The Aftermath(Phantom Of The Opera)

Chapter 3- I Have Nightmares Sometimes.

        "Do I hear the dearest voice of Little Lotte?" Raoul grinned, walking into the parlor of the De Chagny manor.

    "That you do, Monsieur! She is singing again! It's truly a wonderful thing to see," Colette, one of the De Chagny maids, whispered. Colette was a very dear friend of Raoul. Raoul looked at the workers as family, considering he spent most of his time with them. Colette was around the age of his mother, and her daughter was only a few years younger than Christine. Colette's daughter played the piano, and Christine's voice echoed through the manor.

      Christine's eyes locked with Raoul's. There was a familiar excitement in her eyes. It was not for Raoul. The brightness in her eyes was for the music. Christine could feel the adrenalin rushing through her veins, and at that moment, there was no one in the room. There was the music playing, and there was her soul, pouring into every word she sang. She smiled as she sang. Singing was her life, her entire life. Truly, she could not cope without it. She finished, returning back to reality. An emptiness filled her body. She felt hollow again, but she didn't show it. Instead, she smiled brightly, and she took a bow. The room erupted with applause. Raoul stood in the corner of the room, proud of Christine. He knew the excitement was gone, but he, too, said nothing. Instead...

    "Christine, that was beautiful," complimented Raoul, kissing Christine's hand.

    "Thank you, Raoul." Her voice was not happy. She was struggling to sound delighted, but she wasn't. I learned from an angel, after all, she wanted to say, but she didn't. "If you would be so kind to allow me to sleep for a little while. I feel..I feel tired."

    "Of course, Christi-" She quickly passed him, making no sound. She had always stepped lightly, reminding Raoul of an angel floating across the room. Perhaps that was why she was always a spectacular dancer. She was light on her feet. Raoul didn't follow Christine upstairs, although he was rather worried if she was alright. He knew she needed her time alone, and he respected her enough to give her that time. Still, she was on his mind.

     The truth of the matter was that Christine had to calm herself down. After singing, Erik flooded her memory. She felt as if his eyes were on her, but Raoul told her it wasn't true. Raoul promised he is not here, Christine would say to herself, and you have no reason to not trust Raoul. Raoul is protecting you, she would say, but she wondered why she needed to be protected. Erik would not harm her. Did she need protection from herself? She wasn't quite sure. Perhaps she was losing her mind, but Raoul didn't have the heart to tell her.

    "Erik is not here," Christine whispered to herself, yet she did not not believe it. She decided to do the only thing she could do when she needed help: "Father, what shall I do? I am to be married to Raoul in what feels like mere moments! Raoul cannot be seen with a troubled woman. No, Father, that would surely sully his good name. Oh, I just cannot bear this! Tell me what to do!"

    "Christine? Are you alright?" Raoul had heard her mumbling to herself, and although he knew he was doing this only for himself, he decided it would be in both of their best interests if he checked on her.

    "I'm fine, Raoul! I was almost asleep, really!"

    "I thought I heard a voice."

     "Oh, no. I have heard nothing, Raoul. You must be hearing things!" Knowing Christine would continue to insist that she had been trying to sleep, Raoul backed down.

     "Very well. I will be in the study if you need me."

     "All right."

     Christine was glad that Raoul had believed her- she did not know he knew that she had been talking, but she still felt like she was doing a horrible job at being the ideal partner for Raoul. A wife should be able to support her husband, Christine thought, but Raoul is supporting me. She wanted to be a good partner, but she hadn't the slightest idea how to. Her mother had died giving birth to her, and Erik had forbidden her to ever be courted, so she had no experience in relationships besides Raoul. I should sleep, she thought. With that, Christine shut the curtains, pulled back the sheets, slipped into bed, and tried her best to fall asleep.

    Eventually, Christine did fall asleep. She didn't have a very good dream. It was dark, and quiet. Christine tried to call for someone, but nothing came out. She couldn't hear anything. She was alone. She tried to call again, but she still could not hear anything. She started to scream. She screamed for someone to help. It was just so dark, and she was completely alone.

Little did she know, she was screeching, and Raoul could hear her. He sprinted as fast as he could to Christine's bedroom, frantically calling her name. When he arrived, she was curled into a ball, eyes still shut, screams rippling from her chest.

"Christine! Christine!" Her eyes opened immediately. She threw her arms around him, gasping and looking around with wide eyes.

"Oh, I never thought I would rid myself from there! I called for you, but I couldn't hear anything myself." Christine started to cry. Raoul assumed it was the dream, but she cried for different reasons. She cried because, once again, Raoul was comforting her. She had always been told that wives comforted their husbands, not the other way around.

    "Christine, are you alright?" Raoul locked gazes with her. She knew then that if she told him the truth, he would understand.

     "Raoul...I think it might be wise for you to be married to someone else. I am not fitted to be your wife. A man with such a high honor as you cannot be seen with...with a mad woman." Raoul understood now. He understood why she had been so distant with her emotions lately. He understood why she kept running out of the room as if she were losing control. He understood everything.

   "Christine, my sweet, sweet Christine, wives and husbands are meant to comfort each other. In sickness and in health, as they say. Christine, do not hide your feelings from me. I am meant to help you. I love you more than you shall ever comprehend." Raoul pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear. She smiled sadly, wiping a tear from her cheek.

   "You will be judged, Raoul. If I am to stay with you in my condition, you will be judged. Everything you have worked for could be ruined because of me." Christine did not seem as if she did not want to be with Raoul, she was simply stating a fact.

    "Everything I have worked for is nothing compared to the immense amount of joy you have brought to me. Let them judge as they may. I will protect you- that is a promise I am bound to keep." Raoul wasn't concerned about what people thought of him. He loved Christine, and that was all that mattered to him. Christine nodded, but even so, she kept her posture perfect. Raoul wasn't sure if she was normally like that or if she had her guard kept up. He wasn't in any place to question her, however. So, instead he simply smiled and said:

   "Get some rest, darling. I wouldn't want my bride to fall asleep while walking down the aisle."

   "Of course. The wedding. Well, I suppose I won't see you until then. Goodnight, Raoul."

   "Goodnight, Christine."

I am soooo sorry about how long this took to get out. End of the year in school is extremely busy. Hopefully when summer starts, I'll be able to update more often! Love you guys- Bella