I don't own the Opera. This is my imagination. Christine's young Prodigee starts acting strangely, Christine becomes restless because music is haunting her.

WHERE'S THE PHANTOM?

Chapter 1

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A young girl sat on a bed in the opera house, her legs folded in front of her and her brown eyes glazed over as she looked at the door, as though waiting for something. She had already changed into her dressing gown and washed herself. Her pale skin was pink from scrubbing and her long auburn hair hung in wet links around her face. The girl became alert as she heard the soft sound of footsteps approaching from the stone hallway. Quickly, she jumped to her callused feet, winced, and folded herself once more on the bed sitting on her knees as she watched the door. After a few moments the door creaked open the smallest amount and someone stuck her head in. The young girl smiled and the door opened to reveal a striking young brunette woman.

"What are you doing still awake?" The woman asked. The girl shrugged. With a sigh, the woman closed the door and went to sit on the bed next to the one where the girl was kneeling, "Really, Danielle. It's late. Aren't you tired?" She asked. Danielle shook her head, her wet hair swinging limply around her face.

"No. You worry too much, Christine. Actually, I was waiting for you." Danielle said. Christine unlaced her ballet shoes and stretched out her sore toes.

"Oh?" She commented, "Why?"

"I wanted to ask you something." Danielle told her eagerly.

"Ask me then, so we can both sleep."

Danielle stood up, barely noticing the pain as her raw feet touched against the hard stone beneath her. She sat on Christine's bed and looked at the older woman with and even gaze. "I heard some people talking today." She said.

"About?" Christine asked, confused.

"Why, about you." Of course, "And they were saying some things that I'd never heard before. Things about…well, it was hard to hear them but they seemed to be saying something about you and someone who was haunting the Opera house." Danielle paused and Christine froze. She felt the blood drain from her face, her eyes widened the smallest bit and her jaw locked. Danielle peered at her mentor for a few moments. "Someone was really…haunting… the opera house?" Danielle asked incredulously. Christine shook her head quickly, then her eyes narrowed.

"Who did you hear saying this?" Christine demanded, "Who was speaking this?" Danielle did not react to Christine's sudden hostility, she merely shrugged her shoulders again.

"I didn't see them. They were behind me when we were dancing and I wasn't allowed to look." She said. Christine sighed. "So someone was haunting the opera house?" Danielle pushed.

"Not the Opera House." Christine said dully, "Me."

"What?" Danielle said loudly, flinching oddly. Christine looked at her for a moment, her usually lively eyes were flat and dead looking.

"It doesn't matter anymore. Go to sleep, Danielle." Christine left the dormitory to wash up. Danielle moved slowly, wincing as she stood and padded over, back to her own bed. Thoughtfully, she tucked herself under the covers and rubbed her head against the pillow, her exhaustion finally catching up with her.

When Christine returned Danielle was nearly asleep. Taking advantage of the moment Christine tiptoed across the room, trying to get to her bed without drawing Danielle's attention and prompting more uncomfortable questions. However, as Christine passed Danielle's bed she heard a small noise that seemed to be coming from the girl. Christine leaned close and noticed that Danielle was humming under her breath, even though she was no longer conscious. Curious, Christine kneeled next to Danielle's head and listened, her eyebrows pulling together. The tune was slow, melodic and full of wonder. It was also vaguely familiar to Christine, although she couldn't quite figure out why. Shrugging to herself, Christine went to bed.

Then next morning Christine yawned as she and Danielle walked down the hallway to the opera stage for rehearsal. Danielle didn't ask Christine any questions but told Christine enthusiastically about the wonderful dream she had had. Christine did not hear any of it, though. Christine had been kept awake all night by Danielle's hum, which had continued throughout the entire night. The tune; although quiet, soothing, and peaceful, kept Christine's mind restless and did not allow her to drift into the blissful sleep she needed. While Danielle was talking, Christine was busy rubbing at the dark rings beneath her glazed eyes.

"Hey look!" Danielle said suddenly, lifting her arm, "There's Raoul." Christine looked up too slowly to see his approach but was called to awareness when he slipped his hand into hers.

"Good morning." He said his usual greeting quietly, "How did you sleep?" Christine just shook her head. Raoul didn't question her but continued to watch her with steady eyes as he appraised her sleepy demeanor and the circles under her eyes.

Raoul stayed with them as they started their dancing exercises. Danielle always stood behind Christine during warm up so that she could watch the Opera's star performer move, Danielle wanted to be the Opera's leading lady someday, so she watched and spoke to Christine whenever she could. As they bent their knees and pointed their toes Danielle began to hum absentmindedly. Christine missed a step, she realized that it was the same tune Danielle had been humming the night before.

Christine recovered quickly, but not quickly enough for Raoul to ignore it. He came over to investigate the reason for her rare slip up and stopped short when he heard Danielle humming. His eyes widened as he turned on the girl.

"Where did you hear that song?" He snapped. Danielle stumbled in surprise at his harsh tone of voice. She caught herself, throwing out her arms for balance. Once balanced she did not continue the exercise, she just looked up at Raoul with bewildered eyes. Christine stopped the exercise too, feeling just as bewildered as Danielle looked.

"I don't…" Danielle stammered under Raoul's glare, "I just…I guess I…I don't know!"

"Raoul, leaver her alone." Christine interrupted, seeing Danielle's obvious distress. Raoul turned to look at Christine, confused. Confused because Raoul had heard someone else hum that tune before.

"But Christine," He argued, "Don't you…" He trailed off. Christine cocked her head. Raoul retreated back to the wall where he stood earlier with narrowed eyes.

Later that night the two girls walked back to the dormitory together, before they got there, Christine had to stop at the orchestra pit to ask the conductor something. Danielle wandered around the rows of seats aimlessly, eyes glazed over again. When Christine finished she walked toward Danielle so they could go back to the dormitory together, but she stopped short when she heard Danielle's voice. It was the same tune! The same one she had been humming the night before and during the dancing exercises! Only this time she had put words to it.

"Hearing is believing

Music is deceiving

Hard as lighting

Soft, as candlelight

Dare you trust

The Music of the Night"

Christine felt sweat begin to gather on her shock-white face. Of course the tune was familiar. She knew that song…