The Phantom of the Opera

chapter 1

The day was cloudy and windy, but not in a bad way. A man was wheeled into an old opera house, one that held very trying, but special memories for him. He was wheeled up to the old stage where an auctioneer was auctioning off old props from the past of the opera house. A figure in a hooded cloak stood, not to far from where his nurse parked him up and another familiar looking woman was looking to the stage too. This second person was Madame Giry. And the figure was hidden by the cloak, but the tip of a small slender nose could be seen and the way the cloak curved around the figure, it was obviously a woman. Raoul, the elderly man, looked at the figure but then shaking off slight nostalgia looked back at the stage.

"Sold!" a man said before pounding his gavel. "Your number, sir?"

A man told his number. Raoul watched as the painting was sold off, it holding no interest for him. The figure in the cloak seemed to look down as the next lot was called.

"Thank you," the man then replied. "Lot 663, then, ladies and gentlemen: a poster of this house's production of Hannibal by Chalumeau."

There was only one who bought the poster. The figure sneered under her hood, the old Owner, who owned the Populaire before Raoul had won that. Raoul watched it get taken off then returned to looking at the auctioneer.

"Showing here!" another man showed the poster.

"Do I have ten francs?" the auctioneer asked.

After the poster was sold and then Raoul won the monkey-shaped music box, the Auctioneer talked about the Chandelier. And which a final word from him the cover was pulled off and it lit up and started to get lifted up. As the Chandelier was lifted a strong gust of wind started, and it blew the figure's hood down as she gazed in awe at the Chandelier. Raoul gave a start as did Madame Giry as they and the figure seemed to be the only ones to hear dramatic organ music. The figure had been revealed to be Claudine Dester, formerly Claudine Daae, looking as young as the day that they had last all seen each other.

Her eyes were a chocolate brown and her hair was like her sister's used to be only a little lighter. Her lips were stained blood red and she was wearing a black and red shoulderless dress. There was rather spooky organ music which seemed to accompany the strange occurrence. The group found themselves remembering the past.

Dancers were getting ready to go on stage to practice for that night's performance. Many were getting drunk, though they shouldn't have been. A man led two others towards the stage. Christine, Meg, and Claudine were all getting ready to join the dancers on stage when they were needed. Carlotta was singing the first main song she would sing on stage, but her voice wasn't a good singing voice. There was a young adult girl who was also there, she had long and flowing pale blonde hair. She was a little shy and nervous about singing for a crowd, but she would become a chorus member and she just hoped it would go better and she tried to not let nerves ruin her performance.

"You'll do fine..." Claudine soothed her friend, before she had to go and join the chorus. She then watched as her friend sung with the other chorus girls.

Meg watched too.

"You are not just saying that because I was invited by Aunt Carlotta, are you?~" The girl asked Claudine.

"No, now go sing before your aunt get's Monsieur Reyer to fire me." Claudine said quietly with a small smile.

"Okay, thank you, wish me luck." The girl hugged Claudine before giving a small friendly kiss on the cheek before going off to take her turn for 'Aunt Carlotta'.

Claudine smiled as she watched. Carlotta looked firmly at her niece, but continuing singing, complaining about her dress though. Violetta smiled shyly and nervously to her aunt as she did what she was supposed to do. Soon, Monsieur Reyer stopped the rehersal a moment, to correct Carlotta's husband Piangi.