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Chapter 5: Ghosts From The Past

The Opera Populaire was still slightly buzzing with excitement the morning after Christine Daae's huge success in Hannibal last night. Monsieurs Andre and Firmin were constantly replying to new patrons who were seeking to have patronage to the new opera house—and especially the new breakthrough celebrity.

Not only was Christine getting attention for exceeding the La Carlotta in the breathtaking performance last night, but also for her mysterious disappearance immediately following the ending of the opera. Everyone in Paris knows that the Prima Donna always graces the attendants with her presence at the after party following each performance. To the patrons the lead soprano is being the most down to earth person they know, but everyone who works at the opera house knows that it is simply for the managers to obtain more money.

After reading many overly long letters from rich families wanting to support the Opera Populaire and its fine talent Monsieur Firmin decided he needed a break from his work to be able to think more clearly. Monsieur Andre half mindedly nodded in agreement and Firmin went out for a leisurely stroll.

As he walked he noticed many of the cast and crew reading this morning's newspapers review on the opera from last night. Usually the newspaper's front page was drowned with an oversized picture of Carlotta Guidicelli, but this time there were words—and Firmin could not stand thinking about the type of gossip that would be stirred from this pompous articles.

With his blood near boiling point Firmin grabbed the closest newspaper from him and was given a loud and shrill "hey!" from one of the female seamstresses that was taking her break. He glanced over the front of the page and followed some of the articles only stopping when the publisher mentioned the "Phantom of the Opera" or the "Opera Ghost" intervening in some unimaginable way once more.

" "Mystery after gala night", it says "Mystery of Soprano's Flight!"

Mystified all the papers say, we are mystified—we suspect foul play!

Bad news on soprano scene—First Carlotta, now Christine!"

Firmin was astound as to the outstanding stories these writers created for the newspaper. He was afraid that the reader's would begin to believe what the little black and white paper say and he feared that it would harm the opera house's income. Monsieur Firmin never believed that running a real business could be this hard.

"What a way to run a business!

Spare me these unending trials!

Half your cast disappears,

But the crowd still cheers!

Opera!

To hell with Gluck and Handel

Have a scandal and you're sure to have a hit!"

Firmin threw the newspaper on the ground in frustration and as he was calming down he heard something fall behind him. As he turned around he looked at the ground and saw a letter that was addressed to one "Monsieur Firmin" written in amazing black ink script. As he held the letter in his hand he looked around everywhere to try to catch the prankster escaping the scene but alas, the grand foyer was deserted of everyone but him.

As Firmin glanced over both sides of the letter intended for his eyes he heard his friend and business partner yelling loud enough to wake the dead in the cemetery in Perros-Guirec,

"Damnable! Will they all walk out? This is damnable!"

Firmin ran up to him and tried to subdue Andre's anger,

"Andre, please don't shout! It's publicity and the take is vast! Free publicity!"

Andre still felt like there was nothing he could do to stop what was happening before his eyes: the Opera Populaire's cast members are beginning to disappear one by one.

"But we have no cast…"

Firmin shook his head slightly and chuckled. He walked with his friend down the stairs and said,

"Andre, have you seen the queue?"

Andre nodded his head slightly and Firmin smiled as he believed everything was all cleared up for now. However, that secure feeling left his body and mind immediately as he saw a familiar looking letter hanging out of Andre's coat pocket. He pointed it out to his friend and asked as he sighed,

"Oh, it seems you've got one too?"

Andre rolled his eyes and grumbled in response as he quickly leafed it out of his jacket and cleared his throat before reading the mysterious note he found on his bedside table this morning.

" "Dear Andre, what a charming gala! Christine was in a word sublime!

We were hardly bereft when Carlotta left—on that note the diva is a

A disaster, must you cast her when she's seasons past her prime?""

Firmin was shocked by the author's words, no one had ever dared to insult La Carlotta—the best opera singer in all of Italy. Now that his friend had shared his letter he found it was only befitting that he read his as well.

" "Dear Firmin, just a brief reminder: my salary has not been paid.

Send it care of the ghost, by return of post

P.T.O.

No one likes a debtor, so it's better if my orders are obeyed!""

Both men were soon outraged by the ominous notes that were being sent to them when they had down absolutely nothing wrong, or at least anything they would feel guilty about doing. Soon they found themselves yelling together,

"Who would have the gall to send this?

Someone with a puerile brain!

These are both signed O.G.

