Modern Phanfic

[Jaycee]

OK, I know there have already been about a million modern phanfics written, but the one I read all seemed to be really biased toward EC, and didn't really tell the true story, so I wrote this one. It's going to be mostly in Christine's POV, but I'll put in short paragraphs by Raoul and Erik, whenever something improtant happens. I couldn't think of a name for it, and please don't be mad at me if i take a long time between posts. I actually started writing this like a month ago, and didn't get around to typing up the first bit until now. Anyway, hope you like it!


Chapter 1

Christine’s POV

I looked down at the piece of paper in my hands, my hair falling in my face. I pushed the unruly reddish brown curls out of the way as I read the note from the principal.
“All new students must report immediately to the administration office”. I looked over at Meg, my adoptive sister. She looked nervous, maybe even scared. I wasn’t surprised. Meg had always been shy and quiet. She had been my best friend since we were verly young and I knew her better than anyone else. When my father died, Meg was there for me and even convinced her mother to adopt me. We had had to move several times, because Meg’s mother was a teacher and kept changing schools. For a few years, we had lived in a small town in France but that day, we had just moved back to Paris, where I had lived with my father. I was always a city girl at heart, and was excited to be moving back to Paris. Also…I was secretly hoping to hear the voice again. When I was little, my father used to tell me stories about the angel of music. He told me that when he was dead, he would send me the angel of music. After he died, I started to hear the voice. It was so beautiful that I decided it must be the angel of music. He was always there for me, comforting me when I needed a friend. And now that I was back in Paris, maybe the angel would sing to me again…

“Oh Christine, I’m so nervous!” moaned Meg.
“It’ll be alright, Meg. This isn’t the first time we’ve had to change schools. You’ve done this many times!”
“ Yeah, and it scares the crap out of me every time” she muttered. I stifled a giggle as we walked into the school’s main office. I walked up to the desk.
“Hi” I said “We’re new students”
“Go talk to the principal” droned a bored looking secretary.

The principal was a brisk business-like woman, who acted like she didn’t have time for us. “I really don’t have time to show you around but you can follow one of our students around to their classes, because I haven’t gotten around to making a schedule for you.”
As we stepped out of the office, she grabbed the first two students she saw. “Ok, you can show Mlle Giry around, monsieur Doyon” Meg turned bright red and mumbled something that might have been a greeting. After a last desperate glance at me, she followed the boy down the hall.
“Chagny!” Barked the Principal “this is-”
“Christine?”
“Raoul?”

[LittleLotte394]

Hmmm, it's good so far. I'd like to see what happens next- what Erik is like (particurlarly where he lives- school's basement?), etc.

[Angel]

I really like finding a good, modern-day phic ... so many seem to be so similar (::coughECcough:. I honestly can't remember reading an RC one before. Way to go, Jaycee ;D

Nice writing - can't wait for the next update

[Jaycee]

ok here's part 2!

“Wait a minute. You two know each other?”
“I thought you moved away.” Said Raoul
“I did” I said, “But I’m back now. Mme Giry had to switch schools again. There was a layoff and this was the only place she could get a job.”
The bell rang, interrupting our reunion. We quickly hurried to class, chatting anf laughing about old times along the way.

Raoul’s POV

I just couldn’t believe that Christine was really here after all these years. I hadn’t seen her for years, but I had thought about her very often. Something was different now, though…back then we were just friends. But now…more than once during that first day, I caught myself staring at Christine and thinking about how beautiful she was. When the final bell rang, it seemed like the day had passed so quickly.

Erik’s POV

The moment I had waited so many years for was so close. I could feel that the time was right to reveal myself to her. I had to interfere before she got too close to that boy. During her last class, I quietly stole her textbook, knowing that she’d have to return to get it. And then, I crept into the secret passageway that I had built…and I waited.

Christine’s POV

When the day was over, Raoul offered to walk me home. Anxious to spend more time with him, I quickly accepted. Just as I was getting ready to leave, I noticed that my textbook was missing. It was strange…I could have sworn that I had put it in my bag.
“Wait here a sec!” I said to Raoul “I forgot my book”.

