CHAPTER 3
It was a chilly night in the Opera house. I felt the breeze on my face and wisps of hair tickling my cheek. I made my way across the stage and down the large hall to the dormitories. I was anxious to get into my bed for my limbs were wary from the hours of dancing. Also, I didn't want to stumble upon Madame Pierre either; I swear that woman hates me. I slept in late last week by accident, and Olive tried to wake me but I would not budge from my bed. I got quite a scolding that day in front of all the girls - I hung my head down low for my cheeks where flamed with embarrassment. Ever since then I've been doing my best to avoid her all together outside of rehearsal…
"Josephine!"
"Olive?"
"There you are. I thought I'd lost you. You didn't want to hear the new gossip?"
"No, sorry, Olive. I'm not one for all that silly nonsense."
"Oh… Well perhaps we should get to the dormitory, my feet are hurting awfully bad. I'm sure I'm going to have to soak them."
"Ugh, mine too. My point shoes are - did you hear that?" I asked, looking over my shoulder.
"Hear what?"
"That."
I heard voices echoing from the far side of the theater where I had just come from. Olive and I exchanged looks. I wanted to follow the voices, so I hiked up my skirt and sought them out. Olive shuffled behind me.
"Josephine, where are you going?" Olive asked, grabbing my arm.
"I want to see who's out there. Come on!"
"Perhaps we shouldn't be spying. We could get caught!" Olive squeaked as I pulled her along.
"Oh, come now, Olive. Where's your sense of adventure?"
"I don't have one!"
I giggled at her hysteria. "Oh, just come on."
When we rounded the corner of the corridor, we found no one else but Véronique, Margot, and Jacqueline giggling and flirting with two of the younger stagehands.
"Of course. I should have known it was them. This was a waste of our time. If Madame Pierre catches them she will have their heads! Shall we go find her, Olive?" I evilly asked Olive, who paled.
"What?! No!"
"Alright, come, let's go," I said flatly, shaking my head in disapproval of their actions. Meg told me that the stagehands could be rather hostile with some of the ladies.
"Harlots," Olive mumbled under her breathe.
My mouth dropped to my chest. I never thought I'd hear Olive talk down toward another! But then again, it was Véronique that she was referring the comment to.
She had confessed to putting a dead mouse in Olive's tutu last week at rehearsal, and obviously Olive was still sore on the matter. I didn't blame her; the poor dear went running off stage crying.
"I guess they couldn't find anyone else that would have them, and instead they found a couple a shabby stagehands. You would think that woman of their "class" would at least catch an eye of one of the new patrons!" I confessed, in a hushed tone so my voice wouldn't echo.
I couldn't say the same about Olive, though, for she barked out a laugh causing the trio to look in our direction.
"Josephine, I can't believe you just said that. They might hear you!" she managed to say in between giggles.
"You're right. I shouldn't have said such a thing," I said flatly in false shame.
"Josephine, your words have never been truer," Olive said once she had sobered her laughter.
"Will you look at what we have here ladies," Véronique sneered, gesturing toward us in the shadows. Véronique abandon the other's to stand infront of Olive.
Oh bother.
"Shouldn't you be asleep right now like all the other children?" Véronique asked Olive, as though she were speaking to a three year old. Olive said nothing while she crossed her arms. I went rigid beside her. The look in my eyes and the balling of my fists told Olive everything: we needed to leave quick.
I was about to open my mouth to fire back, but Olive cut me off.
"Come, Josephine. She's not worth our fret." Olive pulled me along. "Remember....you're a lady," Olive whispered, pulling me in the opposite direction.
I harrumphed. Yes, I am a lady and my parents taught me well. But when it comes to somebody insulting the ones I care for, there will be hell to pay.
My temper always caused me to speak my mind when angry... One characteristic I got from my father.
"You're right, Olive. Let us return to our room before we really get into trouble," I said, not taking my eyes off of Véronique.
Why must that ballet tart always press my buttons? I asked myself. As if reading my mind, Olive answered me.
"She only likes pressing your buttons, Josephine, because she is jealous of you, dear. Why, you're one of the best dancers, and she knows it!"
I felt a smile tug at my lips hearing Olive's praise. But just as quickly as it came, it disappeared when one of the stagehands spoke...
"You best be careful, Mam'zell. You wouldn't want the Opera ghost to come and snatch you!" he called out with a low chuckle.
I felt Olive's grip on my arm tighten, and a faint squeak came from the back of her throat. I looked down and saw Olive wide-eyed looking around everywhere.
"Don't listen to him, dear. He's only trying to scare us, and besides, the Opera ghost is dead," I explained.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive...he died in the fire years ago, everyone knows that," I lied. Meg had told me that the mob went down in the belly of the Opera in search of the opera ghost but he was nowhere to be found and neither was his body.
