Music From Beyond
by Kimberwyn

This is a tale of the Phantom of the Opera, set in modern day New York, in a college scene. What pairing will it end up with? I'll never tell...until the end. This is currently a work in progress, with about 13 chapters written so far that are in dire need of some beta-ing. So if you're up to it, please contact I would really appreciate it!

Chapter 1: The Presence of Another

"Sir...excuse me, sir."

Christine's faint, almost inaudible voice called out. She leaned forward, slightly hovering her upper body over the desk where a man worked tediously. "Sir" she spoke once more, this time with more volume.

He finally took notice of the young woman who stood before him. Peering up at her from over his glasses he sighed out of annoyance and his eyes drifted back to his work. "May I help you" He asked, his voice was anything but accommodating.

"Yes. Um, I believe I have misplaced my schedule. I'm very sorry, I lose things quite often." She paused, waiting for a reply. Her voice was faint once more, almost as quiet as it had originally been. She watched the man as he continued to work diligently and paid little attention to any request she made. "But...well, classes start next week."

"Yes, classes start in three days. On Monday. I'm glad you didn't forget that too, maybe you should write that on your hand." He replied coldly.

Christine bit her lip and repressed her feelings of anxiety with nervous laugh. It wasn't funny, she knew he was being sarcastic, but this was the best way for her to brush it off. "I will no doubt remember that, especially living on campus. But when Monday arrives, it would be convenient to know where I'm supposed to be".

The man looked up at her and made no attempt to let her down easily with her failed attempt at a joke. He then turned towards a computer and asked her for her name and school id number. As he typed in her information, an odd silence fell between them. In fact, there was an odd presence that passed through Christine at that moment. The strangest feeling of a dark, awkward paranoia came over her. She felt as if she were being watched. She looked to her right and glanced down the corridor. At its end, she saw a man dressed in black. His eye bore into her. She could only see half of his face; the other half was hidden by the wall. Her mouth dropped open, but she was speechless, and a deathly chill fell over her.

"Ma'am" Christine snapped from her trance. The office aide shoved a sheet of paper in her face.

"Thank you very much, sir." She was relieved to finally have the whole ordeal over with, as small a task as it was. As she headed towards the door, she couldn't help but look back. The end of the corridor was empty. She noticed that she and the office aides were the only ones in visible sight. It was late, almost 7pm on a Saturday night and the office closed at the hour. She wondered why anyone else would be here, when most here age were at parties or with friends.

"Make a copy." The office aid instructed her, once again breaking her off from a trance like state.

When she exits the halls and walks outside the large building. Her previous curiosity and dark feelings fade as she looks in awe at her new sanctuary. "Edmington" she whispers to herself. Her words tainted with pride and a smile curled up on the side of her mouth. She finally made it to a place where she would belong, a prestigious school of performing arts. Yet at the same time, she was apprehensive. Unsure if she would be accepted, and, most importantly, if her talent would match that of her peers. But despite all this she looked forward to the start of her new life.

Not so far from the building she recently visited, was another which she would call home for the next four years. Only recently had she moved in, in fact a few of her things were still in boxes, but she adjusted quickly to her new surroundings. She even adjusted well with her new roommate Melissa. Christine was surprised at how friendly Melissa. Usually, other females initially gave Christine a quite cold reception, though many warmed up to her later. However it seemed that Christine and Melissa hit it off right off the bat.

"I'm a theater major, I'm going to love it, I just know I will!" Christine's new roommate spoke with joy about her impending courses. "Have you seen much on Broadway?" Melissa asked Christine.

Christine was quite overwhelmed at how talkative her new friend was. However, she was pleased that Melissa put forth an interest at her. She knew she was withdrawn, and if others did not invest time in her, it was likely she would never form a friendship. "Oh, no I haven't unfortunately. I was actually raised in Massachusetts, a bit far from Broadway."

