Chapter two

The Legend

When Christine and Meg couldn't see the shoreline anymore they headed in to their room. Madame Giry was already inside looking over musical scores and such. The girls took a seat next to each other and their butler asked if they would enjoy some tea. They both declined, Christine was already starting to get sea sick and Meg was on the verge of sea sickness. Madame Giry noticed this when she looked from her notes and gave a sigh of disgust.

"Girls, get a grip on yourselves. You know we are going to be on this ship for a while, you're just going to have to get used to it." She said taking a sip of tea.

"We know." Meg replied.

Christine looked about the room. It was far more beautiful then any room she lived in at the Opera House. She noticed that Meg looked to be thinking the same thing. Christine was about to go out for a walk around the ship when Madame Giry put her notes down and stood up.

"Girls, get ready; we are going to a dinner party tonight. I want you both to look your best." Madame Giry said.

"Yes ma'am." Meg said. The two of them walked into their respected bedrooms and got ready. Christine brushed her hair out and pulled out the necklace her father had given her before he had died. It was a simple locket and inside it had a small picture of her father and also an inscription that read 'Angel of Music come to me, I am ready to learn I am ready to sing.' It was a simple inscription but it always held a special place in Christine's heart. Before her father died he had told her he would send the Angel of Music to her. So far no Angel of any kind came and she became depressed. Her depression only lightened a short while when Madame Giry adopted her. Christine and Meg were both excited that they would be sisters. They had always treated each other like sisters and now they could say they were. She put the locket on and a pang of sadness ran through her body. She missed her father so much. There was a knock on the door followed by 'are you ready let's go!' Christine said she would be out in a minuet and she quickly put her earrings on. She left the room and the three of them made their way to supper. The room had a dull wave of noise circling the room. Meg poked Christine in the arm.

"There's Carlotta." She whispered.

Christine spotted her and let out a groan of disgust.

"I knew she'd be here but God I hate her." She whispered back.

"Oh God she's coming this way."

Carlotta walked over to the two of them. She snarled at them but put on a good face.

"Why hello you two; I don't know why they invited you. Probably for back stage business. No one would want the two of you on a stage."

Just then a mini-hanging from the ceiling chandelier fell in front of Carlotta. She gasped and fell backwards. Christine looked up and swore she could see a dark figure moving away but she thought it was just her mind playing tricks on her. Carlotta, furious, stormed out of the dinner hall. Her dress had partly caught on fire but was quickly put out before much damage could be done. There was much murmuring among everyone. Someone mentioned 'The Phantom of the Ocean'. Christine had no idea what that meant. The ships captain, Cyrus Jones, in a worried like fashion rushed over to the two girls.

"Are you two ok?" He asked.

"Yes sir we're fine. It just startled us that's all. What happened?" Christine asked.

Cyrus's expression turned from startled to nervousness. He ushered the two girls to the corner. He looked around before he spoke as if he might have thought someone could hear him.

Finally he spoke to the two of them.

"When this ship was being built some sorry teenage boy was killed in the furnaces. The young man, who already had a rough life, was born with a deformity and no one would hire him for work. I told the building managers to give him a job working on the ship. The boy was delighted, someone had actually given him something he wanted, a job, well they put him in the furnaces to clean them and he got locked in. Nobody remembered he was in there and they tested the furnaces. Some say they could hear the boy's cries of anguish throughout the ships lower decks. Everyone say's they have seen a masked man roaming the ship's halls. They say he doesn't like it when people are mean to others and make fun of them no matter what they do. Some think it was he who dropped the chandelier just now. What was La Carlotta saying to you?"

Christine blushed, "She hates us and she was saying that no one would want us on stage. Then it fell." She answered.

"I see." Cyrus said.

"Do you think it was him?" Meg asked.

"Yes I do." Cyrus said. "If you'll excuse me I need to head back up to the bridge."

With that he left the two girls.

"Great, so the ships haunted." Meg mused.

Christine didn't say anything.

If there indeed is a Phantom aboard this ship why was he listing to Carlotta talk to the two of them? Christine thought.

Meg shook Christine. "Are you ok?" She asked.

"Yes I'm fine."

Meg looked at the clock. It read 2330h.

"I think it's time we go to bed." Meg said pulling Christine with her.

As the two of them exited a young and youthful man named Raoul Le Vicomte De Chagny walked in with his brother, Le Comte De Chagny. The two of them passed by Christine and Meg and Raoul didn't so much as look at her.