The man who had spoke was no more than twenty, and he walked slowly, making his way around Olive and I. As if he was a lion and we were his prey, the young man spoke in a low voice, trying to be intimidating.
"They say he's taller than the average man, and looks like death himself. He stocks around at night searching for virgin's blood to take to his hidden home underneath the Opera house. And once there, he drink's their blood!" he bellowed, gripping Olives arms causing her to scream. The young man with the oily face gave me a closed lip grin and winked.
"Do you enjoy torturing young girls, monsieur?" I snapped, glaring at him.
I looked over his shoulder to Véronique who stifled a laugh. I added sarcastically, "Oh, don't worry, my dear Veronique, the Opera ghost only requires... Virgins."
I tried to hide the smirk forming on my lips. Véronique face paled at my words and then flushed red. Véronique's eyes lowered to slits.
"You don't think the Opera Ghost still lives?" Véronique asked sternly, trying to maintain her anger.
"As a matter of fact...I DON'T." Each word dripped with venom, for I was getting quite tired of this foolish game.
Véronique got the greatest epiphany, and she almost danced with delight when she spoke.
"Prove it then! Go down there and bring back something that shows us that he is in fact dead."
"We dare you...." the stagehand added, stepping next to Véronique.
I crossed my arms, intrigued. This could be my chance to prove to these people that the Opera Ghost is gone, I mused.
"What's in it for me," I asked, stepping forward. But with some force, Olive pulled me back.
"Josephine, no, you could get hurt. Plus he might even be down there!" Olive warned.
"Hush, Olive. I know what I'm doing. Well, I'm waiting?" I gestured and raised both hands, causing them to come out of the little huddle they were whispering in.
"You'll get ten franc fr-," Véronique began to say, but I cut her off.
"Ha! You're mad if you think that I'm going down there-"
"Let me finish!" Véronique snapped, "You'll get ten francs from the five of us, equaling out to be fifty francs to spend on whatever your little heart desires."
I conceded to their offer. I could use the money, and besides, the Opera ghost is dead or gone...right? Oh well, I'll have to find out when I get down there, all I would have to do is go through the mirror down the long tunnel like Meg sai-
"We're waiting. Are you going to do it or are you too scared?"
"How do I know you're not lying and won't just leave when I go down there?"
"That's a good question, so here," she handed a small money pouch filled with francs to Olive, who gave her a frightened look. "Count it if you like...you do know how to count, don't you little toad?"
I grabbed the bag out of Olive's hand and counted the money, and it was indeed fifty francs. "We will all stay here until you return. Well, DeBeau, do we have a deal?"
I looked into Véronique's eyes and saw nothing but two empty blue orbs.
"Deal."
***
Back in the dormitories, Olive was trying her best to convince me not to except the silly dare, but I would not have none of it. I was almost done dressing. I wore a pair of men's trousers (that I snatched from the prop room) and boot's with a white shirt that fit me just right. To complete my attire, I had a sword that was once owned by one of the greatest swordsmen: my father.
I hooked it to my belt as though it was the most normal thing in the world for a woman to do.
"Josephine, please, don't do this. You could get hurt, or worse! You could die down there and no one will be able to find you." Olive panted, twisting the money bag in her small hands.
"Why are you donning a sword?" Olive gulped.
I snapped its sheath over the sword after checking the blade: still sharp as I remembered.
"Do you even know how to use that thing?" shrieked Olive.
Oh, yes, I mused, my father taught me very well. Remembering all those days when he taught me, and maman almost had a heart attack when she found out…
"Josephine?"
"Of course, Olive. I know what I'm doing. Don't worry alright? I'll be back, I promise," I assured her, grabbing my ribbon from the bed.
"Josephine please, don't!"
Tying my hair back with my favorite red ribbon, I made my way down the spiral stairs to the prima donna's room. At the door, Véronique, Margot, Jacqueline, and the two other men - I never caught their names - were waiting for my return.
"Don't we look lovely," Véronique snickered.
I ignored her comment, walking past her to stand in front of the prima donna's door.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I must be on my way, " I said, reaching for the handle.
"But wait, I'm sure you have forgotten something."
I turned to see Véronique holding a small burlap sack in her hands which she threw to me.
"This is what you will be using-"
Once I had the sack in my hands, I didn't bother listening to Véronique's squeaking so I turned to open the door. One word stuck out of Véronique's request though, and it caused me to stiffen and my stomach tightened.
I turned toward her. "Excuse me?"
"I said, you'll be bringing back...his skull."
Olive took a quick intake of breath do to shock.
"Josephine there's still time for you to change your mind," Olive said, giving me a pleading look. I chose to ignore it.
Finding my voice I spoke. "A skull you want? Then a skull you shall get." With that I disappeared in to the prima donna's room.
"Josephine, you don't even know if his bodies down there!" Olive yelled through the door. "Come back!"
