The Phantom's Guardian (the Phantom of the Opera fan fiction)

Part 2 - First Meeting

Author Note: I do not own any character from the Phantom of the Opera books/ musical/ movie. Only my characters (Desiree, Sharon, the old musician) and any others I may add along the story are mine.

This was written faster than I hoped. However, next update would be at least a week from now, I think. Sorry for that!, Meanwhile, Please let me know how you feel about my writing and share my story if you know other Phantom fans who would enjoy this!

Yours

Part 2 – First Meeting

"Oh, I am DYING....", Sharon moaned and dragged her feet on the pavement. Desiree just laughed, "You say I am a theatre fan, yet you are the dramatic one, Sharon! Don't forget, I took great photos for you the whole day and you got to see the Eiffel Tower too".

"I know, it's just that I am really tired. I can't wait to return to hotel and pass out on the bed." Sharon replied.

"Of course we can, we only have this one last stop and we can go back. The sun is setting early because of the winter solstice." Desiree replied, pushing the dark tresses out of her eye.

"You do believe that mad violin man, don't you, Deedee? I saw you throwing the coins today. I am telling you, he must have been high or crazy. You shouldn't be taking his words seriously.", Sharon looked unimpressed.

"But Sharon, he seemed so serious, and you know how I feel about Phantom. Let me just throw this last one, and then, if nothing happens, we can go back, Okay? I'll buy you your favorite macaroons from the bakery near the hotel, please?" Desiree made puppy eyes.

"Awww, okay, girl, you know I can never resist that face and macaroons! Let's just get this over with. I'll be sitting here" Sharon rolled her eyes and sat on the pavement, took out the camera and started checking the photos. Desiree smiled giddily and looked at her watch, it was almost sunset. She looked around for the mysterious violinist from yesterday but he was nowhere to be found. ('Maybe he isn't feeling well. His cough sounded severe.') Desiree thought, and gazed at the Palais Garnier in front of her. It appeared even more ethereal today with the flickering city lights around it.

Desiree stepped near the entrance of the building. She didn't hold high hopes for the wish to actually come true but her imaginative self was dreaming a little bit. She closed her eyes and whispered the same words that she did twice earlier today in her mind. ('I wish.. I wish to visit the world of the Phantom of the Opera'). She pictured herself on the stage, in the Phantom's Lair, in the auditorium. Then she threw the coin without opening her eyes. The clinking sound of the coin hitting the wall never came, and she opened her eyes in confusion. She could not find the coin!!

"Are you done? And since you are still standing here, I think you are done, my friend. It's time to buy macaroons, ha ha", Sharon threw her arm on Desiree's shoulder and turned her away from the entrance. Feeling a little disappointed, Desiree followed her begrudgingly. Suddenly, a gust of very cold air swept her scarf from her neck and into the shadow of the Palais Garnier. Desiree gasped and scrambled to chase it. When she bent down to pick up the scarf, abruptly she felt very dizzy and fell forward to the ground. The last words she heard were Sharon's hurried voice calling her name before her vision was plunged into darkness.

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The first thing she noticed was the cold. She was lying on a cold, hard surface and the smell of mold breached her nose as her consciousness returned. "Arrghh, disgusting.", Desiree grumbled and pushed herself up. When she opened her eyes, the sight of a door signed "Costume room" greeted her eyes. She looked around and saw a corridor lit only with candles on both ends. Suddenly, she heard giggles coming from one end and hurriedly entered the costume room, closing the door behind her. Two voices whispered outside the door,

"Alice, could you walk slower, please?"

"No, Meg, we are out so late, and I am afraid! We should get back to our room quickly."

"Oh, Alice, you are not afraid of the Phantom, are you? He would not harm us, we did nothing to displease him."

Desiree caught her breath behind the door, she was HERE, really HERE, in the Phantom's world!!! How did that happen? What would Sharon think if she could not find her? And most importantly, what should she do now? More whispers followed;

"What do you know about the Phantom to be sure of that, Meg? Nobody has seen him. But I am more worried about Joseph Buquet, he is always leering at dancers. I heard that the other night, he was drunk and made inappropriate comments to one dancer who was out late. She said if Madame Giry didn't appear, he would've done something terrible."

The voices faded as the girls passed the door and Desiree felt the first wave of fear and panic hit her. She wasn't really expecting this when she made the wish! Now, she was afraid that she would be prey to some... some drunken stagehand before she has a chance to meet Erik or Christine. She almost crumpled to her knees and cried but she remembered the sign of the room and got an idea. She needed to ensure her own safety first before exploring this world!

After lighting a candle holder she found near the door, she looked around the room for the items she needed. Pinning her hair back and putting the short-haired wig was easy since she used to do that for the dances at her high school. She hid her jeans and jumper under a pile of fabrics and pulled on some old breeches, men's shoes and a shirt, thankful that the shirt's ruffles provided necessary cover to her chest. Then, she put on a waistcoat and rubbed the make-up off her face. The candle's light was dim but she was relieved to see in a mirror that she now somehow resembled a boy, albeit a rather feminine-looking and skinny one.

Pleased with her disguise, Desiree decided to go explore the building she's in. According to the story and the whispers outside, she should be inside the Opera Populaire (or Palais Garnier) where the Phantom of the Opera took place. She snuck out of the costume room, candle holder in hand, closed the door noiselessly and turned around....

... right in front of a tall, dark shape picking something up on the floor and straightening to face her in the shadowy corridor!!

"HALT, who are you?",

the stern voice made Desiree flinch. She imagined someone would find her wandering without permission but not this fast, damn it! Then, as she raised her candle to see the face of the figure, the shadow waved its hand and a swish of black cloak extinguished the candle. Now, the only light came from the lantern in the man's hand, which was conveniently glaring on Desiree's face while keeping its holder's face in the dark.

"Why are you sneaking around in my theatre? Are you a thief?",

The voice held authority and command. Desiree's heart gave a jolt and beat wildly on the words "MY theatre". Surely, neither Monsieur Firmin nor Monsieur Andre could be this tall and imposing... which left one possible individual who would claim the theatre as "his"...

"I asked, What is your name, boy?" Although the question was not shouted but rather, spoken in a low voice, she could not help but shiver from the threat carried by it and the deep undertone of the powerful voice. "It's De.., De.. ", Desiree stuttered, staring up at the formidable figure in the shadows. Then she remembered that she was supposed to be a boy, and frantically scrambled her mind for a boy's name. Unfortunately, it meant that the first name uttered is the one she's been obsessed with her entire life. "Erik?"

"WHAT?". The shadow stumbled and stepped closer, and Desiree hurriedly remedied her mistake. "Derrick!!, I mean, ahem, my name is Derrick, monsieur", she tried her best to sound like a man, praying in her mind that the Phantom would not notice.