"Yeah..." Melissa trailed off a bit. "We'll just have to go sometime, if we can ever afford it" The two girls laughed.

"So, what is your major, Christine" Melissa asked.

"Voice."

"Really? Most theater students end up taking a vocal class or two, I wouldn't be surprised if we had a few classes together. Let me find my schedule so we can compare." Melissa began to rummage through a stack of papers she had in a binder. "So, do you think you will be in any of the plays this year"

"Um...that's just for theater majors, isn't it"

Melissa shook her head feverishly. "No, no, definitely not limited to us. Especially since we're such a small college. We always do at least one large production where everyone is involved in some way. Or, at least, we try and involve all the departments. Some of the really good vocalists end up getting small parts in the musicals since they tend to be better singers, of course"

Christine took the information in. As appealing as it sounded, she had never acted before and couldn't imagine if she would feel comfortable doing so in front of people. "How do you know all this" She asks Melissa bewilderedly.

Melissa laughs. "Oh, I didn't tell you, did I?" Melissa giggled. "I guess it would seem weird, since I'm new here as well. My mother works here. She's just an accompanist for some of the classes though. She started when I was about three years old, so I was well immersed in the scene before I started."

Christine smiled. How nice it must be for her new friend to have someone else in the world so close to her. "That's great..." As wonderful as she thought it was, she couldn't hide the sorrowful tone that resonated in her voice. "That you knew a bit about this a head of time. I mean, it must make things easier." Melissa nodded in reply.

Christine continued her conversation with Melissa as she unpacked her things. Her clothes were already neatly folded in drawers, and hung up in a small closet that she split with her roommate. Now she took on the task of organizing all her household and necessities and a few accessories.

When she finished, she knew something was missing. She glanced at the small nightstand beside her bed and instantly knew what it was. How she managed to leave her most prized possession in her car, she would never know. But she immediately grabbed her keys and headed towards the door.

"Christine" Melissa's shrill voice stopped her in her tracks. She whipped her head around to face her. "Where are you going" Melissa asked.

"I'm just going to my car, I..."

"Do you know what time it is" The both glanced at the digital clock on Melissa's nightstand; it was 10:45 pm. "It's not safe. It's not safe at all this time of night on campus! Haven't you heard what's happened to girls our age who wander around campus alone"

Christine sighed and rolled her eyes. She laid her back against the door. "My car is only about a block away." She noticed Melissa's face was still disapproving, and highly concerned. "Why don't you just walk down there with me, if you don't mind doing so"

Melissa shook her head. "It really isn't safe, even in numbers. What's so important down there that can't wait until the morning"

Christine was embarrassed to tell Melissa what she needed to retrieve from her car. "It...its nothing." She said, brushing off the entire ordeal. "You're right, I'll just wait until the morning." Melissa smiled.

"Well, Christine, I'm beat. Talking to you all evening has really worn me out" She laughed, and Christine joined in her laughter. Even though Christine's attention was not laced on what her friend had to say. "I'm going to hit the shower." And with that Melissa retreated to the bathroom.

Christine sat on her bed and sighed. She looked at her empty nightstand. "Well, I definitely won't get to sleep now..." she said to herself. Gathering up her bedclothes, she proceeded to read in bed, hoping it would put her to sleep quickly. Melissa returned from the shower, and promptly laid down to rest on her side of the room. Not wanted to be rude, Christine killed the lights on her side as well and retired her book.

Christine slipped under the covers and placed her head on her pillow. Closing her eyes, she tried to hum the sweet tune her father used to sing her to sleep with in her head. But it was no use. She wished she had gone to her car despite Melissa's warning, but quickly realized she was probably right. It wasn't safe, and remembering the man she saw lurking in the halls today, Christine was strongly reminded of this. She turned on her side, and her body merged with the soft, cool bedding. For some reason, she couldn't get the image of that man out of her head. Even though she stood so far away from him, she could see him up close in her mind. And quicker than she expected, she was lulled to sleep.