Author's Note: Only one review. (glares at readers)
Reviewers:
Courtney: "Finish the story?" I'm only on the fourth chapter for Heaven's sake! Lol. See you when I sleep over tonight.
Disclaimer: Read the first chapter. I'm too lazy to put it up again (grins)
History Repeats Itself
Chapter 3
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The doorbell rang through the house. Kennedy flinched, unwilling to interact with anyone at the moment. But he quickly he put the cap on the bottle of gel, put his therapeutic mask back on, and walked toward the door. He looked through the peephole in the whitewashed door, and sighed in relief. It was just Celia, a close adult friend of his that he knew from the community theater. He opened the door.
"Hi Celia," he said. "Sorry it took so long. I was…" He gestured obscurely toward his mask. "You know, applying medicine."
Celia was standing on the stoop of Ken's apartment that he shared with his mother. She looked calm and genuinely happy to see him.
That's alright Ken, Celia signed to him. It wasn't that long.
Even though he knew a lot of sign language, Ken tended to slip into speech when he was around Celia. He knew that the only reason she could understand him when he spoke is she knew how to lip read extremely well. But sometimes her replies, along with her expressions, made him think for a split second that she could hear him.
I need to take you and Tassy Williams to your acting and singing teacher, she signed.
"What?"
You need training for the play.
"You mean I got the Phantom spot?" he asked, signing at the same time. A rare, genuine smile spread across his disfigured face.
Yes, she told him. And Tassy got the part of Meg Giry.
"She was pretty good at the singing part, wasn't she?" Ken said, though he was secretly joyful that Kari got the part. From what he saw of the movie, Kari looked almost exactly like Christine. Not to say that Tassy was ugly or anything, but she just didn't have that kind of beauty. She was a little too curvy and solid-built to portray a feminine, willowy character like Christine.
Come with me. We need to pick up Tassy. Is your mother at home? Celia signed.
"No, but I'll leave a note," Ken said, signing absent-mindedly, half turning to go back inside. "How long will we be there?"
About an hour or so, Celia told him. You're just going to get acquainted with him.
"Alright. I'll be right back," he said, going inside as Celia waited patiently. He quickly scribbled on a sheet of printing paper and hung it on the fridge.
Since Tassy's small house was only a few blocks from Kennedy's apartment complex they walked. Ken knocked on the door of the small brick house sandwiched between many other brick houses, with only a few feet to separate them. There was a lot of yelling, obviously belonging to the mouths of a fair amount of children.
"I got it!" one voice bellowed above the rest. Ken recognized it as Tassy's demanding tone. Moment's later, the door opened to reveal a slightly disheveled Tassy trying to push away two curious toddlers. When she spotted the two on the steps, she quickly skirted out the door and closed it behind her. She was wearing another punkish tee, this time a grayish-green Green Day tank that revealed a tattoo of a black sun symbol on her right arm, and a ratty pair of dark blue jeans. She still wore the heavy eyeliner and black bracelet. She also wore a matching chocker. She took out the tie of her slightly askew ponytail and put it back up swiftly.
"Sorry about that," she apologized breathlessly, looking annoyed. "Having five other kids sharing a minus-thousand-square-foot house with you is a nightmare. So…" She put her hands on her hips. "What can I do for you?"
"Um, Celia came to my house to tell me that I got the part of the Phantom, and you got the part of Meg Giry," Ken told her in his soft, smooth voice, signing so he could be sure Celia knew what they're were talking about. "We're going to meet our acting and singing coach today, I guess."
"Meg Giry?" Tassy's hands slipped from her hips and started to bite the middle joint of her middle finger a sign to those that knew her well that she was extremely disappointed. "Well, that is a pretty good part right?" Her voice hinted of self-mocking. "So…who got the part of Christine?" she asked slowly, trying to sound casual. But her tone indicated that she knew the answer.
Kari Metherland.
"Kari did."
Tassy's arms crossed.
