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The candles were lit one by one to light the place in an eerie glow. Raoul struggled to see who was there in the dark.
Suddenly a face came into the light. A handsome face that wore a strange white porcelain mask on the left side of his face.
The man smiled. "Come to me my angel of music," He said in a deep rich voice. It made Raoul shiver as it seemed to roll down his spine like velvet.
A hand in a black leather glove was extended out to him. Raoul found himself walking forward towards the hand reaching out his hand to take the man's hand…
"RAOUL!"
Raoul de Chagny's eyes flew open realizing that his best friend Meg Giry was shaking him and calling his name.
When she saw his eyes open she stopped shaking him and her face filled with relief. "Oh thank goodness," She said sighing in relief. "You were having such a horrible nightmare."
"A nightmare?" Raoul said. The dream he had had been anything but a nightmare.
"Yes," Meg said. "You were trashing around in bed and you were covered in sweat. I couldn't get you to wake up for the longest time! I was so worried!"
"Sorry for worrying you Meg," Raoul said.
"It's alright," Meg said shaking her head. "Whatever was your nightmare about?" Raoul didn't want to tell her the truth so instead he said, "About my mother's death." Meg's face turned sad and she looked at him sympathetically. "I'm sorry," Meg said. "That must have been horrible."
"It was," Raoul said. There was a moment of silence and then Meg smiled.
"Well come on sleepy head!" She said. "We're going to be late to rehearsal!" Raoul's eyes widened.
"I spelt that late?!" He said.
"Yes!" Meg laughed. "I brought up your costume so you could get changed. I'll wait outside for you." With that she got up and bounded out of the room closing the door behind her. Raoul got out of bed hurriedly and turned to look at the chair by his bed. Sure enough his outfit for the play was there. He hurriedly took off his nightclothes and put it on.
The dream wasn't anything new to him.
He had been in the Opera Popularie since he was seven years old and his mother had died. Because of his mother's last wishes he was sent to the Opera Popularie and placed under the care of Madame Giry who treated him like her own son.
Things could have been normal at the Opera Popularie expect for something that had happened to Raoul when he first came and what had caused everything that happened to him now to happen.
He had gone down to light a candle for his mother and as he prayed for her a voice from above came to him.
When he asked who it was it said that it was the angel of music. Raoul had been stunned but happy. His mother really had sent the angel of music to him!
From that day on his angel was always with him teaching him to sing and talking to him. Even in his dreams he was always there.
When Raoul opened the door sure enough Meg was there waiting for him. "Come on!" She said. "Mother's going to be angry with us if we're late!" The two rushed out of the ballet dormitories and down the winding stairs. There they hurriedly rubbed the tips of their ballet shoes into the chalk before going to the railing and assuming the practicing positions the other dancers were doing. Madame Giry sent them a look but said nothing.
When they stopped practicing Carlotta began to sing in her loud horrible voice. Raoul and Meg both winced in unison. "Why does Monsieur Lefevre keep her?" Raoul asked. "She's clearly past her prime."
"Because if she left who would be our new leading soprano?" Meg said.
"Good point," Raoul admitted. No one in the Opera Popularie had a voice to become the new leading soprano and so they were stuck with Carlotta.
When Carlotta and the chorus's part were over Piangi began to sing. "Piangi's not that bad though," Raoul said. Meg nodded.
"Expect that he keeps saying Roma instead of Rome," She said. They both laughed quietly as Piangi did just what Meg was talking about.
The maestro Monsieur Reyer tapped his conducting stick onto the music stand before him making the music stop.
"Gentlemen," He said, "gentlemen. Its Rome signor not Roma. Now let's try it again—" But Monsieur Lefevre interrupted by walking out onto the stage with two men that Raoul hadn't seen before.
"Rehearsals as you can see are under way for our new production of Chalumeau's Hannibal," Lefevre said.
"Monsieur Lefevre, I am rehearsing," Reyer said plainly annoyed that they had been interrupted.
"Monsieur Reyer," Lefevre said holding up his hands in defense, "Madam Giry…ladies and gentlemen, please if I could have your attention thank you?" Everyone now turned to look at him wondering what he was going to say. "As you know, for some weeks there have been rumors of my imminent retirement," He said. They all listened even more closely wondering if the rumors had been true. "I can now tell you that these are all true," He said, "and it is my pleasure to introduce you…to the two gentlemen who now own the Opera Popularie…Monsieur Richard Firmin and Monsieur Gilles Andre." Andre waved at everyone as they all clapped at the news. "I'm sure you've read of their recent fortune amass in the junk business," Lefevre said.
"Scrap metal, actually," Andre said.
"And we are deeply honored to introduce our new leading soprano," Firmin said. Everyone went silent and Carlotta looked shocked.