When I reached the classroom, it was strangely dark, almost eerie. I saw the book on my desk, and took it. I was starting to get nervous and I turned quickly to leave when the voice started to sing to me. I looked over at the whiteboard which was suddenly almost transparent and there, reflected on the shiny white surface was the image of a man in a mask. It was him. My angel of music. I recognized his voice, I had heard it so many times in my dreams. He reached out a gloved hand. I hesitated for a moment. I think some part of me knew, even then, that he couldn’t truly be an angel but in the end, I gave in to my curiosity and took his hand.

He led me down a dark corridor across a lake in a small wooden boat and into the school basement. He showed me so many things. He had pictures of me and tiny wax figurines. It was so amazing. I was overcome by a sudden rush of emotions. Amazement, fear, wonder, awe, and excitement were all fighting for control of my mind. I started to stumble a bit, weakened bymy dazed and confused state. The Christine mannequin was the last straw. I fainted

[Angel]

Ah, so that's how Erik fits in You've done a great job of keeping everybody in character, Jaycee! The only thing I'd say is that you seem to be moving along very quickly - try adding more details and description, especially in the last part in the basement. Aside from that - kudos! Me likes

[Jaycee]

thanks for the tip, angel. I'm glad you like it!

[Angel]

Hey, you're very welcome. I aim to please

[LittleLotte394]

Not bad! I agree with Angel, though, things seem to be going rather quickly. Otherwise, it's a great phic.

[Jaycee]

Raoul’s POV

Christine had said that she was going to get her book. Five minutes passed. Ten, fifteen. I started to get worried. I went to find Christine but when I got there, the door was locked. I heard voices inside. One was Christine’s the other I didn’t recognize. It was a man, I knew that. Suddenly I was angry and jealous, as I listened to Christine singing to him. She called him “angel”…I just couldn’t believe it. After all these years, I got to see her once and then I find out that she likes someone else. As the voices faded away, I gave up watiting for Christine to come out. I walked home alone, fighting back tears and desperately wishing that there was still some way Christine and I could be together.

Christine’s POV

I woke up in the morning feeling incredibly confused. At first I didn’t know where I was. I could hear the faint tinkling of a music box filling the otherwise silen cave. The bed I was on was hand-carved in the shape of a swan. The detail was amazing, every feather was exquisitely carved. As I looked around the lair, everything came suddenly back to me, and I remembered what had happened last night. I panicked completely running from the lair without even acknowledging my angel. Meg’s mother would be furious! When I finally found my way out of the endlessly twisting passageways, there was only an hour before school. No time to slip back home and into bed and pretend I had simply been out late. As I wandered through the empty halls, Meg came rushing up to meet me.
“Oh, Christine, where were you? We’ve been so worried!” she said, sounding relieved that I was back.
“I can’t really remember what happened” I lied “I think I must have fainted or something.”

I managed to escape Meg’s questions by saying I had to get to class. On the way to my locker, however, I met up with Mme Giry. I could tell from her face that she was furious. I told her the same thing I had said to Meg and my explanation seemed to satisfy her. All she said was
“Alright, Christine but you must be more careful. There could be dangerous people aroud the school after the doors are locked”. Why did I get the strange feeling that she knew something but wasn’t telling me?