"Well, she does have a striking resemblance to Christine, doesn't she?" Tassy said, struggling to keep her voice casual.
Ken was about to say that he thought the same thing, but kept the comment to himself, seeing that Tassy was very disappointed that she didn't get the part she wanted. Celia cut in anyway.
Can you come now, or are you too busy? Celia signed to Tassy. Since Tassy didn't know a lot of sign language she looked to Ken for interpretation.
"She asked if you could come with us now or are you too busy?" Ken told her.
"Uh…sure, Caroline can take care of the mob…" she turned toward the house. "I'M GOING OUT EVERYONE!" she yelled in an extremely loud voice. "I'LL BE BACK IN…" She turned to Kennedy. "About how long?"
"An hour at most," he said, glancing at Celia.
"Okay. I'LL BE BACK IN ABOUT AN HOUR! CAROLINE IS IN CHARGE!" Tassy then turned to descend the steps toward them. "Let's go before Caroline comes out and tries to stop me from going."
The three of them walked leisurely to the community theatre, or the Christine Opera House, as most visitors of the district and maps would call it. Celia quickly led them up the stairs to the front door, where there were some fliers in a plastic box hanging beside it. Above the box was a taped up piece of paper with the names of those who got a part in the musical; Kari as Christine and Kennedy as Erik were at the bottom. Mrs. Harrison obviously found joy in seeing unbearable anticipation. When Ken saw that Derrick was Raoul, however, he bitterly thought that it fit. Derrick was the definition of pretty boy, and he too had a crush of Kari. Mrs. Harrison had a twisted sense of humor…he thought as Celia handed a slip of paper from the box each to Tassy and Ken, and took one for herself.
Ken quickly skimmed over the piece of paper. It was a schedule of rehearsal times;
Phantom of the Opera Rehearsal Dates
Monday, June 13th
First Rehearsal 2-4 pm
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays
Group Rehearsal 2-5 pm
Mondays and Fridays
Stage Hands 5-7
(dinner included)
August 11th and 12th
Dress Rehearsals 2-7 pm
(dinner included)
August 13th
Arrive at 4 pm; performance at 7 pm
For some reason, however, after Ken slipped the rehearsal dates into her pocket, Celia led them to the very back of the large building, where other buildings came to meet at a narrow alley. There, at the very end of the alley, was a narrow staircase that looked like it headed underground. Tassy and Ken stopped, and Tassy backed off.
"Where are we going?" Tassy asked Celia. What she really wanted to say was; What were they doing, going into the sewers? What did that have to do with meeting their tutor? What was he, or she, some sort of dark, Wiccan recluse?
Celia's face looked calm as she signed for a few seconds as Ken interpreted.
"She says…that our tutor desires his privacy," he said, sounding as nervous and uncertain of their "tutor" as Tassy was. "And that he may seem a little harsh, but he holds the both of us in high regard." He paused. "I guess we should go down. Are you coming?" Tassy was silent for a minute.
"Alright, I'll go down," Tassy said, still doubtful. But only because I trust your judgment and that you trust Celia, she thought to herself. So the two teens followed Celia down the small, steep steps, with only the light of the late morning sun to illuminate the bottom. Then they walked through the long, shadowy, stone hallways, their only light source coming from the torches that hung on the walls. Tassy and Ken were both unnerved by the dungeon-like appearance of the long corridors.
When they finally reached a dark wooden door, they heard a haunting melody coming from the room inside; a deep, dark voice singing with an accompaniment of some sort of piano organ. Celia opened the door, revealing a large chamber. Tassy caught her breath in recognition and amazement. She had seen the movie Phantom of the Opera, and this beautifully mysterious room was hauntingly similar of the underground lair in the film.
As the stranger, sitting at a piano dressed in a long, old-fashioned black cape and black pants, sang and played passionately, pouring all his emotion into the music, he did not notice the three of them entering silently into the room. Tassy and Ken both were spellbound as they listened and watched him mutely as his hands drifted along the organ, the music pouring like magic from underneath nimble fingers. As he ended in a thrilling crescendo, Celia motioned for the other two to come closer. It took a second for the two of them to shake off the stupor that this enchanting music cast upon them.
