Phantarella

For years he has lived in the cellars of the opera house. Sitting down at his room he longs to be with Christine. As a man and not the monster he is. It has been months since Christine had left with Raoul. His days thinking of Christine and endless waves of crushing loneliness keep crashing down upon him. Coming out of his room wearing the mask. The mask that covers his ugly face almost making him handsome. Fortunately only a few of his rare vases and a picture frame were the only casualties of the mob. They had been more obsessed with trying to find him. Sitting down at his organ he begins to pick up the sheets of his music that have been cascaded all over the floor. His thoughts turn back to Christine and her seeing his ugly face. Knowing that no matter how much he might wish to be handsome he never will be. Always living alone in endless solitude the night is his companion his only companion. The only light that had ever shined in his life was Christine the only woman he would ever love. The sound of her sweet voice when she would call to him her angel of music as she knew him by. He had often watched her from box five. He would go to her and help her to become a great singer better than that diva Carlotta. Sitting alone in the darkness of his home he wonders what might be going on up in the opera house. Dawning his cloak and black hat he makes his way up to the Opera house. Hiding in one of his usual hiding places he hears the mangers and Madame Giry talking.

One of the mangers speaks up and announces "The opera house on Saturday is celebrating its 12thanniversary and in celebration of this we will have a grand masked ball celebration. Everyone is invited to come. For this celebration everyone can come in costume since it is so close to Halloween. Now that we can finally celebrate and breath at last with no more opera ghost. No more phantom of the opera."

"Here here." A few of the stagehands echo in agreement.

Over hearing their announcement he decides to go just to let them know they are still under his command. Slowly and silently he makes his way back to the cellars of the opera house.

Christine and Meg meet up when Meg spots her coming through the door. "Christine."

"Meg."

"Hey how long have you been back a few days I just didn't get the chance to talk to you."

"Come lets go to your dressing room and talk for a bit. You are coming to the anniversary celebration aren't you?"

"Yes I am coming." Christine says as they enter her dressing room and Christine closes the door.

"So what are you going to wear to the celebration what costume?"

"I don't know I haven't really thought much about it."

"What about you and Raoul are you two still engaged?"

"Yes we are it's been sort of a long term engagement. I haven't been able to set a date yet at least he's been very understanding. Since his cousin had called him to help him with the family business he has been extremely busy. He could tell after a few days I was getting lonely so he suggested that I come back to the opera since as he said it there is nothing to worry about anymore. Most of all I've missed being here and It's great to be back."

"Would you like me to help you put together a costume for the anniversary party?" "Sure what do you think I should go as?"

"Something that would defiantly outshine Carlotta why don't you come as a Princess. I am sure there are a few scraps of costume material that you can use to make a costume. I'll give you a hand if you want to go look for something in the sewing room maybe there is an old costume that we can make look like new."

"Good idea lets go." Getting up they walk out the door to the sewing room. Entering the room Meg looks in an old closet and finds a white dress with a see through layer over top another layer of snow white material. The thin layer of white has soft golden royal rooks for a pattern on it.

"How about this for the dress." Meg says as she pulls it out of the closet.

"That's beautiful sure that will be great."

"I don't think anyone will miss it either it looks like it hasn't been worn in years.

"Meg looks like there's a bit of red velvet left over from an opera maybe we can make it into a royal cape."

"That would work." They get to work on making the rest of the costume. Christine and Meg talk as they work. "I hope when you two do get married that you have a long and happy marriage. Is Raoul coming Saturday?"

"I don't know if he will be able to come or not the business keeps him very busy. He told me he might be able to come but he might have to leave before I do and if he does leave before me I can stay longer if I wish to."

"You sound a bit uncertain about marrying him. Are you sure you still want to marry him?"

"I don't know things have changed so much I'm not even sure if I know him anymore he has become such a big business man I don't know." A knock on he door startles them both.

"Come in." Meg replies.

"Hi Madame Giry."

"Come Meg it's time for rehearsal your five minutes late." "Sorry. I'll be back in a bit." Meg follows her mother to the rehearsal.