I've been meaning to write a 'Phantom' fan fic for a while now, and finally got around to it. This chapter is dedicated to my very best friends Meg (no, my name is NOT Christine) and Emily, my boyfriend, (whom without I would not have been able to go to the Winter Formal as Christine accompanied by my favorite Phantom), and Gerry (whose portrayal of the Phantom is the best I've seen, regardless of what others think). This fic is based off of the 2004 movie. I will be using all of the dates, and character personalities from that movie. Please read and review! Constructive criticism is always welcome!

Disclaimer: The characters from 'The Phantom of the Opera' are the creation of ALW and, unfortunately, are not mine.

The Parisian Ledger

November 21, 1870

"New Soprano to Sing Hannibal"

The new managers of the Opera Populare, M. Richard Firmin and M. Gilles André have been forced to select a new lead soprano for tonight's production of Hannibal because of a disagreement with their former lead soprano, La Carlotta. La Carlotta has been the lead soprano at the Opera for five seasons and quit unexpectedly after an accident with the stage crew. The managers were forced to allow a chorus girl, Christine Daaé to sing La Carlotta's part. All of Paris is eager to hear the voice of this supposed angel.

The Parisian Ledger

November 22, 1870

"Mystery After Gala Night"

New lead soprano, Christine Daaé, has been missing since her marvelous performance last evening. She was last seen heading toward her dressing room after her performance. Her disappearance is a mystery to all at the Opera Populare. Foul play is certainly expected. The only clue to her location has come to us from one of the managers of the opera house who reported that he had received a mysterious letter this morning alluding to the location of the missing soprano. More details about this story will come in tomorrow's issue.

The Parisian Ledger

November 23, 1870

"Opera Ghost Makes Appearance"

The famed Phantom of the Opera made quite an appearance at last night's performance of El Muto. He became enraged at La Carlotta, sabotaging her performance. It seemed that Christine Daaé would once again have to assume the lead role. M. Firmin and M. André concealed the mishap quite well until a stagehand was hanged by the neck in the middle of the third act ballet performance. Many people speculate that the Opera Ghost may favor Mlle. Daaé, and may be sabotaging the Opera Populare for her purposes. The Bal Masque will still be held tonight at the Opera Populare despite the recent tragety.

The Parisian Ledger

November 24, 1870

"Bal Masque Sabotaged by Opera Ghost"

Last evening's Bal Masque hosted by the Opera Populare was interrupted by an appearance by the Opera Ghost. Donning a white skull mask and a red evening suit, we can only describe the Ghost's costume as being "Red Death". The Ghost attempted to escape after the disruption, only to be pursued by the Vicomte de Chagny who was in attendance. The Ghost was able to escape using a trapdoor that had been installed some years before into the ballroom floor. The Vicomte could not be reached for comment on the events that occurred last evening.

The Parisian Ledger

November 25, 1870

"Phantom's Opera to be Performed at Opera Populare"

Late yesterday, the owners of the Opera Populare received a request from the legendary Phantom of the Opera along with several musical transcripts. We are told that the Phantom left a brief note instructing the owners to perform the opera he had written the next evening, and left the request that Mlle. Daaé portray the lead in this opera or else unpleasant things were to occur. The Phantom's opera, Don Juan, is to be premiering at the Opera Populare this evening. Tickets to this evening's show are already sold out, and the performance has promised to be an eventful one.

The Parisian Ledger

November 26, 1870

"Performance Ends in Tragedy, Four Dead"

Last evening's performance of Don Juan ended in tragedy when the Opera Populare was set a fire and nearly burnt to the ground. The Phantom made his final appearance last evening in his own opera. Mlle. Daaé removed his mask in the midst of their duet and revealed his face to the audience. A face so grotesque has never yet been formed by the ravages of human nature. The Opera Ghost had rigged the grand chandelier to a pulley system, and it came crashing down, setting the stage a fire. In the midst of the panic to exit the opera house, four people perished. Mlle. Daaé was taken by the Opera Ghost and the Vicomte de Chagny as well as a group of stagehands pursued them. Mlle. Daaé and the Vicomte were found by the stagehands in the bowels of the Opera Populare. The Phantom's lair was discovered by the group of stagehands, but the Opera Ghost was nowhere to be found. It is assumed that he parished in the fire.

