A/N: Greetings and salutations to all of you that are about to read this phanfic! I am sooo excited since this is my first one, yay! I wanted to inform you (the reader) that this is actually a dream I had about a week or little more after I saw the ALW 2004 movie version of The Phantom of the Opera. Since then I have read the book by Monsieur Gaston Leroux once which was crazy (poor Erik). So please, enjoy my Phanfic/ dream and R&R!
"See Why in Shadow I Hide"
A Phantom of the Opera Fan Fiction
I had been working at the Opera Populaire for about a month now and I absolutely loved my job. I was put under the charge of Madame Giry, the woman in charge of the ballerinas. She is such a sweet lady.
Anyway, my job was to make sure that the younger ballerinas and chorus girls had left the Opera House or, if they for some reason had to stay the night, I made sure the lights were out by ten o'clock the latest. Also I had to make that all back stage doors were all closed but never locked. For what reason I have no idea but I had heard some stories about the Opera Ghost. So maybe it had something to do to them. In the month I had worked there I had the privilege of meeting many people from the upper levels of society that regularly visited the Opera House.
For instance, I had met Monsieur Roaul le Vicomte de Chagny one evening and even had a pleasant conversation with him, it was the same night I had met a Monsieur Leon (I can't really remember much about his background), who for some weird reason would not leave me alone from that moment on. Then I finally got it, he liked me.
"mademoiselle, It is so nice to see you again!" he said one night as I was making sure the doors were all shut and hushing the girls to sleep.
"I thank you, sir, but I really am busy at the moment." I tried to persuade him to go away and leave me be, he was getting much closer than I was comfortable with.
"ah, but you look so tired mademoiselle. Let me help you." he offered kindly and put his hand over mine to close the door. Inside my head I was screaming: Get away you weirdo!! However, I remained quite calm and pulled away quickly.
"Pardon me, monsieur," said I and I went to the next door. But Monsieur Leon had different ideas. As I turned to walk to the next door, he grabbed my arm and turned me to face him:
" Katarina, please. Since I first time I had laid my eyes on you, I have wanted you to be with me." his grip just tight enough to hold my attention. At that moment a million thoughts went through my head, Why would this man of great financial means choose me as a wife? So I decided to ask him:
"Monsieur, please I have to ask, why would someone in your high status want a wife of such little means? I am a simple stagehand!"
Then the worst thing happened, he laughed. His laugh was not a simple snicker as from a misunderstanding but an outburst as if I just told him the funniest joke ever.
"You?? My wife?? You are a most entertaining girl!" and he laughed even more.
"I had not viewed you as a wife," he said very softly and gently played with a lock of my hair, "you would be a most welcomed, er, companion, should I say." and violently pulled me to him, this time his arm squeezing wrist so tight that I could feel my circulation in my hand stop.
"NO!" I screamed and punched him in the jaw with all my strength I could muster. I ran down the hall as fast I could, and opened a door to a room so I could hide inside until the danger had passed, but to my horror the door was locked!! I ran to the next door and the next but now all the doors I had checked, only moments ago, had somehow been locked! I had no key for my job was to make sure they were kept unlocked so I saw no need in carrying them in my dress.
I had nowhere to go, then I saw one last door at the end of the hall. It was shrouded in shadows for it was well past ten at night and in the winter its gets darker faster, especially in the Opera House. I ran toward my last door and last hope and it was locked. I was done for, I couldn't escape my attacker and he was gaining on me. I could hear him coming down the staircase calling:
"Katarina, please! I didn't meant to frighten you! Come back my dear!"
My blood was rushing through my body, I could barely breathe. He would destroy me, how could I live with myself?! To know this could have been prevented if I had only brought those stupid keys.
I began to cry, hot tears of hatred. Hatred toward myself for not thinking, toward that man who only wanted what he could gain from me and at whoever thought of creating a lock for doors. Then I heard it… someone humming.
It certainly sounded like humming, but it got louder and louder, was it coming from the walls? Then it hit me, the Opera Ghost, The Phantom of the Opera! The little I had heard about him was enough and kept me from wandering around where I wasn't supposed to at night and in the day time.
"Mademoiselle? Where are you?' called Monsieur Leon again, now he was just down the hallway where I was. I tried to remain as quiet as I could.
Then I heard Monsieur Opera Ghost singing, he was somehow in the wall right next to me, was there even a wall there? Then the words became clear:
(To the music of "Point of No Return")
"Close your eyes and listen, please.
Child, do not worry!
Embrace your master, jump!
I'll be right here…."
I had to choose, Leon who I knew would hurt me and who already had deceived me or Monsieur Phantom whom I have not the pleasure of meeting….
He had spotted me. "There you are…" and reached for me but he grabbed air. I threw myself against the wall next to but there was no wall. I felt a person, a man caught me and protectively wrapped his arms around me and turned us away from the wall which had now been put back into place. The man turned, and without a word fell forward, him holding me against his chest I felt as if I was falling backward, then the world turned to black.