Merci walked down the corridor, bored as usual. Her father was the new owner of the Opera House, everyday she came here and watched the ballerinas train and the singers do their breathing exercises. People offered to give her vocal lessons, Madame Giry even asked her if she wanted to learn the dance routine, there were two problems with that. First, she hated when people heard her sing, she became embarrassed even when people heard her hum. Second, Merci could not dance if her life depended on it.
So, Merci spent her days wandering the halls of the opera house trying to find hidden rooms, secret passage ways, anything exciting for that matter. So far, she had found none, but why give up? At least it's something to do. She skimmed her hand across the marble wall, feeling that marvelous texture. She had never been down this hall before, maybe this time her adventurous fantasies will come true? Merci came to the end of the hall and looked around her looked completely normal except that slight dent in a section of the wall. Huh, She thought, That's strange. She pressed her hands against the wall trying to see if she could push it aside or something. Eventually she pushed that part of the wall aside to find a stairwell down to the cellars.
She stepped inside, it smelled terrible, like rotting meat. Suddenly Merci felt something grab her shoulder, she shrieked and spun around. She found herself face to face with Madame Giry. "Don't go down there," The widow said, "It is not safe." Madame Giry led Merci to the entry hall. "Your father will be here in a minute to take you home," Madame Giry said, "Please wait here." And she left Merci to wait and wonder.
What was down there that was so dangerous? She thought, It's just a cellar, the only dangerous thing would be tripping over a loose tile. Merci thought about what things could possibly be there, but nothing came to mind.
"Merci," Her father said, "Come on now, child, get in the carriage it's time to go home."
"Father," Merci said, "What is in the basement of the Opera House?" He smiled, "The Opera Ghost of course." The old man replied "Opera Ghost?" She repeated. "Yes, people say he's a man who was born with a no nose, he has yellow eyes, he used to terrorize the Opera House about three years ago." Merci's eye's widened. "He even kiddnaped Christine Daae, you know her don't you?" She nodded, "Well he took her into his home that is in the cellar and forced her to marry him for the life of Raoul. She said she'd marry the Phantom and she kissed him. But the Phantom saw that she was marrying him just because that would save her lover and he let her go. Tragic, really." "Does he still live there?" Merci asked? "No one knows," He replied, "Maybe he does maybe he doesn't." Merci pondered what it would be like to live in the basement of the Opera House. Is it beautiful? Is it exciting? Is it scary? Maybe tomorrow I could go down there and see if he's still around. She thought. Soon, they arrived home. Tomorrow, she would go to the basement of the Opera House and see if he is still there.
Merci awoke at the stroke of dawn, she was so excited about today, and a little scared. What if she found the Opera Ghost? What would she say to him? Would he imprison her? Well, she would figure that out soon enough. Her maids helped her get dressed and she went downstairs to eat.
When they arrived at the Opera House, Merci hid out in the back stage area. They were reassuring an Opera so she thought they were far too busy to notice her. After about 30 minutes she slipped out of there and down the hall where she found the secret door to the basement.
It was about the sixth step she took when she felt the grown slip from her feet. She felt herself fall about ten feet then she hit the ground with a smash. She groaned and looked up to find herself in a room full of mirrors. She ran around the room trying to find and exit, but she just kept running into mirrors. She tripped over a skeliton on the ground, she knew she was going to die. "Help!" Merci screamed, "Help!"