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Very good, Erik, Celia told him, her voice hinting of sarcasm. Erik kept his hands down at the fermata of the end of a song he heard of as a child as he listened to her. You've entranced your students with you beautiful music once more. Turn around slowly. We don't want to frighten them too much.
Erik obeyed, and with his heart racing with excitement and fear of how they would react, he ended the song and turned around on his seat. He forced an expression of cold, mild curiosity on his face as he did so.
He was right that Kennedy was one of his students. The other was not so much as surprise as disappointment; Tacita Williams. He had hoped it would be Kari. But even so, her reaction to Erik was almost theatric.
"Who is the freak dressed up in a Phantom of the Opera costume? I'm sorry, but that's just creepy!" The mention of 'freak' touched a nerve as it did every time Erik was insulted in that form.
Steady, Celia warned him.
Celia replied to Tassy's question with some weird motions, her hands moving rapidly around her face and midsection, but talked to Erik as she did so.
I'm doing sign language, she told him, her eyes staying on Tassy the whole time, however. Ken will interpret for Tassy. Listen to him.
"She says that it is important for us to keep an open mind because he will be our tutor," Ken said in his smooth, low voice, his eyes moving from Celia's hands to Erik's face. He looked tentative of what to make of the mysterious-looking stranger in this underground cavern, and for a second, he raised his hand and brushed his own plastic mask on his face.
"Okay, so what is this guy's name?" Tassy asked bluntly.
Erik stood up, conscious of his long cape slithering intriguingly behind him off the seat.
"My name is of no importance of the moment," he said in a sensuous, aristocratic voice. "Welcome to my…would I dare to call it a home? More like a prison…" He laughed softly, looking coldly at his surroundings. Tassy and Ken looked hesitant and somewhat alarmed.
"Jesus!" Tassy exclaimed. Celia noticeably flinched at the comment. "This is just too disturbing; a guy that looks like the Phantom, acts like the Phantom, sings like the Phantom, and has the same name as the Phantom? The only question now is...are you an escapee from an insane asylum or something?" She locked eyes with Erik.
So much for keeping them from getting intimidated, she said, sounding annoyed. They think you're an insane hermit now.
You have your procedures, and I have mine, Erik replied, a little more sharply then he wanted. Celia clasped her hands together in front of her, a petty gesture to Tassy and Ken, but a warning indication to him. She did say silent, however.
"You, Kennedy, am I right?" Erik asked suddenly, pointing at the nervous young man. He nodded. Erik motioned for him to come closer. The boy hesitated, and then walked just up to the foot of the steps. Erik walked toward him, paused, and then started circling Ken, examining him. He could tell that the teen was uncomfortable with his presence.
"How old are you, boy?" he asked sharply.
"Seventeen," he replied softly. Erik considered that for a moment.
"How did you get your…deformity?" He asked the sensitive question so bluntly that Ken was speechless for a minute.
"I…I was born with it, sir," Ken stuttered, apparently struggling to keep eye contact with Erik's cold eyes. But as he did, Ken saw a sort of empathy fleetingly pass over his cool, demure expression, but it was gone before he could consider it. Erik was silent for a few more seconds.
"Have you had any previous vocal training?" he asked.
"No, sir."
"None at all?"
"No."
Erik sighed. "I suppose you don't either, Miss Williams?" he asked Tassy sharply. She looked startled when he addressed her, but quickly fixed him with a surly stare.
"Actually, I have," she said coolly. "I was in my school choir for two years in junior high."
"And how old are you at the moment?"
"I'm also seventeen."
He walked up to her where she stood with her arms crossed defiantly. He also started to examine her, appalled by her obviously boyish appearance, and the design on her arm that he had seen on exotic men while he traveled in with those accursed gypsies completely damaged any other highlights of her features in his eyes.
