I'm home sick so I've decided to update so you better be happy! I'm addicted to writing this story so if a few more chapters pop up don't be surprised! And this one is going to be short; the next chapter will be long, sensual, and just plain funky.
The next night, the Opera House was a bustle of commotion. Outfits were getting their last minute repair, corsets being quickly put on, props being shoved into the hands of their respectful owners. The energy could be felt by everyone. The audience had just begun to pile into the theatre. Claire was getting into her outfit in the dancers small, cramped dressing room. She was already running behind, her and Meg opting for a quick walk around the Opera House. They had arrived just in time to be shoved into the dressing room by Madame Giry. Claire hadn't the feel of this particular fabric against her skin. It made her itch all over.
"Why do we always get the itchy material?" Claire asked as Meg laced Claire's outfit up the back.
"Because we're dancers," she answered matter-of-factly. Claire accepted this answer and let Meg finish lacing up her costume. The two of them then exited the dressing room and began moving towards the left wing where they were going to enter during the first act. Just then a loud cry rang out. Meg and Claire turned to each other, their faces pale. They raced in the direction they heard the distressed scream.
They came upon a sight that made Claire's blood run cold. Sorelli, the lead dancer, lay sprawled out on the floor.
"What has happened?" Madame Giry said, breaking through the crowd to see what all the fuss was about. Her face went ashen at the sight of the fallen dancer.
"What's wrong mama?" Meg asked grabbing the sleeve of her mother's shirt. Giry removed her hand and knelt down beside Sorelli.
"Can you hear me?" Madame Giry asked. Sorelli groaned and her eyes opened.
"I can't feel my leg," Sorelli uttered and then slipped into unconsciousness again. A silence had fallen over everyone surrounding the scene. Claire was now reminded of the Phantom's words,
"Tomorrow night you will stand in for Sorelli, I will make sure you are the star."
Now all she could feel was guilt. Was she the reason their star dancer had taken a nasty fall? Claire wouldn't be able to forgive herself let along dance. A few of the stage hands had now lifted Sorelli and were carrying her back towards her dressing room where the doctor would look at her leg. Madame Giry moved everyone along but motioned for Meg and Claire to stay. Claire felt her face flush.
After everyone had dispersed Giry came over to the two girls.
"Sorelli will not be dancing tonight," she said, her eyes on Claire, "You will be taking her place."
"But Madame I couldn't," Claire protested. Madame Giry shook her head.
"Nonsense, you are more than capable of taken on her part. Go back to costume and hurry, I don't think size will be an issue but we must make haste. The curtain goes up in less than an hour!"
