Chapter 1 revised! Sorry, half of it has been beta-ed, but I wanted to get this up. Sorry for the lack of updates!

DISCALIMER: I don't own Phantom of the Opera. How I wish I did.

Chapter 1

"…and allow me to introduce our new patron, the Vicomte de Chagny."

As a figure made its way through the crowded stage, Christine let out a small gasp and gripped the rail.

"What is it?" Meg whispered. Christine nodded in the direction of the three men standing beside Leferve.

"It's Raoul…" she said. "When we were small, we used to stay in a house by the sea…" She trailed off, a small dreamy smile appearing on her lips. "I guess you could say we were childhood sweethearts… He called me Little Lotte…"

Meg glanced at the small crowd gathered around the Vicomte, and grasped Christine's hand.

"Oh, Christine! He is so handsome."

Indeed, Christine thought as she glanced back at the gaggle of swooning chorus girls behind them. They certainly agree.

The giggles grew louder, earning all of them a vicious glare from the Ballet Mistress. Suddenly, a hush descended upon them as the Vicomte swept past. Christine ducked her head along with the rest of them, only sneaking a peek as Raoul brushed past her.

"Dancers! Now!" Madame Giry barked, pointing to the stage. The girls lined up in their stating positions immediately. The music started, and the dance began.

Christine dipped and whirled, concentrating hard on each movement. She glanced over at Meg, giving a wistful sigh at how easy dancing seemed to come for her friend.

This is why you will never be a main role, Christine Daae! Her brain told her. She mentally pushed the thought away. Concentrate!

Carlotta's voice pierced through her thoughts, as sharp as a knife. Christine winced, and continued to dance, noting now that both the managers seemed to have their gaze fixed on the two chorus girls in front of her.

Carlotta seemed to realise this too, for her voice seemed to grow louder and sharper as she glared at Andre and Firmin.

As the last note of the song died away, the girls and Christine moved off to the side of the stage. Carlotta however, stormed over to the two new managers, her eyes furious.

"I hope," she began loudly, cutting off the managers in their talk, "that your precious patron is as excited by dancing girls as you two, because I will NOT be singing!"

With that, she stalked around in a rage, screaming out orders as she headed for the exit.

Christine and Meg both shared a look, before turning their backs on the scene. They both knew it would be a while before anything was back in order again, especially when La Carlotta threw one of her daily tantrums.

The two managers exchanged a worried look, and tottered after the diva.

Christine and Meg stood with the rest of the ballet girls, chattering and occasionally throwing a look at the scene. After a while, Andre and Firmin both managed to miraculously bring the diva back, with much persuasion and a bucket load of false flattery.

"Be quiet, all of you!" Carlotta screeched at the throng of performers that littered the stage. The whispers died away slowly, as everyone focused their attention on the diva.

Andre and Firmin exchanged a brief glance. She was a bloody nightmare!

Monsieur Reyer picked up his baton, nodded slightly to Carlotta, and started the music.

Carlotta cleared her throat theatrically and began to sing.

"Think of me
Think of me fondly,
When we said goodbye!"

Everyone winced as she hit the top note, which sounded more like a dying cat being shredded with a knife than anything remotely human. Carlotta however, didn't seem to notice everyone's discomfort and continued her song.

From the wings, a shadow detached itself from the gloom and peered down at the shrieking soprano and the cast.

"Remember me,
Once in a while,
Please promise me you'll try!"

Erik's poor ears had never suffered so much torment until today. Generally, he refused to stay anywhere within 50 metres of Carlotta when she sang, except today he needed a glance of the new managers of his opera house. Erik was sorely regretting his decision now. Managers or no managers, he needed to stop that incessant noise! He glanced around the wings, and spied a rope that secured the backdrop of Hannibal.

Erik gave a small smirk and made his way silently to the rope. He seized it in his gloved hands and quickly untied it.

He was about to let go, until he suddenly caught sight of a small brunette standing only a few feet away from the diva who was directly in line of the backdrop.

Erik scowled, and tied the rope back onto its stabilizer. It wouldn't do for him to hurt his student after all. He sighed quietly. Carlotta would have to wait.

He looked around the stage and saw Antoinette Giry staring up at him. He gave her a curt nod, and dropped a letter rimmed with black down towards the stage. Erik swiftly turned around and disappeared into the shadows.

Antoinette's eyes followed the letter's descent onto the stage. As soon as it landed, she ducked around the chorus members and picked it up. A red wax seal in the shape of the skull glared back at her, its mouth grinning. She turned around and watched as the new managers uttered false praises of the Soprano, and then made her way over to them.

"I have a letter, sir, from the Opera Ghost," she stated, brandishing the letter in the faces of the two men.

As soon as the last two words were uttered, a flurry of high pitched shrieks came from the chorus girls, who pressed together in a group.

"The Opera Ghost!"

"He is here!"

"What is going to happen now...?"

More shrieks and screams followed this as most of the girls now were worked up into a state of near hysteria. The stagehands and the backing singers were now muttering nervously too, their eyes darting to and fro. Christine could feel herself getting anxious as she cast nervous glances around the stage. So far, she couldn't see anything out of place…

A sharp crack of a stick hitting the floor rang out through the theatre, silencing the noise at once.

"Girls!" The Ballet Mistress' voice rang out, thick with disapproval. "Behave yourselves!"

The Corps de Ballet immediately made themselves scarce, all standing as innocent as daisies.

"Oh, you people are obsessed!!" Firmin muttered in disgust, casting an angry glare at Antoinette.

She gave him a small look of displeasure, before holding up the letter once again and proceeded to read it out loud.

"My dear monsieurs. No doubt you will not have heard of me before, but I feel that it is my duty to welcome you most graciously to my Opera House-"

"HIS Opera House?" Firmin exclaimed in annoyance, his face slowly turning red.

"-and I do hope that you will continue to leave Box 5 empty for my use, as I had previously arranged with Leferve. I would also take this chance, gentlemen, to remind you that my salary is due."

"His SALARY?" Firmin looked like he was about to suffer an epileptic fit, before snatching the note away from Antoinette's hands.

Antoinette sniffed in annoyance.

"Well of course. Monsieur Leferve used to give him 20,000 francs a month. Perhaps you can afford more, with the Vicomte as your patron?"

Andre glanced at his companion, who looked as if he was on the edge of blowing up at the calm lady standing in front of him.

"Madame, I will not tolerate anymore of this sick joke." Firmin roared at the entire cast, who stood silent and refused to meet his gaze. Only Carlotta continued to look bored, gazing at her fingernails in a slight off-hand way.

"The Opera Ghost does not exist, and never did! Do I make myself clear? I've had quite enough of this nonsense!"

Antoinette looked at the raging man and calmly stated, "Then monsieur, you cannot blame us with the excuse that we did not warn you beforehand." With that, she turned and walked away.

Firmin yelled in annoyance and stalked to his office. Andre gave a look of unease at the silent performers, and followed his partner.

A/N: I know, it's a more extended version, but I really wasn't happy with the first one. I don't know If I'm happy with this one either...