1899
In the dark of the stormy Paris streets, they remained empty with exception of drunks as a shadowy figure quietly roamed the rooftops. Among the drunks flooding the streets, the figure found someone making their way to the orphanage with a basket.
"Strange, deliveries happen by cart and on Sundays."
Following the figure on the streets, one of the roof-top stopped by the church and saw that the basket was left on the doorstep. Going down carefully the basket had a young baby with a slightly burnt face and arm.
"What cruel person would do this?"
In disgust, the figure picked up the baby and watched a note fall to the ground,
Dear church,
Please take care of our young girl, we simply can't take care of her with her burns and the money to feed another young one.
Following the person who left the baby, with no shame Clarisse walked after the figure to see they entered a very big house.
"Rich people, of course, can't deal with a simple issue. Don't worry young one I will protect you and show you a world you would never see."
Turning away from the house the baby looked at the disfigured half of her face with curiosity and no fear of her face.
Clarisse smiled and began to walk away,
"Now, would you have wondered of the wonders of my world in your high-up place?"
The baby looked at Clarisse and the woman continued to sing,
"In my world, it is strange yet beautiful,-"
The baby had fallen asleep in her arms and Clarisse continued to sing quieter but with her normal tone.
"In my world, I will make everything I say reality, you little one will live a life one could dream of a life of beauty and real entertainment and I shall have real love for you. That your family failed to give you and they would show you a world of riches and privilege."
In the back of an alleyway, Clarisse stopped to open one of the passages to her home of a different opera house without her father.
"Now you have been accepted in a world of beauty underneath the world of normal, that is filled with those like me and my father, The phantom of the opera."
Holding the endnote of the song Clarisse laid the baby down on her bed in a near replica of the room she grew up in only with more room and more of everything.
Taking off the blanket the baby was wrapped in Clarisse found dirty rags that looked and smelled like they were taken from the maids the house would have and wrapped around her.
Taking off her cloak, Clarisse comfortably wrapped the baby up and walked to her closet which was full of elegant suits and a few dresses.
Taking one of her nightgowns Clarisse looked at how the dress would need to be changed. Marking what she needed to do Clarisse reached for one of the many boxes in the room and began cutting into the dress and sewing the edges together again after ripping them open for the modifications for the baby.
After a long hour of work, Clarisse finished the baby's temporary dress until she could get to Francis the tailor that had known her since she was a baby.
Dressing the baby Clarisse smiled seeing it fit perfectly, before falling asleep Clarisse took the rags and set them on one of the tables planning to send it back to the family with a rose and one of her masks as a subtle threat to them for disowning the baby and lying.
"Nataliyna, how do you like that little one?"
The baby didn't respond and Clarisse laughed a little," Well then my little Nataliyna welcome to a world of abnormality."
Clarisse fell asleep next to Nataliyna and the two slept in silence with the only noise of running water.
In the early morning, Nataliyna was still asleep and Clarisse went to open the metal gate and saw the storm last night raised the water levels but it was still shallow enough for the boat and her to sit down and leave the room.
Starting the noisy pulley system, Clarisse went to Nataliyna who was now crying because of the noise.
"Hush, darling mummy is here. I won't let anything happen to you."
Kissing the top of her head Clarisse grabbed a mask and went to the boat and lay Nataliyna in it and started to row away from her cave. Outside of the cave was a narrow area of rocky tunnels that were not close to safe but perfect for hiding from guards.
"Now then we need to go to a friend of my father's first."
Nataliyna gave no response as Clarisse picked her up and placed her in a sling around her body and walked to see the bright sun of the morning looking down at her.
Walking to the tailor shop Francis had lived in for as long as she could remember the back door was locked.
Knock, Knock
"Francis, it's me Clarisse and I have something that I need your help with."
In nearly no time at all the door opened revealing a young boy," Grandfather is in his study. Your father is also here."
"Thank you, Ramon." Clarisse kissed the top of the boy's head and went to the study.
Knocking again a cheerful voice answered the door," Clarisse the doors open."
Opening the door it was dimly lit and two grown men were standing near one of the few candles in the room.
Erik looked at the sling that she held close to her" What do you have Clarisse?"
Taking the baby out Erik's face dropped," A baby."
"It's not yours right?"
Clarisse could hear the anger in her dad's words," Not biologically I adopted her last night."
Erik sighed in relief and Francis' face was in a big smile," I need the little one, and the dress is in room 5 for tonight."
Francis took the baby from Clarisse and left the room in a hurry," That was the last thing I was expecting of you daughter."
Clarisse looked at her father who was sipping tea," She was left with the church, they would have ignored her and left her to rot in the streets. You always taught me that people like us should always deserve our help no matter what."
