*DISCLAIMER: For years I've been wanting to write my own Disney take of The Phantom of the Opera. But this time, I am not alone. I have a friend who is also helping me with this story. DinoHero. Thank you for being a part of this my friend!
And remember, this is for fan purposes ONLY! The Phantom of the Opera belongs to Gaston Leroux. Thank you for reading and enjoy!*
*Chapter 1: A Grim Warning*
The Palais Garnier stood as a shining beacon in the city of Paris, a monument to the city's history to rival that of Notre Dame herself. A bastion of the arts and culture that the people prided themselves upon. But what many do not know is that this opera house once held a dark and tragic secret...
"What do you mean 'under new management'?" One of the stagehands asked the elderly woman, Madame Giry. The news had come as a shock to all who worked at the Palais Garnier. They had learned that the owner of the opera house is retiring and there will be two new owners. Lefèvre is calling the staff of the opera house to the stage to introduce them to the new owners.
"Meg! Christine! Hurry along now!" Madame Giry called. Her daughter, Meg Giry, is the youngest in the opera house and one of the dancers in performances. She has blond hair and brown eyes. And a young woman followed her. Christine Daae. She was orphaned at age 7 and Madame Giry took her in after Christine's father passed away. Christine grew up in the opera house and eventually worked in the costume department. Christine has light brown hair and brown eyes.
"Is Monsieur Lefèvre really leaving this opera house?" Meg asked her mother.
"Yes, dear. He is retiring. The new owners await on stage. We must not keep them waiting any longer. I have to assist Lefèvre on certain matters." Madame Giry told the girls.
The patrons sat in the seats as they look up on stage to see three men and Madame Giry. Lefèvre stood beside two men who are the new owners of the opera house. Firmin and Andre. Anyone who looked at Andre would think a squirrel left its tail under his nose. And his companion was no less odd. Firmin was portlier, but with greying hair and a beard that looked as if it had been used for dusting. They both wear formal clothing with top hats.
"Ladies and gentlemen. Thank you all for coming on short notice. Madame Giry told you all about the news, but I will explain to those who have missed it. Starting today, I am going to retire from being the owner of Palais Garnier. I sold it to the new owners, Firmin and Andre!" The elderly man said. Madame Giry clapped for them as some of the workers do.
"We are deeply honored to be the new owners of the opera house." Firmin said as he took off his hat.
"While this opera house is under new management, I do believe we have a season planned?" Andre asked, turning to Madame Giry. Before the old woman would speak, coming in the theater is a woman with dark red hair in curls, green eyes, wearing a pink gown with a feather fan. She has a beauty mark above her lip on the right. She is the diva of the opera house. Carlotta.
"What is this about new management?" Her thick accent bounced off the walls of the theater.
"Ah, Miss Carlotta Giudicelli! Big fan of yours!" Andre said with a grin as he walked down from the stage. He took her hand and kissed it. "I am Andre, one of the new owners of the opera house. And this here is my partner, Firmin." He gestures Firmin who made a nod to the diva. While she did not pull away, she made no attempt to hide her displeasure. She never liked anyone unless they were of a certain class. While Carlotta treated guests fair enough most of the staff viewed her as the Devil's daughter.
"Charmed." Carlotta spoke with a fake grin. Before one of them could speak, something is falling from the catwalk. A note.
"It's the Opera Ghost!" One man spoke from the seat, pointing at the note. Lefèvre caught it in his hands. He stared at it and saw the seal. A shape of a red skull. He placed the note in his pocket.
"What is it?" Firmin asked the retired owner.
"He's here..." Meg whispered to Christine. "The Phantom of the Opera."
"Er, as I was saying, these gentlemen will run the opera house. Please respect them as you respect me. Thank you all for the great years and I wish you all luck for the next seasons." Lefèvre said. He grabbed his cane and looked over at Madame Giry who nodded at him. "Um, gentlemen, a moment of your time please." He said as he walked down the steps. Andre and Firmin are confused by the retired owner's strange behavior. It had something to do with the note. It came from the catwalk above them. As the men left, Madame Giry looked up at the shadows to see the dark shadow looking down at her with its yellow eyes. She blinked and the figure is gone. Madame Giry turned to the staff.
"Was it the ghost?" One woman asked.
"This doesn't concern you. As you were!" Madame Giry ordered. Everyone got up and started to return to work. Madame Giry started to leave the theater to meet with the owners. Firmin and Andre must know about the ghost if they know what's good for them.
