Chapter Eight
As Diana lay in bed, her mind was running at a remarkable speed.
No matter how hard she tried, she could not fall asleep, could not rest.
Her mind kept going back to the memory of that moment, that moment that has been haunting her. When she saw the face, of such sorrow and solitude.
She tried to figure out how she controlled herself, didn't gasp, or close her eyes in horror. She came to the conclusion that it must have been a miracle from God.
She tossed and turned, and groaned in pain.
With tears streaming down her face out of pity for the man, and out of misery she cried, "O God, please do help me! Wrap me in your warm embrace, I pray. Give me the wisdom to reach to this poor lost soul!"
Feeling alone, and giving up on trying to sleep, she got out of bed and walked to her window.
With her arms wrapped around herself, she gazed at the silver moon, and remembered looking at the same moon once, in a much happier place and time in her life.
She found the moon comforting at first, but when it brought back memories of her past, it made everything much more painful.
She sat down on the floor, with her hand to her face, and began to say, with a shaky voice, "O Uncle, dear sweet Uncle, why have you left me here, all alone? Why must you have gone? Dear God, why? Why was I put through more misery? "
Regretting saying so selfish a prayer, she whispered, "Forgive me Lord, please help me to see things your way", and laid her head against the floor, and cried herself to sleep.
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The next thing Diana saw was the sun beaming down on the floor; it's cheerful bright rays of light.
At first she had no idea where she was, but soon understood what had happened.
As she tried to get up, she felt sore all over from the awkward position she had been in so long.
When she stood, memories of the past day flooded her mind, once again.
"There is no use in acting as I am," she thought, " I should be thanking the Lord for all he has done for me, and that He has given me such an amazing opportunity to share His' love, with someone in such desperate need of it."
She decided then that she should not continue to think on the matter so negatively, and try to think on something else, more positive.
She walked over to her desk, and sat down. She pulled out the National newspaper, and scanned the paper for an interesting article to read.
When she reached page three, she read the title, "Opera Populaire Destroyed by Mysterious Fire".
Interested, she read on.
The Opera Populaire was a marvelous place, full of gorgeous nudes, red velvet covered boxes, a chandelier, and many things that made this extravagant building a splendor to the eye.
People would always enjoy going to watch the plays there, and here the famous leading soloist, La Carlotta.
But this once amazing place, is now ruined by a fire, created by a chandelier crash, which was done by the Populaire's "Phantom". After interviewing the owners, and many other members, we found out that there had always seemed to have been a strange man, who you usually just saw the shadow of, who would do minor things, like let a prop fall, and send strange letters occasionally. But, according to the owners, ever since Christine Daa'e sang in La Carlit's place one performance, that is when the real trouble started. After her performance, it is said Ms. Daa'e mysteriously vanished for the night, and returned the next morning. It is said that the owners received letters, marked with a red skull, declaring that they give "him" a salary of twenty thousand francs, and box 5 to view the performances. Of course, they thought it absurd, but the Ballet mistress, Madame Giry, warned them to take the notes seriously. After a while, they received more letters, saying strange threats, one particularly stating if Christine Daa'e didn't have the role in the performance that night, and they didn't give him his' salary or box, a disaster, beyond their imagination would occur. They ignored the wishes, and went on with the performance as Carlotta playing the role. That very night, in the middle of a performance, a man was hung, right in front of the audience, and no one knew how or why.
Three months past, without any threats or strange incidents. When they had a Masquerade Ball, which Christine Daa'e had attended with the famous Viscount De Chagny, he appeared with a strange mask on, and a blood red suite. He declared he had written an opera, and wanted the cast to perform it, with Christine as the lead role. He gave a few strange pieces of advice to some of the cast members, then began to talk about Christine. After a while, he seemed to be enchanted by her, and she by him. But once they were a few inches away from eachother, he ripped off a necklace she was wearing, with a ring attached, declaring, in a shout, "Your chains are still mine, you belong to me!" and he suddenly vanished.
It is said that the ring was her engagement ring with the Viscount.
When they performed the opera, they had police come in armed and ready to fire. They knew with Christine playing the lead role, "he" was sure to come. In the middle of the performance, it appears that the opera ghost "switched" roles with a cast member, and cam on the stage. He and Christine sang a duet. But, at the end of the song, the Phantom began singing a "love song". During this, Christine ripped off his' mask, revealing a horridly deformed face.
It is said that at this point, the Phantom cut a rope, somehow making the chandelier begin to fall. He then pulled a lever, and vanished with Christine.
All of the audience ran, screaming out of the falling chandelier's way. When it crashed, it started a fire, which damaged the Populaire immensely.
A group of people was sent down into the catacombs, the Populaire, supposedly where the Phantom lived. Once they reached it, they found a very sophisticated decorated area, covered with candles, drawings, mirrors, strange sculptures, and many other objects. The Phantom was no where to be found.
Since then, police have been searching everywhere for this "man".
If you ever spy a strange man, most likely dressed completely in black, with a long flowing cape, where a white mask, please contact someone, though we rarely expect you to find him.
Thank you for your help.
Astounded and bewildered by what she had just read, Diana set the newspaper down, and thought very hard.
"No, it just can't be! But of course it has to be he, how could it not be? He was dressed in black, long flowing cape, the mask, and deformed face. O, the poor soul!"
She felt such sorrow for the man, but yet, somehow felt very angry at the same time. She wanted to understand this man, wanted to help him. There was so much she didn't know. She couldn't imagine the sorrow and loneliness he had gone through. The shame and despair.
"Why is it me God, me, that You chose to reach this man to You? I don't understand You God, I want to understand you, so very much, please God, give me wisdom, and understanding."
Feeling like the weight of the world was on her shoulders, she felt like crawling back into bed. She laid her head in her hands, and felt a single tear role down the side of her face.
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"Madame Clark"
"Yes?" was the reply to Anna Lilac's question.
"What in the world is keeping Diana so long?"
"That I do not know, give me a moment and I shall go fetch her."
Madame Clark quickly hurried up the stairs to Diana's room, saying as she went, "Ungrateful child, after all I have done for her, she always manages to embarrass me behind words!"
"Diana! Diana, open this door immediately!"
Diana almost fell out of bed when she heard the pounding on the door. She let out a weak, "Yes?"
"Have you happened to forget your engagement with Ms. Lilac this morning? Open this door at once you ungrateful creature!"
Diana tried to get up, but felt immense pain rush over her body. "Madame, I am sorry, but I am very unwell this morning. I believe I will have the misfortune of missing my engagement."
"O, I will NOT fall for that Ms. Callister! Open this door immediately!"
Seeing that she would never get a moment's peace until she obeyed, she slowly got up, and used all of her energy to open the door.
Madame Clark gasped at the sight of her, "O Diana! Why must you be so stupid! In your nightgown? How lazy you are! I wish your Uncle would have never left you in my care!"
That was it, she had had enough, when she tried to hold back her anger, it didn't work.
"My Uncle was the most generous man I have ever…", at this point, she began to feel an intense pain in the back of her head. One that cut deep into her, like a knife. She fell to the floor in pain. She wanted to scream, but the scream wouldn't come.
"Good gracious! Someone call the doctor!" was the last thing she heard.