I walked on stage after warm up; it was just another typical day at the Opera Populaire, but something seemed off you could tell. Meg ran up to me and said "Did you hear the news?"

"No. What news?" I asked.

"Gerard's retiring and we're getting two new managers." She replied with a somewhat worrisome tone. I honestly couldn't believe what I was hearing. Meg looked at me and I knew just exactly what was on both of our minds. I looked around the stage to make sure no one would hear what I was about to ask her.

"Have you seen him at all this week?" I whispered to her. She shook her head.

"No I was honestly hoping you had." She said, I shook my head as well and I knew this couldn't be good.

I turned to Meg "Well let's just pray he doesn't decide to make an unexpected appearance today." She nodded. I then heard the orchestra start playing and Madam Giry called to all the dancers to begin. Meg and I exchanged looks then ran to our places on the stage and began to dance. It wasn't long before Signora Carlotta began her lead soprano part off key as normal, as Gerard and the new managers entered the stage. The music stopped because Carlotta was insisting that the orchestra was playing it wrong.

Meg turned to me and whispered "How she ever got to be lead soprano I will never know." We both giggled as well as a few of the other dancers near us who heard the comment. Everyone started talking as Carlotta ranted about how the music was being played, no one really paying any attention to the managers. I glanced over and could tell that Gerard was trying to speak but like always no one was listening. He motioned to Madam Jessica Giry who could always get every ones attention, and like always she did then turned the stage back over to Gerard. He thanked Jessica and started to speak.

"I'm sure by now everyone has heard the rumors of my retirement. Well as of this moment I can now say they are true." Everyone looked around and started whispering to each other that they knew it all along when they honestly didn't. He motioned to the two gentlemen that we would now call managers. "Everyone it is my deepest honor to introduce the two gentlemen that now own the Opera Populaire Monsieur Richard Andréa and Monsieur Harold Firmin." The stage broke out into scattered applause. I tried to smile as I clapped and not make it so obvious that I was searching the walk ways up above trying to see if he was there. I knew he would probably show up soon to deliver his standard warnings to our new comers. Gerard continued as he introduced Carlotta and her husband, our two leads, and then went on to introduce Jessica and the other stage hands. And almost immediately Andrea and Firmin started kissing up to Carlotta they both requested that she give them a small sample of what they would see the next night at the performance. She agreed and just before she started demanded everyone keep quite. The stage became silent and then Carlotta began, once again off key, like Meg said it's still a mystery how she ever got to be lead soprano. She wasn't even half way through the song when a backdrop fell right on top off her. Almost everyone rushed to her side to help get the prop off of her. Giry rushed back stage and told Meg and I to stay put. She and I once again searched the walk ways, and I found him walking off into one of the many tunnels in his usual black suit and cape so no one could see him lurking in the shadows. But I would recognize him anywhere. Gerard called out for Joseph Buquet.

"Buquet! Buquet! For God's sake where is that man! Buquet!" He yelled. Then Joseph appeared at the other end of the stage.

"Please, sir don't look at me; I swear to you I wasn't at my post. I honestly don't know what happened. I don't think there's anyone up there." Then a smile came across his face as he said in a cruel joking manner. "Well then I guess we can assume it's a ghost." He laughed and walked off.

Andrea helped Carlotta up then said "Oh please, honestly. A ghost." Firmin came up behind Andrea and responded "Signora please, these things do happen." He said with a small chuckle. A look of pure rage came across her face we all knew that they were in for it now.

"These things do happen? What would you know ? You have been here ten minutes!" she turned to Gerard "And you! For the past three years these thing have been happening and have you even tried to stop them! No!" she turned back to the new managers "And until you stop these things from happening I will not be singing you can count on that! Find yourselves a new lead because I am leaving!" she stormed off the stage and in a way I think all of us were relieved.

Gerard walked up to the managers and said "Well, gentlemen, looks like you have your work cut out for you. I'll leave you to it." He turned and walked over to Meg and I then pulled me aside.

