don't, then... I don't know... but it'd be awesome if you did and tell me your thoughts... no lovey dovey stuff here... Ha ha... not in my stories, heck no!

~The Phantom's Flutist~

Chapter 23:
Unpleasant Surprise

Raoul drove me to the theater about two hours before the show began to keep me company, since Meg was busy. He left for a while when we went over a few things since I was the understudy, and I tried to keep my mind busy on the upcoming show while he was gone. He showed up when someone was doing my makeup and all, and came up from behind me with a rose and dazzling smile.

"You're going to be awesome out there, I know it." He confided holding my hand as the girl went through my hair again, and I smiled up to him, pressing my nerves down on his hand, and he didn't seem to care.

"Shouldn't you be with your brother?" I asked curiously, "Isn't he coming?"

"He can wait," He assured me, and gave another smile. I sniffed a laugh, knowing he was desperate for my attention again when he offered to take me here today.

I hopped off the chair when she was finished, looking at my lavish costume in the mirror, with my hair pinned up and makeup all finished off.

"If I do say so myself... you look absolutely stunning, Christine." He said placing both hands on my shoulders, and looking over them. "This is your dream... and you're going at it right now... How great is that?" He said fondly.

My heart picked up a little speed, and I felt my cheeks redden more than they already were. "It's quite amazing..." I said to myself in the mirror, "And I wouldn't be here if it weren't for..." I paused, and held my breath, thinking that mentioning the name I was going to would be a bad idea.

Raoul let it go, seeming determined to keep my mind off of that part of the performance, looking down to my hand and held it firmly.

"I could kiss you right now... if it weren't for the stage makeup... I don't want to ruin it..." He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it, and I felt my stomach drop a little, feeling less flustered when he kissed me, and a little emptier. I smiled to him again, hoping just that little thing would be enough for him.

The time passed by too quickly when all the performers were called to the wings for one last briefing with the director, and then it was the show time. I hugged Raoul goodbye, and let him go find his box seats with Philippe, and it was when he left me that it all hit me at once... I was about to perform in front of hundreds of people... My stomach held all the butterflies it could have ever held and my knees wobbled from under me, feeling my palms begin to sweat.

The only thing that I could think of that would be able to soothe me in any way would have to be Erik's voice telling me about sweeping crowds off their feet, and making angels weep... and in his voice only would I possibly be comforted enough that there was practically no nerve. Thinking of it helped a little, but there was still a few more butterflies in my stomach, which quite possibly made my entire performance slightly better than ever before.

After the announcement that an understudy would be in the place of Carlotta on opening night, I heard an agitated grumble throughout the entire audience which made my heart begin to sink with slight fear that they wouldn't listen at all.

Out of all my attempts of giving my soul to music, this was possibly the best time I ever had. I went on stage on my cue and found myself so enveloped in the music, singing each lingering note and meaning it as if it could have been my own story...

And what I received in turn was the most heart-compelling feeling I've ever known. The entire audience was on their feet and an enormous round of applause was all I could hear as I made my way off the stage before intermission into the next act. I wasn't even finished yet, and they were already that intuitive of my performance? A confidence that I've never had before was brought to me from receiving that acknowledgment that they were actually listening to me! I silently thanked God as I stepped off stage, feeling that I was in my own heaven at the moment.

The rest of the show seemed to go by in a blur for I felt lifeless when I wasn't singing, and when I opened my mouth up again, I would feel that the entire world I could run through without having a backward glance.

It was remarkable... The curtain call, at least, I felt as pale as a ghost from being so worn out, but the loud claps from the audience seemed to enthuse me like my own sort of caffeine. There were roses thrown onto stage from the front once I stepped onto the stage, and I bowed, and went forth to grab a few and thanked them, and went back to bow once more with the cast, and the curtain would fall, and it was finished.

I could have simply fainted right there, giving one of the roses to one of the ballet girls, and they walked out with it happily. I rushed to my dressing room before the people started asking questions and asking how I felt for I didn't have the strength to go through with it the entire night.

There was a knock on my door and I mechanically answered for them to come in, and Raoul showed up with an even larger bouquet of flowers and I blushed, wiping my face off of the makeup.

"You've got to be kidding me..." I smiled, taking it from his hand, and sniffing them, which were very sweet.

"From Philippe and I!" He exclaimed playfully, sitting on the couch across from me, looking at all the flowers I happened to gather up, and then stared at something on the vanity particularly.

"Well, that's odd..." He said, staring pointedly at whatever it was, and then I looked to where he was looking and furrowed my brow. A single rose that I happened to not even remember gathering was on my vanity desk, and I picked it up curiously, looking at the black ribbon tied about the stem. There was also a note attached and I shakily picked it up, knowing Raoul's gaze was on my back, staring intently.

It read something simple in the familiar red scrawl, Utter perfection on stage. As I told you. With as much adoration, Erik.

I looked at the note for more than I should of for Raoul became uncomfortable.

"Who's it from?" He asked in a concerning tone.

