IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ IF YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND:

When I said he wasn't Erik, I meant: This isn't the original Erik. He'd be a corpse. Like the kind that doesn't move. Thus, the 'Phantom's Heir' thing. It's another Phantom…different person. It's being passed down to those worthy guys.

Get it?

Ok.

Oh, this is a modern day fic, you guys get that right?

Good.

Anyway, thank you for the reviews! Love you guys!

September 23rd, it was the Friday before opening night and everyone was nervous. It was the first show of the school year. Roger had gotten the male lead and Cicely was amazed at the voice that came from him. She had spent the previous day encouraging him. He had never sung in front of such a large crowd.

M. Bock was on his last nerve and the orchestra was well aware of his temper. If the smallest thing went wrong he would explode. Cicely didn't dare lose focus. Even though Friday was normally a regular day, today was committed completely to rehearsing. Charlotte had spent all morning boasting about having the lead part, as always. Poor Roger, having to sing with such a cow. Edward found this very funny and laughed whenever Roger got uncomfortable on stage.

Just as they were about to start Act 3, the current managers (who also play the role as the principals) Monsieur Haust and Monsieur Felix ran in with looks of worry on their faces. M. Haust was a short stubby man with gray hair and mustache. M. Felix was taller and younger than M. Haust and he had stringy auburn hair. No matter their age, they both looked aged with worry.

M. Bock rolled his eyes "Sirs, we're in the middle of rehearsal!"

M. Felix, whom everyone just called Felix because of his youth, answered mysteriously, "Monsieur, he's back!"

M. Bock's face went as white as a sheet, to match with the managers. "What do you mean?" M. Bock stammered, losing all seriousness.

M. Haust held up an envelope. M. Bock let out a groan, "This is ridiculous," he lowered his voice, "So I'm guessing there's a new Heir?" Cicely strained her ears to hear every word they were saying. The managers nodded their heads furiously to answer the question. M Bock announced, with much nervousness in his voice, that he'd be back momentarily and left with the hysterical managers.

Cicely had to know what was happening. "Dee, I'm going to follow them…be back okay?" But Cicely left too fast for Delia to answer. She tiptoed out of the theater and stood quietly outside the manager's office.

"So is it the usual?" M. Bock's voice asked inside the office.

"What do you mean by that?" Felix asked nervously.

M. Bock listed things as normal as a grocery list, "Box 5, a salary, a girl…"

"A girl?" Felix interrupted. He looked to M. Haust, whom nodded, "I wonder who it is?"

M. Bock didn't care, he was getting impatient, "What does the letter say Haust!" he bellowed. The managers looked surprised at their conductor's behavior. Felix handed him the letter, which he read out loud (ironically enough).

"Dear Sirs,

As I'm sure you're well aware, the Opera Ghost has returned. I must say, it's a pleasure to haunt such a beautiful place. But I'm going to make this short, as you must be busy with your new production. Box five, is mine. Not that you could ever sell it. And my salary is way past due. You know what happened before. Let's not have history repeat itself, shall we?

O.G."

Felix spoke after moments of silence, "There's nothing about a girl…"

"This one seems to be rather sarcastic sounding. There will be a girl, you wait and see!"

M. Haust stated dully, "Well, I guess I'll go get this 'ghost's' salary…"

M. Bock broke M. Haust short and blocked his way, "I don't understand why the hell we don't just go underground, find the lunatic, and end this madness!" Felix looked confused, "Underground?" His comment went unnoticed as M. Haust bellowed back at the conductor: "You think we haven't tried! The Opera house, and underneath it, has been searched many times for a lair of some sort. To this day nothing has been found!"

Felix got frustrated and yelled over them, "Gentlemen! The important thing is, if the man is going to put a young lady in any kind of danger, whether he's mentioned it yet or not, we need to keep close eyes on all of the female students, agreed?"

Haust and Bock nodded in unison. When Cicely heard them by the door she ran back fast to the orchestra pit to Delia what she had heard.

"Are you serious?" Delia whispered. M. Bock was working with Charlotte on stage and gave the orchestra a break, though they were warned not to raise their voices too loud.

"Yes! They were arguing rather loudly. All about Box Five, a salary…and a girl." Cicely hesitated with the last part. Delia started to laugh, which was not what Cicely had expected. After Delia was shushed by the other orchestra members she asked "And what is so funny?"

"Haven't you finished the book?" Delia answered with her own question.

"No, I just read the first chapter. I've been busy with school and seeing Roger…"

Delia interrupted, "Then why was the book mark farther?"

"I didn't want you to think I hated it! I've been meaning to read it! But all this stuff that I've been doing…What does the book have to do with anything?"

Delia gladly explained, "This is exactly what happened! The managers of the Opera got letters from the Opera Ghost asking for all of those things."

"You don't think there's really an Opera Ghost, do you?" Cicely asked trying to hide her fear.

"No, of course not!" Delia said, unconvincing, "It's probably a prank joke…"

"Then why did M. Bock look so scared when M. Haust held up that envelope?" Cicely asked with all seriousness. Delia gave her a look but couldn't answer. M. Bock came back and they proceeded to Act 3. It was unusual of M. Bock to ignore Cicely's mistakes. She kept making them but he didn't say a word. His face was still as white as a sheet. Every so often he would glance over to Box five. After about the fifteenth time, Cicely looked after he did. She kept staring but when she saw nothing she went back to concentrating on the music. Up high, high above the rehearsal, in Box Five there was a soft chuckle. And then a heavy sigh, on much to quiet for anyone below to hear.

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