Memories

It was the year 1870 and Christine Daae had been the talk of the town as had the Phantom of the opera, People began to wonder where he had gone just after the tragic opera fire. I, Madelyn was but 5 years old when I saw the tragic fate which befell my father Count Philippe who was murdered in the vaults of the Opera house searching for The phantom known by his real name Erik, I did not see the actual murder but I found him dead by the lagoon my life had been shattered after seeing what had happened to him. Immediately I was taken in by my father’s brother, Raoul and his Wife Christine who had wed just before my father had been killed, I vowed to myself I would never go back to the Opera house and the evils that had killed my father there and I also vowed to forget about the tragic accident and the disappearance of Erik.


15 years later.


I awoke crying out looking around the room, tears streaming down my face. Fifteen year’s had passed since my father’s death and still the nightmares pursued me, I got up wondering if anyone had heard me cry out I just wanted to make sure that no-one had so I walked over to a basin and washed my face then dried it and looked into the mirror. I had lost so much of my life it was if death itself was coming for me for I was pale I looked constantly tired and I was but a woman of 20 life was supposedly to start for me but I felt like it was ending. My hair was short and ragged from where I had cut it, it was pure black and my blue eyes that once sparkled in its youth had now gone dull and lifeless. A knock at the door made me turn, it was my Aunt Christine “Maddie, are you okay? I heard you cry out from down the hall” I walked over to the door and opened it as she took in my feature and bent down to hug me “oh honey I know it’s been so long I wish you would cheer up, Raoul and I have a surprise for you. So why don’t you wash up and get dressed and come downstairs so we will be on our way?” She kissed my cheek and shut the door as she went out of my room, a surprise for me? I washed myself hurriedly and donned on my Emerald dress, put up my hair then opened my door and went downstairs seeing my uncle and aunt waiting for me. Raoul smiled at me and replied, “Maddie I’m sure you will love your surprise, you’ve hardly been out since you’re father’s death…” His words trailed off and then he apologized I finally spoke, “It’s alright Uncle Raoul, Father would have wanted what was best for me” Raoul, Christine and myself hopped into the carriage and the carriage took off. I watched the surroundings of the land pass by our carriage window it felt like I was leaving my hiding place and emerging into a brand new world of strangeness, the carriage came to a town that looked familiar as I watched people pass by; Merchants were out in the street buying and selling numerous things. The Carriage stopped by a big door way as Raoul helped Christine and me out of the carriage, we all went inside and I immediately knew where we were I stiffened and paled. Raoul sensed my uneasiness and came to my side then turned to Christine, “Christine I knew we shouldn’t have brought her here, she’s uneasy about it all” Christine frowned as I turned to them both I didn’t speak as I saw a shadow descend in the foyer, I looked up to see those eyes I saw 15 years before when I found my father’s body. A cry escaped my lips as I fell into complete darkness. Uncle Raoul caught me before I hit the floor and Christine sobbed as they rushed me into Christine's old Dressing room and laid me on the plush looking Sofa, Raoul turned to Christine, "Christine how could she have known about the Opera house from all those year's ago? It's like she stored away her memories and when she came here they just came flooding back into her mind and she fainted. My god he could still be here Christine" Christine shook her head, "No Raoul he disappeared after the fire, He wouldn't have come back without me knowing it" Raoul scowled and Christine turned him to face her, "I love you Raoul and no one else, You know I do" Raoul's scowl disappeared and he gently kissed her, "Of course I do my little Lottie, You know I'd never hurt you or let anyone else hurt you either".