"Christine Daae," Andre said. A beautiful young woman stepped out onto the stage. She had dark brown hair that curled down her shoulders and the middle was tied back with a gold ribbon. Her eyes were a dark brown as well with long curling dark lashes.
Raoul was shocked. He knew who this was!
"It's Christine," Raoul said. Meg turned to look at him.
"You know her?" She asked surprised. Raoul nodded.
"Before my mother died at the mansion…" Raoul said, "I guess you could say we were childhood sweethearts. I called her Little Lotte."
"Raoul, she's so beautiful," Meg said. Raoul smiled.
"She's grown up," He said. Carlotta began to laugh.
"Oh what good joke Monsieur Firmin!" She said. "This child cannot possibly replace me!"
"I am afraid she will be signora," Firmin said. Instantly Carlotta snapped her fan shut looking furious.
"What?!" She roared. "This, this child cannot dream of replacing me!"
"I am afraid signora that you're rather pass your prime," Lefevre said. Raoul and Meg winced.
"He shouldn't have said that one," Raoul said.
"Mm-hm," Meg said.
"I am not past my prime!" Carlotta yelled. "Fine!" She shouted. "Keep your little girl if you want but I am leaving!" Everyone cheered and she stomped her foot. "Get my doggy!" She ordered to her entourage. "Bring my boxy I am leaving here!" She stomped off stage.
"Well now that that's all situated we can—" Lefevre said but Piangi interrupted him.
"If she goes I go," He said and stomped off stage as well. Everyone looked at each other.
Loosing Carlotta was one thing—everyone had been wanting it to happen for years now—but loosing Piangi was quite another thing. Without him they had no leading male vocalist.
"Gentlemen, good luck," Lefevre said. "If you need me, I shall be in Australia." He then turned and left.
"But…what…" Andre said looking around frantically. "Is there anyone else that can sing his part?" He asked. A whisper rippled through everyone.
"You should sing it Raoul!" Meg said.
"No I can't do that!" Raoul said.
"But your voice is brilliant!" Meg said. "Come on!" Raoul was just about to speak when suddenly Madame Giry's voice broke threw the rest of the whispers.
"I have a message sir from the Opera Ghost," Madame Giry said. Instantly all of the whispers stopped and everyone focused on her,
"Oh, God in heaven, you're all obsessed!" Firmin said annoyed.
"He welcomes you to his opera house," Madame Giry said.
"His opera house?" Firmin said sarcastically.
"And commands that you continue to leave box five…" Madame Giry said pointing up to it with her walking stick, "…empty for his use. And reminds you that his salary is due." She handed the letter in her hand to Andre who began to read it over.
"His salary?" Firmin said stunned.
"Well, Monsieur Lefevre used to give him twenty thousand francs a month," Madame Giry said.
"Twenty thousand francs?" Firmin demanded snatching the letter from Andre and reading it over himself.
"Perhaps you can afford more?" Madame Giry said. "Now that you're the new owners?"
"Madame, I had hoped to make that announcement public tonight at the gala," Firmin said. "But obviously, we shall now have to cancel as it appears we have lost our stars!" He said as he tore up the Phantom's letter.
"But surely there must be an understudy," Andre said hopefully.
"Understudy?" Reyer said. "There is no understudy for Piangi!"
"A full house, Andre," Firmin said. "We shall have refund a full house!"
"Raoul de Chagny could sing it, sir," Madame Giry said. Raoul turned from where he had been talking to Meg surprised.
"What, a chorus boy?" Andre said. "Don't be silly."
"He has been taking lessons from a great teacher," Madame Giry said.
"Who?" Andre asked.
"I don't know his name, monsieur," Raoul said. Madame Giry went to Raoul's side and laid her hand on his shoulder.
"Let him sing for you, monsieur," Madame Giry said. "He has been well taught."
"All right," Andre said. "Come on, don't be shy." Madame Giry pushed him lightly on the shoulder and Raoul walked forward onto the center of the stage. "Come on, come along," Andre said. "Just…"
"From the beginning of aria then, please, monsieur," Reyer said. As the music started up Raoul did his best to try and calm his nerves.
"Andre this is doing nothing for my nerves," Firmin said.
"Well he's very handsome," Andre said. Raoul sang through Piangi's song hoping that he had done well but he was sure he hadn't.
However when he looked around he found everyone looking at him stunned expect for Madame Giry who looked like she had known that it was going to happen this way. "That…that was superb!" Andre said. "Are you sure you don't know who your teacher is?"
"No sir I don't," Raoul said.
"Well whoever he is he certainly is a very good teacher!" Firmin said. "You have the part!" Meg cheered and ran over to him hugging him. Madame Giry came over as well and smiled at him.
"You did well my dear," She said. "Very well." Raoul was too caught up in talking with Meg to notice that her eyes looked up at box five where a shadow moved away.