Here is a new chapter! I don't own anything or anyone from the Phantom of the opera.
Chapter 6
It was a peaceful night and Christine was sitting on her bed. She decided to read something before sleep. She looked beside her and smiled. Her daughter was peacefully sleeping after one more fairytales with princesses and knights in shining armors. Christine smiled once more. "They are just fairy tales" she whispered to herself. "Not at all true". She leaned on her pillow and started to think. But her thoughts interrupted from Meg who entered the room.
"Are you still awake? I thought that you would be asleep by now. It's late", Meg said.
"I couldn't sleep. I read a story to Rosalie to fall asleep".
"And what? Have you been affected from a fairytale?", Meg said smiled.
"It's not that. It's just that, when I read one of these stories I think about my life. I feel like a princess in a high tower waiting for her prince".
"But the prince came Christine", Meg said sympathetically.
"Yes, and then he left. He left his princess alone", Christine said with the tears ready to fall. Meg got closer to her friend.
"Christine", she said touching her friend's arm, "all these things are in the past. You make a new start right now. You have Rosalie, a job and friends who love you. You must move on. I know that it still hurts but you must try. For yours and Rosalie's sake".
Christine knew that her friend was right. She couldn't stay in the past. She had to rely on herself and raise her child as best as she could. And that is what she would do. There were not princesses or bad dragons who wanted to claim her as his own. Not even princes' on a white horse. But, no. She wouldn't wait from anyone help. She would do on her own.
"You are right Meg. From now on, I will be a different person. No more fairytales", she said.
"That's my girl" Meg said and she lay on her bed.
He opened his eyes. The clock showed five in the afternoon. How he fell asleep, he didn't know. After the long walk he returned home and suddenly felt tired. At first, he wanted to sleep but then decided against it. He took his favorite book but after a few pages his eyes closed. He sat on the bed and then realized that he was still in his clothes. Looking outside of the window, he thought about the next month. He tried so hard to persuade himself to not go back. But his heart wanted the opposite. So he would go just for the rehearsals and then he would return back to Italy. So simple. Now he had to tell his stuff about his plan and especially Nadir. He had to contact him as soon as possible so he stand up from his bed and went to his office where he wrote a simple message for his friend and asked of Roberto, the errand boy, to deliver it as soon as possible. Nadir didn't respond but came himself to Erik's house. They started to discuss the journey's details immediately.
"So you will go with the train, yes?" Nadir asked.
"Yes, that's right".
"Alright .When will you leave?", Nadir asked.
"The next week. Hopefully the weather will be good".
"Are you sure that you don't want me come with you?"
"I am totally sure daroga. You should be here. We have an opera to run. Besides I will not stay for too long in Paris. I will watch the rehearsals and after the first performance I will return. At least, I hope so".
"What can I say? If this is what you want so be it. But be careful my friend. We don't know if the myth of the Phantom has settled down".
"Nadir I am still scared but I will go and I want to believe that everything will go fine. I will wear this mask of course. It is in the color of the skin and I don't want to risk anyone to suspect something. I will talk as less as possible and only for the rehearsals. When I see that everything is right, I will return".
Nadir nodded. He was sure that his friend would be really strict with the cast. Poor people!
"Alright. Everything is settled then. The only thing that I can say is go there, do your job and please, please…. control your anger! Whatever you see, whatever you hear, just think that this is not forever. You will be back in two months at least, yes?"
"Enough with the advice daroga. I am a big boy and I can protect myself. I will write to you as soon as possible. I promise".
Firmin and Andre were late. Madame Giry had instructed the ballet rats to be in auditorium at nine am sharp with all the members of the Opera House. They wanted to talk to them about something very important. They came one hour later. The first who talked was Firmin.
"We are sorry for the delay. We want to announce you something very important. The next week we will welcome one of the greatest composers of all ages. Erik Destler".
There were whispers from all the cast and ballet. They stared to ask each other if anyone knew this composer.
"Some of you may have heard him", Andre added. "Some of you not. We asked of him to let us rehearse one of his operas and he accepted. Of course we invited him here, if he would like to watch the rehearsals and he accepted as well. So, we have to be hospitable to him and if he make any corrections to you about his opera, which I am sure he will do, you must follow his instructions. Remember, we must present an amazing result to our audience and believe me, he will not ask anything less. Now, all of you back to your jobs", Andre concluded.
The announcement was followed by whispers and noises from footsteps as everyone was returning back to their jobs. Except from Madame Giry and the ballet rats who stayed to practice.
"Erik Destler. I think that I have heard some of his works but I am not sure if he is the same person", Christine whispered to Meg's ear.
"I have heard him too but I didn't pay so much attention. We will see when he arrives", Meg answered.
1 week later…
The carriage was ready for the train station. Lorentzo put the last suitcase on it. Carl, the coachman was already on his seat. Erik exited the front door of the house and came closer to Lorentzo.
"Lorentzo, I don't know how many days I will be off. Maybe a month or two. Please, take care of the house. I will send you my address when I arrive and get settled".
"Don't worry Signor Erik I will take care of everything".
"If something happens contact me, si?", Erik asked.
"Si Signor but I assure you than nothing will happen. Trust me", Lorentzo said trying to reassure his master.
"I trust you Lorentzo, thank you", Erik said smiling.
Then, Martha the cook came out as well.
"Signor I made you lunch for the road and I baked you some cookies", the kind woman asked worried.
Erik smiled. "Thank you Martha you are so kind. You always think of me. Carl are we ready to leave?" he asked the coachman.
"Yes signor, we can leave now".
Just in time, Nadir appeared from the corner of the road.
"Daroga I thought that you wouldn't come", Erik said.
"I would come to say goodbye of course. Did you expect me to stay home?"
"Yes".
"No way".
The two friends laughed.
"So are you ready to leave?", Nadir asked looking at the carriage. "I will escort you to the station".
In the meantime the carriage was on the road and soon they reached their destination. Nadir Helped Carl to carry the luggage and then he followed Erik inside.
"You can leave daroga. I can wait alone".
"I don't have problem to stay here for a little while. Besides we have twenty minutes until the train arrives", Nadir said looking at his watch.
"Thank you. I hope to arrive in two or three days. I will send you my address. Take care of the Opera House please. If something is wrong contact me as soon as possible".
"Don't worry my friend. Nothing will go wrong. You should have your mind to your mission, not here. I will wait for your letter", Nadir said and hit Erik on his arm gently.
Just in time the train arrived. Erik took his luggage and stepped into it. He looked back to Carl and Nadir. He sat at his seat and the train began to move. His adventure had begun.