Upstairs Andrea was reading the reviews of the previous night's performance in the now shared managers' office. Firmin walked in as Andrea read out loud "'A new soprano takes flight. Former chorus girl Christine Daae now is rumored to be the new lead soprano of the Opera Populaire.' Firmin it's everywhere. It's safe to say we have made quite the discovery with Miss Daae."

"Yes but if only we had a cast. Most of them left when the Signora did and how we will get her to come back is beyond me." Firmin said going through letters he picked out a white envelope addressed to him in red ink. "What's this?" he asked. Andrea glanced up shocked when he saw the note.

He snatched it from Firmin's hands and started examining the writing "You got one too." He said puzzled. Firmin wasn't sure what was going on so he took the note back and began to read out loud to Andrea.

"Dear Firmin,

I will admit the performance was indeed quite charming. Young Miss Daae enjoyed a well deserved success. The real challenge however begins now with the next opera. The previous one was taken care of mainly by Monsieur Gerard Carriair, now my opera house has been handed over to you. I suggest you be careful with your next few moves because I will be watching and judging. Every little thought, hesitation, nervous breath, and every detail in-between I shall be examining. I suggest you keep Miss Daae as the lead until further notice. Remind the chorus to keep up the good work, and talk to Madame Jessica Giry about the dancing it was a definite disgrace.

O.G."

Firmin turned to Andrea with a blank look. "O.G.?" he said with a laugh.

"I've received one as well." Andrea responded annoyed with the whole situation of the Opera Ghost. He walked over to the other side of the desk and pulled out from a stack of papers a note similar to Firmin's. He unfolded it and read out loud.

"Dear Andrea,

I was disappointed to find my box taken last night, and considering the fact that was my very first instruction we have not gotten off on the right foot. Since this is all so new to you I am willing to overlook this big detail. I suggest you see that it doesn't happen again. I will however remind you that my salary is due. Take great joy in this because next time I will not be as generous or forgiving.

O.G."

They both stood there for quite some time examining both of the notes. Until Firmin started to doubt again. He scoffed and said "Andrea are we honestly going to even let the thought of this 'Opera Ghost' cross our minds as real?!" He ended with a laugh. Andrea looked down at the notes questioning his partner's statement.

"I don't know Firmin. I honestly don't know." He said looking over the notes again. Then as Andrea thought on the idea of the Opera Ghost being real Raoul De Chaney walked into the office with Sophia close behind.

"Do you two mind explaining the meaning of this note?" Raoul said angrily. Sophia just kept her distance and rolled her eyes at her brother. The managers had no idea what he was talking about so they shot him a blank look after a quick glance at each other.

Raoul sighed and asked where Christine was "Neither of us have seen her since the performance last night."

A voice spoke up from the door way "You'll be lucky if any of you see her by next week." They all turned to a dark haired young man bout seventeen or perhaps a year older. He wore average clothes of a stage hand but the managers had never seen this boy before.

Sophia made a face and asked "And you are who exactly?" with her usual attitude. He smiled and let out a small laugh as he stepped into the room.

"The names Joshua. Joshua Reynolds. I work back stage but I've been away for some time. Family reasons, but that's not really important right now, is it?"

Raoul was the first to step forward to Joshua and asked "What do you mean we will be lucky if we see her by next week?"

He laughed and looked around the room "You all really are new to this, aren't you?" He sighed and told Raoul to give him the note. He did as told and read aloud.

"You need not fret over Miss Daae. She is being well taken care of by her Angel of Music. If you know what's good for you, you will keep away and not even attempt to see her again."

Joshua looked up at Raoul and then asked if anyone else had received a letter in red ink today. Both Andrea and Firmin spoke up. "They didn't send it. I won't say who because I would rather avoid trouble. I will let you figure this out on your own." Joshua said to Raoul.

He put a slight smile on his face as they all heard the front entrance slam shut. Then without a moment's notice Carlotta barged in. "You!" she shouted at the moment she saw Joshua.

He turned around with a sarcastic smile and tone "Hello dear cousin. How lovely see you again." The smile disappeared as they glared at each other. Carlotta followed by her husband Sinor Antonio and many of Carlotta's followers stepped into the room. She rolled her eyes at him and pushed him out of the way to get to the managers.

She waved a note angrily in their faces "What is the meaning of this?" Once again no one but Joshua had the slightest idea to what she meant. Raoul came up behind her and grabbed the note.

"We are very sorry to announce that you will not be performing in the next production at the Opera Populaire. Christine Daae will be singing in your place. Be prepared for an incredible incident should you choose to take her place."

Joshua began to laugh. "What do you know about this? I demand an answer now boy." Andrea spoke up you could see the fear in his eyes.

Joshua smiled and said "It's a game." He looked around the room. "It's his game. Or the start of it at least. There are two very different endings to his game. One if choose to do as you're all told then we all win and no one suffers. But the other way. You all lose and someone dies because with that ending only he wins."

