Sorry that I took so long on this chapter! I have so many ideas and I'm really excited to get them into the story. I would also like to specify something. Unless I write that it is in another character's point of view, it is in Mary-Alice's. It's just because she is my main character and it will be through her POV through most of the story. If it is confusing to anyone, just leave a review telling me to specify when it is Mary-Alice's POV as well as others. So please remember to keep reviewing! Enjoy!
The first sensation that I felt upon waking was pain. The pure, excruciating pain in my head felt nearly impossible to bear. I winced quietly.
When I opened my eyes and caught a glace of my surroundings I sat up quickly. My head spun from the speed and a sharp jolt of pain shot through my head. I put my hand to my forehead in an attempt to steady the spinning room. I realized I had no idea where I was.
My eyes scanned the unfamiliar area. The darkness was the first thing I noticed, before I realized that I was surrounded in a dark, translucent veil of black fabric. It ran around the perimeter of the large bed I was sitting in. It had blood red, soft bedding. It also appeared to be in the shape of a bird.
I looked around the place again. It was large and I saw nobody else. There were candles all around. I looked farther off and I saw what looked like a lake. I started to breath quickly. Where was I?
I strained my memory to try to remember what had happened before I had fallen asleep. I could vaguely remember what I had been doing, but it was like looking through thick haze.
I remember running, I was lost. It was dark and damp. I was tired and scared. That was it.
As I was struggling to remember any more details I could pull from my mind, I noticed the faint noise of something like a piano; an organ maybe? It sounded like it was close by but it was being playing quietly. I sat further up, making sure to move slowly as to not make my head spin any more than it already was. That's when I noticed the gauze that was tightly wrapped around my head.
I slowly stepped out of the bed and ducked carefully under the black shade. I took a few careful steps towards the noise. I then noticed the giant, grand black organ. It was up a few steps and on a high platform.
Then I saw him. His back was facing towards me so I couldn't see his face. I could see, though, the back cape that hung from his neck and spread out on the floor behind him and his black, slicked back hair. He continued to quietly play the instrument, oblivious to the fact I was standing there. I tried to remain silent so that I wouldn't disturb the beautiful melody that he was playing.
He paused a moment to scribble something down on the sheet of music in front of him. I quietly, though I didn't know why, sighed. This caused him to abruptly stop his writing and quickly snap his head to face towards me. He stood up quickly, showing that he was very tall.
The first thing that caught my eye was the bone white mask that took up almost a whole side of his face. It shaped perfectly to his face. The features on the other side of his face showed that he must have been in his mid thirties. His blue eyes shone as they aimed towards me. His features softened a bit when he saw me.
"You're awake." He stated. His voice was somehow both booming and musical at the same time. He took a careful step down one of the steps from the organ and towards me.
"How does you head feel?" he asked as he closed the rest of the distance between us. I couldn't find the words to answer him.
Who was he? Why was I here? Why did he talk to me as if he knew who I was? Did he know what had happened to me? My eyes widened as he lead me towards a chair a few steps away. He chuckled a bit at my terrified expression.
"You probably would like to know who I am." He guessed. I nodded, the motion causing a sharp pain to shoot through my head. I quietly winced.
"Well," he started "You were wandering through the halls leading towards this place, though I still don't quite know why or how you got here. I thought you were an intruder. Of course when you fell, knocking yourself out, I saw that you were not. I did recognize you."
"H-how?" I managed to stammer. How did this man know me? I was almost positive that I had never seen him before in my life.
"Your audition, of course." He answered plainly. "I saw you audition. But you knew that."
"What?" I choked out. This man was talking in riddles! I had no clue of what he was talking about. As far as I knew, the only people who had seen me audition were Monsieurs Andre and Firmin, Madame Giry and the stage crew.
"You haven't figured it out yet?" he questioned. I was completely lost. "The note." He hinted. My eyes widened.
"O.G?" I questioned. Was this truly the man who had sent me the note requesting to be my musical tutor? He gave a small smile and nod, confirming my theory. My mind raced.
"B-but, why are you here? Where are we?" I questioned.
"We are in my home." He answered. "The basement of the opera house to be exact." I couldn't believe it. Could somebody really live down here? Did anyone know that this place even existed?
"Now that I have answered your questions," he began "I would like you to answer a few of mine." I gave a small nod and he continued.
"First off, I would like to know your name."
"Mary-Alice." I answered quietly. "My name is Mary-Alice."
"Well then, Mary-Alice, how did you get down here? I was led to believe that this place was quite hard to find."
"I-I'm not exactly sure." I managed to stammer. "I was lost and I wasn't paying attention to where I was going." I tried to remember more details to give him. "I was going to… my rehearsal!" I shouted as I remembered where I was headed, and where I was supposed to be right now.
"Monsieur, I must get to my dance rehearsal! I'm very late!" I said in a panic. I didn't know what time it was but I was sure that the rehearsal would be at least half over by now. I was terrified of what Madame Giry was thinking at that moment.
"No," he said, interrupting my panicked state. "Your dance rehearsal is over by now. It is about four o'clock." He informed me. He must have noticed my eyes grow wide with fear because he then said, "You needn't fret. Madame Giry has been notified of the reason for your absence. She has given you the rest of the night off so that your head may heal a bit." I exhaled loudly.
