The Man behind the Mask (The Phantom of the Opera)

Chapter Nine

"Guys wake up!" I said really loudly. After I found the tunnel I got really excited and wanted to show my friends.

"Tamara I thought I told you to be quiet." Karissa snapped.

"Tamara what is this all about. You know I like my sleep." Georgie commented.

"But I found the tunnel or passageway, whatever you call it I found it." I said with a huge grin on my face.

"Do you mean the passageway that Andrew talked about?" Rachelle asked.

"Yes I found the one behind Carlotta's mirror." I said excitedly. "What are we waiting for, let's go exploring!"

"No I want to sleep." Karissa said.

"Come on, it'll be fun. Plus now you are all awake so we might as well explore a secret passageway." I said.

"It's not so secret if most of the people here know about it. But we are up now so let's go." Jen said just getting the sleep out of her eyes.

"Okay we can go, but what are we suppose to wear?" Karissa asked.

"I'm just going to go out in my nightgown because I don't feel like changing. " I answered.

We all decided not to change and we put on our slippers and house coats instead. I was wearing a light pink one that tied around my waist, with light pink slippers that matched. Karissa had on a lime green house coat, Georgie had a lavender purple one on. Rachelle had a yellow coat and slippers on while Jen had a baby blue house coat on.

I lead my friends down the corridor and into Carlotta's dressing room. Then I took them to the mirror and pushed hard on the mirror and it opened showing a tunnel.

"Oh my goodness, there is a tunnel here." Rachelle gasped.

"Doesn't it look exciting? Lets go explore it!" I exclaimed.

"Wait are we sure we want to do this?" Rachelle asked.

"Yeah it does look creepy." Jen agreed.

"Come on, it isn't everyday you get to explore a secret passageway." I said.
But judging by my friends faces they didn't seem to want to explore it.

"Look there are candles that illuminate the path and if the candles run out we all take one with us!" I exclaimed.

"But Temma the tunnel is dark and mysterious. Look at the cobwebs on the ceiling and the brick walls doesn't look that stable either." Rachelle argued.

"Also it looks very dusty and I don't want to ruin my slippers." Jen said firmly.

"Look I'm going no matter what. Now you can choose to come with me or you can go back to bed, its your voice." I said firmly.

I desperately wanted to search this tunnel and if they wanted to stay so be it. I grabbed a torch that was hanging on the wall and started heading down the tunnel. After about ten seconds of walking I heard someone running after me.

"Wait Tamara you can't go alone." Karissa said.

"Yes we are safer if we are together." Jen agreed.

"Thanks guys I appreciate you all coming with me." I said. The truth was I didn't want to go alone. I'm glad my friends came to their senses and decided to come with me.

***

"You know I didn't want to come down these tunnels at first, but now I'm starting to enjoy it. Even if I'm getting contaminated by everything I touch." Jen said.

"Oh please this isn't that bad, right?" I asked hesitantly.

"Not that this isn't fascinating but I thought there would be more to these passageways." Georgie said.