Angels Fall First

Chapter 1

“The Aftermath”

The story begins in Paris, France not long after the Opera Popular disaster……after the fire, the madness, and after the tears…….

Christine had fled with Raoul. He had taken her to his family home in Switzerland just along the border next to France. Everybody was so polite and did not talk or question what had happened that night when he brought her to his home.……

Christine, had been staying at the estate for nearly three weeks now. She was very polite in front of people who greeted her, and appreciated what they did for her. Raoul had made sure she was treated properly. He always asked if she was all right when he saw a frown on her face. Christine would smile, to reassure him that she was alright. But deep down Raoul knew otherwise. He did not want to face up the truth. The truth of where her heart truly longed for. He wasn’t a fool. He saw the chemistry the Phantom and Christine had for each other, and the love he saw in their eyes when he witnessed them together. He knew that she truly loved him…..He wished so much, that it was just a figment of his imagination.

Christine on the other hand, had so many questions in head that her mind screamed to get out……what happened to the Girys? (Meg and Madame) ……what was her angel doing now?…..where was he?…….was he alive? she felt so sick. She was so guilty for leaving him and she knew instantly that she had made the wrong choice.

Yes…she loved Raoul, he was always her childhood sweetheart. He made her feel so safe….

She also loved her angel of music (the phantom), more than words could say…He was there for her when she was in her darkest part of her life. He understood her so much. He got to her in ways nobody ever did. (Not even Raoul) He touched her soul with his voice and music. Even though he lied and did terrible things, she still loved him.

But…. she also feared him so….

She sat there in her own room, contemplating the thoughts in her head. She knew she should have followed her heart fully. But she didn’t….and she knew why… She knew that with her angel, it would be very dangerous. People would be after him. She also was not sure if she was strong enough to calm him when he would go into his rages. (which she encountered, the “first” time she took off his mask) ……Fear had stopped her for choosing him….. As for Raoul, she saw safety and friendship and yes love. But nothing compared to the passion and love she felt for her angel.

The more she thought about everything, the more she felt she had to act out…..

She knew that she could no longer carry on this charade. She had to be honest to herself and to Raoul…….

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Christine had told Raoul everything. She thought he would be furious with her, but to her surprise he wasn’t. He told her that he always knew where her heart truly belonged. As a friend he wanted her to be happy. He explained that he would rather have friendship than nothing at all. He meant it, even though he was hurting inside. He had found out where the Giry’s were. They were still in Paris, but found out that they had bought a place somewhere in Sweden. They were moving there in a months time. He knew Christine was very familiar with Sweden. It had been her home with her father long ago. He knew that she wanted to get in contact with them so he gave her their address.

Christine was going to return to Paris to the Giry’s. she wanted to find her Angel, and tell him everything. She was going to go alone but Raoul wanted to accompany her, to be sure she got there safely. Before they left, Christine had written two letters both addressed to the Giry’s. The first one letting them know that she was returning to Paris to find them. The second letter was to her angel of Music. This letter would tell him the truth of her feelings and explain everything that had happened. She somehow knew that if he had survived the mob and fire, Madame Giry would know where to find him. She only prayed that he would be alive and believe the truth when given the Letter……

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Halfway back to Paris on a dirt road, Christine was found sleeping in the rocking carriage. The road they were on was very rocky and jolted her awake when they hit a nasty bump. Raoul smiled and asked if she was all right. Still very groggy she smiled and nodded back.

“Don’t worry Little Lotti…were coming up to a small town for a nice rest before we start out again.” He said pointing out the window at the direction of the town in the distance. “Have you heard of any news from the Giry’s?” Christine questioned. “Not yet my dear….soon perhaps” he replied reassuring her. Soon after the carriage began to slow down to a stop. Christine was happy that they were going to get out of the carriage. She needed to stretch her legs.

She looked around the small town, and found it was gloomy and run down. She then saw a sign, which was old and faded. It read. Welcome to Quills town

The town had a run down hotel, a restaurant and a couple bars, and other old buildings. The alleyways there were very dark looking and sent a chill up her spine just looking. She then felt someone touch her arm, which made her jump. She looked and it was Raoul. He asking again if she was all right. She sighed with relief and nodded then followed him in the towns’ restaurant. As they went inside neither of them noticed eyes glaring at them from a far. From one of the old buildings next to the alley, this person in the shadows smiled wickedly and said in a males voice, “Look over there boys….Money!”

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Christine felt very satisfied now that her stomach was filled. She smiled as they exited the restaurant. It was very dark outside. The few people she saw out earlier, were nowhere to be seen. “Well now that we are stuffed we better get going, before the driver get to tired to drive,” Raoul mentioned, before leading her to the Carriage. As they walked Raoul noticed something move in the shadows near them. Christine saw this as well. She was just about question when she saw Raoul being shoved forcefully to the ground. Christine gasped in fright as she saw him go down. She whirled around to look, and saw someone right behind her. Before she had time to scream she was slammed against the wall of a building. “Oh.. aren’t you a pretty one..” the man hissed in her ear. Christine couldn’t see who it was. All she smelt was his foul breath, and heard his raspy deep voice in her ear. She tried to struggle, but her attempt made him slam her harder against the wall, causing her to cry out in pain.