"I know, I know." I said. Gerard looked at me with crossed arms and one very irritated look. He sighed

"He can't keep doing this forever. The boy has a death wish I swear." He said.

"Gerard he's been doing this ever since he was a kid I don't think he's going to stop anytime soon. But I'll try and talk to him." He looked at me and chuckled.

"Now I'm trusting you to keep him straight while I'm gone. Promise me you'll at least try to do so?" I smiled at him and nodded. He came up, gave me a hug and left. I walked back out to the stage where the new managers were trying to figure out what to do. Firmin looked at Jessica as she reentered the stage.

"Signora Carlotta will be back, won't she?" He said quickly.

Jessica looked at him and said "I don't think Monsieur," she paused and handed them a note "I have a letter here from the Opera Ghost himself." Andrea looked at her like she had lost her mind. For he did indeed think that she had lost her mind.

"Oh good lord! You're all obsessed!" Firmin took the note and Giry started to explain

"He simply wishes to welcome you to his opera house, and demands that you keep box five empty for his viewing pleasures. And of course to remind you that his salary is due." They both laughed.

I walked over and stated "This is no laughing matter Monsieur. The Opera Ghost is to be taken very seriously around here. I'm surprised it slipped Gerard's mind to inform you of him. The ghost is real Monsieur's and he is not one to trifle with."

They looked at me and Firmin asked "And you are?"

"Christine Daae."

They had a puzzled look "Daae, any relation to the violinist?" Andrea asked.

"Well I would think so, being his only child." I said in a non-regretful smart-aleck tone.

Firmin turned away and said "Well ghost or not do we have an understudy?"

One of the dancers piped up and said "Have you met her? We're lucky anyone else even gets to audition for the leads. So no there is no understudy for the Signora."

Meg stepped out "Christine can sing it sir." I quickly turned and thought she had lost it. She grabbed my arm and pulled me up front.

"A chorus girl? No I don't think so."

"Please, she been taking lessons sir, she can sing the Signora's part." Meg said. I pinched her arm and gave her a look that simply said that I really didn't want to do this.

Andrea and Firmin pondered the thought and finally said "Alright then, let's hear it." Meg nudged me to center stage. I had never really sung for anyone before so I was nervous, but Meg and Jessica had heard me during my lessons and whenever I would sing just to pass time in my dressing room getting ready for a show. I took a deep breath and look to Jessica, she nodded to me and the music began. I'm not going to say that I was perfect because I don't believe I was, but I will admit I sounded ten times better than Carlotta did. As I sang I turned to the managers just to see their reaction, and a look of surprise swept their faces. Andrea commanded that the music stop. "Where did you learn to sing like that? Who taught you?"

"I'm afraid I can't mention his name sir." Firmin stepped up and asked why they couldn't know. "Because I gave him my word that he would remain anonymous, and my word Monsieur is something I do not break." They tried again and again to get me to tell but I wouldn't give in. Jessica grew tired of the topic and stopped them by dismissing the stage. Everyone dispersed and Jessica told the managers that some things they didn't need to know everything about and I was defiantly one of them.

That night we all gathered back stage like we always do after dinner to share stories and just talk. Joseph Buquet was in the center telling what he thought he knew of the Opera Ghost which was mainly rumors. I stood behind him leaning on one of the sets listening to his tale of lies. "Cold, pale skin, nothing but skin and bones really. A man made up of death. A man so hideous he is best to be feared more than anything. In the darkest corners of the opera house is where he lurks waiting to catch one of us and to, kill!" All of the girls screamed I walked out to put a stop to this madness.

"Joseph Buquet hold your tongue!" All eyes were then on me.

He turned around and asked "Why is it always you who speaks up to defend him? What is it you know that we don't Christine?" I glared at him as he turned the center over to me. I looked around and studied all the curious, horrified faces.

