Disclaimer-Still do not own The Phantom of the Opera…though it would be nice to own Gerard Butler…maybe just his eyes…and his voice…back to subject…Yes, please be nice and review my story…be gentle! ENJOY! Please read and review! Special thanks to Countess Alana, my first reviewer!
Chapter 2
Emmeline stood next to James, holding his hand. She was nervous about going into the opera house, afraid of the memories it would stir up for her. She squeezed his hand tightly as they stood staring at the grand staircase. Images of people dancing around, laughing, flashed before her eyes and she almost tripped but James held onto her hand tightly as they walked forward.
"Are you alright, Emma?" She smiled at him reassuringly and looked down around the large room. People had started painting and cleaning. They started climbing the stairs when something happened that made her stop.
"Masquerade…paper faces on parade…" She glanced at her mother from the top of the stairs, watching as she gracefully moved along to the music.
Emma put her hand to her temple, gently rubbing it.
"We should leave."
"No, I'm going to be living here, James, I can't just run away from everything."
They continued, following Devlin up the stairs and into the theater. It was still a bit run down but the chandelier had been raised to the ceiling once more. Emma stared up at it remembering the night, vaguely, when it had crashed down upon the stage.
"Stop thinking about that Emmeline."
"Thinking about what?"
"Everything. Just think about how beautiful this opera house shall look in six months."
She nodded and Devlin led them onto the stage, which had fully been restored. Most of the cast was standing around, talking to each other. Emma and James joined the crowd of people.
"Now, now, quiet down please." Devlin said. "As you all know the opera house is not quite ready but it will be in about six months. Then, we shall begin working on our new opera, The Phantom's Opera. I know you are all excited so before you leave please pick up your scripts, I look forward to working with you all. Now, on another note I'd like to introduce our dance instructor, Madame Linton."
A small blonde girl with long braided blonde hair stepped forward and bowed.
"I, also, look forward to working with you all."
"And our writer and conductor, Monsieur Manroe."
He was standing next to Devlin with beady eyes and gray hair. He raised an eyebrow and glared at everyone.
"It won't be easy to perform this opera. You must be ready on the first day of rehearsal, understand?" Some people nodded and others just stared at him, taken aback by his rudeness.
"Ladies and gentlemen, be my guest to walk around and get a feel for the opera house. Everyone is to be here for rehearsals on November 25th."
James and Emma walked around together, exploring what they could. They went up to see the famous box five and found it already occupied. Henry was standing there, looking out at the whole opera house.
"Hello…" Emma said quietly. He turned and looked at them.
"Hello, Miss Hallett, was it?" He grabbed her hand and kissed it.
"It was and this is James. You can call me Emma."
"Then, you can call me Henry, if it pleases you." She stared into his deep blue eyes and smiled.
"So, you're the Phantom I have to be afraid of? Well, I can honestly say that I am not the least bit frightened of you." He smiled and laughed a little.
"Then, you're the woman I have to fall in love with. Well, I can honestly say that that is no challenge at all." Emma felt her cheeks turning red.
"I'm going to go talk to that conductor. I'll see you outside Emma." He raised a brow and then left Henry and Emma alone.
"Isn't this opera house beautiful? I used to come here when I was a child." She touched the velvet red seat and smiled.
"I came here a couple of times also. My mother was a costume designer for La Carlotta."
"My parents were both dancers here."
"Were they good?"
"My father was a bit clumsy but my mother…" Emma looked down at the seats below her. "She was the best I've ever seen. The way she could move her body, it was amazing."
"Where are your parents now?"
"My father lives far away from here and my mother…she died here."
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have said anything." Emma glanced at him and wiped away a tear.
"You didn't know."
"Well, now that I have already made you cry, I should be taking my leave. We shall meet again." He took her hand and kissed it again.
"Goodbye Henry." He smiled at her and then left her alone, standing in box 5. She sat down in the seat and ran a hand through her hair.
Suddenly, she felt as if someone were watching her. She turned and looked behind her but no one was there. She shrugged and yawned, not realizing how tired she was.
"Emmeline….my sweet Emma…"came a man's voice from behind her. She stood up quickly and peeped her head out of the box.
"Hello?" she said quietly. "Anyone up here?" She glanced over at the stage, noticing that she was the only left in the theater. She went to leave the box but she heard the voice again.
"Emma…come to your angel…" She felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up and slowly turned to the voice. Standing on stage was a man dressed all in black with black hair to match. The thing that stood out most was that he had a mask over half of his face. She started breathing heavily and backed up from the box. She hit into something and screamed.
"Emma, it's just me." She stared at James and put her hands on his chest.
"I can't breathe…"
"Your face is so white." He put his hand to her cheek. "And it is cold. What happened?" Before she could answer, she fainted.