Who the hell is he?!"

For just a split second the men stopped what they were doing and thought of who the person or thing it was that would be sending them instructions. Instantaneously the managers remembered the ballerinas and their talk of the phantom of the opera and it all became very clear as they both spoke,

"Opera Ghost!"

Andre scoffed, "It's nothing short of shocking," while Firmin nodded and agreed with, "He's mocking our position!" Andre then included, "In addition he wants money," while Firmin thought, "what a funny aberration" and the managers were then agreed in unison,

"To expect a large retainer, nothing plainer—he is clearly quite insane!"

The two men continued to argue over their letters they were given by the Phantom of the Opera while the Vicomte ran into the room with them.

"Christine?!" He shouted in wonder causing Andre and Firmin to look up at him while Raoul continued on.

"Are you talking about Christine Daae? Is she here?" The Vicomte persisted on, he needed to know if she was actually here in Paris after so many years of being in the dark.

Andre looked at Firmin questioningly before he slowly answered Raoul's many questions carefully, Andre knew that they needed the DeChagney's to keep their patronage so that the vast amounts of money kept flowing in.

"Yes Christine Daae works here, in fact she was the leading soprano at the Gala last night. To your second question, good Vicomte, we have no idea where she is at. In fact all the newspapers' headlines are about her mysterious disappearance," Andre said as Firmin handed Raoul this morning's newspaper.

Raoul read the paper but was not dissuaded, these two men were the managers of the opera house! They should know about each cast and crew member, it is only their job! Raoul soon began to think, it is not uncommonly heard of that dancers and singers would sleep with their employers to get a raise in pay or a raise in fame—but Christine would never do that! Ever! She was such a sweet girl when we were little that I know she would never do that. But I have seen stranger…. Raoul was furious with his thoughts but with all the clues given it almost seemed the most likely truth.

"I have one more question monsieurs before I leave," Raoul said as he reached his hand into his jackets pocket.

"Of course Monsieur! Ask us anything you want!" Firmin groveled to the young man.

"Since you are Christine's employers I would presume you two of all people would know her whereabouts. Isn't this the letter you wrote?"

Firmin was shocked to see yet a third identical letter bound by a skull. He grabbed the letter and began to open it.

"And what is it that we are meant to have wrote? Written!" Firmin read the paper to himself before he repeated the contents out loud,

"Do not fear for Miss Daae,

The Angel of Music has her under his wing.

Make no attempt to see her again."

Raoul was freshly shocked, he didn't read the letter when he had first received it due to his frightened state, and he immediately came here. But as he repeated the letter in his mind he immediately realized that he had indeed seen Christine, she was the leading lady that he had brought flowers to and complimented at her dressing room!

It had been so many years since I had seen her, she looked so different she was hardly recognizable, he thought, oh dear god it was her I lied to about having a fiancée! I had only said that just in case another woman tried to flirt with me, oh god she must think I am betrothed now. Dammit!

Raoul waited for the two managers to get out of their shocked state before continuing his interrogation.

"Well if you didn't write it, who did?"

Just as soon as Andre opened his mouth to answer Raoul's question another person came barging into the foyer, a person he and Firmin hadn't seen in weeks.

Carlotta pushed past many people until she stood right in front of Andre and Firmin and began speaking in her thick Italian accent.

"Where is he?" She screamed.

"Ah, welcome back!" Andre dismissed the ex-leading lady's question.

"Your precious patron, where is he?" Carlotta continued on.

Firmin rolled his eyes and regarded the singer's question, "What is it now?"

Carlotta pulled a very familiar piece of paper out of her bodice, "I have your letter, a letter which I rather resent!" She spat as she glared at Raoul.

Firmin looked over to the Vicomte, "And did you send it?"

Raoul, appalled, yelled back, "Of course not!"

"As if he would," Andre included which earned him a nasty glare from Carlotta for siding with the patron instead of herself.

Carlotta then rounded on Raoul, "And did you send it?"

Raoul yelled once more, "Of course not!"

"What's going on?" Andre said as he watched the fight continue on.

"You dare to tell me that this is not the letter you sent?!" Carlotta said as she threw the letter at Raoul.

Raoul glared at her and asked calmly, "And what is it that I'm meant to have sent?" He then read the note aloud for everyone to hear.

"Your days at the Opera Populaire are numbered.

Christine Daae will be singing on your behalf tonight.

Be prepared for a great misfortune should you attempt to take her place."