I heard Olive open the door behind me, but I was already behind the two way mirror. I saw Véronique step behind her in the door way.
"Véronique, you are so naughty," Margot squalled.
Olive said nothing but held tightly onto my money with her hands.
"Do not worry, little toad. If she doesn't come back, we'll know why." Véronique laugh echoed throughout the corridor.
***
I walked down the dark, dank tunnel for what felt like an eternity. There were no twists or turns in the tunnel just yet…only darkness. Water dripping down the walls and the scurry of little feet and squeaks was all I heard. Then I came to a stop.
"Blast."
I thought too soon about the twists and turns, and in front of me there were three options: I could either go to the right, which had stairs that spiraled down, or straight or to the left. All were bathed in darkness, but the two looked exactly the same.
"Well this is just perfect! Now which way had Meg mentioned she and the mod went? I remember she said something about stairs…"
So I went down the stairs, and thankfully I was still able to see - somewhat. I looked over the edge, and I saw I had a long way to go. When I was halfway down the spiral stairs, a trapdoor gave way underneath my feet.
Screaming at the top of my lungs, I reacted quickly and was able to grab the edge of the stair.
"Oh mon dieu… alright, you're alright," I assured myself.
Small pebbles fell at my side, and small splashes could be heard beneath me.
Water.
Pulling myself up to safety, I collapsed onto the stone floor. My heart was beating so hard, I place a hand on top it. In spite of myself, I was still able to smile.
"That is what Madame Giry meant…" I panted.
As I went farther down the stairs, I shuffled farther and farther down into an even wider tunnel. I now wished I had a candle with me, for there was barely any light, and the cobblestone wall was damp and foul. I was sure I was reaching the end of the tunnel and was near the lake Meg spoke of.
There were water reflections everywhere, so I hurried my steps. I was holding my breath for I didn't want to fall… again. I was getting closer to His lair, and as I reached the bottom there was mist swirling before me. Even across the vast black lake! Beautiful it was, but how on earth was I to get across it?!
On both sides of the lake there seemed to be walkways of some sort, but there was no way to get from here to there. Sighing heavily, I knew I would have to get into the water to get across to the walkway.
The water was freezing, and after slowly dropping myself into the ice cold water, I used one hand to hold onto the wall and the other to hold my sword above my head. Feeling my body go stiff from the water, I deftly pulled myself up on the walkway. My hands shook as I replaced my sword at my side, my legs started to ache from the cold, and my clothes were getting heavy as I went on.
I wanted to go back, but I knew I would never hear the end of it from Véronique and her followers, so I pressed on. The walkway twisted, corner after corner, until my booted foot hit water that flowed down a row of stairs. The steps I were walking on disappeared and continued underneath the lake. I threw my head back in frustration and gave a low groan of disapproval.
I didn't want to go back into the water but had no choice. As I stepped into the water, I sighed in relief. The water wasn't as cold as before or as deep; it was only three feet deep. And again I had to hold my sword above my head, causing my arms to burn after about five minutes. I would never recommend this to anyone. After admiring the many large statues and gargoyles, I came before an iron barrier: a large iron gate half closed.
This was it. I made it to his cave, no, his lair.
***
I, the Phantom of the Opera, was in my room, sprawled out on my bed. My body was aching and the room wouldn't stop spinning. It has been over five days since I ran out of morphine. That pathetic excuse for a doctor didn't have any morphine in his laboratory, and now I was going through withdrawals. I hadn't eaten in weeks or drank any water in days. My body was dehydrated and I was wasting away to practically nothing.
"How did it come to this...?" I asked myself in a strained voice.
"Look at me. It has never gotten this bad before. This isn't me. I'm a composer, an architect, not a drug addict," I admitted.
You're barely noticing that now? Some genius you are, my mind chided. I told you we would be back......
Whimpering from the pain in my head, I held my head. I feared that if I were to let go it might roll off. My body hurt, oh how it ached, and I was so tired, too tired, and yet was not able to sleep.
Awww....pitiful creature....I told you this was the life you will know...didn't I?
"Go away!" I snapped, swinging my fist back and forth trying to hit the voice who spoke to me.
"I told you to leave me alone...errha!" I swung hard, falling off the bed.
Teeth clenched, I pulled myself off of the cold floor. The voices laughed at me, and the one thing I hated most was to be laughed at.
Ha ha ha...you sorry thing, look at your self...you're nothing but a disgrace to mankind, you monster.. You really are the devil's child.. A spawn spit out from hell!
"Stop…please."
The voices could be heard all around me now: in front of me, behind me, whispering in my left ear, in my right. I couldn't take it anymore; they were everywhere, laughing at me. They wouldn't stop taunting me. An echo of something crashing somewhere outside my room got my attention.
You want us? Come and get us...we're right beyond this door...
Well what do you think?! You like it?! More of our poor Erik will be coming up in the next chapter so read on!
