Phantom's Understudy

Part Four - Composing

Three days later, I woke up with a massive headache. Not sure if it was the exhaustion or I just simply did not sleep well. I sat up in my bed in the opera house dorms and walked over to my dresser. I saw the letter from the Opera Ghost sitting there and I remembered that night wasn't a dream.

I got dressed in a casual dress since today was my day off. Next week there were two showings that I would be sick for.

The Opera Ghost told me to let him have a week to get the Managers on board with our little plan. I was very doubtful that they would play along but I had no choice but to play along myself.

I walked out of my room and down past the managers office. There was some yelling and I couldn't help but to eavesdrop.

"What in the world does he mean? A chorus girl to be the understudy? Without even trying for the role?" Andre exclaimed.

"Well, we do need an understudy, Andre. Maybe we should give Christine a chance?" Firman tried reasoning.

"This Opera Ghost is going to drive me mad. Why should we give in to his will?" Andre's voice was angry. I hadn't heard it like that yet.

"Unless Carlotta comes back we have no choice, Andre."

So Firman was the nicer one, apparently.

"I suppose you are right. Let's find the girl today and talk to her."

I took that as a sign that I should walk away from the door. I didn't want to be caught eavesdropping.

I casually walked down the hall and I heard the door open and foot steps walking in the opposite way.

I had planned to do a little bit of practicing today and go shopping. I made my way to the Piano room and slowly opened the door. I sat down at the bench and practiced just playing the music.

I pulled out the sheet music that I had been working on and played the piano before letting my voice soar. I sang the lyrics with meaning and passion, as they were my own words. I felt everything again from when I composed this song.

It was a song that had been in my mind since I was rejected so long ago. It's not like I had any romance since then, but it's really made it hard to think someone would accept me. No one had really shown interest in me since, so I had no reason to think otherwise. For the record, I lost a lot of confidence and stopped putting myself out there.

I wrote another verse to my song and eventually heard footsteps behind me which made my heart fly out of my chest and I nearly fell off the piano bench turning around, but I caught myself just as my body tilted off the seat.

It was none other than the Opera Ghost. My eyes narrowed. "oh. It's you." I greeted.

"Yes, it's me." He said with a frown. Doesn't this guy have any other emotion? "I didn't know you composed."

I scoffed. "Yeah, I guess we can call it that. It's nowhere near a masterpiece."

He came closer. "If you could stay back, that'd be great. Because you threatened me with a lasso and I don't necessarily trust you...nor do I need your presence here." I said, turning completely around.

He stopped walking towards me when he was about 10 feet away from me. At least he respected my boundaries. "It was good." He responded.

I didn't know what he was talking about at first but then I realized he was talking about my song.

"Do you compose?" I asked him, trying to lighten the mood.

He nodded slowly. "It's a passion of mine."