Chapter One

As extra credit for Kurt Wagner's drama class and Xi'an's French class, students and professors alike from Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters attended the finale performance of the musical The Phantom of the Opera in a local theater just outside of the city. All of the students sat in floor seats, and the adults sat the box seats that are on either side of the lighting and sound box. Jean and Scott sat together in a box with another couple, taking the pleasure of a romantic date. Kurt and Xi'an sat in the other box to discuss the musical and go over ideas of ways for their students to get more out of the show than just watching it. The Professor and Hank even joined Kurt and Xi'an in their box to benefit from a night at the theater.

As they are ushered to their box, Hank grumbled as he adjusted his coat and tie, "I can't believe you have convinced me to come to this. You know I detest these restrictive suits; it makes me look like a ludicrous farce."

"You can't stay in lab coat all the time, Hank. In fact, you need time out of the lab as well. Besides your classes, which are right down the hall from your lab, and going to the kitchen for meals and your daily Twinkie fix, you are in the lab from morning until night. We need to show the students that it is possible to have a normal life outside of the school, let alone the laboratory."

"Maybe I have been a bit preoccupied with lab work, but a musical, Charles?"

"This isn't your run-of-the-mill, banal musical. Think of it more as a 'modern opera', and perhaps you will enjoy it," he replied as he began to page through the playbill. "Look here," he said, indicating the cast list, "both Christine and the Phantom are portrayed by Irish performers."

Hank opened his own program and read the bios of the different actors in the musical. Just as he was nearing the bios of the main characters, the lights dimmed and the musical began. He sat back and watched as the play opened with the auction, then the powerful overture began as the chandelier was raised from the stage up to its proper place on the ceiling. It begins captivatingly enough, he thought right before he flinched at the sound of Carlotta's high-pitched, operatic tone. Leaning towards the Professor, Hank whispered with a hand over one ear, "Please don't inform me the entire production is just this shrill cacophony." The Professor just shook his head and brought a finger to his mouth as his eyes stayed locked on the stage.

Hank was relieved when the sharp-voiced diva left the stage in an angered huff. Then the theater's new managers were introduced to the young, attractive chorus dancer, Christine: dressed in the slightly revealing ballet costume, that did well to accentuate the lean curves of her physique, for her character and her dark brunette curls pinned up in and elegant bun with a few curls brushing the back of her neck and framing her face. Although they were dubious of her talent, the managers gave her an opportunity to prove herself because of the new opening in the cast. The entire cast on the stage, the audience in the theater house, as well as Hank and the others in the box seats, were mesmerized by the smooth, innocent nature in her voice and in her demeanor. He flipped through his playbill to find her name in the bios:

Kady O'Halloran (Christine) – Kady is a 19 year-old who also works as a waitress in a local pub where she performs occasionally and was found by the casting director. Although new to this theater and having no professional training, she is no stranger to using her vocal talents. Singing is her favorite pastime in the world, enjoying a variety of different genres of music from musical theater and classical to oldies and folk songs from her native country, Ireland. She has only been in America for two years, but she already feels at home here. Her performance as Christine is dedicated to the memory of her family. Rath Dé ort!

Hank was shocked by the quality of voice coming from such a young lady. As the musical continued, the songs that she sang struck different chords in his mind, keeping him on the edge of his seat. Kurt and Xi'an quietly exchanged ideas throughout the show, only to be shushed by Hank. The Professor glanced over at Hank intermittently, to see his envelopment into the story. During the last scene, the entire theater was silent and still in anxious anticipation as the interplay between Christine, the Phantom, and Raoul reached its climactic apex.

The audience was in a joyous uproar as the lights dimmed and the curtain closed. The cast presented themselves as they bowed for their curtain calls, and the audience continued to clap, but when the final characters came out, the audience again went crazy with whistles and thunderous applause as they stood in ovation. Raoul and the Phantom briefly left the stage a moment only to come back with roses for an overwhelmed Kady, and the roar of the crowd became even louder, Hank providing much of the added boost himself.

The Phantom and Raoul motioned to encourage her, who was speechless at the moment, to say something. The audience quieted down as she composed herself and managed to say with a gentle Irish accent to her voice, "Um, this has been such a wonderful experience for me: one of the best times I have ever had, doin' what I love to do." She broke a bit, wiped away a few tears, and continued. "I thank the cast, musicians, and crew for all the work they have put into this, and I hope that we were able to bring a bit of ceol 's craic, that is music and fun, into your lives." Another wave of deafening applause erupted from the crowd as Kady bowed with her male costars and the curtain fell.

~~~~~~~ Three Days Later ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hank was preparing his lunch in the kitchen as Logan walked in and hunched down to glare into the refrigerator, grabbing a cold bottle of soda from the fridge and grumbling, "Why can't we have some better drinks in this joint besides this crap for the kids?" Hank paid no attention to him as he continued putting his sandwich together, humming with a slight upward curl to his lips. Logan lowered and shook his head, then he took a long swig of his soda before saying, "I didn't go to the play for a reason, and I'm sure you ain't singing as well as they did, Blue, so shut up!" Hank jerked when he heard Logan shout, dropping the utensils in his hand and staring at Logan has he continued. "The whole mansion has been dealing with your constant background music, and I'm tired of that shit!"

"I apologize, Logan. I didn't realize that I had been affronting you with my harmonious endeavors, but it is difficult to liberate the music that is relentlessly playing in my mind without attempting to vocalize it myself."

"Whatever, just shut up for a while, okay?" he replied, brusquely leaving the kitchen.

As Hank started to work on his lunch again, he thought, It is odd how fixated I am over the music of the play. Although, I believe my enjoyment came mostly from… His thoughts were immediately interrupted as Bobby ran into the kitchen, out of breath and frantic. Hank, again, dropped his lunch in the abruptness of the young man's entry, but then he went over to the boy, placed a hand on his back and said, "Just calm down, take a breath, and tell me what has happened."

Bobby took a few deep gasps before replying, "Someone was found not too far from the edge of the property. We first heard the screaming, then when we followed it, we found her passed out on the ground, and then she started… convulsing, or something, then there was blood on her back coming from somewhere and…" He got frenetic again as he told this to Hank, running out of breath again.

"It's alright, Bobby. You did fine. Now, would you lead me to her so that I may verify she is well?" Bobby just nodded as he led them out of the kitchen and down the hall to head outside, but they were met with Scott, the unconscious girl curled up in his arms and the back of her white shirt drenched in blood. Hank dashed over to Scott to take the girl from his arms and rush her to the infirmary. When Scott carefully handed her over, the girl's neck rolled her head over to reveal the face of Kady O'Halloran.

*Author's Note*

Yes, I changed the title, although the summary is something to be desired. It will only let you type out so much. This is my first X-Men fan fic that wasn't immediately flamed, so I guess I can say that the previous flames stokes the fires of inspiration. Please review so I can get some advice on how the story is going… whether you like it or not! *laughs* But seriously, I would like to know what the readers think, so if you would leave a review on what you liked, didn't like, some suggestions about the title, the reviews would be greatly appreciated.

Write on,

Aldys Clairveux