"Opera Ghost?!" Firmin and Andre asked in shock. Lefèvre and Madame Giry nodded. Lefèvre opened the note to read them what the ghost wrote. He welcomes the new owners of the opera house. There are rules they must follow.
"You never mentioned the ghost before." Andre said. "After you sold us this place, you are telling us this place is haunted by a ghost!"
"Nonsense!" Firmin laughed. "This must be a trick."
"This is no trick, monsieur." Madame Giry spoke as she paces around the room. In the middle there is a statue. It is moving as if it were watching her. Firmin noticed this. "The Opera Ghost has been living in this opera house for many years."
"Longer than I have." Lefèvre added as he gestured the walls and some head busts. "He moves through walls and doors. He listens to anyone in this opera house."
"Is he here now?" Firmin asked with a smirk. "And what rules do we have to follow? What happens if we break them, hmm?"
"Keep Box 5 empty for him during performances." Madame Giry responded. "It is his box. No one is allowed to be in it."
"And never go down below the opera house." Lefèvre said. "For anyone who goes down there, they never return..." He leaned over to the new owners. "I remember 3 years ago when one of the violinists stumbled down in the catacombs and he was never seen again. The Opera Ghost is very strict about his home down there. Never dare to go down to the catacombs."
"What does this Opera Ghost even look like?" Andre asked.
"Surely you two must've seen him." Firmin added.
"He hides in the shadows. No one has seen his face." Lefèvre replied. "Not even me. He pulls tricks around the opera house for amusement. Harmless tricks around me because I've never done anything wrong to the ghost, but he can pull nasty tricks on those who mock him." A statue moved to look at the owners. The room itself felt cold.
"Absurd! I don't believe in ghosts!" Andre said. Suddenly, one head bust behind him fell and broke into pieces, making him cry in alarm. Firmin walked over to where the head bust stood against the wall. Nothing caused it to fall. He slowly turned to Lefèvre and Madame Giry.
"How is that...?"
"He is here." Lefèvre said. "Respect his home. Respect his rules. Now, if you need me, I will be off to London. A pleasure, gentlemen. Madame Giry." He left them to start his life anew. He is happy to be out of the opera house. He is tired of tricks and threats from the Opera Ghost. He had to do this for his health. If he hadn't tried to leave sooner, he'll go mad.
XX
"Christine?" Meg's voice spoke. Christine blinked and turned to her. "You have that look on your face again. And you kept staring up at the catwalk. You know the Phantom won't reveal himself around us." Christine couldn't help but to smile a little. She remembered one Christmas she left the plate of Russian Teacakes on stage one night for the Opera Ghost. She has heard so many rumors about him. Most say he is a dangerous being from Hell. Others say he is haunting this place after his death. But Christine never believed those stories. According to Madame Giry, the Opera Ghost lives beneath the opera house somewhere and only comes up to cause shenanigans. Christine wished she could see what he looked like.
"Meg. Have you wondered what the Phantom is really like?" Christine asked. "I've been living here since your mother took me in and heard stories about him. He's never bothered us. Only to some patrons and Lefèvre."
"He almost crushed Carlotta with the backdrop during rehearsal." Meg reminded her friend. "The Phantom causes trouble and tried to scare people away. But you are right about one thing. He never tried any tricks on my mother or us. My mother knows about the Opera Ghost more than anyone."
"But your mother refuses to tell us about him." Christine said.
"For our safety. I think it is for the best we don't know about the ghost. I don't want to end up missing like the others who tried to find out more about him." Meg said. Christine frowned a bit. She returned to work as she pushed the cart of costumes. On the catwalk, there is a black cat watching the staff below. Its green eyes watched Christine. The cat scurried off before anyone could see it.
That night in the streets, two children are running through the alleyways. The girl is crying as the boy is pulling her wrist, trying to get her to run faster from someone or something. They bumped into the wall. The children turned to the man in tattered clothing. He is laughing as he slowly approaches them.
"Leave us alone!" The boy shouted. "We have nothing to give you!"
"You best come with me, little ones." The man said. He grabbed the girl who is screaming for help. The boy tried to hit the man, but the man smacked the boy away. As soon as the man turned around, there is a black figure. He is wearing a hat, a cloak, and a black mask. His yellow eyes glared at the kidnapper. "This ain't your business!" The man shouted.
"Sir, please! Help!" The girl whimpered. The mysterious figure said nothing but moved forward. He punched the man in the gut, making him howl in pain. The girl was released, and she hurried to the boy. The children watched the man in black fighting the kidnapper. The man in black grabbed the kidnapper by the shirt collar.
