The transition from soft thuds of hooves on dirt to clicking on cobblestone woke Audrey from her nap. Inside the carriage, Audrey leaned over to the window, gently pushing aside the curtain. Buildings rose from the cobblestone into the oppressing blackness. "You're awake," Odette, a close friend to Audrey, spoke from Audrey's left by the other window. Still peering out into the night, Audrey felt her joy rise as she entered Paris for the first time. She would finally start her new life. With her eyes glued to the world just through the glass, Audrey began to speak her question aloud to Odette, "What things do you do in Les Filles de la Beaute?"
"We travel a lot," Odette responded. "Where…" Audrey paused to think of possible answers, "Where do you go? What kind of places?" Odette flicked her blonde hair behind her shoulder. Drawing away from the window, Audrey faced her friend waiting for her reply. Odette scratched her head nervously, "Well… tomorrow, we- we go to the Opera Populaire."
"Really?" Audrey exclaimed, "I've heard so much about it, and now I get to see it!" A hand met Audrey's shoulder; it was Odette's. Alarm swarmed her green eyes, "It's not a good place to be, Audrey. Have you heard the stories from three years ago?" Curiosity now overwhelmed Audrey. Her eyes glittered with interest, "No. Tell me." Odette shrank in her seat, "Okay. Three years back, the opera house, Populaire, was haunted by a mysterious phantom, the Phantom of the Opera, who fell in love with a wonderful singer named Christine Daee. But he had the owners put on an opera that ended with chaos when Miss Daee took off his mask that he used to hide his deformity," Odette paused to take in a shuttering breath, "In his anger, the Phantom stole Christine and took her to his lair. But Raoul, the man Christine had been in love with, was on their trail. He eventually found them deep beneath the opera house, but the Phantom tied him to gate ready to strangle him. The Phantom told Christine that the only way to save Raoul was for her to marry him. She didn't marry him, but Christine instead came over and kissed the Phantom. The Phantom set them free. During the whole tragedy, a fire had burned down the Populaire, and the chandelier had crashed to the floor." When she had finished her story, Odette looked dreadful. Around her green eyes were tears against the puffy red skin. Comfortingly, Audrey wrapped her arms around her new friend, whispering things to try to soothe the song girl. Once her tears were wiped away, Odette laughed as she glanced out her own window, "We're here! Come on!"
Snatching her luggage, Audrey opened the carriage door to place her feet in Paris for the first time. She dashed over to the door before the carriage, reading the sign above. "Les Filles de la Beaute Dortoir." Together, Odette and Audrey swept into the building finding candles lit at the nightstand by every bed. In the center of a room, a girl of red hair turned her attention to the newcomers. "Ah," she laughed, "Is this the new girl, Odette?" Odette smiled courteously back, "Yes. Her name is Audrey Alexandre. Have you set a bed up for her, Vivian?" With a wave of her hand, Vivian gestured to a bed near the window. Trying to sneak around the crowd, Audrey stumbled nervously about keeping only the right side of her face visible. While she did so, Vivian's blue glare followed, "So…" she chuckled softly, "Would you like to sing for us?"
"No!" Odette, who was helping Audrey unpack her belongings, had snapped around, "No, she doesn't." Snorting, Audrey backhanded Odette, "Don't make decisions for me," she turned to Vivian, "It would be an honor." Gasps silenced the room, and Audrey became very insecure. She knew what everyone was staring at. The eyes of her audience weren't truly focused on her, but the eye patch plastered over the left eye. Vivian, though, didn't look petrified. Instead, a deep grin enfolded, "So let it begin. Of course you will want to sing." Before Audrey could begin her song she learned as a young girl, there was a gentle tapping on her shoulder. Noiselessly, Audrey turned to stand face-to-face with Odette, "What is it?" Concern was on Odette's mind, concern for her friend. She knew what the girls were hiding from Audrey, and now it was time for her to share it, "Please don't sing. There is a legend that- that if the Phantom hears you sing, and h- he likes it, he will kidnap you." Genuine fear had begun to hold down on Odette; panic growing from her voice, "Just don't."
Audrey pulled her blankets over her yet more, shaking at the thought of meeting the Phantom; her nightmares she was sure were filled with him. In her dream, she was walking through a small isle leading deeper and deeper to nightfall. But it ended. She was now standing in a small yard alone in pitch black. Silence. Everything was silent. Screech! Audrey narrowed her hazel eyes trying to make out the smallest of shape in the ink that she now began to drown in. Who are you, she thought as the world around her numbed. Then it grew warm and muggy. The woman was drowning in her own blood. Yet things were still obscure. Out of nowhere came a white smudge. Fear overcame her as it drew closer until it was revealed as a skull mask.
Screaming into the winter night of the bunkhouse, Audrey plummeted upon the wooden floor of the bunkhouse. Candlelight suddenly fought back the emotionless shadows. To get back to her feet, Audrey clutched the framework of her bed and pushed off of it. Vivian's voice rang out, "Stupid Audrey! You woke me up!" Bringing her hands to her chest, Audrey murmured to herself, "Sorry…" Little comfort seeped into her when Odette called out, "Is everything alright Audrey? Do you need me to fetch Madam Giry?" She wasn't sure. Pain filled her lungs with each shallow gulp of air.
That mask, Audrey began to think¸ I've seen it before. How do I know? Who are you? Is Paris the place I should be? Her mind fogged as sleep strained to overcome her once again. Audrey knew she couldn't sleep anymore, for she had a feeling that the nightmares and the Phantom wouldn't leave her alone.