Opera Ghost

Chapter Six

The evening of the opera finally came. Daniel had begrudging accepted Box 11 which was across the auditorium from Box 5. Jess felt very much out of place among the other people gathered to see the opera. Dan and Tony had both dressed in suits and ties, the best clothes they had packed for the trip. Jess hadn't counted on attending many social events while they were here, so she only had a plain green blouse and black dress pants. The only thing that came close to dress shoes were a pair of sandals, which where now pinching her feet. As they all sat down in the box, looking through their programs, Jess debated removing her shoes when the show started and the lights went down. There were still a few minutes before the curtain came up when they arrived, so they tried to kill some time. Tony talked to Jess about the period decor enclosing them pointing at various examples. The opera to Tony was like being in a castle, totally in a different world because of its beauty.

Daniel entertained himself by looking at the masses below in the stalls, and those to his side in the balcony. From the looks of it, there didn't appear to be a bad seat in the house, or an empty one for that matter. The place was crowding with people and frantic ushers trying to get them seated before the show started. Couples, old and young and also many parents with children filled rows of seats one after another. It seemed that the opera house could fit more people into it than a sport stadium, but yet slowly it filled up to Jess' amazement. Daniel was content, he loved "people watching" as he had described it to Jessalyn once.

The lights started to dim. Jess had only being in an opera house twice in her life, not counting now. Once when her mother took her when she was only ten, and then on a date with an old boyfriend back when she was still in high school. Jess' mom was the one parent who taught her the love of the arts, but she was fonder of the ballet, so Jess had seen many of them over the years due to her mother having season tickets. She had seen "The Nutcracker" once before, and despite some people thinking the ballet as campy or just a kid show, she still enjoyed it. And Tchaikovsky was one of her favorite composers personally.

But another thing grabbed her attention. All the box seats on their side of the auditorium where they sat were full of people due to the sold out show. Across them all the boxes were also packed with as many people they could hold. Except one. A solitary grand tier box rested untouched, it's rich blood red curtains remained closed. She tried to get as good look as possible despite the low light. She was now sure that this box was the one she had seen the strange movement the day they had arrived.

So this must be Box Five, she mused. The curiosity of the empty box teased at the back of her mind through the entire first act. If indeed the box was having asbestos removal done on the inside, it wasn't being properly contained. The boxes on either side of it were full of people, a simple curtain no matter how thick could not stop the dust from spreading to them. In fact the curtain would only gather more dust and trapped inside the fabric it would be an even greater health risk. She had seen asbestos removal done in theaters and other places she worked. It was very hazardous and done under the strictest of guidelines.

Then of course the box could have already had the problem taken care of. But if it was safe enough to have other people sitting near it, why wasn't it safe to be inside it. Perhaps they had to refurnished it?

But then of course there could be no renovations at all.

The mangers stopped by their seats during the intermission, chatting about how the show was going so far. Jess stepped out into the lobby full of people trying to find a drinking fountain before she returned for the next act.

But the question of the Phantom's box stilled pulled at her mind.

The ballet ended and the amphitheater emptied quickly, but the boys were still chatting away with Ambler and Delauney, well after everyone had gone. The mangers ended up inviting them out for a drink.

"What do you say, Jess?" Dan asked. "You up for a couple?" She turned to them. While the main concept sounded agreeable, the others seemed so deep into their conversation, Jess knew she might just end up sitting alone, ignored. She shook her head.

"No but thank you. I'm kinda of tired anyway." She lied. They left and Jess wandered around the outside of the theater, examining each door, entrance and hallway around the perimeter. The old gas lamps had been now fitted with electrical lights casting a soft glow.

Until she finally found it. Box Five.

The outside seemed no different then the one they had sat in. Just a wooden door with the same gold and red sign, covered with a thin layer of dust. She brushed it aside to read what it said. "Boxe Cinq." She looked around, and there didn't seem to be any ushers or other employees about. Besides Ambler had signed laminated three by five cards for her and the rest of the group as sort of makeshift backstage passes allowing them unlimited access to the opera house. So she had clearance in case anyone caught her sneaking around. Seeing that the coast was clear, she put her hand on the door knob slowing, guessing most likely that it would be locked.

But it wasn't as she felt the knob slowly turn underneath the pressure of her hand. It creaked open and Jess held her breath just in case there was actual asbestos dust. Without turning back, she quickly stepped inside.

It looked no different inside than out. Just the same decor, plush red seats as the other boxes. She examined it, seeing no trace of any debris or dust from any kind of renovations. In fact the only dust around the area just seemed to be left over from the box never being used, from neglect. A scowl crossed over her face as she looked out from the box to the empty auditorium. It was a wonderful view of the stage indeed. With a sigh she sank back into one of the chairs. The company had lied to them about Box Five. And not very a good lie at that. She watched as the lights around the stage and the stalls clicked off one by one. She decided it would be best to leave before she was caught in the dark. Until she noticed something peculiar.