The Parisian Ledger

January 19, 1871

"Vicomte and Famous Soprano to be Married"

Nearly two months after the beginning of the fall of the Opera Populare, the Vicomte de Chagny has announced his engagement to the famous soprano, Christine Daaé. Mlle. Daaé is the only daughter of M. Gustav Daaé, the famed Swedish violinist. The Vicomte and Mlle. Daaé are to be married in June at the Vicomte's summerhouse at Rouen. We would like to give our best wishes to the couple.

The Parisian Ledger

April 4, 1874

"The Vicomte and Vicomtess Welcome Child"

The Vicomte and Victomtess de Chagny welcomed a baby boy into their family last evening. Christian Michael Renard Erik de Chagny was welcomed into this world at 8:00 in the evening. Both the mother and child are in excellent health. This is the Vicomte and the Vicomtess's first child together.

I sighed heavily, collecting all of the old newspaper clippings from where I had so haphazardly scattered them several hours before. I had wandered into the American Library in Paris early this morning for research on a simple project for my English class when a display case piqued my interest. Inside, were the books that had been written about the legendary Phantom of the Opera who supposedly haunted the Opera Populare two hundred years before. I had heard about this legend from a few close friends when I had first come to Paris. Since they were young, they had been going to the abandoned opera house and putting on shows of their own. I had never been inside the opera house and longed to go there.

A scoff sounded to my right. I looked up from the various newspaper clippings that I had clutched in my hand and into the face of my best friend, Vivianne. Viv, as I affectionately referred to her as, had an amused expression etched into her features.

"You've been busy I see." Her English was colored with a thick, French undertone. She gestured to the newspaper clippings, letting out a brief giggle.

"So, I got sidetracked. You should have never told me that story in the first place."

"It wouldn't have mattered. It's legendary here. You can't go one day without hearing it from some person on the street corner."

"I know, but I can't help that I'm interested in obscure fairy tales. There aren't exactly guys lining up at your doorstep, desperate to take me out."

Since I had arrived in Paris five months ago as a part of the Student Exchange Program at my high school in New York, I had lived with Vivianne. We had become fast friends, and I was constantly reminded that we would eventually have to go back to our lives once my time within the program was done.

"That is true, but there is one who I am sure wouldn't mind taking you out for a night." She was referring to Michael, a junior at our academy, who had his eye on me since I first started there. I saw him often, as he was Vivianne's best friend from childhood and lived in the apartment next to hers.

"How many times have I told you that he isn't my type, and that it is pointless for me to have a relationship with someone when I'm only going to be here for four more months." With that, I shoved the newspaper articles in my open messenger bag, zipping the pocket up. Viv rolled her eyes, collecting her books from a nearby chair.

"You can't complain if you don't try." I let out a brief chuckle. She was right. It was not as if I had exactly wanted and sought out a boyfriend out in the last five months that I'd been there.

"You're right," I sighed, giving in. "I either give up, or actually try." I grabbed my messenger bag, my books that had been stacked on top of the table, and headed out the front doors of the library after her.

I discovered that the sun was just setting when we emerged from the library. I glanced to my left, seeing the spire of the Opera Populare stretching into the open sky. The light of the setting sun was reflecting off of the copper structure and it gave off an almost ethereal glow.

"Viv," I began to ask.

"Yes?"

"Tomorrow, you have to take me to the Opera Populare."

Sorry if the chapter seemed rushed. I didn't have a lot of time to write it. I promise that the second chapter will be out soon, and it will be infinitely more interesting than this one. I'm sorry if my portrayal of the Parisian lifestyle was a bit off. I promise to do more research in the future. Au revior for now!