Andre and Firmin looked at each other for a moment as they both contemplated on all that has happened in a single morning, they both knew that they would not allow this "Phantom" to act like he held any authority over them, the managers! He each held one of Carlotta's hands as they spoke with her about everything that occurred,

"Far too many notes for my taste,

And most of them about Christine!

All we've heard since we came

Is Miss Daae's name—?"

As they were speaking with everything, another two figures walked into the room and interrupted the conversation being held. The older ballet instructor and her daughter walked up to the small group of distressed managers, patrons and singers and delivered her news,

"Miss Daae has returned," Madame Giry began.

"I hope no words for as far as we are concerned," Firmin added quickly as to stop Carlotta's angers from becoming overbearing. However, it seemed that Andre did not feel the same way as he began to ask questions about her whereabouts,

"Where actually is she now?" He asked as he began to walk down the stairs towards the ballet instructor and dancer.

"I thought it best she was alone," Madame Giry answered as Meg stepped up and spoke as well.

"She needed rest," she softly said to the large crowd of people.

Raoul started to walk towards Antoinette and pleaded, "May I see her?" He had hoped he could somehow charm one of them to allow him access to see his beloved friend, he knew that he needed to talk to Christine. For some reason he felt that he was beginning to fall in love with her all over again.

Madame Giry raised her hand to stop the young man's advances and shook her head while replying, "No monsieur, she will see no one."

Carlotta and Piangi looked at each other before asking Madame Giry, "Will she sing? Will she sing?"

With a little smile hardly noticeable Madame Giry procured a note from her dress sleeve and held it out for all to see as she spoke, "Here I have a note!"

Everyone began to walk up to her asking, "Let me see! Let me see!"

"Please!" Firmin scoffed as he grabbed the note from Madame Giry and read it aloud for everyone,

" "Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature, detailing how my theater is to be run. You have not followed my instructions. I shall give you one last chance. Christine Daae has returned to you and I am anxious to see how her career should progress. In the new production of "Il Muto" you will therefore cast Carlotta as the Pageboy and put Miss Daae in the role of Countess. The role which Miss Daae plays calls for charm and appeal. The role of the Pageboy is silent—which makes my casting, in a word, ideal. I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in Box Five, which will be kept empty for me. Should these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur.

I remain, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant,

O.G." "

Carlotta rolled her eyes and threw up her arms as she shouted, "Christine! It's all a ploy to help Christine!"

Firmin shook his head to Andre, "Whatever next?" Andre nodded and agreed, "This is insane…"

Carlotta shot up once again, "I know who sent this: The Vicomte—her lover!"

Raoul glared at Carlotta, "Indeed? Can you believe this?"

As the managers tried, but failed, to get Carlotta's attention she cried to herself, "O traditori! This is a joke! This changes nothing! O mentitori!"

"Signora! You are our star and always will be!" Andre pleaded with Carlotta as she huffed and continued her whining.

Firmin finally put his foot down as the man in charge, "We don't take orders! Miss Daae will be playing the Pageboy—the silent role…Carlotta will be playing the lead!"

As Carlotta, Andre and Firmin went away trying to bring back the older lead soprano Raoul was about to leave before he felt someone grab his arm. He was about to yell at whomever thought it wise to grab ahold of someone so powerful but he soon saw that it was the young dancer he dance noticed in the opera. He remembered how well she could dance, how flexible she was and just how far she could stretch her legs…

"Monsieur do you have a moment, I need to speak to you about Christine?" Meg pleaded with the young, and noticeably handsome, Vicomte.

Immediately Raoul's thoughts of him with the dancer in front of him vanished as soon as heard Christine's name.

"Of course mademoiselle! Please tell me everything you know!" Raoul held out his hand for Meg. His father had always taught him to treat every lady like she was a queen.

As Meg accepted his hand Raoul led the two of them to Box Three, the Vicomte's personal box he used last night to watch the opera. Of course the view was not as splendid as the view would have been in Box Five but even he knew that the managers would not allow him in the Phantom's own box.

Meg sat down in the chair next to Raoul and scanned the room before beginning her speech she carefully prepared. When she knew that no else was around or would be able to eavesdrop on their conversation Meg sat back down and took a deep breath. I am doing this to help Christine, this man seems like he truly cares for her and I only want my friend to be safe.

