I Can't Believe I Wrote These :)

Phantom Of The Opera

Prologue

It was a bright, frosty morning. The pavement glistened like a carpet of crushed diamonds in the early morning sunshine as an optimistic smile adorned the rosey cheeked face of a young female.

Katherine Moreau, at the age of sweet sixteen possessed the gift of a kind and tender heart that seemed to draw the interest of everyone she happened to meet and making them clamour for her affection, which of course she naturally returned in earnest. To be noticed by her was said to be greeted by the goddess Aphrodite herself; her slender curvaceous skin appeared soft and smooth and remarkably creamy in color, mousey brown hair that draped down the lower back in lucious locks, kind arctic blue eyes that glistened with youthful innocence.

"Ah, good morning Miss. Moreau!" greeted the aged shopkeeper cheerfully as the old-fashioned bell above the door signaled her arrival making the young female chuckle at his formality before returning the welcome in the same manner.

"Good morning, Mr. Hale. I hope that you and your family are well?"

The shopkeeper clucked his tongue in faux disapproval with multiple "tssk" sounds likened to the lighting of a gas fire before urging her to recall that he'd given her permission to use his christian name 'William' or that even the shortened 'Bill' would suffice. He then added that his family were all in good health and more importantly, that his grandson was soon to return home from living abroad.

Katherine happily shared in William's delight as she momentarily imagined how her childhood friend might have altered both in terms of physique and manner in the numerous years since they parted ways.

Shaking her head and chiding herself for the thoughts, Katherine wandered towards the section that held delicious pink tinged apples and upon retrieving a brown paper bag, she planted three of the most appealing inside it and returned to the counter in order to complete her purchase. Then with a lasting promise to return soon, she exited the shop to hurry towards building where she had previously intended to be.

The National Academy of Arts and Music stood proud and tall with it's cream; ivory grand arches, golden figures on the outermost sides of the rooftop and a weatherd emerald green dome at its centre. Furthermore, this was a place where dreams are either encouraged or crushed within mere minutes of entering and Katherine was hopeful that she would not be among the latter.

Heeled footsteps clicked hastily against marblesque flooring, a detail she'd time enough to notice before strong feminine arms wrapped around her torso and caging her in such a way that for a second she could hardly breathe or move as soon as she entered.
After the sudden assault, Katherine was released in rapid succession of enthusiastic welcoming and outpouring of her interview itinerary by Veronica Barlowe, a dark haired, hazel eyed and evidently over friendly third year graduate.

Having a written copy of her itinerary thrusted at her, Katherine graciously accept the documents with another appreciative smile before being beckoned to follow closely towards the direction of a fairly large group of people who had stood waiting for further arrivals; a mixture of which wore faces of displeasure or nerves, whilst the majority were in excitement.

During the course of the morning she could quite easily pick out three individuals who could be placed into such categories:-

1. Displeasure - Rebecca Thrumpton, a fiery red haired, forest green eyes with an air of wealth and power that typically announced the highest member of the popularity chain.

2. Nerves - Hayley Greene, a blonde haired, baby blue eyed dancer riddled with shyness that caused her to oftentimes speak in whispered tones.

3. Excitement - Gabriel Blanchard, a spikey brown haired, heterochromia eyed french exchange student that proudly announced his sexuality and proficiency in all forms of dancing.

Although the crucial part of the morning had been spent giving attention to introductions of the teaching faculty, workshops on selected course studies, group working in improvisations then retiring for lunch where Katherine politely excused herself from joining her newly formed aquaintances to go in search of a corner in order for her to indulge in her favourite pastime of reading in quiet solitude.

Having finally procuring a corner and settling down on the carpeted floor with her legs out-stretched, she proceeded to retrieve an apple and more importantly, her much loved and read copy of Gaston Leroux's 'The Phantom of the Opera' and opened the paperback edition to the first chapter and quietly began to read.

"IN WHICH THE AUTHOR OF THIS SINGULAR WORK INFORMS THE READER HOW HE ACQUIRED THE CERTAINTY THAT THE OPERA GHOST REALLY EXISTED."

The simple opening statement had always brought Katherine to a pleasurable moment of near-delirium daydreams, she often gave herself over to the imagined possibility of such a being actually existing and the events that might transpire if she'd been fortunate enough to meet the notorious spectral form.

"Holy-!" She gasped aloud as the once silent corner was interrupted by the playful words meant to scare her appeared. Stunned by the intrusion she positioned a hand on her chest feeling the rapid beating of her heart and it wasn't until the pace settled down to a steady rhythm that she glanced over towards the offender only to find Gabriel hunched over and clutching his stomach in a tremendous fit of laughter.

"That wasn't funny," she cried "you could have given me a heart attack!"

"I'm sorry, mademoiselle." He returned capturing his breath as she squinted her eyes at him in disbelief.

"Are you really?"

"Oui."

"Mmhmm..." She answered snapping her book shut then placed it back into her bag. "Well, apart from trying to scare me half to death, was there a specific reason why you come to find me?"

"Oui, it seems that our lunch break is over. Can i ask, what was that you were reading?"

"Nothing." She answered bringing the strap of her bag over her shoulder and moving strands of hair back behind her ear in embarrassment.

"Very well. Come, we must return. Those two fools who run my theatre will be missing you!" He mocked, knowing exactly what she had been reading and decided to playfully jibe her proceeded to recite the phantom's last lyric from the scene 'I remember / stranger than you dreamt it' before turning on his heel with a chuckle and like the Phantom, disappeared out of sight.

Surprised to learn that Gabriel knew the book title and the exact phrase and stunned by his quick retreat, Katherine darted after him quickly crying out in the same faux manner, 'Damn you! You little prying Pandora'

However, in her attempt to gain momentum she quite mistook a sharp bend and skidded haphazardly into a wall with such velocity that her head banged causing her to plummet backwards to the floor as a shroud of darkness fully enveloped her vision, sending her into the realm of unconsciousness.