With the pit playing, the chorus came in, although a bit pitchy at first, they sounded pretty good over all. That is, until Carlotta came screeching on her high notes over them and she sang, the dancer came charging in, leaping all over the place. The chains of the slave dancers rattling with each jump. Everything seemed to go over very smoothly, and the new managers seemed pleased at what they heard and saw, smiles on their faces. Maybe they were just eyeing the half naked dancers, but they still enjoyed it.
As Carlotta's notes soared higher and higher and more ear bleeding, I swore I saw something on the catwalk, lurking around and when I turned back, someone had screamed and the back set had come crashing down. And I found myself, for some strange unknown reason, pushing Carlotta out of it's path, landing right on top of her. Everyone came running toward us, chattering away to make sure we were okay. And instead of getting a "Thank you. You just saved my life" from Carlotta, I got this;
"GET HER OFF OF ME! SHE COULD BE DISEASED!" She wailed to in my face and to everyone around us, who just gave her funny stares. Two of the male dancers picked me up off of her as Piangi helped her up as she started to cry about how it was unfair.
"You're welcome," I grumbled as I dusted myself off. M. Frimin and M. Andre, pushed through the crowd, panic and distress all over their faces, and M. Leroux behind them who was oddly enough calm about the whole thing.
"What in dear God's name happened?" M. Andre said, his voice cracking slightly. Carlotta shook off Piangi's hand and stormed right to the new managers.
"This has been happening now for a month straight and I cannot live like this anymore!" I she yelled, wagging her finger in M. Andre and Firmin's faces. "This is the LAST straw. I quit. I am finish. I am LEAVING. Bring my belongings and go!" She screamed to her entourage, and with that, she left. She used to say stuff like this all the time, but this the first time she has followed through with what she has said. After she had left, a stunned silence fell upon everyone here. M. Leroux clapped his hands together and began to walk backwards, slowly.
"Well, good luck. If you need me, I shall be in Austria." And with that, he was gone. Just like that. No formal cermonial send off, not even a good bye. Wierd. Very strange.
"What happens now?' Firmin asked, turning to Md. Giry. She shrugged.
"Why are you asking me? I am just the dance instructor," She pointed out, walking away, "It's your job to figure that out. Not mine." M. Andre groaned, putting his hands on his face. And then he snapped his fingers, as if he found the cure for the common cold.
"Don't we have an understudy?" He said, his and M. Firmin's face lit up the tiniest bit, thinking they found that hope. But Md. Giry just scoffed at him, walking back towards them.
"She would never allow it," she said, "but as far as I'm concerned, good ridance." Both M. Andre and and Firmin looked like they were going to be sick. Or pass out, but whatever it was they looked like, it wasn't a good thing. M. Firmin began wringing his gloves in his hands.
"Oh dear God." M. Firmin said, wringing faster. If he did it any more, he was going to reducehis gloves to no more than a pile of fabric.
"Oh and by the way," M. Giry began, handing Andre a white envelope, "This is for you. It is from the Opera Ghost." There was a mix mummers in the crowd. Ever since the first "accident" and when M leroux got the first note, everyone blammed it on the "Opera Ghost". Everyone, except for me, gathered around them to see if thet could read the infamous note too.
"What??" M. Andre shouted incredgoulsy, "20,000 francs a month? Is he insane? And leave Box five open? That's our best seat in the house! Ludicrous, absolutely ludicrous." M. Giry merely just shrugged, as if it really didn't matter to her.
"Surely you can afford it, with the Vicomte as your patron." She said dryly.
"Damnit all," Andre said to M. Frimin, Andre obviously the stinger of the two, "We're going to have to cancel the galla tonight. We're going to have to refund a FULL house, Firmin! We're going to lose so much money. We're-"
"Christine Daae can do it!" Meg chirpped up. Everyone around us looked directly at me, the quizical looks making my face flush into dark shade of red.
"Who?" M. Andre said.
"Christine Daae, she's a slave chorus girl, like me." Meg said, gesturing to me. I waved weakly.
"Hello." I said meekly, waving weakly, "I'm Christine." I felt my face begin to flush even more.
"Hmm, although she is very pretty," M. Firmin began, "She is just a chorus girl. How can she possibly know-"
"She's been taught by a great teacher. Trust me." M. Giry chimed, which suprised me a little.
"It's true." Meg added. I jabbed her in her rib cage with my elbow so she would stop talking, but I was not going to have any such luck. Once she spoke her idea, there was no budging her.
"Meg," I said through clenched teeth, "What in the hell are you doing??" She just smiled at me, as if she didn't do anything.
M. Andre and Firmin sighed at the exact same time, looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. "Why not," M. Andre, "Let us see what she can do."