"I understand what I taught you, I simply wasn't expecting you to bring a baby."
Clarisse smiled and hugged Erik," Like you said the human mind is ever-changing. So never expect something from someone."
Erik remained silent and hugged Clarisse back, the two of them remained in their embrace for a long time. After what felt like an eternity the two let each other go, Erik reached for a leather sleeve,
" For tonight. Casting has already been chosen."
Clarisse took the sleeve without even bothering to open it," Anything else?"
" What would my grandchild's name be?"
"Nataliyna, would be her name. Good-bye for now."
With one last hug, Clarisse left the room as Erik took one of the many passages back to sewers he called home. In-room 5 was an elegant black dress with a matching black lace masquerade mask for tonight, putting the dress on it had lace sleeves that started from her shoulders with a slit going up to her knees on both sides.
" I bet I've got some black heels in my closet."
Placing the suit from the hanger Clarisse left the room and saw Ramon playing with his wooden cars and Francis running around his fabric room.
"Francis, may I take my daughter back?"
Francis turned and nodded as Clarisse picked Nataliyna up and left the shop careful of all the garbage in the back alley and down to the sewers.
In the sewers, Clarisse looked in her closet as Nataliyna was held close to her chest.
"Well, then black heels it is."
Slipping off the flats she had been wearing until then, Clarisse placed the heels and laid on the bed with Nataliyna asleep again. After what felt like a few moments Clarisse stood up and looked at the musical score and cast for the next opera. The score was similar to Don Juan with a more soprano singing,* He still loves mother, De Chagny took her away.*
Looking at Nataliyna who was still peacefully sleeping," Grandmother would love you."
Kissing her forehead Clarisse made a small circle of boxes around the bed so Nataliyna wouldn't fall and get hurt. Standing at the edge of the bed Clarisse was about to leave as one thought ran through her mind,* What if she falls?*
Reluctantly Clarisse picked Nataliyna up from the bed and placed her in the boat again leaving the cave knowing they would return late in the night.
Exiting the sewers the opera house manager was standing at one of the entrances waiting for her.
"Madam, Box 5 is open. I have the key."
Slipping the key through the entrance Clarisse took the key and handed Nataliyna to him.
"Her care is your number one priority. I will kill you if she is harmed, I will wait hereafter the masquerade."
The owner left with Nataliyna, as Clairsse walked in the walls, entering box 5 and locking the door behind her. Sitting down Clarisse saw the owner carefully holding Nataliyna from the other side of the opera house.
As lights dimmed down and the curtains lifted with performers dancing their way onto the stage. Watching the performers Clarisse saw a familiar face, "Meg? I thought you stopped performing when your mother died."
Looking at the performers another familiar face stood out,*That boy again. What was his name, Damion? Something like that, what are you doing here?*
Leaning back a little, Clarisse tapped her foot as the orchestra started playing loudly, as the first song went by almost as quickly as it came. At the intermission someone knocked on her door, freezing like a statue Clarisse waited for the person to leave,
"I know who you are, my brother would like to formally meet you after the masquerade tonight. He will be waiting in Box 4."
As people quieted down again Clarisse stopped paying attention,* Someone knows who I am? And wants to meet me?*
Almost without realizing it, Clarisse was the one being stalked instead of being the stalker. Staring at her own stalker that was the boy from the beginning, once he went on stage Clarisse disappeared boldly making her way to the owner's box without hiding in the walls as one of her father's many lessons about hiding became the only thing on her mind," Never make bold moves, if you do always have a recovery plan so we can continue to live in our life of wonders without much fear."
At the box of the owner, Clarisse slipped a note to him in her signature cursive handwriting and the signing piece to all her notes 'The phantom'
With the note delivered Clarisse went to the walls and far more efficiently made her way to her box quietly dropping to the floor as a note at her door with a rose was there.
*Someone got in!* Panicking, Clarisse opened the door to find it unlocked. As enormous waves of fear washed over her, Clarisse locked the door as her heart raced, going what felt like it would burst out any second.
Opening the letter is was written almost like her handwriting on without the smudge marks caused by her being mainly left-handed,
The phantom,
I have been at this opera house for nearly as long as you and I remember seeing you with what I believe is your father, The Phantom of the Opera. With that said I would love to meet you in person, to keep your secret I promise to never tell and to not remove the mask.
-Damion
Leaving the Box in terror Clarisse hid in the walls hearing the showing coming to a close. Walking over to the opening hall many entrances, peering through a crack in the wall, Clarisse saw the cast taking their bows and leaving the stage going to the main entrance for the masquerade ball.