Rene awoke to the shinning light of day outside her window. She sat up and suddenly remembered the happenings of the night before. The wave of memories bringing with them a throbbing headache. She looked around. She was in her bed. How had she gotten in her bed? Had she fallen asleep here. "Yes," she decided. "It was just a dream." Then she sang aloud, "There is no Phantom of the Opera."
The answer came quietly, "Angel if music, do not doubt me!" When the voice had passed, Rene wondered if it had only been in her mind.
Rene dressed quickly, and skipped breakfast, because she was too late and could not spare the time. She ran down the stairs and into the theater, where the other dancers had not yet begun the practice. They where lined along the walls, all of them stretching a nd bending. No one noticed when she walked in.
Rene took off her house slippers and laced up her toe shoes. She had little time to stretch before Madame Giry entered. "Good morning, ladies." Madame Giry said, and all of the girls lined up on the bar. Rene followed suite and stood next to the bar. Meg was right in front of her, and she winked at Rene with a large grin, then began her exercises.
Madame Giry watched with finely honed eyes and was sure to correct every mistake made by any girl. She examined Rene while she danced. Every pirouette was perfect. Every pose hit flawlessly. Every beat in sync with the music.
From the catwalks another watched, studying Rene's every move. He noted her precision in executing each of her moves. "She really is very good." He thought. "She deserves to be here." He recollected that day, not too long ago when she had first come to audition for the 'ballet de corps'. He remembered her excitement at being chosen to audition in the theater, itself. He recalled her tears after she fell in her dance audition. He had memorized those tears. He remembered them so well.
Rene thought that, over all, her first day had gone fairly well. She did not get yelled at. She did not step on anyone. Most of all, she did not fall. She walked away from the hall feeling tired, but accomplished.
Rene headed straight for her room, but before she could even make it up the first flight of stairs, a voice behind her called her name. She turned to see Meg bounding toward her. Rene stopped and waited for her.
"How was your first night here?" Meg asked.
"Fine, thank you for asking." Rene answered.
"Did you sleep well?" Meg said more then asked, and gave out a cheery giggle.
"Yes, I did." Meg gave Rene a strange look, and Rene knew that Meg understood more than she let on to. "Why do you ask?"
"Oh, don't play dumb, Rene. I heard you last night. I came to check up on you and…" she paused. "I wasn't trying to pry, but I heard you singing, with someone. A man…" Rene gave out a slight surprised breath, but Meg did not seem to have heard. She continued. "So, who was it? Did you have a suitor in Paris before you joined us here at the Opera Populaire?"
Rene started walking again, and Meg hurried along side her. Rene did not want to tell Meg of her experiences with the Phantom of the Opera, and so she hesitated. Meg thought she was about to hear of some scandalous love story, hopefully full of romance, so she urged Rene on. "Oh, go on Rene. I would not tell a soul. I just thought that… maybe you wanted a friend to talk to. I thought you might…"
"Meg, if you stop trying to convince me, than I will tell you." Rene said. They were about half way to Rene's room now. Rene turned her head to Meg, but continued to walk. Meg nodded, sure that silence was appropriate at the time. Rene began her story with, "I know that this sounds crazy, but last night while I was alone in my room, I began to sing and someone from…" Where had they come from? "I'm not sure where," she decided. "Someone began to sing with me. He sang with me and I knew the tune, but I had never heard the song before."
Meg could not help herself. "Who was it!" she blurted, though she had a good idea what the answer was already.
Rene gulped, not in fear, but rather for effect. "He said that he was an angel. The Angel of Music, I think." Meg stopped. Rene stopped just ahead of her. "What is it Meg?"
Meg turned to her. "I have to go. I have to talk to my mother. I had just… forgotten." Meg said and she hurried off toward the theater.
Rene was left standing alone in the hallway. She wondered if perhaps hurrying off in a mysterious and bizarre fashion ran in the Giry family. She decided it would be impolite to inquire of such.
