I woke up and push the blankets off of me. I yawned and got out of bed. I heard screaming coming from the lair. I ran out and saw a girl standing there. She was terrified. Her brown hair was a mess and she turned to look at me.
"What are you doing here?" I asked. She burst into tears. I looked around where was Erik? How had he not heard the girl? "It's alright. Now tell me how you got here." She sniffled.
"My dad was trying to hurt me." Something was different about her she didn't speak like she was from the 1800's she talked like she was from my time.
"How old are you?" I asked.
"I'm eight. My name is Charlotte." I froze.
"That's your name?" She nodded. "That's my name too." She smiled.
"That's because I'm you."
I sat up violently and looked around. The girl said she was me, and she did look like me. I heard the organ being played. "Erik." I called. The organ stopped. Erik opened the curtain and walked toward me.
"Yes, are you alright?" I nodded.
"I had a weird dream but I'm alright. What time is it?"
"It's 6:24 in the morning. We can go up in a few more hours, that's when auditions start." I got out of bed and hugged him.
"Good morning." He smiled.
"Good morning. I suggest you practice some scales before we leave."
"Alright." I said going to the closet.
"Lottie," I turned around he held up a box with a ribbon on it. "Why don't you take a look?" He said smiling. I went to him and began removing the ribbon. I opened the box and found a beautiful dress.
"I thought it was just an audition." He smiled and kissed my head.
"It is but the nicer you dress, the richer they will believe you are. And you are, with the salary they pay me." I smiled.
"You are most likely richer than most men in Paris aren't you?" I asked he smiled.
"That is a secret." He chuckled and walked out of the room. I took the dress and began to put it on but I was having trouble with the corset. This was a different styled corset than the others that were matched with the dresses in my closet.
"Erik." He stepped into the room. His cheeks turned super red. "This corset is different, I can lace the other ones up now but this one is weird."
"Perhaps I shouldn't have changed the style of corset." He started to lace it up.
"Erik, what opera are they preforming?"
"I believe it is ll Muto." I nodded. He finished lacing the corset and left. I got dressed and head to the organ where Erik no doubt was. I found him sitting at his organ writing what looked like a letter.
"What is that?" He looked at me.
"Just in case they have second thoughts about casting you. If they dare say no they will get this letter. If they disobey me further, a disaster will occur." I nodded. For a moment I sat there starring at the lake until Erik caught my attention.
"Do you know ll Muto?" I looked at him and nodded.
Serafimo, your disuse is perfect.
Why who can this be?
Gentle wife, admit your loving husband.
My love, I am called to England on affairs of State,
And must leave you with your new maid.
Though I'd happily take the maid with me.
I giggled slightly to hear him say this. We continued practicing and finally he nodded.
"Very good. You did well. It's 9:45, auditions start at 10:00. We should be on our way. I nodded and he helped me in his boat. Has he rowed us to the other side of the lake, which seemed more like a river, I ran my hand across the water.
It was warm and I daydreamed about being on stage. I didn't have stage fright but I rarely sang in front of people. I heard him grunt as the pole got stuck. "What?" I asked.
"One moment, it's stuck." He grunted one more time and pulled. Finally, the pole was free. "There." I smiled.
After a few more minutes we made our way to the other shore.