The seat next to her, the one closest to the stage was not covered in the layer of dust like the other chairs. It's stood there clean and polished. She glanced behind her at the other two chairs just to be sure than the back of her chair. Everything in the box was dusty except for that chair. She leaned over to get a closer look and saw in plain sight lying on the seat cushion a stunning red rose. It had a very long steam which was covered in some sort of black silk ribbon. The petals were fresh and blooming, they even appeared to have tiny drops of dew on them. Who could have left this here?

Perhaps this box had been reserved for someone else?

She reached down to pick it up. She hoped no one knew that it was here and didn't think anyone would mine her having it. Finders' keepers she thought, and besides it was such a pretty rose. She reached down to pick it up, trying to be careful not to touch the thorns. But the back of her hand brushed against the seat of the chair, and she jerked away pulling the flower in her grasp.

The seat was warm, as if someone had just been sitting in it. Warm like someone had just gotten up from that seat before she picked the rose. But she was alone in the box. She jumped up out of her seat in shocked. She had to be imagined things again, like the cold wind from last night. But she was really never the person to see things that weren't real or make up stories. She leaned against the wooden pillar in the back of the box, taking many long slow breaths to calm herself down. Perhaps it was this whole trip and all Daniel's talk of the Phantom that was causing her to be so jumpy. She felt like she was seeing ghosts around every corner, and she had thought herself to be a more sensible and rooted person than that.

But she couldn't have imagined everything. The rose in her hand was very real. She slowly walked back to the seat again, pressing her hand into the cushion. Still Warm in fact now it seemed even warmer. She sighed "I must be losing my mind" she whispered. In frustration she headed to the door, the lights of the theater fading dimmer with each passing second. Venting her confusion, she childishly slammed her fist on the wooden column.

It echoed back from her impact with a loud resonating hallow sound.

She paused knocked on it again. Hallow.

It was hallowed inside.

After her small adventure to Box Five, Jessalyn decided a nice shower would relax her, and settle her nerves. She stepped out of the shower, wrapped a towel around her torso and then threw her bathrobe over that. She thought going back to her room, how foolish she must have looked walking through the halls of the opera house in her bathrobe, shower basket, and flip-flops.

She went to turn the corner, when she heard a loud mumbling noise in front of her. She stopped and noticed a shadow starting to block out the light from the next hallway. It was a figure of a man, coming toward her. He came closer and Jess tried to squeeze by him, embarrassed. But he shot out a hand grabbing her forearm.

"Hey! Excuse you!" She shouted, trying to free herself, to no avail. She could see him clearer now. It was the night watchman who had almost caught her last night. She could now smell the alcohol on his breath and see clearly the lust in his eyes. He didn't speak, he just starred at her, breathing heavily. Jess' heart skipped a beat and she frantically tried to get away. But he was much stronger and pulled her closer, mumbling something in French that she couldn't make out.

Realizing she had a weapon to her advantage, she swung her shower caddy around, hitting her assailant in the eye. He screamed, letting go of her to hold his injured eye. A bottle of shampoo hit the wall and broke spilling soap on the both of them, even getting in Jess's hair and eyes. She tried to brush away the stinging pain. The man was still blocking her path to her room, so she turned around darting the in other direction.

Panting heavily as she ran, she headed into the darkness, not having any clue where she was going. Even over the obnoxious sound of her flip-flop clacking on the floor, she could tell the man was still was still hot on her trail. She ran blindly in the opposite direction until she realized what was up ahead. The lights at the end of the hallway were growing darker not brighter. Soon she would be running around in total darkness in a place she barely knew. One of her flip flops fell off her foot, and she kicked the other one off as well, thanking God that the floor still beneath her was carpet. Down deeper into the dark hallway, passing down after door. She dared not stop to try and see if they were open.

"Dan! Tony! Please somebody help me!" She cried loudly only to hear it echoing back to her. Then the darkness surrounded her and she could no longer see. She stopped running for only a moment, praying that he had lost her. Until she heard a faint click and the beam of a flashlight illuminated her. She wanted to scream, but only gasped as the light grew closer. Why was he doing this? Then she noticed she was cornered, up against something, and the distance lights was just enough to show her door handles. She threw them opened, and ran inside.

Realized she noticed she was in the chorus' green room, a spot Claudine had showed them on their tour. A set of identical staircases, each on opposite sides of the room, leading up to the stage. The floor now was hard cement and it was freezing against her feet. Her wet hair fell in front of her face, clinging to her neck and forehead and she hastily brushed it aside. Hearing her assailant coming closer outside the door, she darted up the stairs on the left side. The towel she had wrapped around herself had started to slip down, so she took it off from under her bathrobe and discarded it. It had been slowing her down. Relentlessly each bare foot pounded on the staircase, even those she tried to not make so much noise. She finally reached the back stage, and heard nothing but silence. Then she had an idea.

