| Chapter 3 ~ Where Angels Fear To Tread |
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| The next few weeks became an unending nightmare for me - all the more horrible because I was awake! The managers decided to mount the Phantom's opera in a foolish attempt to catch him. To my dismay, it was Raoul's idea to use me as the bait to lure Erik out of hiding. I could not believe my gentle Raoul had allowed himself to be caught up in the drama of hunting the Opera Ghost, but his eyes filled with a strange glee as he brought in an armed guard to watch over every rehearsal. I saw how he handled the pistols with expert ease, and I overheard him joking with the guards about "hunting down the phantom beast." I could not begin to convey my disgust and distaste of the situation. I told Raoul over and over that I did not wish to be a part of it, but he completely rebuffed my protests. To him, I was the simple-minded Little Lotte who did not understand what was going on around her. I understood all to well. Ironically, when Erik spoke of me being chained, I had no idea how right he would be. Raoul accompanied me everywhere, and guards were posted outside my dressing room door. I would often collapse in my private quarters, tears cascading down my cheeks, as I pleaded silently for my Angel of Music to come rescue me from this madness. I found myself taking refuge in Erik's music, putting my heart and soul into his opera. Thought I knew his "Don Juan Triumphant" would probably be considered too modern for most opera patrons, I relished the passion of the music. I imagined how it must have consumed him as he wrote it. I would sing in rehearsal, praying he'd appear out of thin air to guide me, correct me, to nurture my voice and spirit. I knew this was impossible. He could not risk his life for me. And I would not have wanted him to put himself in danger. As the days sped by, I drew further and further inside of myself, trying to find some sanity amidst the chaos. My sadness took me to Perros, to the graveyard in which my father was buried. I knelt at my father's grave, crying like the child I was, begging for an easy answer to my problems. To my surprise, I heard the ghostly sound of a violin playing on the breeze. I looked up and saw a dark figure atop the hill, playing a song that my father used to play for me. I stood transfixed, wondering if the ghost of my father had come to comfort me in my distress. I drifted closer and closer to the mysterious violinist. Then the music stopped and a voice more beautiful than Heaven itself sang to me. In that instant, I knew that Erik had finally come for me. I stretched out my arms to him and joined him in song. I would go with him. We would leave the world behind and find new adventures that would suit us both perfectly. But then another figure emerged from the shadows and came running toward me. Before I could comprehend what was happening, Raoul had entrapped me in his arms and was dragging me away from my beloved Phantom. I gave an outraged cry and sought to disentangle myself from his ferocious grasp. But Raoul though I was hysterical and began to shake me, hoping to wake me from my reverie. "Christine!" he cried over and over again. "Leave her!" Erik commanded, sounding very much like an avenging angel. "She is no longer yours!" Raoul took a threatening step towards the Phantom, and before I could stop either of them, I saw Erik hurl a burning skull at Raoul. "No!" I cried, grabbing hold of Raoul to keep him from harm's way. Raoul tried to push me from his path and insisted on walking closer to Erik, who continued to throw his dangerous fireballs at my friend. "Raoul, no!" I screamed, trying to drag him away from the deadly scene. I could not bear the thought of his death on Erik's hands or my conscience. "Don't go!" I heard Erik cry into the night, and I wondered briefly if I had erred in pulling Raoul away. I feared that Erik would think I had abandoned him once again, but I couldn't go anywhere with him while Raoul struggled to stay by my side. I had to send Raoul safely away! So I dragged him to the edge of the graveyard, and released his hand to hail a cab. As a carriage approached, I turned to make my way back into the graveyard, but Raoul grabbed me around the waist and thrust me into the coach with him. "No!" I screamed, seeking to hurl myself from the carriage. Raoul held me fast and emphatically sought to calm me down. He seemed to think I was hallucinating. He told me over and over again that the Phantom was not my father, that he was a thing of evil who had corrupted my trust. I wept hysterically and struggled to peer out the window. I could find no trace of Erik. He was lost to me. We were both lost in a deadly game that had spiraled out of control. * Chapter 4 ~ Don Juan Triumphant * (Back to the Ghost's Story) |