Leçon 1

The night was dark and filled with snow. The heavy flakes came down like a thick blanket blinding the road. Lisette ran as fast and as hard as she could, in her hands she clutched her beloved pair of Pointe Ballet Shoes. Her skin was numb from the cold wind and she had not coat or sweater protecting her from the harsh conditions.

As she pushed forward through the night she came upon the famous theater, l'Opéra Populaire. Filled with hoe of shelter she pushed harder and ran up the large stone steps leading up to the large entrance. She knocked hard and loud but no one answered, she then remembered that the theater had closed five months ago due to 'strange happenings'.

Lisette sank down to the cold stone and huddled close to her knees and wept. She was freezing and without a home. Right then and there she wished the cold would overcome her and take her away from her hell. Slowly sleep took her mind over and she slept through the cold, snowy night.

When Lisette woke she was warm and she wondered if she was in heaven. She sat up, slowly for she felt dizzy. She looked around at her surroundings and noticed she was in a room that looked much like a cave. Beneath her were velvet and silk sheets. The bed she was in was carved to look like a bird and around her was a curtain of black lace. Next to her was a stand holding a music box, topped with a monkey playing the symbols. She smiled as she watched it play.

"I see you are up," a strange voice said. Suddenly a man started walking into the room.

Lisette's eyes grew wide as she caught view of the stranger. He wore a black cape and on his face, well a white mask covered the right side of it. She immediately felt very intimidated, but not afraid.

"There is no need to be afraid, I found you on the front steps and I couldn't let you freeze." He said.

Lisette furrowed her forehead and then asked, "Does that mean we are in the opera house?"

The man nodded and caste his eyes to the floor. She knew who he was. "Regrettably so, beneath the opera house technically.

Lisette's eyes grew wide and she whispered, "You are le phantom, the one everyone talks about!"

He nodded and looked very sad.

Lisette looked around and the expression on her face seemed scared. She asked frantically, "Where are my ballet slippers?"

"No need to worry, they are drying with the rest of your things. Everything you wore was soaked from the melted snow." As he said this he pulled a long tassel and the lace curtain pulled up.

Lisette looked confused and then she looked down. She was wearing a simple white nightgown but she noticed she was wearing her undergarments and she calmed down knowing she did not reveal anything. Lisette then looked up and saw deep into his eyes. They held compassion but yet, distance, much like a doctor.

"Mademoiselle, if you would excuse me I need to take your temperature." He said holding up his hand to her forehead.

She shivered as she felt his ice cold hand against her skin.

"Excusez-moi, but what is your name Monsieur, I mean other than le Phantom?" Lisette asked as he was still checking her temperature.

He took his hand off her forehead and eyed her suspiciously. She felt naked as he peered at her, as if he could see right into her.

"Erik," he said slowly, still eyeing her. "And what do they call you?" He asked back.

"Lisette," she said simply, looking down at her hands. She felt strange in his presence.

"Well, Lisette your temperature is not too high but I fear you must stay within these walls." He said it as if he regretted it had to happen but Lisette quickly dismissed it from her mind.

"Thank you Erik, for your kindness towards me." Lisette said modestly and thankfully.

"You are quite welcomed, but I think you should rest." Erik said, motherly.

Lisette nodded and lay back down in the bed and watched him walk away. His swagger was defined and cultured, like an aristocrat. But Lisette was mystified, why anyone would live beneath an abandoned opera house. She knew he was le Phantom but there was no need for a phantom when the opera house had closed down. Slowly, she went to sleep with a heavy mind.

Erik sat at his desk, his mind also heavy. He had showed kindness to a stranger, something so not like him. The more and more he thought of Lisette he remembered Christine. A little more than five months ago she had taken his heart and snapped it in two. As he thought of Christine his anger boiled up inside of him and he crumpled the sheet of paper that lay in front of him.

He got up quickly from his desk and quickly, but quietly walked over to the room Lisette lay sleeping in. She was beautiful, with creamy white skin, large dark eyes and wavy auburn hair. He did not dare go closer to her, for he feared of waking her up. But as he looked at her the anger inside of him disappeared and he smiled. She looked completely innocent as she slept.

All his life he wished for beauty, he was unlucky but yet he grew hopeful. Could perhaps Lisette love him? No, this was crazy, he quickly shook the thoughts out of his head and reminded himself that she had only met him minutes before and that no one would love a monster.

Erik's head was filled with so many things, much like Lisette's. He knew he should have never brought Lisette within the opera house walls, she would see too much and then he would be forced to keep her there. He did not want anyone else coming around and if he let her go she would surely tell someone about him, the freak.

But then he wanted to trust her. So many emotions came over him, driving him mad. He had no idea what to do with her. He knew within hours her fever would burn hotter than a thousand suns and he could not throw her out on the streets but would it be safe to keep her there, with him? Erik longed to know the answer but quickly remembered something that someone had told him long ago, follow your heart. And Erik's heart told him to keep Lisette there.