Raoul’s POV

“Monsieur deChagny!”
It was the two Vice Principals of the school, Andre and Firmin.
“Let me see that note you’re holding” said Firmin. I handed it over reluctantly.
“You see Andre, it’s just like the one we got!”
“Stay away from Christine…but what do they mean Firmin? They’re all about the same girl. The new student, Christine Daae.”
And then I heard the voice of someone I really never wanted to see again.
“Raoul! What is the meaning of this? You sent me this note.”
“Carlotta I didn’t send you anything. How many times do I have to tell you to leave me alone?”
“Look at this note, Raoul! It says don’t get in Christine’s way. I think that new girl is trying to ruin my reputation. People are starting rumors about me, I need to establish my authority over the school population again!”
“Carlotta, who do you think you are, the queen or something? It’s not like it’s your school!”
She paced the hallway for a few minutes as though trying to think of something. Finally she spoke again
“Raoul, the only way to save my reputation is for you to go out with me. If I’m with the richest boy in school, no one will ever question me again”.
Of course, It was all about the money as usual. I couldn’t count all the girls who looked at me and saw only my reputation as Jean-Louis deChagny’s son. My father was the owner of a huge electronics company that was worth millions. Everyone knew I would someday inherit a huge fortune and it made my life a lot more difficult!
“Do you have any idea how shallow you sound? I’m not just going to suddenly go out with you because your reputation is in danger when I’ve refused for three years!”
“You’re so stubborn! I bet it was you that sent me the note!”
Andre and Firmin had finished their discussion and were now turning their attention to Carlotta.
“Carlotta darling, how is my faouvrite student doing?” said Andre, sucking up to her as usual. Carlotta’s father was a very improtant politican and she liked to brag about it as often as possible. I decided to slip away, while the three of them were occupied. I ran out of the hall as quietly as I could and almost bumped into Christine.

Christine’s POV

I don’t know when I started listening to Raoul’s conversation. Eventually I became aware that I was eavesdropping and should probably just leave but I was too interested in this Carlotta person to do so. Eventually Raoul left and almost crashed into me. My red face must have given away the fact that I had been listening to him but he didn’t seem to mind. Actually, he looked quite embarassed himself.
“How much did you hear, Christine?” he asked quietly.
“Um, all of it, I think.” I replied.
“So you heard about the note, then”.
“Yes. Raoul who do you think sent It? That really worries me. I don’t want anything to happen to you!”I was really blushing by that point. I wanted to keep talking to him, but the bell cut us off, and we walked off to class, neither of us saying anything.

[LittleLotte394]

Very nice. You portrayed Carlotta perfectly; I can just see her in my head . Another good chapter, Jaycee.

[Jaycee]

Thanks, LittleLotte! Just a heads up, I probably won't post again for a while, in fact, i might not be online at all for a while. I'm pretty bust during the Christmas season, I have concerts to got to and I usually make most of my christmas presents, since i don't have enough money to buy nice stuff for everyone, but i promise i'll be back after Christmas.

[Angel]

Hey, we understand - Christmas is busy. Hope you won't be away too long, though, Jaycee!

I really like how in this version you stick to the original storyline instead of trailing off it, as so many modern-day phics seem to do. And I totally second Lotte - Carlotta is awesome!

[Jaycee]

Thanks angel! I'm glad you guys like my Carlotta. I was trying to make her as pushy as she is in the movie! I'm trying to include everything that was in the original story but I will probably add in some little things of my own but I guess you noticed that when I made Carlotta like Raoul. There'll be other stuff like that too, probably. In the movie, they didn't explain much about Raoul's family or anything. I don't want to give too much away but I'll probably write something about that.

[Angel]

Hey -- what's a story without some artistic license, eh? Obviously, there's a limit, but I think that everything you've done so far is totally reasonable, Jaycee. A bit different to spice things up, but still in character.

And, movie-wise, wasn't Carlotte convinced that Raoul liked her?

"He lah-va me. Lah-va me, lah-va me, lah-va me."

[Jaycee]

That's a good point, Angel! And I seem to remember him looking rather uncomfortable when she was introducing herself. Sort of goes along with my theme of him trying to get rid of her!

[Jaycee]

Ok, i thought it was a little too soon to go in to the whole "Il Muto" thing. Plus I haven't quite figured out how i'm going to factor in the whole embarassing Calotta thing since, i'm not planning to write in an actual show. But anyways, this is kind of a filler chapter while i work out the last details of the next bit. Sorry it took me so long to update!

