Chapter II

Tilly wasn't much for DIY projects, especially one as large as the Opera Populaire. Nonetheless, she would support her friend. Entering the dusty lobby, she found Belle scrubbing the floor on hands and knees. Belle was at least dressed for it in her torn jeans and rolled up sleeves. Deep in work, Belle didn't notice her friend walk in, tracking in some muddy footprints. Looking up at last, Belle groaned, getting to her feet.

"I just washed that!" shouted Belle, waving her hands at the floor.

"Sorry, Belle," shrugged Tilly, glancing at the damage she'd caused. "Looks like you haven't made it very far."

"We just moved in, Tilly. Getting some of our stuff in took a bit," she sighed, getting to her feet. "This is still a big place. It'll take some time."

"Where's Marc?"

"He and the boys are pulling up some of the chairs in the main theater."

"Dani?"

"I haven't seen her all morning," hummed Belle, looking around.

"This place isbig."

Belle scoffed at her friend, leading her into the main theater. Some of the lamps had been lit, forming gentle lighting. Dust and dirt filtered into the air as the boys tore up the chairs. Jasper and John grabbed the chairs with either hands, pulling it out from the roots and tearing the fabric. They tossed the chairs into a pile of equally torn and ruined chairs. Marcus was slowly working on the other side of the room, carefully removing the chairs in a much slower fashion. His pile was much smaller.

"Marcus, break time!" Belle called out.

Marcus looked up, wiping his brow. John and Jasper cheered, kicking their pile of chairs and racing off. Belle stepped up to her husband and kissed him of the cheek. He returned the expression, smiling lightly as he looked into her eyes.

"What's for lunch?" he whispered.

"I was thinking PB&J," she giggled.

"Get a room," grumbled Tilly, crossing her arms.

"We got an opera house. A room seems a little less impressive at this point," mocked Marcus, pointing his chin at her. "Hello, Tilly. Nice of you to stop by."

"Well, I found some old photos my grandmother had of this place, and I thought you might like them."

Tilly dug into her purse, pulling out a small bundle of photos. Belle gently took them, unwrapping the rubber band and flipping through the worn, black and white images. Marcus glanced over her shoulder but wasn't entirely interested in them, eventually stepping away and grabbing a towel to dry his sweat. Belle smiled, nodding.

"This is great, Tilly. This will really help," she grinned, looking up at her friend.

"Have you seen Dani?" remarked Marcus.

"I thought she was with you," perked Belle, glancing at him.

"There she is!" called out Tilly, pointing up at one of the boxes.

Dani leaned over the edge, watching her parents talk. They looked up at her and waved. She replied in kind. Turning around, she had her doll propped up in the chair. The little cloth doll was dressed in a small blue dress, red belt, black shoes, red yarn hair, and button eyes. One of her arms was a different color than the rest of her, having torn from a battle between Dani and Jasper. While her mother made every attempt to repair the damage, the discoloration was obvious. Nonetheless, Dani loved the doll, because it made her feel better about her birthmark.

"What do you think, Macy?" Dani chirped, sitting in the seat next to the doll. "The shows about to start."

The curtains behind her fluttered, drawing her attention. She remained seated, watching the shadows move around the curtains, outlining a figure. He blended into the background, but she could still make him out, noting the contrast of his dark appearance and the white mask on the side of his face. She looked him over with a blank expression before looking back to her doll.

"Did you invite guests, Macy?" Dani hummed, looking back to the figure. "Is this your box? I'm sorry. Macy bought the tickets."

The figure stepped out of the curtains but still seemed to be wrapped in shadows. Dani stood up, picking up her doll. The figure raised a hand, opening his mouth as if to speak but only gave out a sigh as he looked away. Dani looked over the edge again. Her parents were still talking to Miss Tilly. Dani wasn't sure if she liked Miss Tilly or not. The woman could be fun but also too loud for Dani's liking.

"The shows about to start," Dani remarked again, looking back to the figure.

"What's showing?"

Dani smiled now that the man spoke, though his voice seemed to echo. He tilted his head lightly as he waited for her response. Placing Macy on her lap, Dani sat again.

"It's about a princess trapped by an ogre," Dani explained, "but a prince will come to save her."

"Oh?"

Dani's smile faded lightly as she looked up at him again.

"If you're gonna stay, you have to sit or they'll kick you out."

"Who will?"

"The theater people," she huffed, brow furrowed. "The ones with the flashlights. They don't like it when people stand or talk or have their phones out."

The man grinned lightly, sitting in the second chair. Dani nodded confidently, turning back to the edge of the box. The man watched her lean over the side, eyes intent on the stage. Her eyes seemed to light up as she watched it, though nothing was happening on it. The stage itself was bare, having been torn apart from years of use and the eventual auction of all the props and sets. Everything seemed striped from the old theater's stage, even the floor boards seemed to be barely holding on.

"Dani!"

The man sat up slightly, looking over the edge slightly. He spotted the three adults on the ground floor, one of them waving up to the box. Dani waved back.

"Hi, mom!"

"It's lunch time."

"But the show's about to start."

Marcus shook his head, hands on his hips. Belle nudged him, angrily. Tilly giggled.

"I'm sure they'll wait for you."

Dani turned back to the man.

"Will you save my seat?"

He nodded.

"Coming!"

Dani ran off but soon returned.

"I'm Dani," she offered, rocking on her heels. "It's short for Danielle but nobody really calls me that."

"Hello, Danielle," the man replied.

"What's your name?"

"I don't have one."

"Everybody's got a name," huffed Dani, pouting slightly. "What do your parents call you?"

"I don't have any."

Dani huffed again, shaking her head.

"What am I supposed to call you then?"

"I've been called many things."

Dani folded her arms.

"But you said you didn't have a name."

"A name and what people call you are not always the same thing."

She made a face but eventually nodded.

"Like when I call John booger face?"

The man laughed softly and nodded.

"Okay," Dani smiled. "So, what do I call you?"

The man thought a moment, looking down at the floor. He let out a sigh, looking back up at her.

"Phantom?"

"Okay, Mr. Phantom," she nodded. "Save my seat!"

With that, she ran off again. The phantom leaned back in his chair, though it felt like he was sitting on nothing. It'd been a while since anyone legally set foot in his opera house and even longer since anyone had seen him, dead or alive. Looking down at his hands, he could almost see through them. He was finally living up his name as the Opera Ghost.