Thanks to pinkpunkmonkey and TerpintineMind for the wonderful reviews! This chapter is dedicated to both of you. I will be mentioning Erik's name which is the only part of this story that will be "based" on the book. I will hopefully have the third chapter up soon! Please review as always!

The Opera Populare was at the height of its grandeur in the daylight. Thin rays of sunlight shone through the dust-coated windows, reflecting off the marbled floors. There were large chips in the carve staircases that loomed before me, but this did not take away from their beautiful detail. Large marbled columns and small balconies seemed to emerge from every corner. A Victorian style gas lamp planted at the bottom of the grand staircase was the room's only illumination.

I gasped, taking in the majestic detail of the room.

"Morela?" Viv called out form the entryway behind me. "Are you all right?"

A long silence followed as I registered what she had asked me.

"Yeah, fine. I'm fine," I said over my shoulder. Turning, I saw that she had come up behind me.

"Isn't it great?" She asked, searching my face for some indication of what I was feeling.

"Why have you been hiding this from me? It's more beautiful than I would have imagined! I don't know how you could stand to keep a secret like this!" Viv let out a loud giggle that reverberated off of the walls of the foyer.

"I haven't shown you the best part yet." My eyebrows shot up. She started up the staircase, beckoning me to follow her. Where the staircase had been divided into two separate paths, Viv led me up the smaller, right staircase. At the top of the stairs was a pair of ornately carved chestnut doors that were barred shut. I traced the path of the loops and curves in the door with my fingers.

Viv approached the door and lifted the bar with ease. A loud creak emanated from the door as she attempted to pry it open. Slowly, the door swung toward us, a cloud of dust collecting above our heads. I let out a brief cough, reaching for the flashlight that had been in my grasp since I entered the opera house. Viv turned on her flashlight beside me, the beam illuminating only a fraction of the vast room that lie behind the door.

Clicking on my flashlight, I directed the beam to the area in front of me, revealing a row of antique theatre seats. I forced the door open even more, stepping into the aisle of the vast theatre. A cool rush of air followed by a faint musty smell assaulted my senses. I directed the beam of the flashlight to the area directly ahead of me, illuminating the stage area. Since the events of that faithful night, the stage had been restored to its previous condition for use in the 1950s. After poor revenue had forced the opera house to close for the final time in the late 1960s, the theatre had been left untouched save for a few curious teenagers who often explored the opera house for any remnants of the supposed Phantom that once resided there. I knew this from Viv's detailed accounts of her various adventures with several friends that were intrigued by the Opera Populare. Viv's family had also owned the opera house before it closed its doors for the final time, and often told elaborate tales of the appearance of the Opera Ghost.

"Morela," Viv whispered harshly, startling me from my thoughts. I turned toward her. "There's a switch box over by the far wall. I'm going to turn the lights on so you can see the theatre in its true beauty." I smiled, almost ecstatic to see the famous chandelier that had played such a large role in that equally famous evening.

Viv's footsteps reverberated off of the walls of the theatre as she moved away from me. Silently, I wandered in the opposite direction, admiring the elaborate detail of the marble walls. Vibrant colored paintings of angelic beings and playing children decorated the theatre's walls. I stared at the striking detail in awe, wondering briefly if this was how Christine had felt when she had first come to this opera house. Absentmindedly, I thought back to the words that Christine had used to invoke the Phantom. I had first read them not three days ago, and felt a strange, sudden desire to sing them aloud.

"Angel of music guide and guardian, enter in your glory.

Angel of music hide no longer, come to me strange angel!"

I stopped suddenly, hearing the last of my words die away. Listening carefully, I could no longer hear Viv's footsteps, but the wind that whistled faintly through the room.

"Angel of music guide and guardian, enter in your glory.

Angel of music hide no longer, come to me str-"

A bloodcurdling scream echoed throughout the theatre. My head snapped in the direction that Viv had wandered. Another scream reverberated off of the walls of the theatre before I began running frantically through the aisles. Reaching the left side of the theatre, I searched the area for any remnant of my friend. I discovered her flashlight broken into several pieces with the batteries spilling out. I began to lean down, intent on picking up the flashlight when a faint rustling sounded from behind. Slowly, I stood up and turned, allowing the beam of the flashlight to illuminate the area directly ahead of me. I was not at all prepared for what I saw. There, stood Viv, a rope knotted loosely around her neck, trembling with fear. At the end of the rope was a man clothed entirely in black, a cape draped about his shoulders. Only half of his face was visible to me until he turned slightly, cocking his head as if to ask a question. Half of a smooth, white mask covered the other portion of his face. His booming voice cut through the soundlessness, forcing me to jump backward slightly.

"Were YOU the one who called me?"