Let the Dream Descend (Phantom of the Opera Fanfic)

The Aerie

****SURPRISE UPDATE!! I felt bad for not updating for almost 2 weeks so i decided to make up for it and plus I have spring break so yay! I hope you love this chapter!!! -Catherine *****

PS: I recommend hearing "The Aerie" from LND during this entire chapter: it gives more feels in my opinion :P

Christine's POV

The Opera Populaire was about a block away from the hotel Jack and I was staying at. He didn't want me to walk therefore ordered a carriage to ride in. His mother claimed to be there waiting for our arrival. I had my arms entwined around Jack's as we had small talk as we rode through the windy silent night. The carriage finally stopped and Jack quickly jumped out, waiting for me to step out. I stepped out and gasped at what I saw. Why was I in so much of a state of shock? I could do this. I will do this, it's just one night, and also, no one will know who I am, everyone from the Opera House previously has fled, afraid to come back.

"Chris, you ready?" Jack held his hand out to me.

"Yes, I'm sorry," I hold his hand and jump off the carriage. We silently walk up the stairs as I stared agape at the structures surrounding me. I was actually here. We stepped inside to welcoming instrumental music. The guards at the door greeted us; they must have been new to not recognize me. I avoided any eye contact to make sure no one would remember me, just in case.

"I'm going to go find my friend and bring some drinks. Do you want anything specific?"

"Water is fine thank you," I smile and Jack kisses my forehead.

"Why don't you go look around, there's plenty of things left of the fire a few years ago on display. The performances are going to start in a few minutes," Jack lets go of my arm as he disappears through the crowd.

Unknown POV

Those pests are having a ball in my Opera House how dare they! It will give me plenty of time to walk around to see my newly rebuilt opera house. I walk by a window to inspect who decided to show up. It doesn't even take me a second to notice her. It can't be. I must be dreaming. I should be dreaming. She came back. I put my back against the wall. My heart is about to burst out of my chest. I haven't seen her since I left her. Her rosy cheeks were still bright. Her eyes, those brown eyes were still alive. Her lips, oh how I wanted to hear her voice, her sweet voice. How I wanted to hear her sing again. My music, I wanted to hear sing my music.

But of course she'd be here, the Vicomte's wife. She married him and he remains the patron. I look again and it isn't Vicomte next to her, it is a different fool. She has wedded a different fool!? I must make her know that I am here. My Christine has come back.

Christine's POV

I feel like everyone's watching me. I attempt to blend into the crowd but get sharp looks from wives for their husbands glaring at me. I don't mean any harm, I just feel so insecure. I give up looking around and attempt to find Jack. I turn around to find myself looking at my reflection. I gasp bringing attention to myself. I didn't care, because there stood the mirror. The mirror from the night of my first performance; the night Erik took me to his lair. I slowly walk towards it, completely closing my senses up focusing on touching it. It felt cold and empty. "Miss! Excuse me mademoiselle you cannot—" I hear from the background a glass drop to the floor. "Christine!" I look into the mirror to not only find my reflection, but to find Raoul running towards me.

Raoul POV

"Vicomte! How do you feel being back in the Opera House?" one of the possible investor asked me.

"It feels real mate, very real," I laugh as I sip my champagne. I watch my alcohol these days. After she left, I went on an excessive rampage only finding myself becoming more miserable every day, but I knew I had to change, and I did.

"RV!" Jack jogs towards me as he shakes my hand.

"You made it Jack! Let me introduce you to the possible investors of the Opera House. Jack is my oldest college friends, his parents participate in investing plentiful in theatre. He's a possible investor as well as my best mate."

"No need to brag Vicomte! I brought her with me, come, I want you to meet her," Jack laughs as he persuades me to come along.

"There's no need for rush Jack, come on, tell these men a little about yourself," Jack gives in and begins to talk of the basic investment history of his family. I look around the room to inspect what was going on around me. Everyone seemed so content. Everything seemed so normal. I had my best friend here, my life is taking a turn, maybe I could move on from Little Lotte.

I stop my gaze at a woman with brown curly hair in a white gown almost touching one of the antiques. "Miss!" The men, including Jack catch my attention and look towards the direction I was speaking to. Jack attempts to say something but I ignore it. "Excuse me mademoiselle you cannot—" I look into the mirror and drop my glass of champagne as I realize who it is. Her. It's her. "Christine!" She makes eye contact with me as she looks into the mirror. I run as fast as I could to her, with Jack tailing behind me.

"Raoul," Christine turned her full attention to me as she holds her arms out to enclosure me into a hug.

Christine POV

Raoul. Raoul is here. He sprints his way through the crowd, not caring who is looking or in the way. He didn't let his eyes wander off, they were focused on me. I did miss him. He was my child hood friend I wouldn't lie. I open my arms wide to enclose him into a hug. "Raoul," I walk a few feet forward and he catches me in his arms. He holds me close to his chest and I could hear his heart beat at maximum speed. He kisses my hair and holds me close before releasing me only a little, though I was still in his arms.

"Little Lotte, it is you. But how? Why? What are you doing here my love?" Raoul had tears in his eyes threatening to come out. He takes a curl and puts it behind my ear as he touches my face.

"Raoul, I came here—"

"Chris?" I spin my head to find Jack standing just a few feet from us with worried eyes. I realize I'm still in Raoul's arms when I let go and step a few feet from Raoul.

"Christine, what's wrong?" Raoul grabs ahold of my hand as I place space between us.

"RV, how do you know Chris?" Jack steps a few feet closer to Raoul.

"RV? You're Jack's friend?" I suddenly realize as I look to Raoul.

"And you're Chris, his supposed lady friend?" Raoul says.

"Excuse me monsieur I am far from a lady friend," I took a step back clearly offended.

"Can someone tell me what the hell is going on here?" Jack steps next to me, clearly annoyed by the sudden turn of events.

Raoul holds up a hand to me, he wanted to speak first.

"Jack, this is Christine, the girl I spoke of," Raoul calmly says.

"Wait you're the girl that, you loved her?" Jack's eyes were most likely about to fall out of his head. "You knew all along?"

"I didn't know you were acquainted with Raoul, Jack," I say.

"All this time, you were with him?" Raoul turns to me, "I've waited so long to see you again Lotte, and all this time," He steps closer but Jack holds me closer. Before any of us spoke, a man on the staircase cleared his throat.

"Dinner is served!" Jack leads me to the dining room, leaving Raoul behind. I felt his eyes burning as he stared us walk away.

"Jack," I try to catch his attention but he avoided eye contact, "Jack I'm sorry I didn't know. Jack I needed to step away from this life. I needed to start new with no memories of the past you must understand," I put a hand to his face. He finally gives in and looks at me with eyes of hurt. It reminded me of him. I shake the thought from my head. Jack lets me go and goes to his seat. I sit right next to him and sign. He's everywhere, it's like he never left. This was going to be a long evening.

Unknown POV

I ran through the catacombs of my lair. I put on my mask and attire of the first night she saw me. I looked at myself in the mirror. I repaired it after she left the night I left her. I do regret leaving her. We could've had a life together. She could've been in my arms tonight. For the last five years we could've been together. I was going to make this right. And I was going to see my Christine once again tonight.