Abditory

I

A Swedish girl stares into the mirror, curly honey-blonde hair, blue eyes, slim figure and an ivory complexion. Her lips and cheeks rosy. Her hand brushes a few stray curls as she pins them back. A small girl with blonde curly hair and blue eyes with a pale complexion stood by her side. As she straightens hers and Christine's skirts to get ready for rehearsal. 

"Come on Christine we need to leave now before we are late." Meg spoke with such excitement in her voice. Christine laughed at her overly hyper friend. Christine picked up her pointe shoes as she walked into the corridors of the opera house, making her way to the stage with her blonde haired friend clinging onto her arms. On the way there she ran into a couple other ballet rats talking about the opera ghost. Christine rolled her eyes as they start screaming upon hearing the phantom has no nose. "He has no nose!" one of them whispered.  

Turning the corner to the wings of the stage Christine admired the set for the new performance of Hannibal by Chalumeau. Then jumped as she heard Carlotta beginning to rehearse her aria 'Think of me'. Christine never liked Carlotta as she was a good singer it was her attitude to the surrounding cast was appalling. She knelt down next to Meg and rested her head on her shoulder. "Are you alright Christine?" Meg spoked softly. Christine nodded.

When the new managers were introduced whom were; Firmin and André. They gawked over Carlotta fame and her talent and had asked her to perform a rendition on her aria in act 3. Carlotta obviously having a great big personality and fuels on praise and fame agreed. There she started to sing.

"Think of me, think of me warmly-" Carlotta was soon cut off by a...

BANG 

A backdrop soon comes crashing on the back of her costume pulling her down with her dress. She lets out a horrified scream as people rush over to try and help her up from the floor. Monsieur Lefévre shouted for Buquet to come down and give an explanation to what has happened Buquet grinned and said it might have been a ghost. Christine watched as she heard many incoherent whispers that the phantom of the opera caused this to happen. Carlotta kicked off and ran out soon following was Piangi calling the new managers 'amateurs'. 

The managers wondering what to do and having to shush many of the Corps De Ballet due to them screaming and shouting that the phantom will get them next. A thud of the cane silenced everyone in the room. The thud of the cane came from Madame Giry she was pale and tall she had an intimidating vibe to her and wore her hair in an updo. Christine knew Madame Giry from when she was a young girl and had come to live at the opera house after her father passed away therefore leaving her an orphan. Madame Giry was nice but strict and most likely knew everything about the opera house. From what Christine heard from her energetic friend Little Meg is that her mom knew the opera ghost. 

The silence was broken by Mme Giry's stern voice, "I have a message sir from the opera ghost." The new managers groaned, "God heavens you are all obsessed." André complained. "He merely welcomes you to his opera house and request that you still continue to leave box 5 empty for his use, and reminds you that his salary is due." Mme Giry spoke again ignoring the hushed whispers and pointing to box 5, 'The Phantom's box'. The managers laughed and joked about a ghost wanting his salary but they were soon quiet when Giry spoiled their surprise to everyone else, "Perhaps you could afford more with the Vicomte de Chagny as your patron." The ballet rats spoke with such excitement. Christine's head perked up at the mention of his name it sounded familiar but she didn't know exactly.

The managers are now still stressing over a replacement and asking if there was an understudy for the role but due to Carlotta being the only good soprano out there and the opera house not having another Prima Donna in the last couple of seasons. Christine was daydreaming for a second until she felt the tug on her arm and her name.

"Christine Daae could sing it sir." Meg exclaimed.

"The ballet girl." Firmin scoffed.

"Daae? That's a curious name." André commented.

"My father sir." Christine spoke quietly. 

Christine was questioned as Meg told the managers that she was taught by a teacher. Not knowing his name made the managers more upset. Madame Giry jumped to Christine's side. Meg handed Christine the scarf and before Christine could compose herself the music of the orchestra started playing. Christine's fear and anxiety was raised and she could help herself but sing quietly. When it got to overwhelming she went to go run offstage but she heard the thud of Madame Giry's cane when it hit the floor. 

Christine gained confidence her voice gained strength and her body language loosened and relax than being tense and stressed. She finished the ending note and was surrounded by the Corps de Ballet who were showering her with compliments and questions of her was her tutor. 

The managers exchanged words with Madame Giry and Monsieur Reyer and some of the costume designers wondering if they should agreed, worried that they will have to refund a full house the agree to let Christine take the lead. 

They announced to everyone that Christine was playing the lead in the opera and that she'll have to have the Prima Donna's dressing room. Meg squealed in delight that her friend was moving up in rank in the opera house. Christine stood there shocked it was her dream to sing in the opera house as her father always taken her to the opera and if he was here right now he would be so proud. That hit Christine, her father, her number one supporter all the way until he passed. Christine had a tear in her eye as she dragged off by Meg to packed up some of her belongings to take into her new dressing room. 

Her photo of her and her father and a small trinket dish was pushed into her hands when she went into the dormitories. She walked slowly to the dressing room when she entered there were already 2 costume designers waiting for her so they could take her measurements. Once she was pulled, grabbed and poked so they could get her costume sorted. She sat at the dressing table sighing, she heard that angelic voice. "Brava Christine I have heard the news, I am so proud of you my angel." 

Christine being shocked that she hadn't heard that voice in a while except every Friday for their lessons. "Oh Angel." Christine spoke softly. "I hope i have made you proud!" She sat their nervously awaiting her response. "Of course child, but I want to work on your voice a bit more it's not quite where I want to be." Her Angel spoke somewhere in the walls of the opera house. Christine agreed and they started their one of many lessons of that week.