"My head?" I questioned. I knew that my head was still feeling awful pain, but how did he know that? Then I remembered the gauze that I had found wrapped around it.
"What happened to my head?" I asked him.
"You fell and you hit your head on the ground. You were bleeding quite badly and you had fallen unconscious." He informed me. It all made sense now. Why my head hurt, why I had been in an unfamiliar bed and why there was gauze wrapped tightly around my forehead.
"Now," he began "I must change the dressing on your head so that it doesn't get infected." He led me to a small chair across the room. It was next to a table. The surface was covered in many small bottles and cups of liquids in various colors. I sat down on the chair.
He slowly unwrapped the gauze from around my head. When the air hit my exposed skin it stung the spot where I assumed the cut was. He placed the soiled fabric on the table. I gasped when I saw how much of the white fabric was stained with a heavy red. Had I really bled that much?
"This may sting a bit." He warned quietly. "Try to stay still." He said as he picked up one of the bottles of liquids and carefully poured some of it onto a new, clean piece of white fabric. He then brought it to my head and started to dab the injured area with it.
I quickly sucked in some air. It stung so badly! What was this liquid that felt like it was setting my skin on fire? I tried to listen to his warnings not to move but it was hard to resist the temptation of clutching my hands to my head.
After a few minutes, the stinging started to fade a bit and I let out a relieved sigh. When he was done dabbing my head with the damp cloth he picked up a new, longer piece of white fabric and tightly wrapped it around my head. After all of that pain, my head actually did feel a great bit better.
"Thank you Monsieur." I said quietly. I looked at the floor, unsure of what to do next.
"Now, as you know, the reason that I sent you that note was because I saw potential in your musical abilities." He began to say. "I would like to become your teacher. I will train your voice and your piano skills. If you should agree, you shall train here every evening. But I must warn you, it will not be easy. These lessons will be demanding and difficult. But in the end, the results will astound you."
I thought about my option for a moment. I had already decided that I wanted to accept his offer when I had received his note, but know that I knew what the real circumstances were; I wasn't so sure of my decision. I thought that these lessons would take place in a rehearsal room, like the one that I trained in with Madame Giry. Maybe even in the chorus room. But I had never thought that it would take place here. But this man, he interested me. He had been impressed with me and then had saved me. I wanted to learn more about this mysterious man who lived behind that white mask.
The mask. I wondered why he wore it, but I knew better than to ask in case he would be insulted. I decided to keep my curiosity myself for now.
"I would like to take these lessons, Monsieur. I would like to learn." I said quietly. I wasn't sure that I was making the smartest decision, but I was sure that I would regret not finding out more about this man.
He gave a small smile and a nod at my answer. "Very well." He answered. "These lessons shall start tomorrow evening. I shall come and get you from your room after your final dance lesson of the day."
"Now," he began to say. "You must get back to your room. Madame Giry will be there to check on you soon. But first," he said as he picked up a small bottle with an almost clear liquid inside of it.
"I need you to drink this. It will dull some of the pain in your head, especially when you move. Which should be helpful when you dance." He said as he held the bottle up to me to take.
I carefully took it in my hand and held it for a moment. I wasn't sure that I should take it. What did I know of this remedy? The only time I had ever taken medicine was when I was eleven and had a bad fever. My parents had brought in a doctor who had given me medicine. But I was pretty sure that this man was not a doctor, so how would he have acquired this medicine and how was I to be sure of the effects it would have? How could I trust him?
"Mademoiselle," he said quietly. "You must drink it for it to work." He said, impatience edging in his voice. He must have seen the bit of fear in my face.
"Trust me; it will have only the desired effects. I promise." I don't know why but the way his voice sounded made me suddenly feel calmer. I took a deep breath and raised the container to my lips.
The liquid was cool and slid down my throat. I cringed at the dreadful taste that filled my mouth. It was awful! I scrunched my face up out of disgust.
"I know," he said, almost sympathetically. "Its taste isn't very pleasurable but the results are worth it." I nodded as I placed the small bottle back on the table.
He led me over to where the lake started. There was a small boat tied there. I offered me a hand to help me get in. I took it hesitantly and carefully stepped in. He got in after me and picked up a long, pole and began to row through the water. The sound of the boat moving swiftly through the water was comforting.
Before I knew it, we were at a landing and we dismounted the boat. He led me through what looked like the same halls that I had gotten lost in earlier. But this time, with his guidance, we navigated without a problem. Sooner than I had expected, we reached a door. But was it even a door?
It was almost clear; I could pretty easily make out the room on the other side. Was that my room? He stepped in front of me and pushed the glass aside. I stepped through and sure enough, I was in my own room. I turned to face the passageway. It was the mirror.
"Thank you monsieur. For everything." I said quietly, hoping he would understand how truly grateful I was for his help. I was about to turn back around when I suddenly remembered something.
"Oh and monsieur? Thank you for the black ribbons." I said as I lightly touched one of them that was still in my hair. He gave a small chuckle as I turned back to face my bed.
"Good evening mademoiselle." I heard his smooth voice say. I turned around to face him but when I did, he was gone. Not a trace of him ever being there. Just a normal mirror.