"A friend," I replied and tucked the note into my back pocket, and putting the rose down. I looked to him sitting there comfortably and felt bad for doing what I was about to. "Shoo, I must get dressed." I said, waving him off.

Without any reluctance he left the room, to myself. I dressed quickly out of my costume and gathered all my things together and walked out to Raoul who accompanied me down the hall, arm-in-arm to all the people waiting for answers.

"How did you manage to get the leading role, miss?" One of them asked, and I ignored him, walking by, hearing questions like "Who's your teacher?" or "Have you ever thought of not being the understudy?"

One question specifically I heard from someone, as I walked along, who was very shady to begin with, he managed to pull my shoulder aside and ask, "Did you hear, Miss Daae, that Carlotta was poisoned?"

I shrugged out of his grasp agitatedly, and began to hurry away, looking back to the shady man with Raoul, feeling my stomach drop looking at Raoul who was surprised as well.

"Poisoned?" I asked up to him, though I was really thinking to myself.

"She was poisoned in order for me to go on... Raoul... this is terrible." I said, massaging my temples. "I can't believe him..."

"Who?"

"Why... Erik... he poisoned her of course so she couldn't sing. She wasn't 'ill!'" I exclaimed a little melodramatically but he seemed to have finally gotten my point.

"I thought he left..." He whispered incredulously.

"No... He won't leave..." I replied, shaking my head. "I mean... what reason does he have to leave?" I asked to myself.

"See the way you tremble when you speak of him, Christine? I thought he left a long time ago, no need to get flustered about it." He huffed.

I let go of his hand and looked at him dumbly, then sighed...

"Look, the point is... what he did was wrong..." I said, furrowing my brow as I looked out the window.

"And this makes a different out of all the other things he's done for and to you, how?" He was being sarcastic now and I slapped his hand now.

"You don't understand..."

"I think I understand very well. He's obsessed and insane... Christine, I don't see how you love him in any way."

"You're just jealous." I huffed snidely.

"Jealous!? Over what, must I ask?!" He looked at me with wide eyes, and I could tell I was making him mad by even bringing up the subject again. I remained silent having no answer to that, and cast my gaze down to my hands, tying them together over and over, feeling very stupid again.

"I'm sorry..." He said quietly, fixing his eyes on the road once more. Oh, how I hated those two words right now for they make no sense at all. "I didn't mean to yell at you..."

I rolled my eyes and leaned against my hand on the arm rest waiting for the dorms to appear along the road of the city just so I didn't have to debate with him any longer. I believe that had to have been our first fight ever... How strange. I believed I loved Erik of whom I fought with all the time, and I loved Raoul, believing he was always my savior and yet we never fought.

"Could you say something?" Erik always asked me that, too... oh, I should really stop that around Raoul...

"I don't have anything to say," I whimpered, "I'm just... I don't know... I need to sleep."

He sighed and the car stopped, leaning to kiss me on the cheek but I slid away enough that he only had my hand to press his lips upon.

"I love you." He said, and I pressed my lips firmly together, stepping out of the car, and slamming the door.

I walked into the lobby which was deserted for it was almost midnight, relieved because I no longer would like to see people at all tonight and maybe even tomorrow. If I saw another questioning person I'd probably have to slap them.

I walked up to my room and saw Meg laid out on the couch with an empty popcorn bowl beside her and the ending of some horror movie laying on the floor, the phone next to her, which I picked up as well as the bowl, and placed on the counter.

It read on the screen of the phone "one missed call" and I looked at the number curiously, seeing that it was the familiar number of Meg's mother. She probably wanted Meg or maybe even myself, but I haven't even spoken to her in such a long time.

I put the phone aside and went to my bed and didn't even bother to change out of my sweat pants and t-shirt once more, and fell into a dreamless sleep almost instantly.

"Meg, your mom called last night." I noted whilst pouring myself a bowl of cereal and getting milk out of the fridge. She nodded her head and went for the phone, and dialing her number. I couldn't help but listen in to the conversation that she was putting up with her mother and quite instantly she turned to me and handed the phone to me.

"She wants to speak with you." She said and I mouthed "why" except she shrugged and I answered.

"Hello, Mrs. Giry." I said mechanically.

"Hello, Christine." She answered quickly, "You've managed to leave your so-called guardian, I trust? Did he finally tell you, then?"

My heart sunk when she mentioned that, and it began to flutter worriedly at what she may bring up. "I'm sorry... I don't think I understand... What do you mean that he is 'so-called' and what was he supposed to tell me?"

It was too long of a pause between her answer and my question, that I felt faint and flustered at the same time, worrying over what she may say still.

"I don't think... I should tell you then." She stuttered breathlessly. "How did he let you go?"

"He said to be here, Mrs. Giry... And I'm here and... he wanted me to go..." I gasped, pondering that if these theories were possibly true, and when they managed to be... I felt emptied of pretty much everything at the moment, and I had to restrain my heart. "Tell me..." I breathed.

