Phantoms

Phantom's POV

My footsteps echoed as I raced down the hallway to the rafters of the Opera House. I had to time this just right if I was to have the maximum effect on the people below me. Christine needs me to do this I think as I run silently across the rafters praying no one saw me. No one usually did even if they did there was no one else who went up here but the chief of the flies and he was so drunk all the time no one would believe him if he saw the legendary opera ghost in person. My ears hurt at the sound of La Carlotta below me as she butchered the aria. Soon I think, Soon I will hear my Christine's voice and will have this foul sound in my ears cleansed. I take out my knife and wait listening for the right moment. As the music begins to swell I start cutting the ropes one snaps away, then another, then finally the last one and I race away with a crash having no time to admire my handiwork not from here lest I be spotted. I'll go to my hideout inside the walls and wait to see if what I did was enough to finally hear my Christine sing for me and get the attention and recognition she deserved and then finally I could reveal myself to her and maybe just maybe she could accept me. I smile at the thought as I slip behind a mirror into one of many secret passages I have built into the Opera House, my home, and prepare to see the fruits of my labor.

Christine POV

My mind wandered as Piangi sang his song all I could think about was that mysterious stranger my angel of music or so he claimed to be who gave me singing lessons but who's face I had never seen. The thud of Madame Giry's cane brought my focus back to the task at hand where I was supposed to be dancing. I glance over and see Monsieur Lefevre leading two gentlemen around the Opera House one tall and skinny the other short and round both dressed impeccably well in gray tuxedos with white bow ties. They all come up to the stage stopping the rehearsal much to the annoyance of Monsieur Reyer the stage manager a slender nervous man always yelling about timing and pronunciation. He was a little hard to take seriously at times when he got very red in the face and his blonde mustache twitched ever so slightly.

"I have an announcement to make," Monsieur Lefevre said

"The rumors of my imminent retirement are all true. I have sold the Opera House and would like to introduce to you its new owners. Monsieur Richard Firmin and Giles Andre." He said pointing to the two beaming gentleman.

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance and we look forward to working with you all" The tall one known as Firmin said

"And making money off you all" The short one who had to be Andre chimed in before getting a swift elbow to the ribs.

In front of me Carlotta huffed clearly annoyed that her spotlight was taken away as Piangi was being introduced as the principle tenor, he barely remembered his lines half the time and went off script at almost every performance but as he was the only one who could calm Carlotta down he stayed as they lead tenor.

"And this is Signora Carlotta Giudicelli our leading Soprano for 5 seasons" Monsieur Lefevre exclaimed.

Leading Soprano and the biggest diva on stage I thought a nightmare to work with and who's only real talent was rarely used anymore due to laziness but she brought in tickets so no one dared to challenge her. If only I had a shot I could prove I am more than just a pretty ballerina especially with the voice lessons I had been receiving in private from my Angel of Music. Carlotta was now singing an aria from the production of Chalumeau's Hannibal know as 'Think Of Me.' My teacher had made me practice it in secret for "Sometime soon, you will know when, then I will finally hear you sing on that stage where you were meant to be." She is over singing each word and then I hear a shriek and screaming as I am shoved out of the way. I look up and one of the stage backdrops in collapsing onto the stage. It lands with a thud as everyone runs away panicking.