Chapter 3: The Phantom of the Opera
The theatre became quiet as the ballet troop finished their rehearsal. The giggling young ladies left in a large group and headed away to their dormitories and then they would be taking the rest of the day to be out in the sunshine of the lovely summer day. Madame Giry sat alone in the front row of seats and watched as everything was moved into their proper places of storage. The pit band was also leaving and Monsieur Reyer, the conductor, was also on his way. He smiled at Mme. Giry, who looked very distressed as she sat alone in silence. She forced a smile back, it was a tired and afraid smile. It worried the conductor enough that he took a seat next to the old woman.
"There is trouble in your eyes this afternoon," he said kindly.
"There are many secrets in the place," was her answer, "more than most would have in a life time. It is exhausting."
"You don't have to do anything that you don't feel comfortable with," he said to her as he heard some of his musicians coming near.
"This is something I have to start if not to end it," she said as she smiled again and watched as Monsieur Andre and Monsieur Firmin also entered the theatre.
"Ah monsieur Reyer, will the ballet be ready to open next week?" Monsieur Firmin asked with a smile as Monsieur Andre slipped the note into Madame Giry's hand.
"Of course it will be ready," Reyer said with a confused look on his face, "why wouldn't it be?"
"No reason it shouldn't," Firmin smiled, "just wanted to hear some good news today."
"I am sure it will be a wonderful ballet," Andre smiled and he and Firmin turned and left the theatre again.
"They are acting incredibly strange," Reyer said to Madame Giry as he too turned and walked out of the theatre.
"You have no idea how strange things are going to get," She sighed to herself and looked at the envelope now in her hands.
Madame Giry was a proud woman. She never presented herself in any other way. She was always tall and stern and well dressed. Her hair was always neatly pinned and her clothing was always proper and pressed. She always wore a very blank look on her face and was strict with her dancers. She wasn't one to give false praises but if the dance was going well she gave praise where praise was due. And for all this she was one of the most respected people to set foot in the theatre. It was an unspoken respect that everyone showed to her and they believed her to be the smartest and the wisest to of all the employees. She treated many of her young ballerinas as her own children. She scolded them when they misbehaved but she was the first to care for them if anything was wrong and she spent many of her nights at the bedsides of her girls if they were ill. Her daughter Meg was becoming more and more like her mother as the years passes. She remained with the opera ballet all her life. She took on another care role next to her mother and though she had many suitors and her mother insisted that she take a husband Meg remained a devoted servant to the theatre. Meg was beautiful beyond compare but she did not like to show it. She wore simple things when she was not dancing and she pinned her hair much like her mother. Her only difference was she did not carry a cane like her mother, although her mother did not need the cane, it was more a symbol of her status for everyone knew that Madame Giry could move more gracefully than any of her ballerinas. When she danced it was like she floated on air and most of her dancers idolised her. Some of the happiest moments for the ballet troop was to simply watch the demonstrations of their beloved teacher.
Meg noticed her mother slouching in a seat at the front of the theatre. Slowly she walked toward her mother not saying a word, her footsteps so light that it was nearly impossible to hear her coming.
"Meg is there something wrong my darling?" Madame Giry said but did not turn to see her daughter coming.
Meg ran quicker now to her mothers side and knelt down on the floor before her. She looked deep into her mothers brown eyes and noticed a great pain within them. She took her mothers hands and Mme. Giry knew her daughter could ready what was wrong. She sighed deeply as tears began to roll down her face. "Mama why do you carry such a burden today? It has hunched you over like an old woman and it plays on your face making you look tired and old. What is wrong?" Meg said as she took a seat next to her mother and hugged her.
"Do you think the theatre is ready for the return of the phantom?" the old woman asked her daughter looking deep into her eyes.
"This is his theatre, mama, you know that. The question is, is he ready to return to a place of bad memories?" Meg said she could already tell what was going to happen, what had to happen. She and her mother had a great connection with each other. They could tell just by looking at each other and by exchanging very few words exactly what was to happen, "would you like me to help you find him? I know how to reach his lair," she said softly into her mothers ear.
"I don't think he will be where you thought he would be," Madame Giry said, "I know that he has a house further underground. I may not even be under this theatre. I could be very far and very deep under Paris. But I myself have not seen him in this place for three years."