"These notes about Christine are not just any notes, Monsieur le Vicomte. The person sending these is also the same person that has been posing as her Angel of Music. Sir, she tells me that she hears him talking to her through walls in her dressing room and I am afraid that this is one in the same as the Phantom of the Opera! Monsieur le Vicomte I believe the Phantom of the Opera is Christine's Angel of Music!"

Meg breathed in deeply after finishing her speech to the Vicomte DeChagney she watched carefully as she saw him thinking very hard about what she just spoke, so she sat back in her chair and waited for him to talk again.

Raoul sat there debating what the young woman just told him. Could what she is saying be true? She is Christine's friend no doubt, judging by how much she knows of Christine. But this man? Who is he? Why would any sane man truly wish to terrorize an opera house for so many years? Raoul knew that this man could not be trusted at all and become very worried for Christine. Yes, he thought, I will watch out for her safety and should anything happen I will take her away from this place and keep her safe in my own house if I have to. But first I need to learn more about this Phantom of the Opera—no matter how insane I think this accusation is.

"Meg, if you don't mind I am curious to see if you happen to know more about this so called "Phantom of the Opera"?" Raoul implored as he took her hand in his and gently rubbed it. To his pleasure he saw the little dancer blush profusely and watched her try to compose herself.

"Well sir all I really know are stories and myths about the mysterious Phantom. But anyways, he is a ghost who stalks the empty halls of the Opera and helps keep it running. He watches the performances from his box five every time we perform and the next morning the managers find a letter from the phantom that holds his notes and criticism from the performance the night before. If he is not pleased with the performance something usually goes missing at the next rehearsal that correlates with the section that did, in his opinion, the worst. For instance monsieur, the ballet did not do very well in 'Faust' and the next morning we could not find our ballet shoes until later when we went to rehearsal and found them all with a note attached that specified to Madame Giry that she needed to train us more. Maman did not like that one bit and she had us practice for five hours straight. The phantom has also done worse things such as killing people in the past when they got in his way, he is simply dangerous monsieur and I fear for Christine!"

Raoul listened to every word and speculated silently to how a ghost can do such tangible things if the ghost is dead and not with the living. Therefore, Raoul concluded, this "phantom" must be a man that is portraying such a silly role. But that leads him to his next question, why would someone want to do this with their lives? It sounds like so much work for one person to do: he must do the trick, not been seen doing so, and in that case he would have to walk through walls—probably the reason why people call him a ghost. Still, nonetheless, Raoul was very concerned for Christine and decided he must take action.

"Thank you Meg, you do not realize how much this has helped me. I am in your debt, is there anything I could do to repay you?" Raoul asked as he kissed Meg's hand.

Meg watched him kiss her hand and blushed once more, and in fact there was something that she knew that she would wish for him to do.

"In fact Monsieur le Vicomte there is something I would like to ask you to do for me, but please you may refuse is you feel that you could not, or would not, enjoy it," Meg replied softly with the hint of her blush remaining.

Raoul was sure that he knew that she wanted to go to bed with him, he had been offered by so many ladies the same opportunity and he never would displease a woman. However, Meg's answer shocked him when she continued.

"There is a New Year's Masquerade Ball that the Opera Populaire hosts every year. My mother has never let me gone to it due to the fact that I never had a date. I would love to go, if you would be so kindly to escort me?" Meg pulled her eyes up to look at Raoul's and noticed the lovely shade of brown they were.

Raoul was saddened by this, he was planning to ask Christine to the Masquerade when he saw her again. But he also knew that Christine's kind nature made her not be able to turn many people's offers down and so Raoul felt like she would have a date to the Masquerade before he would be able to ask her himself. Using his natural acting abilities he brightened his face with a smile and looked at Meg.

"Of course I would enjoy going to the Masquerade Ball with you Mademoiselle Giry, it would be my highest honor. I will write to you and tell you all the details: where we shall meet and dine."

"Thank you Vicomte! You do not realize how happy you have made me!" Meg then threw her arms around the Vicomte and pressed herself against him tightly as she hugged him. After she had done it she realized how improper it was and immediately pulled herself off him while apologizing for her rash actions and excused herself to her room to go to sleep.

After Meg had left Raoul sat there for a few minutes and wondered how he would be able to get Christine away from this freak and keep her as his. He knew that they were meant for each other, despite the fact they hadn't seen each other in ten years. He was ready to kill to make sure that she never left him again and he'd be damned to see someone lesser than him get something that he desperately wanted.