I disappeared quickly after letting the chandelier lose. I hadn't meant for it to go that far, but my temper had flared. Just as quickly it had returned to normal, and I regretted my rash action. I could've killed Christine. She would've become yet another victim of the mad walking corpse. I looked on in disgust as Raoul cuddled her in front of a full house. Of course no one was really paying attention to the syrupy scene in front of them. The women were all too busy fainting, while the men milled around remarking on how faulty the wiring must have been, or how desperate for business the managers must have been to think of such a plot. I grinned to myself about how some people never believe anything until it hits them in the face. Unfortunately, Christine is one of those people, and tonight it had hit her in the face, almost literally as well as figuratively.

With a satisfying flip of my cape I made my way down to the House Beyond the Lake. I would wait for at least two days before venturing to the upper world. I thought about how closely my life was intertwined with the Opera. Just as the bottom floor is the foundation of the building, I was the foundation of the Opera people. Without me, they would all crumble, or die of boredom. People can't stand an Opera without a bit of scandal sprinkled in every once in awhile. My presence provided for a somewhat elegant scandal, instead of whoring Prima Donnas and drunken tenors. Though they surely cause excitement, they also are quite routine and predictable. What would the Opera do without me? I daresay they should thank me instead of trying to kill me. Unfortunately, the managers do not view the situation as I do.

Let us say I was not surprised when I heard voices. I can tell where people are the moment they enter the third cellar. A rather clumsy mob had formed, presumably to hunt me down and do away with me. Good, I thought. It shall be a chance for me to have a little fun.