"Great! Wonderful! We just bought this opera house and it is already falling apart!" exclaimed Firmin, throwing his arms up in exasperation… and inadvertently catching a piece of paper. "What's this?" He flipped it over and read it.

My dear new managers,

I welcome you to my Opera House.

I hope your welcome was…welcoming.

Just a few reminders before you start.

Box Five is to remain empty for my use

during all first performances, my salary is to be paid promptly,

and do something with Carlotta, my ears curl just listening to her.

I remain, yours obedient,

O.G.

"His Opera House? His? Who the hell is O.G.?" Firmin roared. He rounded on Lefevre who was looking nervous and ready to leave.

"The Opera Ghost." yelled someone from the cast.

"A ghost? You must be joking! I remember nothing in the contract about any ghosts! What say you on this, Andre?"

Andre was bewildered. "A ghost." he said, looking slightly pale, "We bought an opera house complimented with an Opera Ghost." His hand shot up to his forehead and he raked his fingers through his hair.

"Oh, come, Andre. You seriously believe this nonsense!"

"It must be a joke some one in the cast decided to play." Lefevre supplied helpfully, intent on steering the subject away from the Ghost. "Well, gentlemen, I will leave you to it. If you need me, well…Mme Giry knows her way around the place. So long, and good luck."

And that was that. With those last words, M. Lefevre was gone. The stage went silent.

"Oh, look, there is a P.S." Andre said, unaware of the quiet, as he pointed to the bottom of the note. "'P.S.: I suggest you put Ms. Daae in the role of Elissa. I assure you, she is quite good.' Ms. Daae?"

Whispers ran throughout the cast and all eyes turned to Christine who tried, and failed, to look as inconspicuous as possible.

"Isn't there a back up for the main role? …Aside from a chorus girl?" Firmin wailed, thoroughly annoyed with the whole situation.

"No, I'm afraid not. This is a new production and we have had no time to train understudies." replied M. Reyer.

"Good grief!" Firmin felt like collapsing on the spot. "Well, I suppose we've got no other choice. Let's see what you've got, Ms. Daae."

Christine hesitated. She had been waiting for this all her life, and now that the offer was presented she was afraid to take it.

"Oh, go on, Christine. Your voice is beautiful." Meg nudged.

"Have you had any training, my girl?" Andre asked as kindly as he could, his own nerves on the verge of collapsing. Christine nodded. "Well? Can you sing something for us? Perhaps that part from Act Three, what Carlotta was singing?" He nodded towards M. Reyer to play.

"Three bars?"

"That will suffice."

The music began to play and Christine sang, pouring her entire being into the song.

Think of me,

Think of me fondly

When we've said good bye.

"Andre, this is doing nothing for my nerves."

"Come, my dear Firmin, you must admit she is good."

Remember me

Once in a while

Please promise me

You'll try

When you find

That once again you long

To take your heart back

And be free

If you ever find a moment

Spare a thought

For me

"Whoever this O.G. person is, he certainly has good taste in voice." Andre whispered to Firmin who nodded in reply.

Deep down below, that O.G. person smiled in triumph. She wasn't perfect, but she was ready.

A/N: I'm going to try for some humor here. Comic relief:

Le Fantome de le Parodie

"Oh, look, there is a P.S." Andre said, grinning from ear to ear at being so observant. "'P.S.: A friendly reminder, keep your hand at the level of your eyes!>:) AHAHAHAHAHA! Yours truly, O.G.'"

"Your hand at the level of your eyes?" Firmin asked, "And what the devil does that supposed to mean?"

At that moment, a dark figure strolled onto the stage and walked over to Firmin.

"Like this." it said, demonstrating by raising its hand to the lever of its eyes; well, to the level of what supposed to be eyes, a white mask, actually. "It prevents, shall we say, accidents."

"Oh, ok. Thanks."

Well, tell me what you think!