Madame Giry’s POV
Dark…but then it was always dark in Christine’s room now. I had no idea what was going on in that girl’s head. When I tried to talk to her about it she changed the subject. Worrying about her, as all mothers do…even adoptive ones, I got desperate and tried to find other ways of figuring out what she was being so secretive about. She hadn’t told Meg anything. That was unusual. Her diary was locked and no matter how hard I looked I couldn’t find the key. All the files on her computer wer password protected, and, how would I know what a teenaged girl would use for a password?

At first I thought it was about that DeChagny boy. I had seen the way he looked at her, I knew there was something going on between them. But why keep that a secret? And besides, it was obvious! Anyone could tell that he was in love with her. I was still a little worried about him though. True, Christine was 15 now and certainly old enough for a boyfriend. But if he was like all the other rich brats, well, I didn't want Christine to be hurt the way i had been. I didn’t trust rich people anymore. After all, Meg’s father had been rich and look what he’d done! He ran away with an american actress before Meg was even born. She had never heard from him, never known her father. He sent a cheque, once a month. A measly sum that, when added with my paycheck, was just enough to keep us going for a while. But we managed, without any proper help from Meg’s stupid father. Christine, I soon realised, was too smart for that. But there was still something else. I knew that if it was about that boy she would have told me. Or at least told Meg. Although not blood related, those two were closer than any sisters.

Why? Why did I have this strange feeling that Christine’s secret was about him? Sure, he grew up in that school! He certainly fit the strange rumors floating around the school. But what did that have to do with Christine? And yet at the same time, I knew it must be him. But why? That was the real question. Why would he choose to pursue her? One would think that after what I did for him, he could just be grateful and leave me and my family alone! Did I do the right thing that day, when I helped him? That was in the past, it couldn’t be changed now, but still…if I had known I was choosing between him, a complete stranger I happened to feel sorry for, and her, my adoptive daughter that I loved almost as much as I loved Meg, I know I would never have saved him.

Meg’s POV
I was worried about Christine. Maybe I should have told maman what she told me. But i made her a promise never to tell. Maybe I should have told maman, the day she searched all afternoon for the key to Christine’s diary, they key that would have revealed everything, that Christine keeps all her precious things in her underwear drawer. She says her father told her that nobody would ever look there. But Christine trusts me with that secret. I know there must be some truth to these “angel of music” stories she keeps going on about. But it can’t really be an angel. All I know is that the man she described as her angel was about 45 years old. And Christine is only 15. If he’s not really an angel, then he must be a man.. And it’s not normal for a 45 year old man to be hiding behind mirrors waiting for innocent 15 year old girls! I want to talk to Christine about it, try to convince her to go to the police or something. But I know she won’t. Not until she realises the truth about this “angel”. And by then it might be too late…

[Angel]

Oh, this is just lovely writing, Jaycee I really think that each update is getting to be of better and better quality; I love this. Very in character for both Meg and Madame Giry and I especially liked the bit of backstory about Meg's father. Scumbag.

[Jaycee]

Yeah it always bugged me that you never find out anything about Meg's father in the movie. And thank you for the lovely compliments! Again, I'm sorry it took me so long to update. I'm so busy I hardly ever have time to write anymore!

[LittleLotte394]

Angel pretty much hit the nail on the head with her comment, Jaycee. I enjoyed this new addition, and like Angel said, Meg and Mdme. Giry ae both very much IC.

[Jaycee]

Christine's POV
It had been about a month since that day in september when my Angel of music had taken me to his lair. I had become more and more quiet and wihdrawn since then. Now I barely spoke to anyone. I walked down the corridors in silence, wishing that none of this had happened at all. At one time I knew I could trust my Angel of music...but now i wasn't so sure. Why was i so afraid of him if he really was sent by my father?

Whispers were starting to float around the school. Rumors of a tall black man with a mask and a cape. Everyone had their own crazy theory, each more absurd than the one before it. Some said he was a mass murderer looking for victims, some said he was an escaped lunatic and some even said he was a ghost. People had started to call him "The Phantom". Only I knew the truth...well, part of it anyway. The boys in the school were using the strange rumours as a way to entertain the girls. The worst was Joseph Buquet.

