Why Fear The Face ?

Chapter 2

I searched for the man in the mask until I heard a loud scream from Carlotta on the front stage . Who else could have a voice that loud ?

Carlotta screamed in frustration as she threw her props to the floor at this she fled the Opera theater (hopefully ) never to return again ! Well I hope , she is a pain in ones backside . I too fled down the spiral staircase and joined Meg in the kerfuffle downstairs only to find that Carlotta had quit ! Oh happy days !

"It's the phantom of the opera !" I heard Meg whisper to Christine Daae . Why must everyone think ill of him ? He's obviously in pain and no one cares to help ? I held my tongue . Madame Giry then read out a letter supposedly from the Opera Ghost followed by the two new managers throwing a tantrum about having to book another full house as La Carlotta had no understudy . Now this I didn't like surely they couldn't suggest canceling the performance. I was ready to put my hand up and say I would take Carlottas place after all I had been taught by mother how to sing dance and play multiple musical instruments . Maybe with the help of Madame Giry I could be better than Carlotta !

But I was quickly brought down to earth when Madame Giry volunteered Christine to take Carlottas place it is true she does have a magnificent voice , according to Meg, she hadn't used to be able to sing but it's almost like magic !

She began singing 'Think of Me ' and it was true she was an amazing singer , I would never be as good as her .

I smiled glad that Christine would put on a brilliant performance of Hannibal and got to work as soon as possible . So I tied up my long hair into a loose bun and tied the ribbon, I always kept around my wrist , to it to keep it together. I then picked up all the abandoned props throughout the dressing rooms and began to sing to myself whilst dancing around with the props , just to entertain myself .

"Think of me, think of me fondly

When we've said goodbye

Remember me once in a while

Please promise me, you'll try

When you'll find that once again you long

To take your heart back and be free

If you'll ever find a moment

Spare a thought for me

We never said our love was evergreen

Or as unchanging as the sea

But if you can still remember

Stop and think of me

Think of all the things

We've shared and seen

Don't think about the way

Things might have been

Think of me, think of me waking

Silent and resigned

Imagine me trying too hard

To put you from my mind

Recall those days, look back on all those times

Think of those things we'll never do

There will never be a day

When I won't think of you

Long ago, it seems so long ago

How young and innocent we were

She may not remember me

But I remember her

Flowers fade, the fruits of summer fade

They have their seasons, so do we

But please promise me that sometimes

You will think of me "

Maybe I got slightly carried away there but I decided to just let it flow . A few seconds after I had finished my song the door creaked shut a tiny bit ...I thought I'd closed the door ?! I nearly passed out in embarrassment at the thought of anyone hearing me sing.

I decided to continue cleaning up until the show began at 5 ,then I could sit back and enjoy the performance .Surprisingly time passed relatively quickly and I got a lot done with an hour to spare . I wandered the House looking for something to do ,humming a song that had appeared in my dreams the night before .

I stumbled in the corridor hoping to find something to do when my eyes met those of someone whom had just been petrified . He came running at me with the rope he held in one hand . I instinctively moved out of the way as I thought he was running at me . However he ran straight past me and headed to the ballerinas dressing room screaming "He's here ! The phantom of the opera !" what an imbosile . I don't see how humans can be so cruel and vindictive and spiteful . I suppose it's just the way we are . I hope all the spite of humans runs out one day so everyone is equal . I say this but then remember we are the human race. We never change do we ?

I walked straight past where the man called Boquet had came from and listened for the footsteps . Other than my beating heart I could hear nothing .

" I thought I instructed you to have nothing to do with me ?" a cold voice came from behind me and as I turned around there was no one there .

"Who said I had anything to do with you monsieur ?" I asked not at all afraid of what was in the dark .

"Im sure a mad man running in the opposite direction that you where coming shouting"The opera ghost is here !" must mean you where trying to look for me ? Where you not ?" he continued in a cold flat tone with slight ice to the edge of his voice.

"No ?" I replied an edge of uncertainty in my voice.

" Don't lie to me insolent child !" He snarled at me which I found was quite rude .

"FINE !" I stormed off in the way Bouqet had came feeling like I would be ready to slap that silly mask if I could actually see him .

I turned back ready to say something else when my hazelnut eyes met his piercing blue ones , they seemed full of anger .

"So you face me now ?!" I asked him crossing my arms across my chest .

"What is the matter with you ?! You scare those poor people out of their wits end and all you do is order them around like monkeys ? Who do you think you are ?!" I snarled at him .

"I'm the Phantom of the Opera my dear or hadn't you noticed ?" He smirked his tone icy .

"Don't be sly with me - that's just a title , it means nothing . I'd just be very careful upon your next move monsieur or I'll..." I took a few steps closer towards him but stopping so we where inches away from each other .

"Or you will what ?" he asked raising an eyebrow .At that point I was about to slap him when instead I decided to tread upon his foot making him recoil in pain, at that moment I walked swiftly away and back down the spiral staircase getting ready to watch the performance .

...D..DID I JUST DO THAT ?

I mentally screamed at myself for being so stupid an naive .

How could I let myself loose my temper ? Especially with this poor broken man ? I felt horrified with myself through the whole performance .Hearing Christine sing like an angel made me smile slightly but then the performance was over and I sat their alone in the opera house with my thoughts , I watched all the spectators file out of the house and I sat alone for a good two hours before I reluctantly let sleep envelope me into a raging dream yet again .

I had been having terrible dreams lately unless they were filled with music.

Music made the nightmares disappear and filled them with rhythmic melodies that enchanted me into a peaceful sleep of calamity .

It serves me right does it not ?

God was cursing me for the horrible way I had just treated my masked man . Masked Man ? I think the next time he approaches me I must learn his name if nothing else .

If he did return to me ...