A Song In The Dark

Think of Me

-5 months later-

Erik trotted up the stairs with a box of papers in his hands. "Madam Giry! Could you help?" The woman poked her head out of an office door. She followed him into his office whereas a was working on some paperwork. Her baby bump was starting to show. "Did the posters come Ada asked standing up. Erik nodded and plopped the papers on his desk. "Do you feel well enough to hang theses around town?" Erik asked admiring a poster announcing the auditions for the opening opera.

"Yes I feel fine." Ada told him standing up with her hand on her bump. "Madam Giry and I will take the north end of town and you and Meg can take the south." Ada nodded suddenly lighting up. "He's moving!" Ada gasped feeling the place where the child's foot hit. "Put your hand here." Ada told him guiding his hand to the spot. "That's the baby?" Erik gasped as the child kicked against his hand. Ada nodded excitedly, "he wants out to meet us." Ada laughed kissing Erik gently.

"He?"
"Well I wouldn't like being called an it."
"I think I'd be more mad if I was always called a him if it's a her." Erik said feeling another kick.
"Well I guess we will see."

Ada and Erik departed each going to their own areas to hang up posters. Ada and Meg returned Meg scurried off to go do some work as Ada plopped down on the sofa in Erik's office. She was exhausted and hungry. Erik came in moments later, "Angel could we get something done to eat?" Ada asked. Erik nodded and took her hand help in her up.

The week flew by Erik was busy preparing for the first day of auditions he didn't know exactly what to think or what to expect from the Americans. The whole city seemed excited over the opera house he had several stagehands and singers ask for a place. He hired a few stagehands but today was the day for singers.
Erik sat with Ada in the first row behind the orchestra pit with a sheet of all the people trying out there was a handful of well trains singers and a good amount of people who he would train to become great. But no one that stood out.

A familiar grey haired woman stepped onto the stage. "Hello Hannah." Erik greeted the apartment owner. "Oh goodness I'm shaking." The woman laughed looking at her hands. "It's ok." Erik assured. The old woman nodded and began singing. She was quite notable and Erik was sure he could put her somewhere. Ada thanked her before the woman existed the stage. "One more to go." Erik sighed excited to be able to rest after the long day of rehearsals and dealing with snobby actors and actresses.

A child stepped onto the stage Erik's jaw dropped she couldn't have been older than ten. Her face was white she looked completely terafied. "I'll be singing, Think of Me." She said almost in a whisper with a thick French accent.

The girls voice cracked at the first few notes flooding memories back that he hadn't thought of in years. The girls voice filled the room causing everyone to freeze it was perfect the most pure beautiful voice he had ever heard.

The song ended and Erik was speechless the child bowed and left the stage. Erik looked at Ada who was in shock. "I'll be back." Erik told her as he got up running backstage.

He found the child who was getting ready to leave the theater he looked at the paper in his hand finding her name. "Mary! Wait!" The girl turned her face still white, "Where did you learn to sing like that?" He asked, the girl tucke her blonde curls behind her ear nervously. "Well monsieur I haven't been taught." Erik's eyes grew wide, "My father was a stagehand at the Populaire so I've been around the Opera since I was born." Erik thought back recalling a stagehand one of the only ones that weren't drunks and or peeping toms. He had a baby with him his wife had died in childbirth. "He use to tell me tales of you I spotted you once in box five during a rehearsal." Erik froze she knew who he was and yet tried out for his opera? he opened his mouth to speak but couldn't find the words. "My papa died on the ship here leaving me alone." She told him with tears in her eyes. "I was cast out of every orphan and workhouse. They only want boys." Erik's stomach churned this child was a musical genius that no one wanted.

"I have no parts for someone of your age in this show but if you would stay I can teach you to sing you can live here and earn your keep you will be paid for any work you do."

Mary gasped, "oh thank you mister." She hugged his waist causing him to tense up. "I will go get my things!"