The Search For a Phantom

Chapter 3

(As always, music I listened to while typing)

Chapter 3

April 25, 1899

'It has been several years since the fire that destroyed much of the opera house. A few days ago, under director Pedro Gailhard, the task of rebuilding the opera house is under way.'

May 3, 1899

'Since the start of reconstruction, a total of five workers have died. Two of them seemed to be of construction accidents, one was of some illness, and one was found hanging from the ceiling of the auditorium. Many claims are being suicide, but, having gone to investigate myself, I saw the rope that had hung him, the Punjab Lasso. It was undoubtedly Erik's.'

May 17, 1899

'Three more workers have now vanished within the past week. Yesterday, one was found in the center of the foyer, his body soaked and cold, and around his neck was the dreaded Punjab. People are now getting suspicious, as am I. I can only assume the body was in the underground lake before being dragged to the foyer.'

May 29, 1899

'After several more deaths that could only have been led to Erik, they have cancelled the rebuilding. Erik, however, is dead. This I know, for he told me that day he visited me after letting Christine go that he was dying. Therefore, I shall go to the opera house. I must see if it is truly him.'

May 30, 1899

'Erik is dead. But at the same time, it was him who caused it all. The whole time I walked through the opera house his spirit was with me. He strode beside me like any man, but passed through walls and objects like a true phantom. He did not speak to me however. He simply followed me as I walked. I dared not to go to his lair, lest I incur his anger.'

Jack flipped through the pages of the notebook that night, reading any entry that cached his eye. Evelyn laid curled up in her own bed reading her copy of Gaston Leroux's novel, The Phantom of the Opera. Having not read it for some time, she started it on the plane and was already almost completed. She paged through the Epilogue, wiping her eyes.

'Poor, unhappy Erik! Shall we pity him? Shall we curse him? He asked only to be "someone," like everybody else. But he was too ugly! And he had to hide his genius OR USE IT TO PLAY TRICKS WITH, when, with an ordinary face, he would have been one of the most distinguished of mankind! He had a heart that could have held the empire of the world; and, in the end, he had to content himself with a cellar. Ah, yes, we must needs pity the Opera ghost'

She set the book down at the end of the paragraph, sitting up. The book was right, she had to pity him. He went through hell in life, and now in death he is as pitiful and sorrowful as ever. She was scared by his appearance yes, but he never did anything to hurt her. No, he only tried to give her music and beauty in that short time.

"Jack," Evelyn sat up, closing her book.

"Yeah?"

"You can contact Halim and tell him I'm willing to help."

**********

*Credit to the original novel for the italicized passage*

So sorry for keeping you all waiting here in the dark, my people. First off, I had fallen from inspiration for a while, and art school got the better of me (That, and David Bowie was strongly on my mind so yeah... that's a different subject XD) Second, I had forgotten I had finished this chapter, so earlier today, when I was thinking about this, I pulled it up and memories came back, and I realized I needed to give all of you something to read XD

Now, I have no idea when I'll have another chapter, and I would not be to surprised if it's not here until May. As I hope you can see, in this book I've been doing research to make this feel as real as I can make it. (for example, Pedro Gailhard really was the directer of the Opera House at that time XD)  I will try my best to get more out as soon as I can though, so keep patient and I hope my work is worth the wait. Thank you

Your Obedient Author,

Edhelin