Time began to fly for Sara as she became content in her place at the opera house. She passed her days fixing costumes for Mme. Giry and doing other little odd jobs that she found she could do to amuse herself. She also spent a lot of time learning to find her way around the massive Opera House with the help of Erik. He had spent a lot of time cutting marks that were insignificant to anyone but Sara. These marks represented which hallway she was turning into, and he had shown her each one, telling her their meaning.
Her sixteenth birthday quickly came about, surprising even Sara at how long she had been living in the opera house. She woke up the morning of her birthday to hear the excited whispers of several of the dancers. She yawned and stretched, before climbing to her feet, something clattering to the floor by her feet.
"Looks like Sara has an admirer." Meg teased, bending down to pick up the cane that had fallen from Sara's lap.
"What do you mean?" Sara asked, as Meg laid the cane in Sara's hands.
The cane was smooth and painted black. The tip on the bottom was made of metal, insuring that if anything were in front of her she would not only feel but hear it. Sound was the most important thing to Sara. Often the sound of echo's told Sara how far away something was from her. This was yet another trick that Erik had taught her.
"There's a note!" Christine exclaimed, jumping on to the bed beside Sara. Sara could hear the sound of an envelope being opened. "Sara, this is just something to help you move around more easily. Erik."
Meg pushed Sara's shoulder playfully. "And who is Erik? Perhaps a rich gentlemen who has come to see performances and has fallen madly in love with you?"
Christine joined in the banter. "Yes, come on Sara, you can tell us. This cane is made of the finest material and must have cost a fortune."
Sara continued to run her hands over the smooth wood, feeling the small notches that Erik had made in the cane, spelling Sara's name. She knew that this was so that she would be able to identify her cane compared to anyone else's in the opera house.
"Erik is simply a friend from my childhood. The son of one of my father's friends." Sara told them, blushing slightly.
"And why have you never mentioned him before?" Meg asked.
Sara was becoming annoyed with this conversation and moved to get dressed. "It's not important. It's a simple birthday present, nothing else. Stop looking for it to mean something."
A year later, as Sara's seventeenth birthday approached a new soprano started at the company, quickly making everyone's life a living hell. Carlotta Guidicelli was a flamboyant, over the top Italian woman; she was very passionate about everything she did and said. Unfortunately her voice, while very good, could also sound like fingernails on a chalk board. This was the worst form of torture for everyone's ears, but especially Sara's sensitive ones.
Obviously the crew was not the only one's who thought for. Many "mysterious" accidents began to happen when Carlotta was rehearsing. Everyone blamed the Phantom of the Opera, while Sara could only chuckle to herself, knowing that the Phantom was really flesh and blood. She was also amused with the incidents, since she often sat with Erik as he planned them out.
The only answer that her uncle and everyone else could give Signora Guidicelli was: "These things do happen" and "There are always problems in the first few days of rehearsal".
But as the years passed, the incidents became more and more dangerous and even Sara began to worry. She had known for a long time that Erik had been visiting Christine and telling her that he was her "Angel of Music". She also knew that Erik had now become obsessed with making Christine a success, but at the same time, he had become obsessed with Christine herself.
Sara had begun to dislike the relationship that Christine and Erik had formed. She had come to depend on Erik, and she did not wish to share him with anyone else.
Eventually her uncle could no longer bare Carlotta's demanding nature and quickly found someone to buy the Opera House from him. He had informed Sara that they would be leaving for Australia as soon as all the arrangements were made and deals were settled. This news sent Sara into a panic.
She had chosen to stay in the Opera House because she had wanted to learn more about who Erik was. Now she wanted to stay because he was the only family that she had left. He was more of a companion to her than anyone, and she did not want to be torn away from that. She found herself locked in the dormitories or walking around the cemetery, contemplating the position that she was in.
She wouldn't even leave to visit Erik and he had finally had enough of her ignoring her. Sara left the Opera House, telling her uncle that she was going to the cemetery to say her farewells to her parents. Erik followed her on the horse that he kept beneath the Opera house.
He often left the opera house to roam the streets of Paris on this horse and had become an accomplished rider. He was able to stay behind her carriage and stay out of sight until she was well on her way to the crypt of her parents. He approached her silently, studying the rigid posture she held herself in.
She didn't flinch when his arm brushed against hers as he stood beside her. "I knew that you were following me."
"You haven't come to see me." Erik said, staring at the crypt. "And I know that your uncle has sold my theater to those two fools."
Sara said nothing, but kept her head bowed. "He wants me to travel to Australia with himself and my aunt."
"I know."
"So what is your advice? If ever I needed your council, it's now." Sara told him.
Erik glanced over at her, and could see the large bags under her eyes, telling him that she had not slept properly in days, and that this was something that disturbed her greatly. "I cannot tell you what to do. But, I don't think you should leave. You're too important to the way things work around here."
Sara said nothing in response to what he said. She eventually nodded, gave a small bow and took her leave of him, determined to see her uncle. The driver of the carriage helped her in to the Opera House when they returned, and Sara quickly made her way to her uncle's office.
Sara knocked and waited until she was summoned before entering the room. "Ah, Sara!" Her uncle exclaimed. "Gentlemen, this is my niece, Sara Lennox, who lives and works here in the Opera House." Sara could sense the presence of two men, and turned in their general direction.
"An honour Monsieur's, but may I interrupt your meeting for a brief moment? I have something of a rather urgent nature to discuss with my uncle." Sara requested.
"Of course Mademoiselle," Said one of the men. "M. Leferve, we shall take our leave and view some of the other rooms."
When they were alone Sara found a chair and sat down. "You have become quite adept at hiding your handicap."
Sara ignored the comment and folded her hands in her lap. "Must I travel with you and my aunt to Australia?"
M. Leferve was startled by the question. He had never thought that she would not want to join them. "You want to stay at the Opera house?"
Sara's eyes closed and she nodded. "Yes. This place is my home, and I have many friends here. Also, I hardly know my Aunt; it would make the trip awkward for both of us."
M. Leferve sat back in his chair and contemplated what his niece was telling him. Sara began to grow uneasy at his silence when he cleared his throat. "Very well. I did not consider the fact that perhaps you would like to stay here." He stood up and walked to his niece. He cupped her cheek in his hand. "Stay here with my blessing. Now, I must show M. Firmin and M. Andre around the Opera house."
Sara stayed seated where she was for several minutes, not believing that her uncle had given his blessing to allow her to stay where she was. She finally stood and walked from the office, she could hear a commotion on stage and knew that Erik was up to his tricks again, but she was too ecstatic to care. She was staying in the place where she always felt comforted, with the only man who could help her feel that way. And she was determined to keep it that way for as long as possible.