Disclaimer: I do not own Phantom of the Opera or any of the speaking lines. Most of these come from the movie. So, please, don't sue me.
A/N: I was getting ready this morning when I had this great idea for a short fic. It's not much and probably not very good, but please still read, review, and enjoy. It's about Madame Giry's thoughts as the screen falls on Carlotta and what happens a little afterwards. Enjoy.
He's Here
I stood there beside my Meg and Christine, listening to Carlotta sing the aria for the new managers. I was trying not the cringe. Lord that woman had the most horrific voice. She could bring down the chandelier if she tried singing an octave higher. I wanted to laugh as I saw the cleaning ladies put little pieces of cotton inside their ears to block out her sound. I did no such thing, however. As head ballet mistress, I needed to be composed. I could not afford to laugh at the leading lady- at least not in public.
Just as Carlotta came into the main part of the song, I heard a rope snap somewhere. A screen fell from the roofs, landing squarely on Carlotta. It was complete chaos for a few seconds. Men were pulling the screen off of Carlotta who was screaming and demanding everything at once. The new managers looked so pathetic it was sad. At the moment, my personal opinion was that it was Joseph Buquet who had let the screen fall. He was always playing practical jokes on the girls in order to scare them and this would be something he would do. I was going to go talk to him, when I heard Meg whisper conspirator-like to Christine:
"He's here. The Phantom of the Opera." I realized then that it wasn't Joseph who had dropped the screen. It had been Erik. I turned hurriedly to find him. No doubt he wanted to welcome the new managers to his "opera house". I walked between sets, looking for some sign of him. A letter fell down in front of me. I looked up in time to see a shadow fade into the rafters.
I picked it up and looked at the familiar skull seal. He was always so morbid, trying to play the part of Phantom. In many ways, he was still very much a child. I could hear the managers arguing back and forth with Carlotta and then her walking away. I turned to go deliver the letter to the managers. A chill traveled up my spine. A voice as sweet as an angel commanded me.
"Christine. Christine must sing." I nodded. So this is what he was after. All these long years he had been coaching her and now he thought her ready. I shook my head as I walked back onto the main stage. Erik was good at getting his own way. I was just in time hear the managers ask Monsieur Reyer if Carlotta would be coming back.
"You think so, Monsieur? I have a letter from the Opera Ghost." I said, pulling the letter from the envelope. I saw the looks on their faces. They don't believe in this childish nonsense. Unfortunately, they will soon. They will soon.