"I have seen him," Meg said softly, "he is still around. I have seen him in the box," she said as she pointed up to box five, "perhaps he is there now and listening to us. You know he is always here. You can always feel him."
"I know he is here," Madame Giry sighed, "I best start my search," she said as she stood. She leaned heavily on her cane.
"Shall I come with you?" Meg asked as she looked at her poor mother. She was not the vibrant woman that she normally was.
"No, Meg, I think I should go alone. Should anything happen to me you will have to take over with the ballet. Love them and keep them safe my child and never forget the power that lies within this place." the old woman said.
"Mother please don't speak like that. How could he lay a hand on you for the goodness and kindness that you once showed him," Meg said as she began to weep.
"You must be prepare for the worst my darling," the old woman said as she too began to cry and taking her daughter into her arms she whispered, "I am so proud of you my child, I love you," and with that she disappeared into the darkness of the theatre. Meg was left along. She fell to her knees before the stage and folding her hands over her heart she began to pray.
The ballet mistress slipped on silently through the theatre. She had left her cane behind and walked as silently along the floor as a mouse. She was quick and agile as she moved down stairs and further into the theatre than she has ever travelled before. Before her lay many stairs that travelled down into the depths of the earth. They fell lower and lower like a spring and down in the blackness, sick silver specks of light, from her candle, danced off the dark black water below. This stair case was a flood way. It was possible for the water levels to rise and fill this column. Madame Giry was not aware of how the water column worked but water was used in the productions to run the primitive mechanics of the theatre. She began to feel a greater fear than she had ever felt before as she came closer and closer to the water below. As she walked passages off the stair case began to appear, like hallways into hell they reached out into total darkness. Not even the rats would come this far down. It was cold down this deep in the earth. She looked above her and could no longer see the lights of the theatre floors above only darkness all around her. The sound of the water was becoming clearer. It was moving water, fast rushing under the theatre. She was filled with a coldness that shocked her soul. She feared that this rushing water would soon fill the stairs and she would be lost within it but she continued downward into the blackness. Finally she came to a place that was like a platform next to a rushing river. The water did not look deep, she could see the bottom of the river in the light of her candle. The brick of the man made river were grey and warn but still very visible. Madame Giry looked to either side, from one the water was coming and one the water was going and she was stuck. She did not know which way she should go now. She also grew frightened of the powers of the phantom. What kind of traps he had left around this places as to not be found. She chose to go against the water and see where it originated and headed up stream. She walked slowly and carefully watching every step she made. She knew that if she followed only this rushing water that she would be able to turn around and go back to where she had first started. She walked on for a very long time watching as she passed lost and decaying things. Branches of threes were stuck in this place stripped of their bark and white as the bones of a skeleton. There was no signs of any life or that anyone had been down here. Her feet made imprints in the dust that lined the walk that was the edge of the man made river. The rushing water became louder and louder as if she were coming to some kind of a water fall. It was the sound of water falling into a great pool. She looked over the edge again and noticed that the water was becoming deeper and was rushing by turning the water white. Her small candle could no longer penetrate to the bottom of the river. She strained into the darkness before her and could not see anything. The wall beside her was flat and nothing seemed to penetrate it. She walked on more slowly, until she came face to face with a great wall. In this wall there were three large holes approximately ten feet up the face of the wall. And from these three large holes spued gallons and gallons of water. This was the origins of were the water was coming from. But what was behind the wall. She placed a hand on it, it was cold and damp. She could tell it was thick, perhaps it was yet another water column like the stair case she had come down from the theatre. She sighed heavily feeling some relief that she didn't run into any danger. She leaned her back against the damp wall and noticing that her candle was nearly gone she decided that it would be best if she went back and rested. She would follow the water down stream when she returned and hoped for more luck in her search. She took a deep breath and lifted herself off the wall. She walked a few feet before she heard a strange grinding noise. Fear filled her body, what could that be? She was paralysed with fear at the thought that perhaps she had triggered some trap and that water would fill the space before she could out run it. Suddenly there was an arm around her waist and her candle was extinguished. She was pulled back in direction that seemed impossible, a wall should have been where she was being pulled. The grinding sound came again and then silence followed and she was pinned against a wall by two hands on her shoulder.
"Are you really looking to be killed old woman?" a voice pierced the silence and the blackness.
