Echoes of the Opera

By Good Lady Grace

I forgot to mention this in the last chapter. The whole thing about Erik raping and killing Christine and Erik and Adelaide being selfish is just was Foppy thinks. Just thought you'd wanna know. Still don't own Phantom.

Chapter Four

The First Task

Roger Facet wandered through the Opera Populaire. Most of the people were already leaving or turning in for bed. He couldn't stand one more second with all the other stagehands drunk as they were.

He had just rounded a corner when he heard a voice. "Roger!" said the voice in a sharp whisper. Roger whipped around and saw Adelaide poking her head out from behind a statue. She motioned for him to follow her. He glanced up and down the hallway briefly before slipping into the passage way along with his friend.

When they entered the dim light of The Sanctuary, Roger spoke. "What is going on?" he asked, completely confused and somewhat worried. Adelaide and her father never came up for him and his mother unless they were in trouble. "Something…something bad has happened to Papa" said Adelaide. It was then that Roger noticed that his friend's eyes were red from crying. "What happened?" he asked, frightened now.

Slowly, Adelaide led Roger into her father's room. Roger took one look at the motionless figure on the bed and let out a strangled cry. "What the Devil…!" he began. "Hush!" said Adelaide. She handed Roger the note from Raoul. He read over it once and looked up, his face white. "He's mad!" he said finally finding his voice, "Completely out of his mind!". "I know" said Adelaide quietly, "but the fact remains that Papa will die in one week if I don't do as Raoul says".

Roger ran his fingers through his golden hair, flabbergasted. "I need your help, Roger" said Adelaide. Roger looked up. "I can't do this alone" she said, "I need you and your mother to help me". Roger nodded. "Of course will help you, Ange" he said, using his nickname for her. She smiled, but still a tear made its way down her face. "I…I don't want P-Papa to die" she sobbed suddenly. Roger put his arms around her. Adelaide cried for a very long time, but Roger just let her.

Finally, Adelaide straightened up and wiped her eyes. "You'd better go tell your mother" she said. Roger nodded and made his way out of The Sanctuary. "Roger!" Adelaide called. Roger turned to face her. "Merci" said Adelaide, smiling. Roger smiled back at her and left.

Meg did not take the news well. "That pig!" she shrieked in anger, "thinking that Erik had hurt Christine in anyway. Ha! If anyone's the monster, it's that bastard!". "Mother!" said Roger. Meg turned to face her son. "Mother, you're making enough noise to wake a deaf man" he said, smiling slightly, "if you're going to rant, keep your voice down". Meg frowned and turned back to the window. "I wonder what he's got in store for poor Adelaide" she said quietly.

As if in answer to the question, Adelaide came dashing into the room. "Meg! Roger!" she said breathlessly, looking frightened. "What?" they asked, worried. "I woke up with this note on my bed! It's the first task I have to complete!" said Adelaide, waving a piece of parchment in front of her friends. It read:

Dearest Adelaide,
As promised, here is your first task. You are to watch the performance of Miserere tomorrow from box five.
Your ever obedient servant,
Raoul de Chagny

Meg's face mirrored Adelaide's horrified expression. Roger was completely lost. "What is so bad about that?" he asked. "Oh, Roger, don't be so dense!" said Adelaide, raising her eyes to the heavens. "If I watch the performance from Box 5, it has to be reserved for me. For it to be reserved for me, I need to be important or…" she trailed off. "Send a note as her father" finished Meg quietly. Roger's eyes widened.

"It's preposterous!" said Adelaide angrily. "Adelaide, you must do it if you want to save your father" said Meg. "But if I do, they could find us!" said Adelaide, waving her arms frantically above her head. "The entrance to The Sanctuary isn't through the dressing room anymore. That's the only one they new of" said Meg firmly.
"But…"
"Do you want to save your father or not?" said Roger loudly.

That night, a note appeared on Andre's desk.

Gentlemen,
It has been quite some time since I have written, has it not? I send my fondest greetings to both of you. I hear that you are performing Miserere tomorrow night. I am interested in how this performance will turn out with your new star, Isabel, although I must say she is no better then Carlotta. I shall watch the performance in Box 5. I trust you will show courtesy and leave it empty for me.
I remain your obedient friend,
O.G.

More French. Ange means angel
Your obedient phriend,
Good Lady Grace