Chapter Five: A Devastating Performance

Paris, France, June 22, 1881: Later That Day

The evening performance came much too quickly for everyone. Raoul was on tenterhooks the rest of the afternoon, convinced the phantom would pull another disaster from under them.

The audience was noisily filling the auditorium, their gossip covering the orchestra's attempts to tune their instruments. Behind the curtain, the performers went to their directed positions onstage.

"Remember, dancer: I am the prima donna here, and will remain so," Carlotta hissed to Christine before going to the wings. Christine held her gaze and said nothing. The singer sniffed disdainfully and strutted off the stage.

Please, father, Christine prayed as the orchestra started to play the overture. Please let nothing go wrong.

The curtain swung open.

Carlotta led Meg, Piangi and the other chorus members onstage. They all sang loudly and extravagantly, as if nothing were wrong. Carlotta recited her line to the silent Christine: "Serafimo, your disguise is perfect." Christine smiled hugely and tried to make her merriment genuine as the knocking came from offstage, right on cue. Carlotta addressed the audience: "Who can this be?"

Piangi entered, his face covered in the horrible makeup that was required for the part, and sang his stanza. A shadow moved through the rafters. Christine tried to ignore it.

As Carlotta sang her line, Christine tossed the huge, hideous maid's cap off her head while Carlotta ripped the skirt off her waist and tossed it to a corner, revealing Christine's breeches. Christine made the required hand motions and movements as Carlotta and the chorus sang.

Out of nowhere and everyone at once, Erik's voice echoed loudly across the auditorium. "Did I not instruct that Box Five was to be kept empty?"

Everyone froze. Keep Raoul safe, father. Please. Without meaning to, Christine spoke. "It's Erik… I know it's him."

Carlotta snatched Christine's hand and led her to the bed, preparing to restart the stanza. "Your part is silent, you toad!" she hissed out of the corner of her mouth.

"A toad, signora?" Erik's voice answered, making everyone jump. "Maybe it is you who are the toad…"

Carlotta sang the beginning of the stanza, shaken.

Serafimo, away with this pretence!

You cannot speak, but kiss me in my—

Without warning, a croak left her mouth.

Dead silence filled the auditorium.

Carlotta attempted to restart at a different part of the song.

Poor fool, he makes me laugh—

This time, the croaking would not stop.

Pandemonium covered the stage. The sound of insane, frenzied laughter began quietly, but gradually built until it rang thunderously around the auditorium. André ran onstage as the performers scattered. "Ladies and gentlemen! The performance will restart in ten minutes!" His gaze flickered to the rafters. "Christine Daaé will be performing the role of the Countess. In the meantime, Dance of the Country Nymphs, the ballet from Act…" He flipped through the program nervously. "Act Three of Il Muto will be performed." He ran offstage as the chorus girls danced onstage.

They had been dancing for five minutes when a scream broke over the music. A body tumbled from the rafters, hanging from a noose.

Joseph Buquet.