"If I find you in the streets again, you will not see the morning sun!" He said in a threatening voice.
"Monsieur, at mercy!"
"And never take innocent children!"
"Monsieur...!" The kidnapper choked as the man in black threw him aside. He backed away in fear. "What are you?" The man in black didn't say a word. He took one step forward, making the kidnapper scamper away. Now that he is gone, the man in black turned to the children. He approached them and gave them a small bag of money.
"You're safe now. Go home." He said. The boy held the bag of coins.
"Sir?"
"Thank you, monsieur." The girl spoke. The man in black disappeared in the shadows. The children don't know what to think but they left with the money they need. They were unaware they were saved by the Opera Ghost himself.
Madame Giry is following the black cat in the quiet halls of the opera house. She made sure her daughter and Meg are in bed and no one else is left behind after the shifts are done. She and the cat are approaching one of the dressing rooms. They walked inside and Madame Giry closed the door behind her to lock it. In front of her is the mirror. The black cat meowed at her, wanting to return home to its master. The elderly woman moved the head bust and revealed the handle. She turned it and the mirror opened... The other side revealed a secret passageway. Madame Giry and the cat entered the cellars. Feeling around in the dark, she found where she had hidden the matches and lit a candle.
The collection of props had much less dust than one would expect, the layer being thin. Only a few strings of cobwebs hung from them, a sign that they had not been abandoned. Through the maze Madame Giry weaved herself, heading to a spot she knew well.
The catacombs that ran beneath the opera house were a deadly labyrinth that swallowed the foolish. She knew too well how many who ventured therein had been lost. Thankfully she was not mad to attempt to go far. Once she was at an old stairwell, she waited. The black cat meowed as it heard something. Sounds of footsteps. There is the man in black. The Phantom of the Opera. He walked up towards the stairwell and see his pet and Madame Giry.
"Good evening, Erik." Madame Giry spoke.
"Have you been followed?" The man wearing the mask asked.
"No. You know me. I would never let anyone follow me." Madame Giry replied. She followed him through the dark maze and reached the lake. They used the boat to get across to where Erik's lair is hidden. In the cavern where the candles rise from the water, and they are lit. The gates open and the boat went through. Erik helped Madame Giry off the boat and the cat hopped off and hurried in the room to rest. The lair is filled with many lit candles, old props from the opera house, collections of masks, an organ, and a mirror.
"The new managers have a lot learn about their business." Erik said.
"You spooked them, and it should be enough for them to learn their place." Madame Giry said as Erik picked up the white mask and walked over to the mirror. He removed the black mask to put on the white one. He removed his black cloak to reveal his suit and his hat to reveal his black hair. "And will you try not to ruin our rehearsals? You almost crushed Carlotta before." Madame Giry asked.
"That woman can't sing! For 5 years, I cannot handle her deafening tone. After a few tricks, nothing could get her to quit. She craves for fame." Erik said.
"Erik, I am asking you. We need to be prepared for our business. We need money."
"I am aware of the season for the opera house. Do not fret." Erik told her as he walked over to the organ. He started to play. The music echoes through the lair. Madame Giry noticed the notes. Erik is working on the new opera. Not only he is called the Opera Ghost, but he is also a music genius. For years he had been giving his music to the opera house. Many people were captivated by it. During performances, Erik would watch and listen from Box 5, and he was satisfied. What he is not pleased is that Carlotta is the diva of many shows, and her voice is unbearable. Too loud and very high.
"And another thing. That ratcatcher, Charles, had been trying to proof everyone he has seen you. He claims he has seen your face." Madame Giry said. Erik smirked.
"That fool has never seen me. He is spreading rumors about me as usual. But if he ever comes into my home, I'd be sure he will never see the light of day." He spoke. Madame Giry dared not to question Erik of what he did to those who stumbled upon his home. Erik is very strict about his home and appearance. He wore a mask for personal reasons. He never revealed his face to anyone...except Madame Giry.
"Erik..."
"Your daughter will not be harmed if she ever found out where my home is. She will be giving a warning. Same with...Christine Daae."
"I noticed you received those treats from her during Christmas." Madame Giry said. "You left her a thank you note. She was pleased." Erik didn't say a word. He remembered that night he found the plate of Russian Teacakes. He wondered why a woman like Christine would do such a thing for him. He admitted to himself that the dessert was delicious, and he had to leave her a note.
"Christine..." Erik whispered.
"Pardon?"
"...Nothing." Erik snapped out of his thoughts about Christine and continued to play the organ.