Sing Once More (A Phantom of the Opera Phan Fic)

Chapter 5

Reagan walked through the halls of the Opera House, feeling normal compared to being awkwardly placed earlier. Erik had gone off to do something else and required to be left alone, or so he said. But in all honesty, Reagan wanted to spend some time with him and ask him more questions.

As she passed some of the chorus girls, Reagan noted that they gave her a funny look and whispered as she passed. She smiled at them, turning back towards them. "Hello there. My name is Reagan Dare. I'm a reporter from England."

The girls looked at each other and then back at Reagan. The oldest of the group seemed to study her a bit. "I've never heard of a woman reporter..."

Reagan nodded. "It's a new thing. I'm one of the first female reporters.

The oldest just stared at her, saying nothing. One of the middle girls smiled pleasantly at Reagan. "Are you here to ask us questions?"

"Uh, yes. Yes I am." Reagan smiled. "Um, what do you think about these stories with the Opera Ghost?"

Strangely, the older girls kept quiet as if not wanting to say anything. The younger ones looked at each other a moment and then back at Reagan. "Well, he's scary..." The youngest in the group said softly.

"How do you know he's scary?" Reagan asked, bending down to meet the little girl face to face.

"Well...he never shows his face...and sometimes, he scares us..." The little girl went on.

Reagan smiled at the small girl. "Well, how do you know he isn't just lonely and wants to play?"

The little girl shook her head wildly. "Oh no! The ghost doesn't want to play. We aren't to play around with him either. He's killed people!" She exclaimed.

Some of the older girls hushed her, giving Reagan an look as if to say the small child was mad. "What she means is, we aren't to go messing around in the Opera Ghost's business." One of the older girls said.

Reagan nodded, smiling at the small girl and then the rest. "Thank you all for your time. I'll be sure to get back with you if I have any further questions.

She walked off, pondering a moment as to why all the girls were so hushed about the ghost, but she rightfully knew the answer to her own question. Mme. Giry would have been a major component of keeping the girls hushed, but the fear of coming face to face with the Phantom in this time and age was scary enough.

Reagan stopped in the main hall, the Primadonna's room to her right. She had always wondered if it looked like it did in the films. Of course, those were just Hollywood renditions, but it would be fun to take a peak.

As silently as she could muster, Reagan walked over to the doors and popped her head in looking about. It was empty, as the Carlotta had been kicked out as head Primadonna for the night to give way for Christine Daae.

Reagan knew the story and how it was suppose to go. She knew that Carlotta had made a fool of herself in front of the new managers as she tried to sing "Think of Me." She knew that Christine sang it a billion times better and that she would be the one to swoon Raoul's heart that very night and that the Phantom would come through the mirror and sweep her off her feet into a romantic trance down to the lair.

The thought of knowing the future almost sent a chill of excitement through Reagan's body, but she also knew what the far future held. The pain, the humiliation, the heartbreak that Erik all had to go through just because of his deformity. It didn't seem fair.

Reagan snapped her head towards the hall as she heard people walking towards her. She quickly darted into the Primadonna's room without much thought of it, hiding behind the changing divider.

"Please don't come in here...please don't come in here..." She whispered.

Unfortunately, that's exactly what the group of individuals did. Two people stepped into the room, their talk hushed and almost secretive.

"That's impossible...how could she do such a thing?" The one whispered in a frustrated tone.

"Believe me friend, she isn't in love with you fully. It's all a trance." The other replied, seeming rather serious and cold in his tone.

The one paused a moment as if thinking. "That doesn't mean I can't still try. She will love me, she must. I am her teacher!"

"I know...trust me I know. You may try, but remember what I have told you. Be careful not to make such a mistake." The other seemed adamant to make sure the other would stay on task.

Reagan tried to look through the slits of the divider, only making out two equally tall figures clad in black. But that wasn't much help as the room was dark to begin with.

"Promise me you'll try to keep a level head through this all?" The one who seemed to be pushing something on the other asked.

"Alright...I'll do my best. I can't believe this is happening." The other replied.

"It doesn't have to happen that way if you're careful. I'll talk with you soon, remember what I said." The first said, walking back out of the room.

Reagan felt the sudden urge to sneeze coming right at that very minute. "No....no..." She whispered.

The other figure stood there a moment, as if pondering and then walked towards the other end of the room.

"Achoo!" Reagan sneezed, covering her mouth quickly.

The figure gasped, backing into a dark corner and looking about. 

Reagan's eyes widened and her breathing increased. The figure had heard her, and now she was going to die. That's all she could think about. 

The figure just stood there motionless for a long moment before moving aside the mirror and disappearing within it like a shadow.

It was a long while after that that Reagan popped her head around the corner to see if it was safe. Indeed it was. She quickly ducked out of the Primadonna's room and bolted around the corner into a darkened hall.

She backed up to the wall, feeling herself press against someone rather than something. She gasped, but it was drowned out by a gloved hand wrapping around her mouth. Her eyes widened and she tried to spin around to see who her captor was. She hoped, she prayed, that it was Erik.

"You're either in a lot of trouble, or about to be..." An icy voice hissed in her ear.

* * *

Back in the present, Andrea was trying desperately to get a hold of Reagan. She called her cell phone a fifth time.

"Hey this is Reagan! I'm not avaliable to answer the phone right now, please leave your name and number and I'll be sure to get back with you ASAP! Thanks!" Beep!

Andrea sighed but left another message. "Reagan Christine Dare, if you don't pick up your stinking phone I am seriously going to kill you. Okay...I don't mean that. And if you're dead or kidnapped or something I really didn't mean that...oh gosh please don't be kidnapped or dead. Ugh! Just call me as soon as you get the chance. I'm being serious...this isn't funny anymore. Bye."

She shoved her phone in her pocket and tried to take in the sights of Paris, but that was becoming seriously impossible.

The only thing she could think about was Reagan and the stupid Opera House. The Opera House! That was it! Andrea would go to the Opera House tonight and see if Reagan was still there.

Yes. She'd go against all the things and manners her parents had ever taught her to find her friend; even if that meant sneaking in to the Opera Populaire in the middle of the night. It had to be done!