Erik had arisen a few hours ago. He was working on a new opera at the piano in the living room.
There were three rooms to their little home. One was the living room. This was the room that Erik and Chrissy spent most of their time. The piano and phonograph was kept in there along with a coach, a table in which they ate their meals, and a small stove and counter space for cooking their meals. The room just across from the piano was Erik's room. Next to that was the the third and final room. Chrissy's room. Each had a bathroom and a closet where they kept their small number of cloths.
"Daddy!" Chrissy cried as she ran in, forgetting that her father didn't know she wasn't in her room. Normally, Chrissy could sneak back into her room without her father noticing. He was usually so interested in his work, he wouldn't hear anything but the notes playing in his head. But Chrissy was so excited, it slipt her mind.
Erik turned around as he saw his daughter running towards him through the front door at the top of the stone steps."Chrissy!" he cried, "Why were you not in your room? Did you go outside, young lady?"
Chrissy realized that she couldn't tell her father of the new family yet. She knew that she would have to tell him where she saw them and since she was only allowed to wonder around the opera house in the evening when everyone else was watching the show, she would have to tell him she that she went outside.
"No, sir!" she replied quickly, "I was just...wading my feet in the river...underneath the opera house, of course. I would never leave without your permission!"
Not entirely satisfied, Erik turned back to his work. Chrissy was heading off to her room to dress before she made breakfast. Just as she opened the door, her father spoke again.
"Oh, Chrissy, we're going to watch the opera tonight." he said, not turning around.
Chrissy was confused, "But...Daddy, we already saw this show and you said you didn't like it very much! Why do you want to see it again?"
Erik turned to face his daughter, "They have a new singer for the lead female role and I want to see if she's any good. Of course, she will no where near be as good as you or...your mother."
Chrissy gasped. Erik rarely ever talked about her mother. He had told her she had died giving birth to her. Christine had never seen a picture of her, but Erik told her she was very beautiful.
"Oh," Chrissy said, not really sure what to say, "Ok, well, that will be interesting." and she went into her room to dress.
Later that day, 7:55 percisely, Erik and Chrissy went sercretly to the empty box of box 5. But when they reached it, they were surprised to hear talking behind the curtain.
"Is there someone in our private box, Daddy?" Chrissy asked.
Erik did not answer. He had a look of furry in his eyes and Chrissy knew better than to ask again."Come, Chrissy!" he said finally, "we shall sit in box 7."
"But, Daddy!" Chrissy urged, "No ever sits in box 7! Since the fire of 1901, it's been damanged and shut down!"
"Exactly!" Erik replied. "If we wish for no one to disturb us, we must sit where no one else will. After the opera, we shall speak to Mr. Harrison as to why he sold our box!"
Chrissy followed her father to the burned and broken box 7. Just as they sat down, the lights flashed signaling the start of the show. Mr. Harrison came out from behind the curtain to inform the viewers.
"Ladies and Gentlemen." the man said, "I regret that tonight shall be my last night at The New York Opera House. I have sold it to M.Firmin and his wife Mdm. Andre-Firmin. Please welcome them to our lovely theater."
The crowd applauded as a man in his late thirties and his wife walked out onto the stage. Behind them followed a young girl who resembled the M. Firmin greatly and looked around Chrissy's age. Chrissy turned to tell her father this. But stopped when she saw the look of deepest loathing in his face.
M.Firmin thanked the crowd and told them how happy he, his wife, and his daughter were to be running one of the best opera houses in the world. Finally, he was finished. Mme.Andre-Firmin finally spoke.
"Now," she said, "may I be the first to present to you our newest opera singer who shall be taking the place of Helena Miller. May I present, singing for the first time in the United States. Mme. Christine Viscount de Chagny."
The crowd applauded, Chrissy could see a few people muttering to their neighbors with interested looks on their faces. She turned to look at her father, who never looked so angry.
The Firmins and Mr. Harrison left the stage. The lights darkened and the curtain opened. The woman Chrissy had seen that morning, who she was sure was Christine Viscount de Changy, came out on stage and began singing. Chrissy had never heard anyone singing so beautifully.
"Chrissy," Erik said, "Would you excuse me for a moment. I need to do something."
Without waiting for his daughter to answer, he left box 7. Chrissy watched Mme. Viscount de Chagny for a while, admiring her great voice and beauty. Then, she noticed him.
Across the room in box 1 sat none other than the man, whom Chrissy knew must be the viscount and their son Marc sitting and watching the prima donna. Chrissy sat starring at Marc for some time. Finally, he looked right across at her.
Chrissy pulled back, trying to hide herself in the shadows. But it didn't work. Marc could still see her and he waved.
Chrissy, stood up and walked out of the box. She decided she would wait for a while down on the first floor. By then, her father should have been back. As she passed box 5, she could hear what they were saying inside.
"...yes, she was born in France. She's the daughter of the famous violinist, Daae. I believe her madian name is Christine Daae."
"Daae?" Chrissy said to herself as she walked past the box, "Why does that name sound so familiar?"
Chrissy made it to the first floor. She poked her head in through one of the doors by the stage. Christine was still singing beautifully, but up in box 1, only the Viscount sat. Marc was no where to be seen.
At that moment, the lights went black. Mme. Viscount de Chagny stopped singing. The crowd was almost silent, only the whispering nervously to their neighbors as to what was going on was heard.
Then, Chrissy heard it. Her father's diabolical laughter ringing across the stage.
"Why would he ruin an opera? Especially with someone with such a beautiful voice!"
"Talking to yourself?" someone said behind her, "That's the first sign that you're going insane, you know!"
Chrissy jumped. She turned around. The only light in the entire hallway was from the moon beams that danced through the window panes. It was dim, but she could make out the young man's face.
Marc Viscount de Chagny was standing right before her.