"It might be very true I know things many of you don't, for I am one of the few who have been in the tunnels and made it out alive. Do not even think about crossing our phantom, for if you do he will strike at you and when he does he will strike you dead. Heed my warnings and you have nothing to fear." I turned to Buquet who now had fear in his own eyes. "You best watch your back Buquet; you are on very thin ice. Just remember," I started to announce to all "that those who speak of what they think they know normally find too late that silence is wise." I walked up next to Joseph so he could hear this warning loud and clear before I left. "Keep your hand at the level of your eyes, or you will soon regret it." I walked off the sound of my footsteps echoing through the opera house after my warning no one spoke. Meg got up and chased after me.

"And Gerard thought he had a death wish." She said as she caught up with me.

"Oh my dear Meg whatever do you mean." I said babying her like always. She gave me a look and told me to grow up. "Ha, but what's the fun in that." I said laughing and then ran off. I went to the chapel to light a candle for my father, eleven years dead now, but it honestly seems much longer than that. I lit the candle and my mind began to wander off. I began to think of my father and my old friend now well known as the Viscount De Chaney but back then just known as my fellow trouble maker little Raoul. Then there was his sister Sophia De Chaney another fellow trouble maker. She was the one who would always cover for us if anyone asked where Raoul and I had wandered off too. As my thoughts raced and I remembered one good time after the other I heard a voice and it startled me I knew who it was almost immediately.

"You sounded amazing today." I jumped and then began to laugh.

"You know one of these days you're going to scare me so badly that I just might die." He laughed and like always he was not to be found in any part of the room. I could hear him through the walls though. I called out to him. "Erik, you know you shouldn't have done that today."

"Done what?" he replied in his usual playful manner. I was beginning to get a little annoyed. "You know what. The backdrop that 'fell' on Carlotta; we all know it was you. Mister almighty phantom." I said in a very sarcastic voice. The room became quiet but I knew he was still there although I couldn't see him. I knew he wasn't going to respond to that topic because I knew he was in fact proud of himself for finally running Carlotta out of the Populaire. So I changed the subject. "Where are you?" I said curiously.

"Try to guess." He replied. I stood up to walked around the room and thought. The two stain glass windows; inside one all sorts of bright spring colors and the other darker colors.

"The windows?" I guessed.

"Maybe." He replied, I kept studying the room I noticed the beams you could hardly see them in the dark.

"Ok, how about the beams?" I guessed with confidence this time.

"Possibly." He was toying with me and I hate it when he does that.

"Erik what's the point of this game when you refuse to play fair." I heard him laugh I then said "If you won't play fair I just might have to come in the tunnels after you. And believe me when I say I will find you my dear friend." He told me he had no doubt that I would find him. Then changed the topic and asked me how my audition with the new managers went. I couldn't help but laugh. I looked around still trying to find him. "It went fine thank you very much, and for the record it's getting harder and harder to keep our friendship a secret especially with these new managers."

"You let me worry about them alright." He said quickly

"Erik they're not like Gerard, they have no respect for you like everyone else does. They don't believe you even exist. But I blame that on Buquet." I explained to him.

He replied "You blame everything on Buquet Christine."

"Well it would help if he wasn't such a pain in the neck." He agreed with me. Then I asked him what he was going to do about the new managers. Once again he told me not to worry about it he would take care of it. It irritated me to no end when he kept his little pranks a secrets from me, and considering these two had already annoyed him I knew that whatever he was planning it couldn't be good. I stayed there and talked to him for what seemed hours then I heard Meg down the hall looking for me.

"Christine! Christine are you down here!"

"That's Meg I should probably go." He said ok and that he would be watching me at the performance tomorrow night. Then once again reassured me that the managers would be taken care of. "Erik, promise me one thing before our farewell."

"Anything, just name it." He replied

"You won't cause too much trouble, because I'm the one that has to clean it up when you're done." He laughed and gave me his word that he wouldn't. We said our goodbyes then I ran off to find Meg. Once I did it was straight to our rooms because it had been most definitely a long hard day.