The Phantom of the Opera 2000

Disclaimer for whole story: Phantom of the Opera is not mine but Andrew Lloyd Webber's.

My first stab at this kind of fanfiction as I am writing this in mostly things with skull and crossbones on it (POTC fan by nature)

Lynda Rickman was an ordinary school girl; it was her final year and her class had been chosen to do a concert ready for the celebration of the millennium. Her school didn't do things by half they went to Paris to get ready and sort out who was going where. Lynda wasn't a strong singer in front of people but she loved to sing away from people,

"Can you be a Solo artist?" asked one of her teachers

"Sorry Miss; I think you should leave that to Christine Smith." Replied Lynda

Her friend Joe smiled,

"So have you heard of the story of this place?" he asked

"Something you made up no doubt." She replied

"Oh no but I think it was wise of you not to accept a solo role." Said Joe

"Enlighten me." Said Lynda

"Have you not heard of the Phantom of the Opera?" asked Joe

"No." she replied

"A man with half of his face covered lurks in this very building; he is an artist himself; he has been here for over two hundred years…" began Joe

"He'll be getting on in years then." Said Lynda

"Ah but that is what he wants you to think; you see he is no longer in solid form; he has become worse." Said Joe

"What can be worse than being a Phantom?" asked Lynda

"A spiritual Phantom; he remains as he was all of those years ago when the theatre was set fire to as his last victim rebelled." Replied Joe

"Now you're getting good." Said Lynda

"She indeed fell in love with a childhood sweetheart and turned away from her…Angel of music. As you can imagine having trained her since the age of nine that didn't suit to well with the Phantom who had looked after her and provided her with roses; he took over her duet production; killing her other singing partner unknown to her lover he took the role as they had already fought. The girl recognized him but she couldn't say anything; she just looked up to her lover in one of the top boxes. He quoted the words her lover said to her and disappeared with her." Said Joe

"What about her lover?" she asked

"Well they say he went after her with the help of the one who put the Phantom in the theatre. There was a struggle as the Phantom was known for the frequent disappearances of cast members; the mangers had had enough and burned the place down just as the victim of the angel of music and her lover escaped." Replied Joe

"And the Phantom?" asked Lynda

"They say he burned in the flames; however years later after his victim's death; her lover then her widowed husband went back to the grave only to find one of his roses at the grave." Replied Joe

Lynda blinked and grinned,

"You could be an author one day." She said

They were separated as everyone had a room of their own; boys on one side of the theatre and girls on another. Lynda entered her room which had the name Christine written on the back of the door,

'Looks like I'm accidentally in the star's room.' She thought

Lynda didn't like Christine Smith much; so she stayed away from her. Lynda began looking through the draws and came across some paper with song words on it:

In sleep he sang to me, In dreams he came,
That voice which calls to me, And speaks my name.
And do I dream again? For now I find.
The Phantom of the Opera is there-Inside my mind.

Those who have seen your face,
Draw back in fear.
I am the mask you wear.

Your spirit and my voice in one combined

The Phantom of the Opera is there inside my mind.

...Were both in you.

And in this labyrinth, where night is blind,
the Phantom of the Opera is there inside my mind.

He's there,
the Phantom of the Opera...

Lynda shook her head; this was clearly Joe's doing. She thought she would humor him by following the music and singing the song,

'I wonder why there are pieces missing?' she thought

"In sleep he sang to me, In dreams he came,
That voice which calls to me, And speaks my name.
And do I dream again? For now I find.
The Phantom of the Opera is there-Inside my mind…"

Another voice was heard which made Lynda look around,

"Sing once again with me, our strange duet,
My power over you, grows stronger yet.
And though you turn from me, to glance behind.
The Phantom of the Opera is there -inside your mind."

The voice seemed to come from nowhere until she looked into the mirror. There she saw a tall dark haired man, half of his face covered with a white mask dressed in black.

Lynda went to the door to flee but the door would not open,

"You cannot run. Granted your voice is poor but sing the rest of the song with me and it will get better." he said

Lynda continued to tug at the door; surely no one was asleep and could hear her,

"No one will come; they are all locked. Clearly your teachers do not trust you; sing with me and become an angel of music." He added

"What difference does it make if I sing or not? You are but a ghost; you cannot physically harm me." Said Lynda

"I was close to invisible until you started singing. Think of it as a bargain; you sing with me and I shall make it my duty to aid your singing." He said

"I don't make deals with people I do not know." Said Lynda

"Oh but you do know me; you've heard the story of the man in the mask. I know you have. Quite the researcher your friend…Joe I believe is his name he who knows of Me." he said

"I will not become your victim; I won't let you control me." Said Lynda

"He told you the tale well; but what he didn't tell you was my reason for her protection; thanks to me she had no competition." Said the Phantom

"Succeeded what exactly?" asked Lynda

"They put her in the background; she never had the chance to show her voice. I helped her. I believe it is a Christine who shall be taking the lead role?" asked the Phantom

Lynda looked at the door,

"That was the name of the last girl; you just want your revenge." She replied

"No; I just want to be free and help you in return. I thought every girl dreamed of fame?" he asked

Lynda knew he was right; her school was famous for music and it was just unfortunate that she had not much talent in the subject,

"I believe it has to be earned to be gained." She said

Lynda although not good at music she was no fool; she believed he had used that line before,

"And you will earn it; all you have to do is sing with me and I will help you." He said

She gave in; only because she knew there was no way he could ever teach her to really sing: