Author's Note:
Disclaimer: I do not own the Phantom of the Opera, nor the Opera Populaire... those belong to their respected owners, as you all well know. So basically I don't own much of anything in this story except Katherine and the plot, and maybe a thing or two in the following parts to come. xP
Hello there, everyone! Here is the Beginning of the Beginning, the start of my first-ever Phanfiction. I admit that the first chapter is quite mysterious, and may leave you saying, "Okay, what's next?" If it does, Erik says you should review. Even though he hasn't exactly made his appearance in the story yet. Erik pouts in the corner of Author's room
IT WAS IN AN ODD TWIST OF EVENTS
...that Katherine found herself standing in front of the ever-famous Opera Populaire. Truth be told, she had never expected to be staring at the Opera's magnificence, the place she was now going to call her home. She remembered passing it many times as a young girl, but then it had simply been one of the many "big buildings" in Paris, at least to her.
'How did it start?' wondered Katherine, shading her eyes from the sun so she could see well. It was by some unknown force that she had been dragged by, down this very street all winter. She did not understand it, but, being a very big believer in the saying, "All things happen for a reason", she did not question it much further.
'Oh yes,' she stumbled upon the memory, finally reminiscing to the faithful day she had first passed the Old Opera House, when, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that something was different.
She had taken such a speedy double take, that she had to take another.
The Opera House had been rebuilt!
It had been funded and headed by none other than the Opera Ghost, himself. Katherine did not know that, surely. Over the course of the year following the disastrous falling of the chandelier, the road by the Opera House was blocked, and it had been written in all of the newspapers, "Opera House Being Rebuilt by Unknown Benefactor".
And, as she stared at it that day, she saw that it looked as it always had. And, yet – she squinted – there was something different about it. It had a renewed sort of shine to it, magic that she could not name.
'I wonder how it looks on the inside,' she mused thoughtfully. She took a step towards the House, but something held her back. She knew the place held a story. She was afraid that if she learned of the House's secrets, she may just as well fall in love with the old building, and then be heartbroken when they caught her wandering its mysterious corridors, and threw her out.
She dared not take the risk.
At yet, as she took a last look at the wonder before her, she could have sworn she saw a face look out at her from a high window – a certain masked face.
Katherine had stood there, staring up at this mere shadow, until she finally couldn't bear it and had to blink. In that instant, the face had disappeared.
This had intrigued her more, and she tried to force her feet to move, but they could not. She could not understand why.
"Oy, there!" She heard a man yell and the quick gallop of hoof shook the ground below her. "If you don't move fast, you may be turned into some form of mashed pudding!"
She turned and leaped as fast she could to the other side of the road, out of the direction of the speeding carriage.
"Daydreaming isn't useful when you're standing in the middle of the street!" yelled the driver defiantly.
"Well, that was very kind," she muttered, "it's not a surprise, though. Gentlemen are obviously on the verge of extinction." She huffed, smoothing her skirt and picking up her suitcases. Now safely out of the way of any speeding carriages, she could return to her flashback.
She had returned each day for a month, looking at the Opera House, hoping to see the glimmer she had that day, but it was either faint or non-existent.
She had also not seen the masked face, until…
Katherine picked up her two suitcases, which held her small amount of precious objects and possessions. Her eyes wandered to the Opera House once more, but this time to a window that seemed to show on one side the staircase to the roof.
There, again, she saw the slim shadow of a figure standing, or, perhaps hiding behind a long velvet curtain. An eye could be visible from behind half of a pure, white mask.
She smiled. Shifting her suitcase to her other hand, she waved to the mischievous figure. When she blinked, she was surprised to see that the figure had not disappeared, but instead was waving back.
'Today is the day,' she said to herself, 'that I come to live, perform, and be at the famous Opera Populaire.' She began to walk across the street to the House.
Katherine's dreams were always practical. She was not a young girl anymore that was certain. She had originally sought to become a doctor with an artistic sort of hobby. She did not come from an extremely wealthy family, so she was aware that hard work was to be expected in her life.
But since that first day she had passed by the old-and-yet-knew Opera, a fire burst in her, which she could not comprehend. She began to paint daily, something she used to do only when inspiration struck. She found herself writing more, and singing until her throat got sore, despite the fact she very well knew she sounded like a screeching alley cat during summer nights. Each winter day she had passed by the Opera House with this knowing fire burning in her, and she knew that it was the place where her talents would flourish.
She was not one to waste anything given to her, let alone talents and gifts.
As she reached for the handle of the enormous door, she knew that her previous suspicions had led her to the right place. No matter how foolish and irresponsible it seemed, Katherine knew she at least had to try.
And, with a brave yet feeble step (author winks), Katherine entered the Opera, the place which had haunted her dreams for the longest time.
Author's Note, again: Review, please. I can take a little constructive criticism, but that's about it. But review, I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions. They, of course, deserve to be heard.