Chapter one
Alleera
"Mommy!" Alleera called desperately. No answer. She walked among the many people visiting the newly built opera house. "Mommy!" She called again.
She wandered down a somewhat deserted corridor. She turned a corner. No one was here. Maybe mommy is in here? She thought.
She opened the door to the nearest room. Something caught her eye. She walked to the end and saw a mirror. It was so pretty. But dusty.
"Mommy?"
She heard a voice coming from the mirror. She pushed on it curiously. She cried out in shock as she fell forward. She fell onto a stone floor. It was cold and damp.
She stood curiously and walked along the corridor. It was fairly dark. She felt along the walls.
"Mommy I'm scared!" she called, sniffling. She heard a crashing noise behind her. "Aaaaah!" she screamed and ran down the corridor. She kept running and came upon a boat.
She was tired and needed to sleep.
The boat was dry. She sat in the boat and found a blanket. She snuggled underneath it and closed her eyes. The gentle rocking of the boat and the soothing sound of the water lulled her to sleep.
Phantom
I was back from my errands and was walking back to the boat. Where had my cape gone? I could've sworn I had it when I climbed into the boat and took the pole.
I spotted something black in the boat. My cape! There it was. Well I was almost to my lair; I might as well not bother putting it on.
I finally arrived to the other side of the lake, and got out of the boat. I took my cape as I left for the lair.
Once in the lair, I put my cape on the couch and retired for the night.
Alleera
Alleera woke up when she felt a slight breeze. She shivered and sat up.
"Mommy?" she called curiously. How did I get on this side of the lake? She asked herself.
She climbed out of the boat. She continued walking curiously.
"Mommy where are you? I wanna go home," she called. She heard a voice; a wonderful beautiful voice. "Mommy!" she ran towards it. She burst through a door.
A man with a white mask covering half his face, turned around quickly. She looked at him curiously.
"You're not my mommy," he looked startled. "Where's mommy?"
"I don't know where your mother is child," he said angrily. "How did you get in here?!"
"I don't know. Do you know my mommy?"
"No!" she sniffled and started crying. She ran over to him and hugged his leg.
"I want my mommy," she wailed. He looked at her in confusion.
Phantom
Why was this child hugging me?! She wanted her mother but I have no idea who she is! I pushed her off me.
"Don't touch me," I snarled.
She sniffled and looked up at me with big watery eyes.
"How did you get here?" she sniffled again.
"I walked through a mirror and fell asleep on a boat,"
"That's impossible, I didn't see you,"
"Im…im-possible?" she asked, saying the word slowly. "What does that mean?" I sighed and closed my eyes for a second.
"You're going home," I growled, taking her arm.
"Ow! You're hurting me!" she pulled away and cried again.
"Look, child! You're going home and that's final!"
"I don't know where mommy is! I can't go home!"
"Do you not know where you live?!"
"No! I want mommy!"
What should I do? I couldn't just let her wander the streets aimlessly looking for her mother. But she couldn't stay here either.
"Please help me find mommy,"
"Where was she last?" I grumbled.
"In the opera house,"
"Where in the opera house?"
"Umm…"she trailed off and looked at her feet.
"You don't know do you?" she bit her lip and shook her head.
"Can I stay here with you? It's scary in the boat," my eyes widened.
"No! You are not staying here!" Her eyes started watering again.
"I'm hungry," she said quietly. I turned away from her. I guess it wouldn't hurt if I let her stay for a few hours.
"All right, come with me,"
"I can stay?" I hesitated.
"Yes,"
"Yay!" she hugged my legs again. I pushed her off gently. She took my hand.
"What are you doing?" she smiled up at me as I led her to the couch. I pulled my hand away. "Didn't your mother ever tell you not to speak to strangers?"
"What's your name?" I hesitated. She looked at me curiously.
"Erik,"
"My name's Alleera. But you can call me Ali. See? Now we're not strangers anymore," I couldn't help smiling. She sat on the couch and looked at me curiously.
"Wait here,"
"Ok!"
"What are you so cheerful about?"
"I made a new friend," I turned around and left to get her some food. I took a loaf of bread and some cheese. I brought it back to her. She smiled at me and waved.
"Here," I handed her a slice of bread and some cheese.
"Thank-you," she grinned and took it. "Mommy teached me to be very polite,"
"Taught," I corrected.
"Huh?"
"She taught you to be very polite," she cocked her head to the side. "Teached is
not a word,"
"Why?"
"Because it's not. It's improper grammar,"
"Improper?"
"Yes. That's not how you talk,"
"Why?"
"Because those are the rules of English,"
"Why?" I grew irritated.
"Because that's just how it works,"
"Why?"
"Because! Stop asking questions!" she fell silent. She nibbled on the bread and cheese.
"I'm thirsty," I stood again to get her something to drink. All I had down here was water and wine. I filled a glass with water and brought it back to her. She smiled again. "Thank you," She looked around. "It's pretty down here," she went back to her food.
"Is your mother looking for you?" she shrugged and finished her meal. She yawned.
"I'm tired," she curled up on the couch and closed her eyes. I guess she could spend the night. One night wouldn't hurt.
I walked into my room and took a spare blanket. I put it over her. She smiled at me.
"Thanks," she snuggled underneath and fell asleep. Why did she have to get lost in my opera house?