The Search For a Phantom

Chapter 2

(song I listened to as I worked)

InterContinental Paris- Le Grand was an expensive four-star hotel situated just across the street. The room Jack and Evelyn were in was up on the fourth floor; a suite with a balcony overseeing the roof of the opera house. The walls and furniture of the room were old napoleon III in likeness, and the entire building held a posh, high-class air. The two Americans felt far out of place in such a hotel.

"Is there anything else that happened?" Jack asked again, sitting in a chair across from the bed Evelyn sat upon.

She ran her hand through her blond hair, laying back onto the bed. "It's just as I said," she stared at the ceiling. "I saw the auditorium just how it has been described as before the fire, and I saw that figure in the shadows. I ran after that."

"A hypnotic vision, and a strange figure. You weren't kidding when you said you saw something." He chuckled lightly.

"No, there was no way I could have made that up. What I saw was to real... to beautiful," she thought of the figure and curled up. "And to terrifying."

A crisp knock sounded on the door, making the two of them jump. Jack looked at Evelyn, who shrugged. They weren't expecting anyone to see them. Jack got up, and slowly walked to the door, leaning lightly beside it.

"Who's there?" He asked.

"The man who asked for you to be here in Paris, Monsieur Peterson." A thick-accented voice said in reply behind the door. Jack opened it, and in walked a well-dressed man with soft features and a dark tan completion.

"I thought you weren't gonna be here till tomorrow,"

"After the email you had sent me, I could not dare wait to impart the knowledge I hold for the two of you." He looked over to Evelyn with warm jade-colored eyes and a pleasant smile. "My name is Monsieur Halim, the owner of the old opera house and, if all goes well, you temporary employer. You must be Evelyn, am I correct?" She nodded slowly to him, and he strode over, a large black bag in his hand, his gaze stayed on her. "Pardon me for staring, but you look so much like her, mademoiselle," He sat down and opened his bag.

"I look like who?"

"Like the young soprano." He pulled an old photograph out of his bag and handed it to her, "No wonder Erik the ghost was so quick to show himself to you."

Evelyn stared at the photo in almost disbelief. The woman in the old faded photo looked just like her. She held the same soft expression, the same rounded face, the same eyes. Scrolled upon the bottom of the photo was a signature, Christine Daae. She handed the picture to Jack, who looked at it.

"I thought Christine was a brunette," Jack rubbed his head in confusion.

'Needless to say, Jack, the musical created By Andrew Lloyd Webber holds only some of the truth within its songs," Halim took the photo back and laid it down beside him. "When writing his musical, he took inspiration from his wife for the lead role, but he did leave a hint of what the real Christine looked like."

"Little Lotte," Evelyn said gently, thinking of the song and poem Halim was speaking of. "Little Lotte thought of everything and nothing,"

Halim finished the poem.

"Like a butterfly she flew about in the gold of the sun,In her golden curls she wore the crown of spring And her gaze was like the heavens, so bright blue and clear"

He pulled a file out of his bag, "You see, Christine was a blond-haired, blue-eyed singer, much like Evelyn here. Had I known how remarkable resemblance you held was, I would have warned you not to go into the opera house alone. Now tell me, what exactly happened to you, Evelyn?"

Evelyn once again told the story of her vision, and the hypnotic violin. And she once again spoke of the figure in the shadows. Halim said not a word until she was done. "We may have to consider ourselves lucky, that dear Erik did nothing more than what you said. He is not often so pleasant."

"You're talking like he's your friend," Evelyn looked down, the memory of those cold, black holes for eyes piercing through her, "Did you ever see him?"

"Personally, only once," Halim sighed, "But the stories my Great Grandfather told me, and the things he has left behind give me a clear enough image I believe."

"And who was your Great Grandfather?"

He pulled a book out, the cover saying in bold red lettering, "Le Fantôm de l'Opéra". Then, flipping it to the introduction, read out a single sentence from it. "This witness was none other than the man whom all Paris called the "Persian" and who was well-known to every subscriber to the Opera." They looked at him. "Nadir Khan, the "Persian", was my Great Grandfather."

It was clear that he was of Arabic descent, but it dawned on neither of them that he would have been a direct descendant of a man who knew the opera ghost. Nadir, the "Persian", was the only man who could have even been remotely considered Erik's friend, and it began to make sense as to why Evelyn and Jack were asked to be here.

"All my Great Grandfather wanted was to have Erik be content and perhaps a fair bit happy. When Erik passed away, though, that seemed not to be the case. A haunting seemed to had begun, and this time it was not by a living man. My Great Grandfather took detailed notes of what occurred, as did others, but you can read those later. Essentially, the opera house came to a point that no one dared to enter, for fear of terrible consequences. The ownership passed from buyer to buyer, and each considered that he was the one who could rebuild it to its former glory. Alas, each one was sadly mistaken, for in each project, disasters occurred. Accidents that should not have happened, happened. Workers went missing, and some were found dead, strung up by their necks upon rope. Some called it suicide, others blamed the phantom. Then, Several years ago, I took ownership of the opera house myself. Like every other man, I started a project to recreate the opera house I was told about when I was young, but like every other project, Erik would not allow it."

"Halim, if you got us here to get rid of Erik, we're not Ghostbusters." Jack folded his arms, "we are only paranormal investigators."

"I did not bring you here to exterminate him," Halim answered softly, folding his hands into his lap, "I want Erik to be happy. If his spirit passes on, then he passes on to a better place, but the tortured soul deserves happiness. My assistant heard of the two of you and after some research, you seemed the most suited for the job."

"Because I'm so similar to Christine," Evelyn said softly, understanding the major reason why.

"Yes, that is indeed a large factor. Christine was the only one who made that sad creature happy, if even for a small amount of time." He gathered all his belongings into his bag, minus a small notebook, and stood up. "I cannot force either of you to do any of this for me. I do ask that the two of you be sure you are willing to help. Erik was rarely a compliant man in life according to my Great Grandfather, and now in death he is even further from so."

The room was struck with silence for a few moments, until Jack finally spoke.

"Well, since it seems like Ev's the major piece in our work," Jack turned to her, "it's your decision. You saw Erik, are you feeling like we can do this?"

Evelyn looked down, curling her knees to her chest. She wanted to help, truly, yet the image of those eyes still burned in her, keeping fear in her heart, making her doubt.

"You need not choose now." Halim put a hand on her shoulder seeing she was at odds with herself. "Take this evening to think, and you can make a final decision tomorrow." He then turned to Jack and handed him the small notebook he kept out. "These are some accounts from some men and women, including my Great Grandfather, of times Erik was seen. They may help with your decision, knowing more of what the two of you are getting into by assisting me." Jack took the notebook, shaking Halim's hand.

"Thank you, Goodnight."

"Monsieur, Mademoiselle, a good evening to youboth, and I patiently await for your decision." He gave a slight bow, then strodeto the door, leaving    

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Well, that was Chapter 2 for you, ^^ I hope you enjoyed it! (hmm, I wonder if Evelyn will choose to help...)

As always, please comment, telling me what you think and maybe guessing as to what could the future hold!