Arrangements for the Gala seemed to go off without a hitch. Everything was on schedule and not a detail was overlooked. In short, it was all going too smoothly. Luc found it strange that there wasn't even a hiccup in the arrangements. He had been expecting that a certain someone would sabotage the whole affair. But no, he watched the staff like a hawk and not one of them put a foot out of line. Not even Madame Giry...
That old woman was his prime suspect, she was the one who wanted him to mind the Phantom. She was the one who had stayed at the Opera Populair the longest. His theory was that she remained because she had nothing to fear, and she had nothing to fear because she was the one behind everything. Well, he'd just keep an eye on her! Once he caught her slipping one of those blasted letters into his desk or coat then she'd be sorry!
But two weeks went by without so much as an argument between him and the old lady. Luc was almost disappointed, maybe she wasn't the Phantom...
...
Klara put the last finishing touches on her make-up and checked her gown to make sure not a thread was out of place. Satisfied that she was perfect she made her way out to the foyer, she knew that it was still almost a half hour to early for the Gala to begin but she was eager to start. All her life she'd thought about moments like these, her debut as an opera star, this magnificent gala. All of her hard work was paying off at long last.
The foyer was empty, save for three stage hands, who were putting the last of the decorations up. She noticed for the first time how very large this place was. The staircase she was descending was like something she would have expected from a grand castle, with its polished, marble and the red velvet carpet. The high domed ceiling with it's beautiful depictions of angels and cherubs seemed like a window to heaven itself. Whoever had made this place had loved it, had had an eye for beauty.
"Nice, innit?"
Klara turned around, a little chorus girl she hadn't noticed was standing behind her, watching her stare at the ceiling like an awestruck child.
"It's lovely," she replied trying to remain impassive. She would not blush in front of this girl.
The girl cocked her head, her short, brassy curls bouncing around her softly rounded face. She was a pretty thing, no older than twelve or thirteen and with a slim, sprightly figure. A perfect little ballerina. Big, dreamy blue eyes with long, heavy lashes only added to the picture.
"You're that new singer wot, everyone talks about ain't ya?" she said brightly, dimples appearing at the corners of her mouth. "My names Chloe,"
Klara was a little taken aback by the girls thick, colloquial accent but she couldn't help but be charmed by her earnestness. She returned the smile and held out her hand.
"I'm Klara Hauer, it's nice to meet you" she said.
Chloe shook her hand enthusiastically, "You're a nice lady, I think I likes you, I do! So I'll tell you a secret!" she said.
Klara raised her eyebrows, "Oh? And what secrets do you have for me then?" she asked, amused.
"There are ghosts in this opera house!" Chloe whispered, then she giggled and dashed away before Klara could question her.
"What a funny girl..." Klara muttered as she watched her retreat. "Ghosts in the Opera house," she shook her head. "This Phantom, certainly has everyone convinced he's real."
A quiet but very deep, male chuckled echoed around her. She whirled around to find the source, turning her gaze to the stagehands. Not one of them gave any indication that they'd heard the sound. One noticed her staring and turned his head to face her. His face was mostly concealed by the collar of his coat and his cap. Klara suddenly felt uneasy. She didn't believe in ghosts...but she had a sudden sinking feeling that tonight was going to end badly...
...
The Gala started successfully, there was drinking and dancing, a speech or two was made, thus far everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Luc very nearly forgot about the letters and the Phantom. Nothing was going wrong and he was certain things would finish as smoothly as they began. It was at that moment all the lights went out. Every candle went out, every gas light extinguished. The room went still for a moment then the din of startled and angry people swelled and seemed to engulf Luc.
"No one panic! I'm sure it's just a mechanical error or something, we'll just relight all the lights and get back to the celebration," he cried in an attempt to regain control of the situation. The crowed quieted, pacified for the moment but then a dark, thunderous voice rang from the ceiling.
"Insolent boy! You have failed to meet my demands and now you must pay for your defiance!"
The crowd began to panic again. Some were frightened, the rest angry.
"What's the meaning of this?"
"It's the Phantom!"
"What's going on?"
"He's going to kill someone!"
Suddenly a smoking figure rose up behind the Opera Populair's young manager. Luc stumbled back. The man wore a dark cloak and an ivory mask, this was not Madam Giry...there was no way that the ominous figure before him could be that old woman.
Before Luc could get away the specter produced a noose from his cloak and flung it at the young man. Luc felt the rope tighten around his neck but before he strangled to death some of the men in the crowed rushed forward and the Phantom disappeared in a flash of light.
There was a sudden, second flash of light all the way on the other end of the room and the Phantom reappeared. Impossible! Luc thought He was just here, that second flash was almost simultaneous with the first. He must have traveled thirty feet in the span of two seconds! With a swirl of his cloak and a burst of deep, booming laughter the Phantom disappeared. Leaving the guests and Luc alone with their fear and confusion.
...
From his hidden vantage point in one of the many secret passages the Phantom watched as everyone settled down and the lights were relit. The whole incident had happened in less than five minutes but the effect was better than he had hoped. That silly boy was trembling and white as a sheet. Adjusting his cloak and mask he returned to his lair...by tomorrow evening there would be 20,000 Francs waiting for him in box five! He was certain of it.
...
Klara was among the last to leave. So there was a phantom after all. She didn't want to think he was a real ghost, but she had never seen anything like it, one minute he was at one end of the room and within the next second he simply appeared at the other. She'd never seen a magician perform such a trick in all her life!
"That were a smart trick that Phantom did weren't it?"
Klara glanced over her shoulder and saw little Chloe standing there with her hands behind her back, she was wearing a blue little gown of her own that made her look like a princess from a fairytale. Klara smiled.
"What are you doing here? And what do you know about this Phantom?" she asked.
Chloe grinned impishly, "I know a little about a lot I do, I'm smarter'n I look...'n I can do a few tricks of my own!" she said.
"Oh really?" Klara leaned forward interested, "What tricks?" she asked.
Chloe thought for a minute. "This!" she said doing a backward hand spring and an impressive series of summersaults before landing nimbly on her feet.
Klara clapped, "That's very good!" she said, the girl had a brightness and charm to her that was hard to resist, that coupled with her pretty looks would get her far in life.
"I can do more than just that but you can't see it all yet, I'm savin' the big tricks," she said. With that she did a back flip and to Klara's surprise she vanished into the shadows.
"Chloe? Where have you gone? Chloe?" she called.
"Who are you talking to?" a different chorus girl called out as she came down the stair to stand beside Klara.
"There was a girl, Chloe, she is a young chorus girl like you isn't she?"
The young woman frowned. "No Mademoiselle, I don't think anyone by that name is staying here."
Klara frowned. "But she was just here, surely someone knows her," she described Chloe to the young woman.
"No, there is no one here by that name or description. I would know if there was, I've been here for four years and I know all the girls," replied the woman.
Klara stared at the place Chloe had been just before she'd vanished. She recalled what the girl had said earlier. There are ghosts in this opera house...Ghosts...plural. Could it be that this place truly was haunted?