Please keep in mind that this is based off of the movie version simply because that is the only version I've seen.
She didn't have time to grow accustomed to the idea as she was just about to walk into the grand foyer where the ball was taking place. All of the guests had arrived and were simply awaiting the orchestra's commencement to officially begin the evening's dance and festivities. So, she decided to mingle a bit to take her mind off of her newfound realization.
She spoke to a few elegantly dressed male patrons, taking the opportunity to flit a bit in her anonymity. It was only a few minutes later that the conductor took his place and called for places. These stuffy wealthy folk had no sense of spontaneity and insisted specific dances to be predetermined and all the participants given specific spots to start in so that there would be no bumping or disruption. This idea of organized enjoyment seemed odd to Janice, however, she took it for what it was and took pleasure in simply being permitted to take part. Either way, she was still dancing and that was all she really needed to be happy.
Everyone took their places and the music began. Soon enough she was completely lost in the motions which flowed from her as effortlessly as water from a fall. She took her paces in the marionette-like dance that started it off, which was little more than posing and prancing in accordance with those surrounding you. She waved her fan in front of her face demurely, nodding a greeting at those she encountered. Then paused moved in unison with a few others near her. Other members of the company, though upper class, who had agreed to put together a little side bit of choreography for the patrons. There was another group of such members at the landing of the staircase and another on the opposing side of the foyer.
After the little vignette she went back to the stuffy prancing. But she had no problem with it because within moments they began a true gala dance where she acquired a partner, lined up and began dancing in unison with the rest of the people on the floor. This eventually broke into a much wilder and more haphazard type with lots of spinning and twirling and she ended up with a new partner.
As the "guests of honor" took their entrance down the grand staircase, the dance cooled into a delicate waltz. In the calm, she noticed the more pretentious patrons on the upper level simply watching the excitement. What kind of immense wealth and inbreeding would cause a person to not want to participate in an event like this? Janice thought to herself. She mentally scoffed and continued to enjoy herself when she spotted Christine and Raoul in the open corridor surrounding the open foyer, seemingly only just joining the ball. She grunted in frustration but since her mask concealed her expression, her partner apologized, thinking he'd hurt her somehow. She assured him that was not the case and made up some excuse about being winded and they both laughed it off.
The loving couple joined the rest of them on the dance floor but seemed too engrossed in each other to follow what everyone else was doing because as they began to dance a simple waltz, the rest had broke into a much more passionate dance that eventually broke into wild twirling.
Janice was spun all around the main floor then lead up the stairs and twirled around on the second floor, behind the orchestra, then back then back again until she took her place at the landing, again with her fans as the company members began their grand finale that was to end the organized dance session and begin the New Year's celebration. She took her steps and gestures like a master and flowed beautifully with her peers as the wealthy looked on. She noticed La Carlotta's gaudy costume complete with too-tight bustier and over-the-top headdress. Piangi's gold-painted goatee, Fermin's gauche ram's horns and Andre's seeming lack of real costume at all.
It was just when the performance was to come to climax that the orchestra suddenly stopped entirely and a few women at the top of the staircase to Janice's left gasped loudly.
Everyone froze and looked around, trying to find the source of the disruption. Then all eyes came to rest on the man at the top of the stairs dressed entirely in red velvet with a skull mask concealing his identity.
He took a few steps down.
He spoke.
"Why so silent, good monsieurs? Did you think that I had left you for good?"
Janice's heart caught in her throat and she clenched her fists and swallowed hard. Her mouth became instantly dry and her breath quickened.
"It's him," she whispered softly to herself.
No one heard her.