"I'll leave it to him." She said simply and it was that tone she always used with me when I hopped in and demanded to be brought to another family.

"If he never told me then what makes you think that he will now!" I shouted at the phone angrily.

There was another pause, and for a brief and scary moment I thought she had hung up. "He's not your guardian, Christine. You were supposed to go to the foster home a long time ago for you were truly not under the system any longer," She gasped, sounding very upset, "I'm very sorry..."

I glared to myself, and felt my tears begin to pour onto my cheeks... I was deceived in the most extreme way I could have ever dreamed of. He only wanted to make me believe that he was marrying me just so it wouldn't give me any hope... so that he would make me think that I was ultimately his and his only... To make me think this much! That I had no other place to go... That I'd never have anything to do as an orphan and he made me hurt when I should have never been hurt. I began to sob angrily, and hung up on Mrs. Giry, and began to stomp to my bed and scream into the pillow. None of this should have happened... None of it! I should have never gotten to know the most hurtful man I have ever known... and make me feel things I should have never felt for him...

He basically kidnapped me!

How could he...? I sobbed once more, feeling my chest begin to ache, and everything ached... How could he? I asked myself over and over again. Meg came over, obviously confused and I couldn't tell her because it was... so wrong..."What's wrong?" she asked worriedly.

I didn't answer, hiding my face into my pillow.

"Christine...! Chris...! Come on... can you not answer?" She begged at me and shook my shoulder and I didn't move. I honestly didn't know what to do next... After all... what would you do is suddenly you realize the time you spent with someone who you thought you fell in love with someone and in that time deprived of the world was really all just a lie...? That it was built up of lies from head to foot... that he really had no right keeping me there and making me do things I never in a million years would have done...

So this is my life, huh?

I keep something in my heart, paying enough homage to last for years... practically giving my heart through music, and it's all false... Oh... Oh how I hated Erik right now! How I hated him so much! I mean... what more could you ask from a man who hides his face behind a mask?

Surely God hates me for doing something... surely this must be pay back for being such a jerk beforehand and for hating life as much as I am hating it right now.

It made all the sense to end life right now... I just couldn't. The knife was right there... there were pill bottles in the cabinet, there were plenty of things that I could simply do and wait for death to come and take me to peace finally. The window was opened... there was a long way down... I'd land all bloody and messy on the pavement, you know... I could. I laughed hysterically to myself, and then faltered slightly, hearing Erik and Raoul's voice in my head, and I screamed to drown them out. I probably looked like a madwoman... There was just an invisible wall that torn me from killing myself, so that I couldn't move... that forced life into me... I'd go to hell after being such a faithful Christian.. how wrong was that? How wrong was life?

Meg seemed to wake me up from this phase... she splashed cold water over my face as I lay on the couch, breathless and emotionally exhausted.

"Sorry," She apologized, and it seemed a bit comical so I had to give a bleak laugh. Ha ha... I was wet!

"That doesn't help, does it? I don't think I should slap you, though... isn't that wrong...?" She was talking to herself as well, but that seemed to be the usual for her to begin with. I was back to my senses, at least... I wonder if this is how Erik feels...? Oh God!! I'm turning into Erik! Before you know it I'll be screaming to myself and then... and then it'll all go downhill from there. I'll begin to look literally dead, and look all twisted and stuff... and then I'll be kidnapping people just to make them love me!

Ew.

I slapped my own self to get me out of that train of thought and rose from the couch, feeling... dreadful. Well, Christine... what do you do now? I needed to get out of here to begin with... I probably won't be able to perform again once Carlotta feels better and the poison is out of her system. She'll probably be so pissed at me that she'd take over my stage.

I could call Raoul... Yeah... I'll call Raoul. He makes my life go round, right? I almost ran to my cell phone and plopped myself back onto my bed, my pillow still wet from crying into endlessly.

"Hello?" His voice answered.

"Can you come over here?" I asked imploringly.

"Um..." He stuttered, sounding confused and I sighed.

"Okay, then you have to come over here! I need you..." I replied.

"Sure." He replied, stuttering.

"Meet me in the lobby." I replied, and began to pack up a few things... I needed to leave for a little while... at least until I am able to drag myself back again... And I knew the perfect place to be.

"Where are you going?" Meg pulled me aside and asked, beginning to worry.

"Somewhere besides here," I replied, and looked back apologetically to her, furrowing my brow and wrapped my arms around her, trying hard not to cry again.

"Ugh... Chris! You can't leave me again! Don't go back there!"

I laughed strangely, "There's no way in hell I'm going back to that man. I'll be with Raoul for a while... don't worry, I'll come back hopefully." I frowned.

She grunted..."Then what do I tell everyone else...? That you suddenly decided to take leave from the conservatory."

I shrugged, "Yeah, something like that. Tell them as many lies as you want! They probably have a few to tell you!" I walked out then before any more questions were asked.

"Call me!" She shouted through the door as I slammed it shut and walked away.