My name is Lizzie. I am on a two week tour of Europe with nineteen of my smartest class mates. It is an honors history field trip.
Tonight we are going to be visiting and staying at the Opera Populaire. I can't wait! The mysterious story of Christine and the Phantom is absolutely romantic. Except for the part where she left him and started a life with Raoul.
Everyone said that the stories were made up and that no such thing had happened, but some people still believed. Like I do. There was a story that a witch had cursed him after Christine had left. Supposedly, he was cursed to stay exactly the same until he found someone who could love him. That he couldn't die or age even if he tried to kill himself or something. They say he is still there, under the opera house.
I completely believe all of the stories. I believe that he is still searching for a love like Christine. He is probably just very heart broken. It is so sad.
Jeremy broke me from my daydreaming. "Hey, we're getting off the bus. Are you ready for this?"
"Well of course!" I exclaimed, "I've only wanted to go here my whole life!"
He broke into a smile. "Yeah I know. You haven't shut up about it the whole trip," he was laughing as I mock punched him in the arm.
"Come on you to!" Mr. Gibson said. Apparently everyone was waiting for us, again. We were always fooling around and running late. Jeremy had been my best friend since first grade. Now that we were seniors in high school, we were practically inseparable. I don't like Jeremy though, we're just friends.
We entered the opera house. It took my breath away. There was a huge staircase on either side. Everything was shiny and beautiful. The high ceiling was painted, probably by hand. It was just so fancy.
The tour guide said that the opera house was going to be sold soon. For the time being only her and her daughter lived there along with a couple hired maids who kept it up. They gave tours, but no actual operas were performed anymore. Perhaps the new owners would change that.
We had paid for a full tour and we were spending the night. "Sometimes people that spend the night say they could hear a piano playing a sad song. Some believe it is Erik Destler, the phantom of the opera. You will all be spending the night in the dancer's rooms. Maybe you will hear it too."
Everyone pretty much ignored what she had said, but I was listening intently. I bet I'll hear it tonight.
Jeremy and I were looking up at the ceiling. It was absolutely beautiful. "Liz, I need to tell you something and this seems like a good time."
"Okay, what is it Jer?"
A girl, about fifteen or sixteen suddenly came up next to us. "What are you doing alone in here?" She inquired.
I hadn't even noticed that the rest of the group had left us until then. "We were with a tour group, but I guess we got left behind on accident," I said.
"Agaaaaain," Jeremy teased.
The girl seemed worried, "You need to find them. It isn't safe to be alone in here."
Jeremy seemed upset by something, but I couldn't figure out what. "I'm going to see if I can find the group. I'll be right back." He sounded irritated. Maybe what he wanted to say had been really important.
I turned to the girl, "I'm Lizzie. You must be the guide's daughter."
"Yeah I'm Rebecca." Rebecca was probably five foot four with long brown hair and dark green eyes. I was five foot seven with long black hair and blue eyes.
I was very interested in this girl. "So do you believe the phantom is still here?"
Her eyes became wide. "I know he is. I've seen him."
"You have?" I asked.
"Yes, do you believe?"
I nodded my head yes. "Definitely!"
Rebecca seemed to be trying to decide something when suddenly she asked, "Do you really really believe? You seem to be a true believer like me."
I smiled. This girl was pretty cool. "I believe with all my heart."
Rebecca smiled great big. "I can show you something really really cool, but you can't tell anyone!"
"I won't. I swear! What is it?"
She headed up the big staircase. I looked in the direction Jeremy had gone. We would find him later, I wanted to see whatever Rebecca was going to show me.
We walked up more stairs. Eventually we came to a set of doors. Rebecca pulled out a key and unlocked the door.
It was a bedroom. Christine's bedroom, in fact. "It's amazing!" I exclaimed.
"I know." She said, "This is more amazing though. I've never showed anyone, not even my mom. You strike me as someone special though."
We walked over to the large mirror. Rebecca put her hand on the mirror and with a bit of effort it slid open revealing a hallway. It was made of stone with candles and carvings. I gasped aloud and she grinned great big.
"My grandma said I'm descended from Madame Giry. I've never been to the end of this hallway because I'm always to scared. There is a corner at the end and I have no clue what is around the corner. He is in here somewhere though."
I took a step into the hallway and her eyes got big. "Oh calm down it's fine."
Rebecca took a very slow step to meet me in the hallway. "When I was younger someone broke in and came into my room. He saved me. The Phantom saved me. He is real."
"I know he is. I believe you. Come on were going on an adventure." I winked at her and started down the hallway.