Chapter 24: White and Yellow

Christine was grateful that the courts only asked her to testify once. She wasn't sure if she could look Meg in the face again. She had tried her best while she sat there on the stand, but it was almost unbearable between the pain in her side and the anger in her heart.

It wasn't the first time someone close that betrayed her in such a way. She would never forget the night her angel threatened to kill her fiancé. Sometimes she had nightmares from that night.

But this was different.

Meg, her closest childhood friend, had tossed her five year old son into the unforgiving sea. Her explanation of all her hardships when coming to America were instantly forgotten in that moment. If Raoul hadn't been there, Christine would have torn Meg apart limb by limb in that moment. Her anger had mostly subsided, but it was just left with heartbreak.

She should be happy. Meg was in custody and would receive justice. Christine had no intention of saving her friend from the prison system: her kindness had run dry at this point. Raoul was planning on asking for a lighter sentence and Christine wouldn't try to stop him- that was his choice to make.

Her angel would see Meg hang.

Christine didn't know which option she truly wanted for Meg. It had never crossed her mind that this would be a situation she would find herself in. She had other worries and was washing her hands of that whole mess.

She had other issues.

Pregnant.

She was expecting another child.

She remembered the first few days of her first pregnancy. She was certain it was the Phantom's child for no other reason than the fates being cruel to her. It was a childish assurity but it rang true in the end when Gustave was born with that little mark by his ear and those stunning silver eyes.

Raoul had been ecstatic. He wanted to be a father and focus on there happily ever after. But as the weeks dragged on and Christine grew weaker and weaker, the excitement became uncontrollable fear.

There was no excitement when the doctors told the two of them. Just terror. She had just been shot in the stomach. The only indication the baby was still alive was the occasional movement in her stomach. But even under the best of circumstances, she knew she was in for another rough pregnancy. She prayed her older age would bring an easier time but that didn't silence the anxiety from clawing on the inside of her skull.

There was a knock on her door.

"Who is it?" Christine asked weakly.

"Mr. Nadir Khan."

"Come in."

The sight of the calm Persian man made Christine smile ever so slightly. He seemed to be the only one in this place that had his head screwed on all the way.

"I brought you these," he held up a small bouquet of yellow flowers. "These rooms can be so depressingly barren."

"Thank you Mr. Khan." Christine said as politely as she could given her exhaustion.

"Do you need anything Miss Christine?" Nadir asked. "Food? Water? A nurse?"

"Water would be nice."

Nadir poured her a cup from the tin pitcher into the tin cup and handed it to her. She took several small sips while he continued with his banter.

"You're looking more well." Nadir said, giving her encouragement. "Do you feel better on the inside?"

"Getting better- nowhere near well though."

"Better is good."

"So I've been told."

"Did you want any more information about the court progressions?"

"I'd rather not think about it right now. How's Gustave?"

"He's doing well. Raoul's look after him."

"That must make Erik ecstatic."

"I've seen him worse. A few weeks ago I was certain he was going to set the whole country ablaze."

"It would be more surprising if he didn't. Is he planning on going after Meg?"

"It's hard to say. Would you like me to tell him to not?"

"He's going to do whatever he pleases. I've never been able to control him before and this is certainly not the hill I'm going to die on."

Nadir gave an understanding nod.

"Do you want to talk about you expecting?" Nadir asked.

"What's there to talk about."

"Nothing if you don't want there to be."

Christine gave a slight laugh.

"May I ask what's so funny?" Nadir asked, politely refilling her cup of water.

"I'm just confused how someone like you could befriend Erik." Christine said before catching herself. "I'm sorry Monsieur, I didn't mean it as an insult to your nationality. I just meant you're polite and civil and he's...well."

"Erik." Nadir finished her sentence. "As for our friendship, it's not a pretty tale. I'd say our relationship is built on favors and at this point we've lost track of who owes who what but we both know it's a large amount."

"Have you found a way to control him?"

"If I had, well let's just say more people would still be able to breathe. The only thing that controls him is his obsessions. Keeps him busy."

"Does he ever lose interest in his obsessions?"

"He'll put them down for a short while but he always picks them back up again with a greater obsession than before."

"I could have guessed that."

"I'm certain you know him better than anyone else."

"I hope that's not a joke about my infidelity."

"Of course not, Madame. All I was suggesting is that you know a side to Erik the rest of us will never know."

"And now jokes about his mask?"

Nadir gave a slight chuckle.

"I can assure you, I have seen behind his mask. That was before he had a choice in the matter. He'd never take it off now."

"He's never taken it off for me. He did for Gustave. He didn't scream and Erik didn't get angry."

"He's a unique child. Erik's blood runs thick in his veins, but so does the blood of his mother."

"Sometimes I fear he has too much of his father in him."

"Don't worry: he has plenty of you as well."