“LEAVE HER ALONE!” Raoul roared at the man. The man just looked at him a chuckled slightly. “I will!.. if you give me all you got!” he snaped back, as he reached for Christine’s throat and started to squeeze.

“NO!…no!…ok! I will do what you ask…..just don’t hurt her!…” He pleaded. The man released his grip on her, which made her, cough heavily. He then took her and whirled her around in front of him with one hand around her waist pining her arms. The other around her neck once again. Raoul then got up from the ground. One man came behind him and pinned his arms. Another came and started to search him for any valuables that he could find. Once taking anything that was useful, the man turned and faced the other that was still holding Christine. “I gave you what you wanted….now let her go!” Raoul demanded. The man started to laugh, which caused an uproar of laughter with his men. Christine was starting to panic now…she didn’t like how this was going.

“Now…..why would I do that?” he chucked “when I could put good use to her…with me and my men." He finished while pulling her head back with her hair. Raoul was outraged! He drew his head back quickly, knocking the man behind out instantly. He then took the gun that the man had and aimed it at the other holding Christine. But at the same time that man also drew out his gun while holding her and pointed it at Raoul. He chucked again and was about to fire when, Christine stomped on his foot and somehow freed her hands and pushed his arms as he fired. The bullet barely missed Raoul's arm. The man turned and back handed her in the face causing her to drop to the ground. “Stupid BITCH!” he cursed her. He pointed the gun to her “Do you want this Fucking bullet in your skull?" He yelled as he grabbed her hair, and pressed the gun to her temple. She cried out in pain as she felt the gun against her head.

“NO!” Raoul screamed and charged at the man.

The man turned suddenly, before anyone realized and shot Raoul point blank in the chest. He went limp and dropped to the ground.

NOOOOOOOOOOO! Christine screamed. She somehow pushed the man and ran to Raoul’s lifeless body. “Oh god NO!” she sobbed against his chest. She looked and knew he was dead. The blood pored from his body. He laid there with his eyes open still. She shut her eyes as reality struck her. He was dead. He didn’t deserve this fate. He was supposed to live his life and perhaps find someone to share his happiness with…..and now he was dead. Her childhood friend was gone now forever…because of them!.

She became so furious that she went to attack the man that did this. His men quickly grabbed her arms and held her. “Look boys…….look how feisty she is now!” The main man laughed mocking her. He then grabbed a fistful of her hair and dragged her, causing her to cry out again. He took her further in the alley. He threw her against the wall, hitting her head. Her head was bleeding and throbbing now. She saw his silhouette standing over her. “Hey…Jaris…what do we do with the body?” one of his men asked. It made her sick to her stomach, as he referred to Raoul that way. “Just put it in the carriage along with the drivers body and then send the carriage on it’s way” he answered smirking as his gaze never left hers. Christine couldn’t take it anymore. She had to get away some how. She new if she didn’t she would have the same fate as Raoul. As Jaris’s men called out to him again he turned slightly to answer. Christine then kicked his shin, which knocked him to the ground. She got up and stumbled and ran as fast as she could. She heard him curse after her.

She ran down the streets screaming for help. But people would yell back at her from there windows to shut up!. They thought she was a drunk running in the streets. She felt so tired now, she started to panic, she didn’t know what else to do. She was breathing heavily now. She briefly leaned on one of the walls of a building to catch her breath. All of a sudden she felt something whip around her neck and pull her back forcefully choking her to the ground.

She gasped for air when she hit the ground. She looked up and saw that same man over her, glaring at her. “You Fucking BITCH!” he screamed at her as he took another strike with his whip! She screamed in pain, as she felt it the second time. He then began to yell other things at her, as he kicked and whipped her. She didn’t even hear what he was saying. The pain was all she felt now. She could taste the blood inside her mouth. She wanted the pain to stop. She pleaded to god for help as it continued. By now her body was going numb. She was starting to black out. She didn’t care what happened now. She was ready to die….It hurt so much...she just wanted the pain to stop!

As if her prayers were answered ….she felt no more pain. She was just numb. Was she dead? She thought.

With little strength she had left…she barely opened her eyes. She saw faces…new faces.

It was a man and a woman looking down at her. The woman looked as it she was about to cry.

“Nadir..look! she’s opening her eyes!” She gasped. The man looked. He then looked out down the street to see a man running towards them.

“Andrew! Get the buggy!…” The man yelled down the street for the other to hear. Andrew quickly turned and headed for the buggy.

Nadir, looked back at Christine. She was going in and out of consciousness. “Hold on! Little one…hold on…” he told her gently. Then finally she passed out.