Chapter One
A New Start
In the office of the Opera Populaire, the manager John Halot was signing
the theater over to its new owners, Andre Moncharmin and Richard
Firmin. Andre was a good-hearted man in his late seventies. Firmin was
a quick- tempered man in his early thirties. Even though he could get a
nasty temper, Firmin was most often friendly and likable. Firmin put on
his glasses and looked over the contract.
" Congratulations gentlemen. You are the proud new owners," John
said as he shook Firmin's hand.
" You never did tell us why you were retiring," said Firmin.
" I've worked at this theater long over my retirement. It's time
someone took my place," said John. " If you'll excuse me sirs." John
left the office. Firmin and Andre started to explore their surroundings.
John unlocked the theater's diner and walked inside. He sat down in a
booth in the corner. Two figures approached him and sat down, on the
right of John sat the Phantom on the left sat the Phantom's younger
brother William.
" Why have you called us here?" asked the Phantom.
" I'm retiring. Two men are taking my place," said John.
William's eyes widened.
" But why? You've been running this theater as long as we've been
here!" cried William. John looked at them.
" I'm an old man William. I can't run this theater forever,"
said John.
" I'm sure you told them about us," said the Phantom a little
angry.
" I've told them about you, but not William," said John. William
glared.
" Oh sure! Let Erik get all the credit!" snarled William.
" It doesn't matter. They don't believe me," said John. The
Phantom smiled.
" Well then, we'll just have to make them believe. Right
William?" asked the Phantom. William grinned.
" Right," answered William. The Phantom got up.
" You go home William. I shall have a word with our new
managers," said the Phantom. William got up and left the diner. The Phantom
shook John's hand. " It's been a pleasure working with you John." The Phantom
then disappeared. John got up and left the theater.
In the office, Firmin was placing a picture of a young woman on the
desk. The Phantom appeared before them, then bowed. " Gentlemen, allow
me to introduce myself. I am the Opera Ghost." Firmin and Andre
stared.
" Is this some kind of joke?" snarled Firmin. The Phantom smiled
at him.
" This is no joke sir, I can assure you. I heard that you didn't
believe the story of the Opera Ghost, so I've come here to prove my
existence," said the Phantom. The Phantom walked up to the desk, he held
up the picture. " Who is this lovely lady?" Firmin frowned.
" My wife," said Firmin softly. The Phantom looked at him.
" Will she be visiting the theater?" asked the Phantom. Firmin
shut his eyes and turned around so that his back was to Andre and the Phantom.
" No, she died two months ago," said Firmin with difficulty. The
Phantom's eyes widened.
" How?, asked the Phantom. He suddenly wished that he had kept
quiet. Firmin turned to him.
" She died while giving birth, I was with her to the very end,"
said Firmin.
" Well, you still have your child," said the Phantom. Firmin
gave a sobbing yelp.
" No. My...My son didn't make it either. He's dead as well.
I.I...I'm sorry!" Firmin burst out crying. The Phantom felt great pity for Firmin
and decided not to do any cruel tricks to mock the managers. Andre laid
a hand on Firmin, then looked at the Phantom.
" Please sir, don't talk about family. Richard is quite upset
about the tragedy," said Andre. The Phantom nodded.
" I meant no harm. I'm sorry," said the Phantom. He took a note
from his cloak and placed it on the desk. " I guess I'll just leave this here
for you to read when you're ready." The Phantom then disappeared.
Firmin took out his handkerchief and dried his eyes.
" Oh Jennifer," cried Firmin. Andre picked up the note and began
to read it.
'Dear Firmin and Andre, I welcome you to my opera house. Since you are
new, I have written down my demands. I don't know if John has told you
them already, but this is just a reminder.
1. Box-Five is to remain empty for my use.
2. My salary of twenty thousand francs is to be paid each month.
3. Every opera is to be approved by me before it is performed.
This month's salary has already been paid, so you don't have to pay
until next month. Enjoy the theater.
O.G '
Firmin sighed and sat down at the desk. He started to roll a pen back
and forth.
" Do the members of the Opera Populaire know that John has
retired?" asked Firmin.
" Yes, tomorrow they're having a special dinner in our honor. I
hear that we are to sit with the prima donna, Carlotta," said Andre.
In the Phantom's lair, William was writing music on a sheet of paper, he
stopped every now and then to play on his violin. The Phantom entered.
William turned to him.
" How are our managers?" asked William.
" They seem to be a little confused. I shall allow the crew of
the Opera Populaire to explain the ghost to them," said the Phantom. "
Tomorrow the theater is having a dinner in their honor. I want you to
mingle in the crowd and get some information about our new friends."
William put his violin back in its case. He smiled at the Phantom.
" Mingle. I like the sound of that," said William.
" Don't give yourself away. I shall be sending notes to everyone that
you are not to be spoken of," said the Phantom. William frowned.
" You mean I am to remain unheard of?" asked William. " But they
shall see us in Box-Five. We always sit there. The managers would see me. "
" Then I'm afraid we'll have to find you a new seat. I believe the
catwalk is stable," said the Phantom. William opened his mouth to say
something, but he decided not to argue with his brother. William sighed
and turned around to leave. " I'm sorry William. I'm doing this for your
own protection. If the managers found out about you, they might take you
away from me". William spun around.
" No they wouldn't! I wouldn't let them! If they try and take
me, by God! I'll fight back like an animal! " William snarled. The Phantom
took off his mask.
" William, look at this face. They would not let anyone live with the
owner of this face," said the Phantom. William glared at him.
" Excuse me? I see nothing wrong with your face! Erik, you're my
brother! I love you, I wouldn't let a stupid thing like a face get us
separated." William turned around again and sighed.
