Chapter One Time Traveler
Present Day
Los Angeles, California
"Well here goes nothing." The seventeen-year old woman. The tin box that was tall enough to hold one person was lit up with a strange sort of light and numbers. It was exactly 6:42; she entered the box and began chanting
"Paris, France 1875 the opera house." Over and over her angelic soft voice echoed these words.
Paris, France 1875
It was not long before she found herself on the streets of Paris. Dressed appropriately but anyone with half an eye would know she was not wealthy. She turned around. There it was, the opera house. Boards still covered the windows but activity was heard inside. She made her way up the opera house steps. Singing was heard. Carlotta perhaps? She giggled. She had seen the movie, but this was real. Carriages rolled by, people bustled about going here and there. She sighed dreamily. Perhaps, the phantom is real as well?
A man exited the building with a large advertisement. Who would take down the boards? Who would spruce up the opera house? Would anyone without a sense of adventure dare step a foot in the place?
Collette slipped in the door without so much as a glance from the man in her direction. There she was, Madam Giry, instructing ballerina.
"Bonjour Mademoiselle Giry." Said Collette in her perfect French accent. Madam Giry whipped around and the music and dancing came to a halt. Oops. She thought. Madam Giry did not look unhappy but that wasn't a happy face.
"Yes?"
"I am here to try out for your ballet? I uh, heard you needed one." Collette lied. Madam looked at her for a few minutes.
"Act three." She announced. The girls quickly positioned themselves. The music started up and the feet danced all over the floor, the dancer's pivoting, twirling, doing many alonges, and finally what Collotte thought was Meg, entered the stage with a Assemblé.
Collotte was glad she took the French ballet lessons. Paid extravagantly for them, but being here, back in the chasms of time. It was so worth it all.
Madam Giry watched the dark haired beauty. She had some of the features of Christine, except of course her weight. She had the figure of a ballerina. Unlike Christine, this young ladies hair held soft curls, not ringlets, the eyes of mystery and adventure, of sorrow, and of happiness. Beneath the folds of her skirt, Madam Giry saw she was warming up, of course she couldn't do the most important as she would need a Barre' and some more flexible clothing.
Where had she heard they needed a new ballerina? Madam Giry had only thought of it this morning… unless… No Erik wouldn't have. Madam tapped the floor.
"Ok, enough for today." Said Madam Giry. A lady approached from the back part of the stage. Definitely not Carlotta, but definitely a singer with the prima Donna look, Collotte wondered if she was to replace Christine and Carlotta. The lady broke out and began singing in the high strong vibrato.
Can you see my heart and my soul?
As we clasp our hearts together as one
Can't you hear the wedding bells toll?
Our life together united as one.
(Authoress notes that she is NOT a poet)
Collette cringed.
"Someone got paid for writing that dialogue?" she thought to herself.
She glanced around the opera house. The Chandelier was hung back in place with few adjustments. Seeing that she never even saw the original except for the one in the 2004 movie of Phantom of the Opera it looked pretty good to her. She glanced around Madam Giry was watching her. Collette felt a little self-conscious.
"Mademoiselle, let's see how well you can do." Said Madam Giry leading Collette down a darkened hallway. It wasn't the same as in the movie but Collette couldn't help but wonder if it was really filmed here centuries later. Madam Giry showed her into a dressing room where dozen's of ballet costumes hung and a make up vanity stood waiting for her.
"Um, Madam Giry. I didn't bring any toe shoes." Explained Collette.
"Are you sure you can dance?"
"I know I can I have had lessons. I just had to leave my shoes behind to come here."
"Are you a runaway? Are you a wanted?" Question Madam Giry her black eyes glaring into hers. Geez that mass of hair in a knot on her head must make her really grouchy. Thought Collette.
"No, I have no one. I am an orphan looking for bread and water, Like Christine Daae'." Said Collette. Madam Giry approached her.
"How do you know about Christine?" She said sharply. Wasn't everyone suppose to know?
"I uh- I have heard rumors. The phantom is dead and wont write anymore, Christine ran off to be married to the Victome de Chanty." Said Collette, Madam looked shocked and irritated.
"Few people know that story. Where do you get your information?" Collette wondered how she would explain. She could not change the past or the present so she couldn't tell Madam Giry anything. Collette wondered what she could say; one of the dancers entered the room needing Madam Giry.
"Everything you need is in here. I will see you on the stage in a half hour." Said Madam Giry heading back out the door. Collette glanced around. She never thought she would get in here, and it could be her only time. The thought of failing was already weighing heavily on her mind. Collette decided to look over the costumes. She chose one that looked like her first ballet costume at home. It was red in color and with deep blue and yellow. It looked like something for a Romanian theme. Collette went behind a beige dressing screen. Chances were that no one would come in but Collette wanted to be safe than sorry. Wouldn't it be neat if the Phantom still existed? Collette only wanted to see the underground house. Where the Phantom lived. Collette applied her makeup with precision. The effect was sufficient to protect her from turning to a ghost on stage without looking as if she applied it with a trowel. She began to hum the theme song from Phantom of the Opera. Andrew Lloyd Webber really knew how to write songs, at least they were all based on a true story. This was living proof. Soon her humming was turning into singing, Collette knew that all her high notes were way off key but what could you expect from someone who never had a singing lesson.
"Meg will show what is expected of you. Watch her once and I will expect you to have it down." Said Madam Giry. The music began and Meg floated all over the floor. Collette watched extra carefully to be able to copy. Photographic memory, that is what her father called it. May he rest in peace. Meg did a Brise' Vole' and finished her dance. Ok easy enough thought Collette. Collette began her dance as soon as the music began. She thought she didn't float as much as Meg, but she knew she was doing the moves right. She ended with a thud on her last move. It wasn't as smooth as she was taught to do. Madam Giry looked her.
"Well done Mademoiselle, You can be an emergency ballerina." Collette knew that she would only be called upon if one of the ballet girls had an accident. She was pleased. At least she would have a place to sleep and food in her belly and time to explore the opera house. Collette knew she could not bring any modern technologies into the past but a camera would sure become really handy right now. Collette new that the French were big on their historic buildings Collette wondered how old this building really was. Madam Giry dismissed Meg and Collette for the day. Meg an energetic lady of her late teens showed Collette where she was to stay. The room was dark and several cots lined up for the different girls. Few of them were on the beds, most were being fitted for new costumes or they gabbed amongst themselves. Collette wondered if it was too forwards for this time and age to introduce herself. She didn't have to wonder long as Meg quickly pulled her to the front of the room and made the announcement of a new girl among them and introduced, Collette Badeau. Quickly Collette was made a friend and they chit chatted among themselves. Most conversations were to the mystery behind the opera house. Madam Giry was lucky indeed to be returning here.
Collette wanted to explore some rooms so she bid the ladies farewell and headed out the door. Meg was willing to follow but with much persuasion Collette let her stay amongst the petite girls. Entering a room that was not quite fixed for use. A mirror hung on a wall, Collette approached it with a sadness in her eyes. She was not pretty, not as pretty as what she imagined Christine to look like. The real Christine that is. Her wavy brown hair gave a slight hint of red to it and her eyes the color of a stormy sea sparkled with merriment and gave a storm in time of sorrow or madness. Her cheekbones held high and her chin puffed out a little more than necessary, but the perfect nose was all she had to boast of. She had somewhat of a box shaped figure, a slight hint of curves. Her mother had called her shape, 'hills instead of mountains'. She sighed. A quick glance around the room and its artifacts told her, the best was yet to come.
A/U: Please review and thank you for reading I hope you enjoyed. Any suggestions welcomed.