Author's Note: This is the result of an idea that I had with a few of my friends. It seems like a crack fic, and it could easily be one. BUT, unlike crack fics, I actually have a good plot for this and I can see much fun to be had. This is for rjdaae, ninjagiry, ohmadchristine, and any of the other lovely ladies who were present during the birth of this.
Disclaimer: You will notice some names made famous by Gaston Leroux. I thank him and apologize for the deaths some may or may not receive.
Jurassic Opera: Andre and Firmin decide to open a theme park after the closure of their opera house. Are these two men on the brink of something extraordinary… or something deadly?
Rating: T (graphic violence, mild language, smoking)
The theatre workers were quiet as they stood alongside the woman with the cane in her hand and eyes currently fixed on the large, wooden crate. She turned to them all, eyeing each and every one of them with a serious glare and said loudly, "Make sure when the crate is loaded that you all work as fast and efficient as you can. We want no accidents. NONE, got it?" The workers nodded, knowing well enough not to mess with the woman who was giving the orders. As the workers departed, Antoinette Giry brushed her free hand to her waist, finding her assortment of keys and rubbing her finger over the silver cross. May it be for protection or for prayer, both were equally suitable reasons.
The large crate that was currently being brought towards the iron cage dome was shaking viciously on the back of the horse drawn cart. The four horses pulling the cart could sense something was wrong, from the way their nostrils flared and beat their hooves at the ground.
"Get those horses under control, now!" Antoinette shouted, waiving her cane at the beasts. This was already looking dangerous. They needed to have control, lack of it will create problems and the managers did not want to have problems when they were so close…
The managers, Richard Firmin and Giles Andre, had acquired something that was hailed to rival the—in production—US theme park, Coney Island. France would have its own park, with sights that had never been seen before. All they needed was word of mouth and, within a month, they would be the richest men in the world. It was all thanks to the insurance from the damaged chandelier. Everything had been top secret and they meant to keep it that way, down to the secrecy of hiring workers they could trust (some that had worked with them before).
When the crate finally reached the caged dome, the horses were immediately taken from the cart because of how uncontrollable they were becoming. Antoinette went over the wall where the switch to the new electric gate was installed. One button said 'open', and she hit it with her pointer finger. The electricity was new, something from the America's, but the managers were eager to use it in their park. She watched as a door to the iron dome began to move up and soon revealing a hole. Not missing a beat, the men flew to the crate and began to lower and push the crate so that it aligned with the hole.
Suddenly a noise unlike one ever heard came from the crate and the men that surrounded it flew from it, some brandishing guns at whatever was inside. Antoinette stepped beside the men, pushing her hand on the barrel of a few of the guns so that they would lower them. "Listen, the quicker you men stop finding a reason to brandish your guns the quicker we can get through this." They all nodded and the guns were put away, though all of them still eyed the crate warily.
"Lachenal," Antoinette ordered, seeing the once stable owner of the Opera Garnier step forward. He nodded once and then made his way to the crate, climbing up on top of it. The man was lithe but strong, he had to be if he was in charge of horses most of his life. When he finally reached the top of the crate, it moved from under him. The men pushed closer the crate, holding out their hands in case he fell. The proud man waved his hand, dismissing them. He was not to be seen weak in this moment. They all stepped back.
"Guns, men," Antoinette called, and the guns were out once more. Lachenal reached down for a rope that was to lift the side of the box up and allow whatever it was to enter the gated dome. It seemed like an eternity until the side began to lift, as all watched with anxious eyes. Then finally, with a grunt, the side was fully up.
But at that moment, something terrible and unpredicted happened. Whatever was inside rushed forward into the cage and at the same time, it bumped the top of it, causing the whole thing to shift. Lachenal lost his balance. The crate shifted backwards just a little while Lachenal fell from it and onto the ground. Chaos erupted as men quickly went to the crate, but they were too late. Whatever was inside saw the open space, the stable owner on the ground, and grabbed him. The men watched horrified as the strong, lithe man was being shaken like a rag doll before their very eyes.
Antoinette flew to the ground grabbing him by the waist as the men began to use whips and guns to get whatever it was to let him go."SHOOT IT," Antoinette cried, looking down into the eyes of the frightened Lachenal. A loud snap was heard from inside the crate and Antoinette watched as blood spewed out from Lachenal's mouth as he cried out in pain.
"SHOOT IT, NOW!" Antoinette cried, continuing to pull on the body of the man she had worked with for nearly thirty years. His body was slowly sliding from her grasp. She could not win.
"SOMEONE SHOOT IT!" She cried one last time, as she looked up and saw the eye of whatever was inside staring at her. Within a second, the body of Lachenal flew from her grasp and the cage pushed shut. The sounds of guns and whips continued to echo through the air.