" William, I don't think you realize what other people think. To
them, I'm a hated, monstrous, ugly." The Phantom didn't finish. William spun
around his eyes burning red.
" Don't say that!" shrieked William. " Don't you ever-ever call yourself
that! It's not true! And you and I both know it! The people above don't
think before they act! They fear what they do not know! Erik! You are
not hated! You are not monstrous! And you are most certainly not ugly!"
screamed William. The Phantom stared at William, shocked from his
brother's sudden outburst. William left the lair. The Phantom sat down
and started to look over the music William had composed.
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The next night everyone at the Opera Populaire was together to welcome
their new managers. Andre arrived in a black tuxedo. Firmin whom was not
told that it was formal was dressed in an everyday suit. He was quite
embarrassed. Among the crowd, William walked around trying to find Andre
and Firmin. Firmin found Raoul " Vicompte" de Chagny, the theater's new
patron. Andre walked over to a group of people. Firmin thought it would
be polite to say hello to Raoul.
" Good evening Raoul. I'm glad to see that you've chosen to come," said
Firmin. Raoul stared at Firmin.
" Were you in a hurry to get here, Richard?" asked Raoul. Firmin gave an
embarrassed chuckle.
" I was not informed that it was formal," explained Firmin. He chuckled
again. It was a good thing Firmin was in a cheerful mood. Otherwise
Raoul's question would have set Firmin's temper ablaze. Back with
William, he spotted Andre. Andre was talking to Josh, one of the three
young male dancers in their late teens, and Joseph Buquet, the keeper of
the flies. William walked over, not close enough to be spotted, but in
the vicinity to hear. William listened in on the discussion.
" So that's when I told Richard to let me help him run the theater.
We've always been good friends and I thought if he spent most of his
time with me, it might help take the pain away," said Andre. Carlotta
and Piangi, her singing partner, walked over.
" What's with all the frowns? This is a celebration signors," said
Piangi. Josh looked at them.
" Didn't you hear? Monsieur Firmin's wife and son died two months ago.
Poor Firmin," said Josh. William had a certain fondness for Josh. He
could sometimes be a pest, but most of the time Josh was a caring and
sensible person.
" Oh, that's too bad," said Carlotta, not that sympathetically. Carlotta
on the other hand, William hated her. Not just because of her piercing
voice, but because of her cold heart. Andre looked at Joseph.
" So tell me about this Phantom," said Andre. Joseph stared at him.
" He wears a mask Andre, because he is horribly deformed. I've seen his
face though. It is death its self. Yellow paper is his skin, and he has
no nose, just a big hole. His eyes are like those of a skull, two black
holes," said Joseph trying to give a perfect description of the Phantom.
William resented the last comment. His brother's eyes have a beautiful
blue iris, just like William's.
" I've never liked the ghost," said Carlotta. " He always insults my
singing."
" Andre, may I have a word with you alone?" asked Joseph. Andre nodded.
William followed them, making sure that he was not noticed. Joseph
turned to Andre. " There's another ghost Andre," said Joseph. Andre
stared.
" What do you mean?" asked Andre.
" There is another ghost. I've seen him. He's nothing like the Phantom.
He is a young man with black hair and blue eyes," said Joseph. William
couldn't believe it. Hadn't his brother given Joseph Buquet a warning
note? " I've been observing Box-Five during performances, there are
two men in the box." Andre backed away.
" You make me nervous!" cried Andre. Joseph turned around and spotted
William. William ran and disappeared into the crowd.
" Did you see that?" asked Joseph.
" What?" asked Andre.
" The other ghost was just here. He heard us."
" Stop it! I may be old, but I'm not gullible! I'll believe there's two
phantoms when I see two phantoms!" Andre walked back into the crowd.
William walked around until he spotted Firmin, thinking he would have
better luck with him. Firmin was having a discussion with Piangi.
" You will really like it here signor. The members of the Opera
Populaire are like family," said Piangi. Firmin nodded.
" I just can't believe she's gone," said Firmin.
" Death is never easy to forget. Tell me, what were you going to name
your son?" asked Piangi.
" Erik," answered Firmin. William smiled. Wouldn't his brother be happy
to hear that Firmin's son would have had the same name? William's cover
was then blown. Before he had a chance to dash off, Piangi grabbed his
arm.
" What are you doing here?" hissed Piangi. " You better get out of here
before one of the managers see you. Your brother made it clear that
you're not to be heard of." William pulled trying to get loose, but
Piangi still had a strong grip on his arm. " I'm going to let you go now
and you'd better be out of this room within a minute," snarled Piangi.
Firmin walked over.
" Who's he Piangi?" asked Firmin.
" One of the stagehands," answered Piangi. He hissed at William. " Get
out." Piangi released his grip and William dashed off.
" Where is he going?" asked Firmin.
" Home, I believe he's going home," said Piangi. As William ran, he
crashed into Carlotta. The two stumbled to the ground. Andre and the
others laughed. Carlotta shoved William off, not recognizing him at
first.
" Clumsy oaf! Watch where you're going!" snarled Carlotta. Andre helped
William up. Carlotta started to turn white, she knew who he was now.
Andre brushed William off smiling.
" Settle down Carlotta. It was just an accident," said Andre. William
looked at Andre. " Are you alright?"
" Yes sir," answered William softly.
" Alright then. Just be careful where you're running, you could hurt
somebody," said Andre. William bowed to him politely, then hurried off,
but not as fast as before. Andre looked at Carlotta. She was as white as
a sheet. " Carlotta? Are you feeling ill?" asked Andre. Carlotta
fainted. Piangi quickly ran over to Carlotta's aid. William left the
party knowing one thing: Andre was going to be a great manager to work
with.
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