"That worries me too. The weak, naive little chorus girl who fell for every trap laid before her. Gustave is falling into his traps. I fear if he ever finds out, Gustave would flee with Erik without any hesitation. Just like I did."

"You didn't fall into his traps. You were manipulated."

"You're right. I happily walked into them. I loved him so much…"

She angrily set her cup on the table.

"You're right about his obsessions." She mummered. "He'll treat them like they're the most important thing in the world but then forget them only to find them again one day twice as obsessed as before."

"You think yourself a mere obsession of his?"

"What else would I be? If it was love he wouldn't have…"

"You don't have to talk about this if you don't want to."

"I do." Christine said with a certainty she didn't even know she possessed. "I've had this bottled up too long and I don't have anyone else to talk to. I don't care if you tell Erik-I just don't have the strength to face him right now."

"Understood."

"If he loved me, he wouldn't have left me." Christine said, her hands clenching into her pillow. "I loved him so much. He had been there since I was a little child, protecting me and teaching me. Manipulating me for certain but even I won't deny that my childhood naivety caused me to have a crush on the mysterious angel who watched over me. I was finally free of him. But I didn't want to be. I came back to him and he vowed he'd always love me. I believed him. I gave myself to him. And in the morning he was gone."

She let out an angry huff.

"I felt dirty." She spat out. "My first thought was that he never loved me and all he ever wanted was for him to take my virginity. And part of me still feels that way. A night that I thought was beautiful turned into one of pain."

Nadir gave a remorseful nod but no verbal response.

"I found out that he was dead and I was pregnant within the same week." Christine admitted. "I had no one to talk to...what could I say to Raoul? I'm expecting a dead man's child, hold me? And when little Gustave was born...I should have been happy. But I wasn't. All I could see was that mark by his ear. I was terrified of someone-anyone finding out."

She let out another sigh.

"I don't deserve Raoul." Christine said, her eyes fixed on the wall. "He's so perfect. He was so sweet and supportive during my pregnancy and illness...everything. And I betrayed him. And I don't feel bad about it. At least not as much as I should. I'm a horrible person…"

"I think you're just human."

Christine gave a slight laugh.

"I don't know what I want."

"You don't have to decide yet."

"Or at all."

"Choosing not to make a choice is still a choice."

"How wonderful."

There was a knock at the door but it swung open before either Christine or Nadir could respond.

"Hello Christine." It was Darius with a bouquet of white flowers in his hands. "I heard you were awake. I was so distraught when I heard you were in an accident."

"Thank you Monsieur." Christine said, trying to remember exactly who this man was...Erik had a lot more friends than she thought.

Darius took the empty seat and Christine knew he wouldn't be leaving any time soon.

The Phantom didn't bother knocking on the de Changy's hotel door. He just barged in like he always did.

"Boy!" The Phantom yelled into the silent room. "Show yourself!"

When Raoul didn't come out, The Phantom began searching the apartment. It was too early in the morning for the boy to be out doing something-what did the boy have to do other than wait for Christine to get better. What did either of them really have to do? Their lives revolved around her.

He threw open the door to the master bedroom of the hotel suite. Raoul was laying on his stomach, looking pathetic as usual. Why he ever trusted Christine with this pathetic fop was beyond him.

The Phantom just stared at him for a while, wondering what was the best way to terrify him awake.

"Boy!" The Phantom shouted.

Raoul jolted awake but didn't try to get up. He looked horrendous-his face was pale and almost green. His eyes were sunken in and there was something staining his shirt.

"You look horrible." The Phantom observed.

"That's rich coming from you…" Raoul mumbled into his pillow. "Do you have any respect for privacy?"

"It's my hotel." The Phantom argued, as if owning the place made it right. "And you better have a good explanation as to why Christine is pregnant,"

"I think we both know how it works." Raoul once more mumbled this into a pillow, letting out a loud groan.

"Why wasn't I informed?"

"Why would you be."

"You've gotten bolder, I'll give you that. But your foolishness has increased ten fold."

"What are you going to do? Put me out of my misery."

"Quit being overdramatic."

"Again, rich coming from you."

Raoul gave another pained moan, clutching his stomach.

"What on earth are you moaning about?" The Phantom said, rather enjoying the fop rolling around in pain.

"Your cursed American food gave me food poisoning." Raoul complained. "Gustave and I have been sick since last night...that bloody sausage thing should be outlawed."

"That sneaky child…" The Phantom put his hand on his head. "I told him that he wasn't allowed to eat those ever again."

"He said you let him."

"I did once. And then he was sick from it so never again. He played you."

"Definitely his father's son…" Raoul said so quietly he was certain The Phantom hadn't heard, but of course he had.

"Since I'm not going to get any answers from you," The Phantom said, "I'm going to visit Christine. Try not to roll in your own sick for long-it's not a good look. I'll be back soon to take care of Gustave considering you are unable to."

"Bring the flowers on the coffee table to her…" Was all Raoul managed to get out before falling back to sleep.

Pathetic.