Hello, Noose here this is my very first fan fiction so if you are reviewing please be kind, and if you actually like my work as I go along I can be a terrible critic of my own work and am liable, should I read it over, to think that it is only worthy of burning. So if you want me to write chapter two you are going to need to bother me a lot, please I need encouragement or I will give up. Right now I probably sound pretty pathetic so I'll just let you get on with the story, and if you like it please tell me, and I might have chapter two up within the week. Thank You!

"Erik, breakfast" I called over the din of discordant organ music that echoed throughout the cavern. Per the norm he ignored me, preferring instead to increase the volume of his playing, to better show his annoyance at my intrusion. I gazed sadly at his thinning frame; he hadn't been eating well, not since that night, the night he set fire to the opera house… the night Christine left him. I took a beep breath "Erik please, you need to eat" he stopped abruptly, the dying notes fading into the high ceilings of the cavern leaving the place uncomfortably silent.

"Go away" came his low command, he didn't face me, preferring to gaze down at the worn keys of his organ, his shoulders slumped with exhaustion.

"Erik…" I ventured one last time, but this only seemed to anger him

Jumping up from his seat he spun to face me, his mask may have hid the right side of his face, but I could clearly see the deep purple circles beneath his left eye, and the sickly paleness of his skin. I could tell he hadn't slept in days, and as he stood his once fitted clothes seemed to hang on his bony frame. I knew had he not been wearing so many layers, I would be able to count every one of his ribs, but despite his apparent weakness I still feared his explosive temper as he roared at me to leave "I SAID GO AWAY WOMAN, CAN YOU NOT EVEN OBEY SUCH A SIMPLE ORDER"! His lips were pulled back from his teeth in an animalistic snarl. I did my best to hide my emotions from him; my tears would garner no sympathy from the enraged opera ghost. Then, in a surge of anger, I whipped my head up to meet his seething yellow gaze

"Fine then, I will leave, and this time, I am not coming back. You may starve for all care" these words I snapped in my angriest voice, the one I often used for stagehands who overstepped their bounds of going near the ballet dressing rooms.

I cared for him all these years, I led him here, and this is how he treats me! In the back of my mind I knew I couldn't really blame him he was a broken soul, with next to no chance of being repaired, but I was serious this time. I was done with his fits and moodiness, he'd been bad before but now he was unbearable. I turned on my heel and marched in the direction on the tunnels making sure my fury showed in every echoing snap of my heels against the ground.

"I don't need your coddling Madam Giry" he called after my retreating form. His dark laughter sending a shiver down my spine I quickened my pace until I nearly running towards the surface exiting the secret passage hidden behind one of the golden statues in the lobby I swiftly calmed my breathing, composing my self I strode out of the shadows. The day wasn't over yet.

Evelyn Monroe

"Evelyn Monroe, 25 years old"

"Yes, yes, thank you" the man muttered without looking up as he scribbled onto a piece of paper on his battered old clipboard. . "And what kind of job was it that you were looking into at our fine establishment, a dancer? Chorus girl perhaps?" he still wasn't looking t me, I became rather irritated that this man could not take me seriously. I honestly wanted to smack the fool, but I controlled my self.

"Actually monsieur, correct me if I'm wrong, but I had heard your conductor recently retired". At this, his head jerked up an expression of pure disbelief etched into his face, and his mouth hung open for a moment. It was so comical, what with his trim little moustache, and his frazzled grey streaked brown hair, but I once again reminded myself to be civil I had to impress this man if he was going to be my new employer.

Then he began to laugh, his shoulders shaking with mirth, in an attempt to stop he took several great gasping breaths, and I could smell his bad breath all the way on the other side of the desk. I felt my anger begin to build within me.

"Surely you must be joking?" he inquired, laughter in his voice.

"No monsieur, I am afraid that I am not joking" my words became clipped with anger, and I did my best to control my natural Irish brogue as it bled into my speech. French and Gaelic did not mix well, and the angrier I became, I knew the more incomprehensible I would become as well.

"Mademoiselle incase you didn't notice you are a woman. What credentials could you possibly have to become a conductor, especially for an opera house as famous as the Opera Populair?" the manager asked me this with his barely suppressed laughter still evident in his voice. By now I was boiling with rage, and I was sure my face was now as red as my hair. I adjusted my wire rimmed glasses with a shaking hand

"Well incase you didn't notice monsieur, your opera house isn't in the best shape, believe me when I say this dump of a theater wasn't my only choice of employment, but I took pity on you because you seemed to be in a spot. What with the horrendous money troubles you've been having, which I assure you are all over the papers, along with the repairs from last season's fire you still need to make. Lastly, as for my credentials monsieur, I an more than qualified to be your lowly conductor, for your information this woman has her doctoral degree in music composition directly from the Brussels conservatory in Belgium, and this woman also has 4 years of studying directly with its founder Charles Auguste de Bériot famous composer, and violinist who I am sure has probably written several of the operas you people perform here". I cut off breathing heavily from my angry tirade.