"I'm not a show dog, you know," she told him off hotly. Erik glared at her with his stone-like blue eyes.
"And I'm not insane," he said tersely. "Not completely, anyway…" he added in an undertone as he turned away from her and took a few steps back. To have a full view of both his students.
"Now, I'll assume that you, Kennedy, got the part of the Phantom?"
"Yes, sir," he replied. Erik just nodded.
"And you, Tacita, got the part of…?"
"First of all, it's Tassy," she cut in sharply. She hated being called by her whole name. "And I got the part of Meg Giry." Erik's heart leaped in triumph. That meant that Kari certainly got the part of his beloved Christine!
Just then, Celia cut in.
I think you should try to organize a rehearsal plan now, she told him.
"As you both know," he said in an authoritative voice. "I will be instructing you how to sing. Moreover, I will teach you how to actually make music. What I saw yesterday was just two young children singing some memorized notes. But…" he took a step closer. "We need to find times for you to come to me to improve even in the slightest." He paused.
Reach inside your vest.
What? Erik asked.
Just do it.
He obeyed, and as he did, he felt a slip of paper and pulled it out. It was a list of rehearsal times for Phantom of the Opera. He quickly pushed aside the wonder of how it got in his blood-red and black tailored vest and smoothly made up a practice regimen within a few seconds.
"You are to both meet with me on Wednesdays and Saturdays at eight o'clock to ten at night," he told them. "Mademoiselle Williams, you'll see me on Mondays and Fridays from seven at night to whenever we are finished…"
"I can't come on Fridays. I work at Magic Cinemas from seven to midnight."
Erik let out a frustrated sigh.
"Then come on Sundays at the same time," he said, with his teeth gritted. She's going to be worth her weight in trouble, he thought. "Monsieur Johnson, you will meet me on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the same times as Mademoiselle Williams. Are we clear?"
The two nodded.
"Then you may leave. Miss Williams, I'll see you tonight." He then turned on his heel and sat once again on at his organ, and started to play the first part of Angel of Music.
Come, Celia signed. Ken gently took Tassy's arm and headed her toward the door.
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"That guy was really weird," Tassy said, her eyes furrowing. The three of them were just entering the outside world, where the hot June sun nearly blinded them. "I mean, is he Phantom of the Opera obsessed or what?" She looked at Celia. Celia replied with a few moments of sign language as Ken translated.
"She says that there have been some situations in his life that draws him to relate to the Phantom of the Opera," Ken told her.
"Relate?" she said incredulously. "He's frickin' living under the community center in a cavern in an exact replica of the Phantom's lair!"
"I know he's a little out there, Tass," Ken replied. "But he does sing really well."
"Yeah," Tassy admitted. God, what I would give for him to say that about me…
When they got in sight of the front of the Opera House, they saw a huge mob of people at the door at the proximity of the list of those in cast. Tassy immediately spotted Kari and her tight little group of friends congratulating her. She gritted her teeth ferociously.
"I'll go home by myself. Bye Ken…Celia." She then quickly walked off, not wanting Kari to come over to her and congratulate her on getting a part in the play, that she had a beautiful singing voice, shoot that dazzling smile at Ken, blah, blah, blah.
So she walked home by herself, softly singing "Georgia on My Mind" by Ray Charles; one of her favorite singers of all time.
"Tacita Grace Williams!" a gum-slurred voice yelled at her as she walked though her front door. A gangly, blond 14-year-old came stomping toward Tassy, her eyes flashing. "Where have you been!"
"I went to the community center, Caroline, so chill," Tassy told her off-handedly.
"Chill? CHILL!" Caroline screeched. "Kimmy just threw up all over the kitchen a few minutes ago! And you are going to clean it up!" she finished as she stalked off to the bathroom. The bathroom was the only room in the house that you could be alone in.
"Yep. She's PMSing," Tassy muttered as she entered the kitchen to face the horror that was placed upon her.
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Author's Closing Note: REVIEW, PEOPLE! (ahem) Please?