Joseph Buquet was just one of the school's hopeless cases. He was 16 but he had already dropped out of high school. When his parents threw him out of their house and he had nowhere to go , the vice principals felt sorry for him, and hired him as a janitor. As far as i could tell he had no real talents other than attracting a group of girls around him. I felt sorry for the girls. They must have been pretty desperate to be interested in Joseph Buquet. I soon noticed that Meg's mother was doing her best to quash the rumours that were growing wilder every day. The best part was when she slapped Buquet right in front of all his giggling "friends".

The more the rumours grew, the more upset I became. I thought about the "Phantom" enough without the whispered comment and passed notes. When I wsn't too caught up in my own thoughts to notice, i realised that Raoul seemed distant and withdrawn as well. I caught him looking at me sadly several times and I wondered if it was for the same reason that my gaze often flickered twoards him when i thought he wasn' t looking. Sometimes when he was concentrating on something, I just sat there watching him. I loved the way his somewhat messy hair fell in his face and how he dressed so casually even though he knew his rich father expected him to dress like the rest of the family: in fancy uncomfortable clothes that would never have suited him. I knew there were times when he looked at me in the same way. Maybe he knew that this shy, unhappy girl wasn't The real Christine . He tried to talk to me several times, but they were awkward conversations. Neither of us knew quite what to say. Or maybe we did but we didn't dare to say it.

Ok, that chapter was really just a setup for the next chapter. The plot's going to unfold a little more next time i post. I hope it's okay, i wasn't too sure about this one but anyway, hope you enjoyed it.

[Angel]

Ooh, the plot thickens You're doing a really good job of bringing this to a modern setting, Jaycee, telling the old story in a very new way. Every character has a new place which is, in essence, the same one they had in the 1800s. Does that make sense? Probably not, but eh. I love your Buquet; he cracked me up.

[Jaycee]

Yes, Buquet was a fun character to play around with! There are so many ways to make him a total loser but i like the way he turned out. Of course i forgot to include his drinking problem...

[Jaycee]

Ok, here's the next chapter. I added a little twist on Christine's character, something that's not really based on anything in any other versions. I don't really know why I did it or where i got the idea from but it's a good opportunity to mention the red scarf incident. I always thought it was a shame they didn't have that in the movie. I think it's so cute!

Christine’s POV
Once again, I found myself alone. The school was emptying after the final bell and I was walking slowly through the hallways. But something was different. I noticed frightened looks on people’s faces, people were whispering to each other. Well, whispering was unusual. The school was always full of gossip, but these whispers were different. They were anxious whispers. I tried asking a few people what was going on, but either they didn’t know or they didn’t want to tell me. As I exited the main building, I saw a large group of students clustered around the giant carved oak sign that had recently been erected in the main courtyard. It had the name of the school carved into it in large fancy letters. As I drew closer I could see the source of the commotion. There was something large hanging from the signpost. No…not something, I realized with a sick feeling of horror building in my stomach, someone! When I got close enough to see the person’s face, I recognized Joseph Buquet. “Idiot!” I thought, sadly. “He should have listened all those times when Meg’s mother had warned him that he shouldn’t spread rumours about people that could be dangerous.

I stood there for a while, staring with everyone else. There was no doubt in my mind about how he had died. There was no possible way it could have been an accident. And he seemed far too confident to be suicidal. No, Joseph Buquet had been murdered, andI was sure I knew who had done it. Everyone had come to the same conclusion. “It was the Phantom!” people kept screaming. Everyone was afraid that he would come for them next. I wondered, though, why would he do this? No one murdered people simply for making fun of them…unless they were insane. I didn’t want to believe that my Angel was insane. He had helped me through all the most difficult times in my life with his beautiful music. But, then he would have to be insane to be following me in the first place. Stalking, Meg had called it, when I confided the secret of what had happened when he took me to his lair. If an insane murderer was stalking me, terrible things could happen to me and those I loved. I was suddenly terrified. Not really for myself, but for Meg, Mme Giry, and secretly, for the boy who I could not yet admit, even to myself, that I loved more than anything. Admitting that would have meant putting him in horrible danger.