"Oh god please let me not die," She whispered as tears began to run down her face and suddenly an oil lamp was lit and the dark passage burst into light. She turned her face away quickly from the light as it blinded her, when her eyes had become used the brightness she noticed how long the passage stretched out in one direction and a oily black wall was right next to her. She had been released and standing before her, lamp in hand, was man robbed in black, his disfigured face visible through the hood, "what are you doing down here woman, you know it isn't safe," the voice was gentler.
Madame Giry remained silent for a moment as she stared into his disfigured face, "Erik are you well? Is everything ok?" she asked in a very motherly tone.
"Come," he said and turned away from her, "walk exactly where I walk." he said and headed off down the passage with his oil lamp.
Madame Giry walked carefully down the passage behind the man in black. He stepped from side to side in places and helped her over some other that were protecting the passage with traps and trip wires. Finally they came to a ladder that went up into the ceiling. He stopped and looked back at her for a moment as she looked up, "will you make it?" he asked.
"I'm sure I can," she said as he stepped aside.
"Climb to the top I will follow you in case," he said and motioned for her to start.
The climb into darkness was long, Mme Giry couldn't see a thing in front of her as she climbed. She only felt for the rungs of the ladder and continued up into the darkness. It seemed to stretch on forever. She wondered if she was climbing up as many steps as she came down in the first place. Finally she felt the top of the ladder curve and she stepped off onto yet another platform. She couldn't see anything in the darkness and so she stayed with one hand on the bars of the handle until the man reached the top as well. When the light from the oil lamp lit the platform she could see that it was solid stone for about 4 feet then a great drop into a large hole. Water could be heard at the top pouring into this place from different directions. It was like a giant drain. The phantom moved on ahead of her. He led the way around the great whole to another wall where there was a mass of stones. He pushed on one of the stones and it moved to one side leading into another passage. At the end of the passage there was a bright light. He turned to Madame Giry and stepped aside, "go in," he said to her and then closed the secret door as he had entered.
This last passage was not as long as the others, only about one hundred feet more. When she reached the end of the passage Madame Giry was in a large room that was brightly lit. A few steps that led down to yet another stream. Large lamps hung from the ceiling casting light around the room and supporting the vegetation that was now growing all around. Small miniature trees grew in large pots and moss covered all of the brick and stone work that covered the floor of the room. From the trees flew tropical birds and small animals like rabbits and squirls ran to and from Erik as he walked around his green space. He removed the hood from his head showing his face to the light and the animals. The birds flew to him, the rabbits were not afraid of him and he seemed happy in this place. Madame Giry stood in awe as she watched him with the little things. He was gentle and spoke softly to them. Finally he turned to her and motioned for her to come near him where he placed a brilliant red bird on her arm and watched as she fearfully reached up to the great red bird and stroked its feathers.
"You look cold, woman would you care to come in?" he asked as he motioned to a large wooden door at the other end of the green room.
"I would love to Erik, thank you," she smiled as the bird flew from her and off to another small tree.
They entered the large door, into another great room, one that looked much like the hall of the opera house. A large crystal chandelier hung in the middle of the room and from this hall there were other rooms. All were brightly lit and well decorated. One could not tell that this palace was underground. Or judging from what was found of the phantom's lair that he could be living in such luxury. He lead the old woman into a salon and sat her down in front of a fire. It was a smaller room with large paintings on the walls. The paintings were not of real places but of great imagined lands. With rivers and trees of great colours. Erik sat in another chair opposite the old woman and looked strangely at her.
"Thank you for inviting me in," she finally said breaking the awkward silence.
"Well I felt it only fair considering you were brave enough to make it further than anyone else," he said with a smile as he watched her look upon him without fear.
"It is good to see you," she smiled, "you look well and happy, we all thought you had left us."
"It is my curse to live in solitude I suppose," he sighed, "I've caused enough trouble and pain for many people and for my pour Christine I thought it best to just live out the rest of my days in my world of make believe."
"No one should have to live without companionship," Madame Giry sighed, "should you like, Meg and I would come to visit you more often. She is a very bright girl and very fascinated by your genius."
"Do you think that would be wise?" he asked, "wouldn't people become suspicious of you? I have my animals to keep me company."
"Well, that is actually why I have been sent in search of you," Madame Giry said as she pulled the letter out of her apron pocket and handed it to him, "everything is explained in the letter." she added and watched the fire as he opened the letter and read it slowly.