She made her way across the back of the stage, as quietly and quickly as possible. The other staircase that lead down back to the dressing room was on the other side of the stage. If the man followed her up the stairs onto the stage, hopefully Jess would have the chance to avoid him, and slip back down to the green room, while he searched for her.

She tiptoed back down the other staircase hearing the other man's footsteps below her. She descended the steps just enough to see him run up the other stairs after her. She smiled in relief and at her own cleverness. She would wait just a moment before running back to her room, locking the door, and calling the police. Hearing the noise diminish, she took another step down.

And then Jessalyn froze when she saw another figure, approaching the opposite stairs. He was tall, dressed all in black, with what appeared to be a large evening cloak. It covered him like a pair of black wings, flowing with each step. She stopped dead in her tracks and a small gasp escaped her breath. Then she immediately wished she hadn't, for the shadow turned to face where the sound had come from. She wasn't sure if he could actually see her, but Jessalyn felt as if his eyes were burning into her.

For the only part of his dark face she could make out were his glowing yellow eyes.

She took a step back, then another. Her heart pounded so loud against her chest, probably causing more noise than she wanted. Then Jess felt someone grab her from behind and drag her backward. Now she couldn't help but scream and kick. The man who had been following her, now had a firm grip on her arms, holding fast to the thin material of her bathrobe. In moments he had her pinned on the hard wood stage floor, crushing her with his heavy body.

"Stop! Please!" She begged, but he threw a dirty hand over her mouth. Her muffled screams were lost and she could only watch as his lustful gaze moved up and down her body. Jess fought back as best she could, but only found she had succeeded in wiggling part of her robe off.

He laughed, the scent of hard liquor pouring our form his breath. He grabbed her left breast and squeezed it hard. As the sharp pain coursed through her, tore leaked from under her eyes in shame of what was happening to her. More laughter followed as he moved closer.

Then suddenly she felt his entire weight lifted off her body. She opened her eyes in shock, but only received a hard kick in her side which caused her to roll on her side a few feet away. She hit her head against the floor and dizziness clogged her vision. Everything inside her body screamed for her to get up and run away, but her head ached so much she could a barley move it. In one last effort she turned her head to the side to see what was happening. The stage was still relatively dark, but she saw no one in sight. She could taste the blood running from her lips from where she fell and bit them.

She heard a scream that wasn't hers. The man who had tried to rape her had dropped his flashlight, and Jess watched as he was lifted up into the air. It seemed as if an invisible hand was strangling him. He struggled like a worm just placed on a fisherman's hook. The flashlight spun about on the floor as a result of it's falling, finally resting its beam on the man. And then Jess could see that the dark figure from the stairwell was holding the other man by the neck. He stood there silent as his victim squirmed in his grasp, not even showing any sign of weakness, considering he was holding the entire weight of the other man with one hand.

Something flashed in the darkness, the blade of a knife. Jess watched in horror as she saw the blade of the knife, disappeared into her attacker's chest, and rip upwards. The horrible sound of flesh tearing echoed in her ears. So terrible that she tried to cover her ears to drown out the noise of the man's deathly scream. She shut her eyes unable to watch, but then felt the vibration of the floor as the man's body was dropped to the ground.

Immediately, she heard more footsteps, moving closer and closer. Jess curled up in the fetal position as if it was the only defense she could muster. She felt more helpless tears sneak from beneath her closed eyelids. A hand grabbed her shoulders and turned her on her back. Stunned she opened her eyes, looking up.

The pair of yellow eyes stared back at her.

Then her world faded into endless night.

A/N: As you can see the rating has been pushed up to PG-13 for intense situations. It is after all a murder mystery. Again I have never been to Paris or been in Box Five. I've seen many pictures from other phans and am also basing my account on Leroux's novel (accounting for why the pillar in Box Five is hallow hint hint)

Also I've never been backstage, but I got the idea for the whole chase scene from working in the theater where I attend school. Just playing around in the stairs one day before a show and then it hit me, wow what a great place to have a chase. A twisted game of hide and go seek as it were.

Anyway, addressing the point of my...incurable grammar and spelling. I am dyslexia and have been so for the past nine years of my life. Sadly I've not had any proper treatment or tutoring, so I've been working it out myself. I'm also a self-taught writer, considering many of my teachers in grade school never taught I could do any sort of decent creative writing due to my learning disability. So I have been using spell check, and grammar check on my Word Perfect, as well as reading it over many times, even out louder. Believe me, I'm trying my best and not trying to make excuse for myself. Bear with me, as I make the best effort I can to correct all my technical errors. Thanks for the helpful reviews. Sorry for the cliffhanger and the stereotypical horror film chase scene. -Punjabchild