All I Ask Of You

Chapter 19

I tossed and turned that night unable to sleep. My thoughts were racing thinking of how furious Phillipe had been his voice echoing in my mind as the events of the night before also collided, swirling in my brain like a swarm of angry bees.

I looked at my nightstand where my notebook was, filled with letters that would never be sent or read by anyone else besides me.

I reached my hand over taking it off the stand and flipping through it, skimming through the pages of memories, laughing softly at some of them as I could feel my chest fill with nostalgia about how things had used to be. It seemed such a short time ago when I didn't have a care in the world except for attending practices and performances and doing my best at them. Now things were so complicated and I supposed perhaps that's how it will always be, nothing could ever be simple again.

Just as I flipped to the next page I suddenly heard voices whispering in low tones from outside of the dormitories.

I cautiously got up, walking on the balls of my feet to not make any noise as I crept past Christine's empty bed, past the rows of beds filled with girls sleeping soundlessly. 

I arrived at the door, slowly looking through the crack, trying to see if I could make out who it was.

My eyes landed on the familiar brown curls of Christine, then Raoul. I swallowed as I saw Phillipe among them as they all held candles with serious expressions on their faces.

"There's no other way?" Christine asked as worry crept into her tone.

"I believe there isn't if what my brother said is true there will be no hope of saving Celeste if we don't do this," Raoul told her as he took her hand into his.

She sighed as she shook her head.

"She won't do it, the Opera Ghost has deceived her too much, she truly thinks he loves her."

I held my breath as my heart pounded, wondering what they were planning.

"Then she doesn't have to know, this is something we have to do without her help," Phillipe said with a frown.

Christine looked at him in disbelief at what he said.

"You expect me to deceive her too, after everything she's been through?"

"Christine, please, this is something that has to be done, not only for her sake but the sake of the Opera Populaire, once this is all over I'm sure she will be most grateful for us," Raoul told her as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

I heard her sigh as she slowly nodded her head.

"I supposed you're right."

I backed away from the door as I heard the door knob turn and I quickly backed away into the darkest corner of the room as Christine came, waving and whispering good night as she closed the door.

The light of the candles flickered in her hand as she closed the door shut, the light of the flame illuminating her face as she looked towards me, and I folded my arms across my chest, letting her know that I had heard their conversation.

She jumped back momentarily before smiling in relief that it was me.

"Oh Celeste, you startled me."

"Apparently so," I said as I narrowed my eyes at her.

Christine looked at me confusingly for a moment and then took a deep breath as if realizing why I was upset.

"How much did you hear?"

"Enough to know that you're going to deceive me." I snapped, anger rising in my chest.

"Celeste, I wasn't going to deceive you."