Erik sat for a moment in silence pondering what had been written. He had in fact been working on another opera. He never thought it would be performed but this did give him the opportunity to release some of his compositions to the world. He didn't however like all of the talk of publicity in the letters but if, in fact, the theatre was destroyed there was the underlying possibility that his home would be more accessible to the public and he risked being found. He sighed deeply and looked up at Madame Giry, "do you think I should?" he asked in a bit of a childish tone.
"It would not be just the theatre that you save, Erik, but all of our jobs and our lives would all be indebted to you. You would be given great creative freedom but it is something that you must take up with Andre and Firmin. Their offer is very generous and they are very desperate," she said as she leaned back in the chair.
"What if my opera isn't as successful as they hope it to be? Then don't they still risk the loss of the theatre?" he asked.
"I am sure your opera is a masterpiece and you have become the legend that people speak of, whatever they do the people will come if only to chance at glimpse of the mighty Phantom of the Opera," Madame Giry stated.
Erik smiled at little at the address, he hadn't though of his involvement with the theatre as becoming something of a legend. He believed that he would still be able to live his quiet life in this his world of make believe and still be able to bring the theatre back into his life. He had hardly ventured out of his home in three years and did miss the freedom that he felt when he was able to find the roof of the theatre on the brilliant stary nights, "I think I would be best," he said after a moment, "that I have a meeting with the managers before making any decisions."
"That is probably a very good idea," she smiled as a small cat came into the room and jumped up onto Erik's lap and began to per loudly.
She was happy to see him living such a normal life aside from the fact that he was deep underground and living alone. But there was still a sparkle in his eyes. It was easy to read in him the want he had to experience different things in life and this the idea of having his opera performed without any underlying plans was something that played greatly on his mind. He placed the cat on the floor and stood from his seat. He walked to a desk at the back side of the room, away from the fireplace and busied himself with a quick note. He folded it and placed it in an envelope sealing it and walking back to Madame Giry, "will you give this to my managers, it tells them were to meet me in two days time. That should give me enough time to compose myself enough to meet with them on a friendly basis," he said as he handed her the note.
"Oh course I can do that for you Erik," she smiled and stood.
"Alright, now that you are rested I will take you out of here," he said as he through his cloak over himself again.
"Thank you," She smiled and kissed him softly on his cheek, "I do appreciate your kindness," she smiled as his face turned a slight shade of pink.
"I will take you out by another way, it is simpler than the last you travelled. If you would like to return to visit me, you and Meg are the only people I will permit, you must come back the way you first came and I will hear you coming," said and smiled as he noticed a glimmer in her eyes, "why do you look at me like that Madame?" he asked.
"Because it fills my heart with joy that you would permit me to return to you and to become your friend," she smiled.
His heart leapt within him, he had never had a friend before. Not a real one at least and this was something new that he looked forward to having. He smiled at the old woman as he pulled the hood up around his face and led her too the large wooden doors. Once again he was out in the green space, he walked quickly across the mossy grass and toward the river. At the river he opened another hidden door and led the way through it. They walked for a very long time along a very dark passage until they came to a wall. Erik moved his hand lightly over the wall and suddenly it slid to one side. Stepping out through the opening Madame Giry found herself once again in the great water column that led back up to the opera house. Erik had followed her out onto the stairs he removed the lid from his oil lamp so that the flame was no longer protected by the glass, "give me you candle," he said to the old woman. She passed to him the remains of the candle and he lit it from his lamp, "this should last you till you have reach the light of the theatre." he said and the candle light lit his face enough to show that he was smiling.
"Thank you so much for your hospitality, Erik, when I return to you is there anything you would like me to bring back to you?" she asked.
"If it is possible I would like you to return to me, my music box," he said softly.
"I will do my best to regain it for you," she smiled and watched as Erik's lamp light disappeared back behind the secret door. She smiled happily to herself, she knew exactly where the music box was being kept and could obtain it very easily. She ran as quickly as she could, without letting the candle go out, up the stairs and back into the familiarity of the theatre.
She walked quickly out onto the stage and noticed that Meg was still where she had left her. She was on her knees and deep in prayer.
"Meg my darling," Madame Giry called out as a smile covered her face.
"Mama you are alright, Thank heavens!" Meg cried as she ran to meet her mother in an embrace, "did you find him?"
"I did," the old woman said, "and we will be seeing him again," she smiled and quickly walked with her daughter out of the theatre.