Chapter Text
*Christine
Still struggling with myself, I got into the carriage.
After giving the driver Madame Gira's address, we set off.
I had conflicting emotions.
Part of me was thrilled at the thought of seeing my beloved faces only minutes away. God knows I missed them terribly...
Yet, part of me dreaded this moment.
How would they react to seeing me after two months apart?
The driver pulled up at the address I'd given within minutes. It was too soon for me. I wasn't ready for this.
I took a deep breath and exhaled, trying to control my stress.
Before I got out of the carriage, I realized with horror that I didn't have any money with me to pay the driver.
I started to tell him to wait a moment while I asked Madame Giry for the money when the man explained that he had already received his payment.
He explained that the man in the hat had paid him for the longest possible ride I could ask for.
Erik.
On shaking legs, I got out of the carriage. Wishing the driver good evening, I glanced at the building in front of me.
I took a deep breath and then headed towards the building where Madame Giry's apartment was located.
Madame Giry's apartment, where I lived after my father's death, was a ten-minute walk from the opera house. It was a nice, quiet neighborhood.
Holding the railing, I climbed a few steps.
For a moment, I stood motionless in front of the door, trying to gather my thoughts.
Finally, I raised my hand and knocked on the door.
With my heart racing, I listened as someone struggled with the door for a moment, until finally... Madame Giry stood before me.
Nothing had changed.
Her hair, as usual, was neatly combed into a crown. She was dressed in a black house dress.
At the sight of me, Madame Giry's face froze.
The faint smile she greeted me with instantly transformed into a look of shock. Her eyes widened, and her mouth opened slightly into an "o."
Her hand, which was holding the shawl she was wrapped in, trembled.
"Mon dieu..." she whispered after a moment.
Her eyes welled up.
Without waiting any longer, Madame Giry hugged me.
In an instant, I felt all my fears vanish. I returned the hug.
With motherly concern, I felt Madame Giry caressing my back. I sighed softly at the gesture, hugging her even tighter.
"Child...how is this possible? Where have you been all this time?" she asked, pulling away from me slightly.
I saw her eyes studying me intently.
Her gaze lingered a bit longer on my cheek, which still bore the burn.
Instinctively, I tilted my head slightly so the burn wouldn't be so obvious.
Madame Giry must have noticed my gesture, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she looked around us and said,
"Let's go inside; we won't stand here like this." She touched my back as she spoke.
Then we both went inside.
**
We waited impatiently for Meg to return.
From what I learned from Madame Giry, Meg and the rest of the corps de ballet dancers had resumed dance rehearsals. They all agreed they couldn't afford a long break from dancing. Thanks to our prima ballerina, Sorelli, the girls were able to practice twice a week in a rented space in a small theater.
Madame Giry was forced to give up supervising the dancers because her knee had been bothering her for some time.
Hearing the sound of a key hitting the door, I turned my head. From the living room, I heard the front door opening, followed by Meg's voice:
"Oh, I'm so glad I'm home. Sorelli's gone crazy, I swear, Mom... She gave us such a hard time, I can't feel my legs..." Saying this in a pained tone, she walked into the living room with a lopsided gait.
The moment her gaze landed on me, she stopped dead in her tracks. I stood up.
Her eyes were wide, as was her mouth.
She opened and closed them several times, unable to utter a word.
I gave her a small, uncertain smile.
We stared at each other for a moment, then, with a quick step, Meg closed the distance between us.
She lunged at me with such force that I thought she would knock us both down.
"I knew it," she gasped, hugging me tightly. "I knew you were alive."
"Meg...I missed you," I said into her curls.
We held each other for a long time, both sniffling.
"Where have you been, Christine? Do you know how worried we were about you...?" She pulled away from me, keeping her hand on my shoulder. "The police...they thought you were...dead." Her lower lip trembled at the last words.
"I was in good hands," I assured her, reaching for her hand and squeezing it lightly, as if to confirm her words.
"You have to tell me right now what's been going on with you all this time," she demanded, placing one hand on her hip and raising the other in front of her, waving a finger in front of my nose.
"I'd like to know that too," Madame Giry said behind us.
I nodded in understanding.
A moment later, I was sitting on the couch, Madame Giry on one side of me and Meg on the other.
I took a deep breath and told them everything.
From the moment Erik and I disappeared from the stage until we said goodbye. The only thing I kept to myself was our kiss and the emotions that accompanied it.
The women hung on my every word.
When I finished telling the story, silence fell in the living room for a moment.
"And he just let you go?" "Meg suddenly said, raising her eyebrows skeptically.
I nodded.
"And how can you be sure he'll keep his word and not try to capture you again? He's a madman...!"
"Meg..." I took her hand in mine. "I swear to you that Erik has changed. He's a better man now."
Meg narrowed her eyes slightly, examining me carefully.
"The important thing is that you're alright, child," Madame Giry said, stroking my arm. "It's been a long and exciting day. I'll go to bed now." With that, she rose from the couch and, wishing us a good night's sleep, limped slightly on one leg as she headed toward her room.
"Oh, Christine. I have so much to tell you," Meg perked up when we were alone. "But first... I have to ask you this. Have you been to Raoul's yet? How did he react?"
I shook my head.
"I haven't been to see him yet," I replied calmly. "I wanted to see you first."
"You're lucky, I'd be terribly angry with you if I found out I went to Raoul's first," she teased. But then she turned serious. "You absolutely have to see him tomorrow. Believe me, the last time I saw him, he was a wreck. He's been through a lot."
After Meg's words, I felt the negative thoughts begin to creep back in.
Looking down for a moment, I swallowed hard.
Poor Raoul...
Luckily for me, Meg didn't notice this sudden change in my demeanor. She became animated, and began rambling a bit about everything I'd missed over the past two months.
**
Madame Giry and I were getting ready to leave for Raoul's estate.
Unable to stop my hands from shaking, I put my hat on.
Looking at myself in the mirror, I took a few deep breaths.
I couldn't explain it rationally, but I was nervous about the imminent meeting.
Part of me wanted to postpone it, while the other part of me wanted to get it over with.
"Ready?" Madame asked, gently touching my arm.
I looked at her.
Her gaze was gentle, caring. I had the impression Madame was well aware of the emotions I was feeling.
I swallowed hard. I cast one last glance at my reflection in the mirror, brushing back a strand of hair.
I nodded.
A moment later, we were outside. A cool breeze gently ruffled the fabric of my dress.
Linking arms, we walked down the steps carefully.
We were only a few meters from the house when we heard a man's voice behind us.
"Miss Daae?"
Startled, I turned my head.
A man in a gendarmerie uniform stood behind us.
I nodded hesitantly.
"I'm Marius Le Droit, inspector. I was investigating the incidents at the opera. If you have the time, I'd like to ask you a few questions," he said sternly.
"I...of course," I said, feeling the tension creeping up inside me.
I glanced briefly at Madame Giry, seeking any help she could offer.
She, without taking her watchful eyes off the inspector, said:
"Miss Daae is my ward, and since she hasn't yet reached the age of majority, I feel compelled to be with her during this conversation...of course, if the inspector allows," she added after a moment.
The inspector nodded.
"Of course."
"In that case, please follow me, monsieur." With that, Madame Giry began to lead the way toward our house.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a curtain move from the house across the street. At the last moment, I spotted Madame Valerius hiding behind it. She was our neighbor, a gossip.
I frowned, wondering if she had sent Mr. Le Droit.
***