The managers stepped forward "So we are just supposed to let our star for five seasons go and hand the lead rolls over to some chorus girl who no one cares about." Said Firmin. Raoul and Sophia looked at him offended by the remark.

"First off," Joshua began "she is not just some chorus girl who no one cares about. How do I know you might ask? Take a look outside there are people out there dying to meet her. Not your precious Signora. She is Christine Daae a natural talent not only in dance but in song as well, and all of Paris is quite sure of that." Joshua grew a threatening look in his eyes "I suggest you watch what you say around here not only about Christine but all the dancers as well. I know for a fact that neither of you have made our Phantom's top ten favorite people list."

Just then Jessica and Meg walked through the door "Joshua!" Meg screamed excitedly and ran up to him. She jumped into his arms to hug him.

He started to laugh at her and said "Hello to you too Meg."

He returned her to the floor she looked around at each face "Stirring up trouble again are we?" She said playfully.

"No. Not without you my little Meg." They smiled then turned to Jessica. She informed everyone that Christine had just returned.

"Where is she right now?" asked Firmin.

"In her room its best she be alone right now, she needs rest." Giry said.

Raoul spoke "May I see her?" Sophia looked at him with the normal look like he had lost his mind.

"No. She refuses to see anyone outside of us." Said Meg. Everyone but Joshua and Jessica looked at her curiously.

"'Outside of us?' What's that supposed to mean?" asked Sophia.

"It means that besides myself, the Giry girls, and Gerard she won't be seeing any of you. Not even you two." Said Joshua pointing out the Chaney siblings. Sophia soon realized what was going on and backed off, but Raoul was hard headed and was determined to find out everything right then.

"Do you even know who we are?" Raoul asked beginning to get quite annoyed.

"Yes. You are the Viscount Raoul De Chaney and the girl behind you is the Countess Sophia De Chaney your younger sister. You both grew up with our Christine in a house by the sea with her father Gustave Daae the violinist. The last either of you saw her or spoke with her you were nine and her father had died. So yes I know plenty about both of you." Raoul just stood there shocked that Joshua knew so much about Christine's past. Meg stepped behind Joshua placing her hand on his shoulder hinting for him to back off and watch what he says.

"You don't know us Viscount, and it's become quite obvious that you don't know Christine either. We are her family now not you." Said Meg.

Everyone stood there silent then Carlotta spoke up "Well not that it's not a pleasure to hear of little Daae's past, but will she sing or not?" Carlotta asked annoyed and pained by just the thought of Christine taking her place.

Jessica held out an envelope written in red ink. "Here I have a note." Everyone jumped at the note all screaming let me see it. Joshua calmed down the small crowd in the office and retrieved the note from Jessica's hand, then handed it to Andrea. The new note read:

"Gentlemen,

By now you have received several notes. I hope you now see how my theater is to be run. My previous instructions have been ignored but I shall give you one last chance to redeem yourselves. The next performance shall go just as this. Carlotta will perform but as the silent role of the page boy alongside Miss Daae who will play the lead of the Countess. Once again I remind you that box five is to be kept empty for my usage. Should my demands be pushed to the side again a disaster beyond any imagination will occur. I suggest you follow every order down to the very last detail.

Your obedient friend,

O.G."

Raoul started to laugh "You're joking right?" Meg and Joshua looked to him.

"No I told you Monsieur, this is his game. This is his opera house; these are his rules, and his demands." Everyone was growing quite tired of this conversation.

Meg looked at them and said in an incident mysterious like voice "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Phantom of the Opera's masquerade. I suggest you get used to it that is if you want to be here for a long time."

Carlotta was furious "The silent role? That's it, that is it! I've had about enough of this! He wants Christine to perform, fine! But she will do it without me!"

Carlotta stormed out of the office the managers chasing after her then Firmin shouted "The man is insane! Miss Daae will play the page boy!" Carlotta stopped and turned around. Everyone stared at Firmin, Joshua and the Giry girls glanced at each other. Joshua stepped out to warn them again.

"Monsieur, please you have no idea what you're doing. His orders said-"

"Shut up boy! Honestly I've had about enough of this. We end this now." Said Firmin

He and Andrea then escorted Carlotta to her dressing room. Joshua was even more furious than Carlotta was just a minute ago. Meg walked up to him and asked what they were going to do. He sighed and whispered so the Chaney's couldn't hear "Go to Christine, tell her what's going on. I'll do my best to handle Erik but no promises." Meg nodded and Joshua ran off.

Meg turned to Raoul and Sophia "You have no idea what you have just gotten yourself into Chaney. You've been warned, now watch your back." Meg said to Raoul then stormed off towards Christine's room. The creeping sound of her heels echoing through the foyer.