Chapter One

Four years later.

For such a cluttered office, everything appeared shockingly dust free. The book shelves, and the countless books on them, looked like each one has been picked up and used everyday. The movie poster and maps appeared dusted with great care, so that nothing clouded their glass frames. The desk every though stacked with countless piles of paper, mostly stuffed into manila folders, still were looked clean and fresh, and if their owner valued them more than gold. The expensive Dell computer even had custom made dust covers for the keyboard and monitor. For the small cramped office, no bigger than a janitor's closet, on the 4th floor of the Webber Hall, History wing, it gave the impression of a pack rat, with a sense of cleanliness. Everything free of dust.

Except for the phone. Which sat in the corner, almost close to being covered in cobwebs. Out of all the odd features in Daniel Payne's office, the unused phone remain the greatestoddity of them all. But Dan hated phones. He was convinced that email was a much better form of communication anyway. So when the phone suddenly ran one afternoon while he was busy doing some research, it surprised him. No one called this extension, and he was sure hardly anyone knew this phone line existed. He scrambled across his desk, knocking over papers in attempt to answer before the party calling him hung up.

"Uh Hello, history department. Daniel Payne's office." Being the top of his class, as well as being a professor's aid, he had the honor of having his own private office, where he could keep all his books and findings he had gather during his past four years Wellion University. It also meant that he was one of the top candidates for the highest opportunity and honor rewards by the department and even the whole school. Every year, the college chose a history or archeology student and a team of researchers to study abroad, working on whatever subject of history they choose. The program had yielded fine results over the years, students' studies published into best selling books, artifacts brought from Asia, Africa and Europe added to museum collections. And the best part was, the team leader had total control over the expedition. Daniel glanced up at the poster of the Opera Garnier in Paris, twisting the cord of the phone waiting from an answer from the other end.

"Yes Mr. Payne this Dean Richards. Sorry did I catch you at a bad time" Came an older man's voice from the other end. Dean Richards! Dan had to restraint himself from gasping out loud. Richards was the Dean of Academics, this was an important call.

"Not at all sir. May I help you?"

"Actually I was calling to help you out son. I understand that you applied for the history expedition to study abroad. Well the board and I have finished reviewing all the applicants and we have decided to give this years grant money and reward to you." Dan could feel the sweat gather on his hand and the phone slip from it. But he tried to keep clam even though his heart was racing.

"Oh God thank you sir. You don't know how much this means to me."

"Alright son take it easy. So are you ready to go to Paris and proof that this Phantom of yours is real."

Already Daniel was starting to clutch his books, papers and the journal he had made notes on all his finding in, and tried to stuff them in his bag. "Of course, I mean I've been working on this study since my freshman year, but there's only so much you can learn from articles and books. Some real field work is just what I need. Hopefully I can get my study published after that."

"We are counting on that Payne. Now I also have to inform you that you are allowed to take crew members on this trip, and the board and I have decided that two extra people to help out should be enough." the Dean stated.

"Good decision sir."

"So choose wisely."

Daniel's face lit up with a smile. "Understood sir, and I know just the first person to ask."

The theater building had to be the largest one on campus. Walking into the empty auditorium, Daniel felt very small. But he always had that same feeling when he came, whether it was only a few actors on stage rehearsing, or before a packed house. It seemed only the theater students felt comfortable in this place, and regarded it like their church. He walked up onto the stage, seeing no one around and only hearing only the dull roar from power tools in the scene shop. He decided to look in there, until he heard a large bang above his head. Turning his attention he tilted his head up to look at the grid.

The "Grid" was just that, a large metal catwalk made of cris-crossing steel bars that resembled the pattern of a grid. It loomed high above the stage about a good sixty foot drop to the ground. He saw there above his head a shadowy figure moving across the catwalks. He cupped his hands over his mouth, calling. "Hey get down here! I got some great news." The figure acknowledged his call and made it's way across the grid, with quick movements like a cat until it reached the corner were the long ladder, the only passage down, opening was before it. But before descending down the ladder, the figure paused directing its shady gaze towards Daniel and pointed to it's wrist.

Daniel knew exactly what that meant and he looked down at his own watch, waited for the second hand to reach 12 and then gave a thumb up towards the ceiling.

Down the figure climbed, almost leaping from rung to rung, the footstep echoing and clanging loudly. The flight down the ladder was produced which such speed that it could give a new meaning to the phrase "bat out of hell". Skipping the last couple steps out the hundred they had just descended, the figure dropped down to the ground with a loud thud.

"32 seconds." Daniel said. The figure emerged from the shadows into the light. Jessalyn was still dressed in her trademark work clothes of overalls, shirt and baseball cap, but she stilled managed to great him with a warm charming smile.

"Not bad. So what did you drag me down here for. It had better be good." She said.

Daniel rolled his shoulders. "Didn't I say it was great news?" She moved closer to him.

"Well then out with it."

Daniel paused trying to keep his friend suspense for just a moment longer. "Okay, Richards and the board choose my project to lead this year's expedition. We're going to Paris!" he exclaimed.

Jess gave a small giggle of delight and threw her arms around in him."Oh Daniel that's great. I'm so happy for you." she said delighted. Then she paused taking a step back from their embrace. "Wait did you say we?"

He took her hands in his. "I did. Come with me to Paris, Jess. I want you on my team." She looked shocked, and that look gave him a sense of dread that she wouldn't accept his offer.

"Oh I don't know Dan. You've been working on this for years, I don't want to blow it for you. I mean I'm no archaeologist or anything. I'd just be in the way."

He gestured with wide arms around the both of them. "But who here knows more about theater than you, back stage and on stage." He saw her blush at his compliment. "I need some one who is familiar with theater, to show us around. Some one who knows the ropes. You."

"You really think that?"

"Yes" He said trying to make his voice even more sincere. "I mean everything I say. Please Jess, you and I both love the Phantom story. It's what got us into to our filed our careers. I wouldn't know what to do how to feel if you didn't come on this trip with me."

"Yes that's true." She turned away, looking out upon the empty theater. So empty you could almost hear their breathing echoing off the walls. She crossed her arms as if she were holding herself, like she would fall off the edge of the stage.

Jess had been one of his best friends ever since he came here. She put up with his rambling, long night studying, and Phantom movie marathons while most of his other friends brushed him off. She didn't think he was crazy, or just a book-worm. She had stuck by him and believed him, even when professors and peers tole him he was wrong and just wasting his time. He had meant everything he had said to her over the years and couldn't recall when he had ever been so honest with a person like her before. He didn't know what he would do if Jess wouldn't go help him on the expedition. In a way, he wanted her by his side, now at the biggest moment of his life.

"Jess?"

She turned around looking at him. "I'll have to think about it."