Love never dies

Chapter 10 : the arrival

Christine's  POV

We finally arrive the Manhattan after three weeks on the boat . The travelling was harsh . I always got seasick but now that we are here , I felt relief. I saw the smile on Gustave face when we're on the deck . I hold his hand and walk forward .

" Miss Daee! Would you look here please ! Miss Daee!! " people crowding around me and my family wanting to take pictures of us and write reports about my arrival .
" Her name is Madame De chagny. " Raoul said to the people crowding .
" Stop that would you ? Leave us alone . " he said to the cameraman trying to take our pictures .
" Your first performance in years, why ain't you singing at the Met? " One of the reporter asked .
" The Viscountess has been engaged by the well-known impresario, Mr. Oscar Hammerstein, to open his new Manhattan opera house. " Raoul explained
" How'd he lure the great Christine Daae over here anyway? "
" Ah, it's the money, right? All that American moolah! " another man said
" My wife is an artist! " Raoul get offended and shouted .
" Yeah and it's her art that's payin off your gambing debts is what they're saying in France! " the reporter said . Then everyone looks at us and made silent comments to one another . Raoul already look embarrassed and tried to walk away .
" Is it true you left your entire fortune on a roulette table in Monte Carlo? " I turn to look at the man that said those words . It's so obvious Raoul is already so irritated . 
" Insolent Jackals! How dare you? " Raoul shouted . I held Gustave hand tightly so that he won't leave my side .

Suddenly everyone's attention turned to the three wheeled carriage with no horses in front which is coming towards us . It moves on its own . I was curious and amazed . Gustave let go of my hand and walk slowly towards it . I can see him being so amazed by the sight . Then three people came out of the carriage. They were three strange people and they call themselves , Squelch , Dr Gangle and Fleck . I can sense Raoul tense up behind me just by looking at them . The three of them told us that Hammerstein send this . I looked at them and decided to go in . Raoul sigh and went in too .

We reached our hotel room .
" this is it ? The place we've been booked ? " he look in the room with disgust .
" What a dreadful town, what a vulgar place.
What an awful mistake to have come here .
To be on display in that shameless way .
For the crude common lower-class scum here
How do they dare to treat us so? " Raoul poured himself a drink and curses this place softly .

" father , dear come play with me . Come and see this toy I got ! " Gustave asked excitedly .
Raoul ignores Gustave and stills complains about this place and how awful it was . He thought Hammerstein was a joke for sending us freaks to lead us here . He was disgusted and mad . He wants to leave this place .

" Father please, come play with me ! " Gustave asked again . " Gustave enough ! The answer is no . " Gustave was disappointed . He got up to sit on the piano that is in the room and play a melody . The melody was so beautiful . It's like I heard of it before . Somewhere I just do not know where .

" Must you play now ? " Raoul asked
" I think it's beautiful ."
" What is it anyway? "
" I do not know . It just here on the piano. "
" Well it hurts my head " Raoul said angrily .
Gustave got down and continue playing with his toy .

"Please , let's not fight dear . I'm sure Hammerstein never intends a slight dear " I said calmly
" how dare he patronise us? We should never have accepted . "
" We need the money that's all . That's why things haven't been right dear . " I replied
" Why doesn't it surprise me that I get the blame here ?  " he slammed the table . I was terrified of him . He really been on his nerve nowadays .
" let's leave tonight dear . If that will serve to ease your troubled mind . Leave the hurt behind . " I touch his face to calm him down .

" Father dear, come over here and look at what they gave to me . Wind it up and father, see . Look, it plays a melody " Gustave said .

The melody . The melody this toy plays . I know that melody it's the Little Lotte song . Suddenly I got goosebumps .

The toy played a xylophone sound to the lyrics " No, what I love best, Lotte said . Is when I'm asleep in my bed and the Angel of Music sings songs in my head . "

Then there was a knock on the door . It was the bellboy handing us letters . Raoul took it and read it .

" it's from Hammerstein. He wants to see me at the hotel bar . Alone . Finally this man have the nerve to see me . I'll go now . " he said happily .
" Raoul please . "
" Please what ? " he stared at me with his cold eyes .
" Nothing . " i just didn't want him to drink but I was too afraid to say something .