My Angel of Music

Icy Blue Sea

We went out the back exit, avoiding a crowd for Erik.  it was a chilly night, the sky devoid of stars and the wind blwing fiercly.  I shivered in my fur coat and looked around the eerie, empty streets.  Something didn't feel right...

I put my arm through Erik's and huddled closer to his form, though he provided no heat, in fact he made me colder.  But the contact eased my paranoid mind.  We continued walking until we came upon a bridge.  usually this bridge was full of tourists, looking out over the icy sea, and pointing to sea gulls and dolphins.  Not tonight.

There was no one but Erik and I.  This fact did nothing to help my mind, and again, sent shivers down my spine.  I felt erik tense beside me, and I calmed a little knowing that he felt it too.  we didn't say anything, but began looking around in helpless fear.  

Finally, my eyes landed on something.  Well.. Someone.

A small form, a girl more than likely, was leaning over the edge of the bridge, her head tilted down in thought.  I quickened my pace and tugged Erik along with me, not daring to say anything to him, lest the girl hear.  

As we got closer, I could see that it was indeed a girl, at about the age of seventeen.  She had long blonde curls, and her skin was tan from the sun.  She had bruises on her bare arms and her clothes were raggad and dirty.  The girl's brown eyes were wide in fear, but a glint of excitement nd anticipation shone in the darkness.  The way she leaned over the edge made me stop in my tracks.  This girl was no tourist looking at a dolphin.  

Before I could say a word, she climbed over the edge and stepped on the ledge, her thin arms still holding on the the railing.  Erik sucked in a breath beside me, but I was the one who, out of instinct, stepped forward.  

"Wait!"  I cired, my voice high pitched and shrill.  The girl's head snapped my direction, and her eyes got even bigger.  She paled and looked from me to the water.  "G-go away, you'll only make things worse!"  She ordered, a French accent lacing her haggard voice.  I raised my hands to show that I was only here to help and gently smiled in assurance.  

"You're from France too?"  I asked in French.  She looked up from the water and nodded, swallowing.  I stepped closer and continued smiling.  "i just moved here from France.  Paris, actually.  Where did you live?"  I asked softly, my tone motherly and comforting.  

she looked as if she were debating wether or not she sould answer.  "I'm from Paris too."  She finally said.  "What's your name?"  I asked, stepping closer.  She tensed but didn/'t scoot down like I expected her to.  "Fleur."  

I grinned and nodded in thanks.  "My name is Christine."  

She nodded and looked at the water.  

"So, Fleur, how did you end up here?'  I asked, gesturing to the railing.  She tensed but sighed in defeat.  

"I was in Paris, with my parents, cleaning for a noble family, and sending the money back to my Mama and Papa and three sisters.  Well, the family I was working for had a son, my age.  We were both Fifteen at the time.  We fell in love, you could say.  Of course, we met only in secret.  No one knew.  But soon enough, his father found out and threatened to send me away.  So, we stole a bunch of his money and ran away to America.  We got married, soon enough.  We had been married for about a year when he started hitting me.  Then about a years later he started... forcing himself upon me.  I kept trying to get away, but he would always find me.  no matter what.  Tonight was the last straw.  I told him that... That I am pregnant.  And he hit me over and over again..."  Her voice cracked, but she took a shuddering breath and continued.

"So, I took a pistol and... I shot him five times right in the head.  I don't feel guilty at all.  I could have slept easily, knowing I had just killed him.  But... As soon as those bullets left the gun.."  She let out a sob and had to clutch the railing so she wouldn't fall.  I tensed and moved closer in case she were to slip.  

"As soon as the bullets left the gun, I-I started bleeding real bad.  I didn't know what it was at first, but I realized that my baby was dead.  I had killed my own baby."  she wept quietly into the dark night.  Tears sprung to my eyes and I stepped closer.  I reached out a hand and placed it softly on her shaking shoulder.  luckily she didn't react to my touch as I had feared.  I leaned in closer and stroked her damp curls.  

"Fleur, I understand completely what you are going through.  I lost my baby once.  Stillborn.  But you can and will get through it.  I can be your friend and I can help you."  I said softly into her ear.  She sniveled and offered a pathetic smile.  

"Thank you.. But I don't think I can.  I cannot do it anymore.  I am only eighteen and I've already lost my child and my husband!"  she cried hysterically.  Pity flooded my heart and i shed a small tear.

"When I was very young, my mother died.  And then my Father.  So I went to the Paris Opera House to study there.  And do you want to know a secret?  I had an Angel watching over me the whole time.  And you do too.  just climb over the rail, and you can stay with us.  I can get you a position at the Opera House I'm at right now."  

her face slightly brightened, but not much.  She stared at me before realization slowly donned on her face.  "Y-You're Christine Daae."  She stuttered, her brown eyes wide once more.  I blushed and nodded.  "Ms. Daae, I saw you once, in Faust a long time ago.  Will you sing for me?"  she asked eagerly.  I smiled and nodded.  "Yes, just promise that you will come over the rail when I am done."  I bargained, watching her carefully.  

Fleur thought about it for a moment before sighing and nodding her consent.  I glanced back at erik, who was staring, wide-eyed.  He nodded in agreement and I turned around and started singing the Jewel Song from Faust. Her eyes lit up and her lips formed the words of the song along with me.  

Her gaze suddenly became dazed as I too, got lost into the cloudy confusion music put me in.  But I watched her with hazy curiosity, seeing her sigh and smile throughout the song.  When the song reached it's climax, Fleur smiled, her eyes in a daze, and lifted her hands for just a brief second.  She leaned back in ecstasy, and before I could even scream, she was gone.  There was no screaming.  Only a splash below was heard.