I realised I couldn’t breathe, and remembered my asthma. The attacks didn’t come often and were usually fairly mild. They usually came when I was afraid, but at that moment, I was not afraid, I was terrified. I grabbed the small bag that my mother had given to me before she died, and tried to open the zipper. It was an unusually cold day for early november and I was only wearing a t-shirt. My fingers, numb with cold, fumbled with the zipper for a moment and then the handle of the zipper broke off! If my fingers hadn’t been so cold, I would have been able to open it just using the part that remained, but as it was, I could barely move my fingers. Furthermore, the lack of oxygen was starting to affect my brain and I couldn’t think clearly. I leaned against a wall and slowly sank to the floor. Eventually, a small crown gathered around me, but no one could figure out what was wrong with me and I was too disoriented to tell them.

I hadn’t had such a bad asthma attck since that day, 8 years ago. I had wandered off to the beach alone after fighting with my father when he said I couldn’t have chocolate before eating my lunch. I had been so angry that I had run out of the house on my own. My father didn’t follow, knowing that a 7 year old couldn’t go far by herself, and we were in the country! Everyone knew me and really it wasn’t too dangerous to let a child wander around on her own. I sat on the beach for an hour. Staring at the waves. There was a storm going on and I was fascinated. I didn’t even notice the rain soaking my hair. But then a gust of wind came along and ripped my beautiful red scarf from neck and tossed it into the ragin waves. I sat there on the shore, tear streaming down my tiny cheeks but then, from out of nowhere, a small boy ran past me, into the stormy sea. That was when the attack started. I was so worried that the boy would get himself killed trying to get my scarf for me. I had panicked completely. I didn’t even remember about my inhaler until after the boy had emerged from the icy sea. Somehow I managed to choke out the words to tell him where to find my inhaler. I remember the young boy reaching into my bag, putting a comforting hand on my shoulder. From where I sat in the courtyard at the school, I could almost feel his hand. The memory was so strong It was like I was being sucked into it …or so I thought. But then I realised there was a hand on my shoulder. Not the small hand of a seven year old, but the strong hand of a fifteen year old. And yet when I slowly opened my eyes, I saw the same blue eyes staring at me that I had seen 8 years ago.

Raoul had managed to open my bag and was instructing me to open my mouth. Gratefully, I took in a breath of fresh air. Eventually the attack subsided completely, and I was able to breathe normally. Raoul still looked worried, though.
“Are you alright, Christine” he asked.
“I’m fine” I responded weakly, “That’s the second time you’ve had to save me like that”.
“Yeah, well, at least I didn’t have to jump into the ocean this time” he said, smiling. I wanted to stay and talk to him, but I remembered that the Phantom could still be lurking around, and I didn’t want him to see me talking to Raoul.
“Well, the murder kind of freaked me out” I said quickly “I think I had better go before I have another attack. I really have to get out of here. Thanks for saving me”. I started to walk away but Raoul grabbed my arm.
“Wait!” he said “Let me come with you. You shouldn’t be alone. What if you have another attack. I hesitated, and then grabbed his hand. “Alright but let’s go. It might not be safe here.”

I was going to go right to the rooftop with this chapter, but that part was longer than i was expecting it would be. Anyway, I hope you guys liked it!

[Angel]

Yay! An update! I really like this, Jaycee. You write very well, and I liked the idea of Raoul saving Christine from asthma Are you going to do any Il Muto bit, or is this straight into the equivalent of AIAOY? Oh, well, I guess I'll find out later, then

[Jaycee]

I sort of skipped Il Muto. I could add something in now i guess, but it seems rather pointless since Buquet is already dead. I couldn't really think of a way to fit it in wihout ruining the story.