Phantom of the Opera

From that moment on, it was as if the Angel of Music had disappeared. His voice ceased to resonate in your dressing room, leaving an emptiness that echoed in every corner. Sometimes, you talk to yourself in front of the mirror, waiting for the Angel of Music to hear your pleas, but the only thing that answers you is silence. It feels as if a piece of your heart is missing. You don't dare to imagine what will become of you if he doesn't come back, if he truly disappears. ----------------------- Suddenly, voices erupt in the hallway. You startle as you recognize the altered tones. "Why would I use Box Five? That makes no sense!" It’s Madame Giry and the director! "You're the ticket agent for the distinguished patrons! If it's not you trying to rip us off, who else could it be?" The director shouts, waving some papers in front of his face. "Box Five belongs to the Phantom! If you ignore the rules and try to sell it, you’ll unleash his wrath! If you offend the Phantom and he attacks other guests, you will bear the consequences!" Madame Giry points an accusing finger. The ghost again? Just when you thought peace had returned... "Stop using the ghost as an excuse, to hell with your rules!" The director throws the papers on the floor. "I see what you’re doing, you want the best box for yourself so you can sell tickets under the table!" "Every sacred place has its own rules. I've worked at this opera for decades, how dare you insult me like this?" She lifts her chin, defiantly. "Maybe the previous director fell for your cheap tricks, but I won’t! And I won’t let you cause trouble under my watch!" The director steps toward her, yelling. "The seats in Box Five belong to the opera and whoever buys them! They do not belong to a damned ghost!" "You will pay for your ignorance! The Phantom will make you regret your arrogance!" Madame Giry turns abruptly. "Let me go! I can leave on my own! One day, you’ll beg me to return." "Madame Giry, wait! Where are you going?" You try to approach, but your voice is lost in the commotion. She doesn’t even look back. "Let's get this straight!" the director shouts, adjusting his clothes. "Whoever tries to use the ghost as an excuse to affect the business of the opera will leave just like she did!" You freeze,as you process what just happened. Then, two dancers approach, whispering: "Did the director really fire Madame Giry? What happened in the box?" "Some audience members claimed they heard the Phantom’s voice in the box. They were so terrified, one of them even fell down the stairs." "Is he alright?" you ask, a chill running down your spine. "They say he broke his leg! We can’t hide the fact that this opera is haunted any longer." "No wonder the director is so angry…" you murmur. "I hope I never run into that ghost… Let’s get out of here!" they say, hurrying away. Just as you consider leaving, a shadow catches your eye. It hides behind a pile of props, almost invisible. One by one, the employees disperse until only that shadow remains, stirring a strange feeling within you. Is it the same figure from the banquet? Meg said it might be the Phantom… Should you warn the others? While you hesitate, the shadow disappears. You search everywhere and then you see it again, moving upward. Without thinking, you chase after it, dodging curtains and set pieces. It moves swiftly and vanishes down the hallway. You have no time to explain to anyone around you. If it's just an eccentric employee, it's just a false alarm. But if it really is the ghost.... Then he's up to something again.... Fear and a sense of responsibility fight inside you. Then, you remember Joseph. If someone had arrived in time at that moment.... Maybe he would still be alive? Fear gnaws at you, but you know this is a unique opportunity. Whatever happens, you must go and see. Then you realize... it’s heading toward Box Five! You follow the shadow stealthily. Your long skirt and clicking heels make it difficult. More than once, you fear you’ve been discovered, but the figure seems indifferent to its surroundings. It turns and enters Box Five. You remember that Madame Giry mentioned that this was the ghost box, perhaps this shadow is him. Suddenly, hands reach out from behind the curtain and grab you! "Don’t move!" a rough voice whispers in your ear. "Not a word!" You try to scream, but he pushes you against the wall and covers your mouth. In the struggle, you can’t make out his features against the backlight, you only feel his hands gripping you like steel claws. "Listen, you're in trouble." You stop struggling when you hear his words, what does he mean, and who is he? "You've let yourself be lured by the ghost. You still have time, you must leave the opera