There were several moments of silence from the man. I glanced disdainfully at his flabbergasted expression, and sighed inwardly I had lost control of my temper, and now I was more than likely going to be kicked out on my butt, and asked none too politely never to come back. I bent to retrieve my bag from where it lay on the ground, and stood to leave. Just as I reached to door he spoke.

"Wait mademoiselle" I stopped hardly daring to believe my luck. The man beckoned me back over a resigned expression on his face "if what you say is true, I do suppose you are…qualified to become a conductor, and we are in need of one. I suppose we could use you". I allowed a smile to stretch its way across my face.

"But if someone else with better skill comes asking, I will have no hesitation in turning you out, you will be paid 700 francs a month. Also if your work is not up to my standards, or you cause any unnecessary troubles within the opera house you will be out of the job. Do you understand?" I nodded wincing slightly at the small amount, 700 francs! It was scarcely better pay than that of a ballet rat. I groaned inwardly at what I was about to say.

"Monsieur a favor if I may ask" he glanced at me impatiently "I will take half the pay the offered if I am allowed room, and board here" his eyes seemed to light up at the mention of lessening my pay.

"Why of course, that would be no problem at all" he had a sleazy grin on his face that made me feel distinctly uncomfortable "why I know just the place".

I was escorted by one of the maids to my room. It was located in a seemingly deserted hallway that didn't look to have been cleaned in quite a while. I glanced at my companion who seemed incredibly fidgety, she kept glancing around her as if expecting the old faded wallpaper to come alive and swallow us whole.

"Something wrong Marie"? She jumped at the sound of my voice and let out a squeak of surprise. Her terrified eyes met my curious yellow ones.

"My apologies mademoiselle, it's just that this hallway is haunted" I blinked in surprise and had the unmistakable urge to laugh

"What?" I asked in disbelief.

"Its true mademoiselle they say that a ghost haunts this hall, at night you can hear screaming, and crying, and when morning comes we find things broken, and smashed, tis the opera ghost Mrs." I gave her a bemused look.

"Marie, aren't you a little old to believe in ghost stories"? Her brow furrowed in frustration and her hands balled into fists.

"Its true Mrs. I've heard him me self, crying, and wailing like a wounded animal. Scared me stiff he did"

"Did you ever think that perhaps it is an animal Marie? This place is old and full of holes. It's not inconceivable for one to have gotten in". She shook her head stubbornly

"You'll see Mrs., You'll see" I sighed and shook my head I had forgotten how superstitious theater people were.

"Thank you for showing me to my room Marie, you should probably get back to work" I told the young, still clearly frightened girl. She showed no hesitation in leaving me in the supposedly 'haunted' hallway. I sighed again, loudly, as I entered what was to be my new room. It was a mess, dust clogged every corner, and I was fairly sure that it had once been a broom closet in another life. I made a sound of disgust.

"I am not sleeping in here". I maneuvered my way back out into the hallway "if they insist on giving me the deserted hallway, I'm fairly sure they probably don't care which room I use". It was obvious no one ever came down here; I guessed it was just going to be me, and the dust bunnies Oh, and of course the mysterious phantom of whom I'm fairly sure is a raccoon. I made my way to the cleanest door I could find, opening it I was greeted with a welcome sight. Other than several clearly forgotten dead flowers, the room was quite clean; especially in comparison with the previous room I had been given. It didn't have a bed, but that was fine. I could always just use the cot from the other room. I surveyed the place, the faded pink wallpaper wasn't my favorite, but it didn't really matter in comparison with the huge gilded floor length mirror that dominated the room. Clearly this was probably an old performer's dressing room. I lay my over-stuffed carpet bag on the divan, it was perfect.

Later, after I had snuck out to the backdoor of the kitchens to retrieve my cat from where he sat waiting for me in the alleyway, I got ready for bed. My long off-white night gown was several inches too short, and had been mended several times, but it was at least warm. I called to my cat, a young brown tabby I had found on the streets several years ago, I had fed him once, and the rest was history. He was my ever faithful companion, and I took him every where. Holding out my hand I beckoned to him "Eric, time for bed" he leapt up onto the small cot, making the flimsy thing rock slightly. I stroked his head fondly as he curled up beside my head "that's right big boy, you know your place" I joked in a soft voice, he purred in response. Finally I drifted off to sleep my tired eyes sliding shut, unaware of the other pair, watching me from behind the mirror.

Yes, yes I know its short but they'll probably get longer as I go on

Thank you for reading! Here's a little poem for you all:

Once I get

One review

I will post

Chapter 2!

-your ever humble servant, Noose