as soon as possible." Let yourself be lured? What has he got to do with the ghost? All sorts of questions flood your mind. The man holds you firmly but does nothing more. You soon realize he means no harm. His hands are warm. Ghosts are supposed to be cold… This is clearly a living person. "I know what you're thinking. It doesn't matter who I am, what matters is that..." Suddenly, he stops. His gaze settles on a corner of the box. He seems to have heard something. "Here it comes! There's no time, listen to me, leave this place and save yourself." "Wait, who’s coming?" The man releases you, places his index finger on your lips, turns, and hurries away. You step out of the box after him, but the hallway is empty. The man has vanished completely. You’re sick of this feeling. Everything is secrets and mysteries, and you’re being pulled around like a puppet. Everyone fears the Phantom, but no one dares face him directly. They’d rather not speak or think about him and pretend everything is fine. Who should you look for? You begin to think, although you didn't see his silhouette clearly, you are sure that no employee has that complexion. You don't know what his purpose is in hiding in the opera house, but you think you should tell the director as soon as possible. Judging by the hour, he must be about to leave, you have to stop him. You quickly head to his office. --- "Director, do you have a minute? "you say, holding your breath. "And you are…? Ah, wait, I think I’ve seen you before." "My name is ____ ____. I’m..." "Ah, yes, yes. You’re one of our opera singers, I remember. What do you need?" As soon as he asks, you begin explaining everything that happened. "There’s a very strange man hiding in the opera house. I just encountered him in Box Five." "Again?" He roars, reddening. "What in heaven's name is the matter with these people?" The director's choleric voice interrupts you and he starts waving his hands back and forth. "There you go again! You come with your tales of ghosts and apparitions? Haven't I made myself clear?" “But...,” you try to insist. "I don't want a bunch of lunatic employees, isn't a woman with a screw loose enough? First a ghost, now a guy who's hiding. It's the greatest opera in the whole world, not a circus!" The director has no patience at all. You know if you say anything else, he won't believe you. "I'm very busy. Why don't you go get some fresh air? Stop thinking about specters and supernatural things. Are ghost stories in fashion in Paris now?" The director waves his hand and disinterestedly dismisses you. You are about to explode, but you keep your composure. You know that if you act impetuously, you'll get nowhere. You'd better go back and think of something. And that’s exactly what you do when you return to your dressing room. Even if the Phantom is elusive, he has a special interest in Box Five. Perhaps that’s the key. "____, did you have an unexpected encounter today?" Your Angel of Music! Your heart leaps at his voice. "My Angel, you’ve finally returned! I thought you were gone forever." "I will return to your side whenever you need me." "I need you! Of course I need you! You know how lost I was before you. You were the one who helped me stand again." "Then I suppose you won’t mind telling me about your… happy encounter." His tone is sharp. "How did you know?" "I am your Angel. There is nothing I don’t know. I am always watching you. I saw you approach a dangerous being, and it disappointed me." "You mean that mysterious man? It wasn’t intentional! I had no choice..." "____, are you saying I was wrong? That I accused you unjustly?" "But… I…" "From the way you’re acting, it seems you no longer need me. Perhaps I should let you go." The Angel of Music does not allow you to give him explanations. His cold voice keeps questioning you. You feel a lump in your throat, the words won't come out of your mouth. "What's wrong, are you agreeing with me?" "No! Please don't be like that..." "___... are you crying?" His cold voice cracks for a moment, and a pang of panic makes you feel, for an instant, that he might be just an ordinary person. "___, I'm sorry, don't cry. It's just that... I'd like you to devote yourself completely to music like before. Only you, me and music, we can get to the palace of the arts, where no one else has been able to get to. It is clear that you are distracted, you have let the earthly world influence you. Your artistic career is in danger. But... perhaps it is not you who walks on the brink of danger. It's me that the darkness consumes..." "What do you mean? What darkness are you talking about?" His only response is a sigh. That night, you call out to him many times, but the only answer you receive is silence.