The Phantom of the Opera; A Different Type of Tale

A Life Changing Yet Ironic Encounter

Erik stands on the stage, throwing his soul into singing the song he created and hoping that the university's security guards don't wander by the theatre department. He is singing in the darkness, into the night which is as warm and comforting as a mother is to her child.

He stops with a frown, that note progression sounded off. He jumps off the stage and to the small area where he has light; the only piano in the room. Erik plays the notes while looking at the sheet music and found the error then fix it on the paper quickly.

Before he jumps back onto the stage to sing it again (from the top), he checks his phone. 3:57. Shit, I have a math test at 8:30 later this morning. But I can't just leave after singing an incomplete song on stage, that only brings misfortune on me. He searches his iTunes for a song before stopping on something obvious and ironic.

He climbs onto the stage and turns the instrumental version of the song on.

"Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation. Darkness stirs and wakes imagination. Silently the senses abandon their defenses..."

He continues to sing but when he reaches "let your soul take you where you long to be", he hears the door start to get pushed open.

His singing cuts out and he snatches up his phone, turning it off while he hurries to the piano and gathers his things before hiding in one of the boxes.

Two girls sneak in, one blonde and the other brunette. They're both part of ballet and the blonde one, Meg Giry is a chorus member for theatre.

He was about to take my route out before he realized the piano light was still on and his sheet music for Mozart's Requiem was still sitting on the sleek grand piano.

It was a very beautiful scene he couldn't help but notice. The top was closed, the spotlighted sheet music, a heavy black overcoat on the piano that had an ivory mask resting on it. Crap.

The brunette spoke. "Oh, Meg... Look." Her voice was soft, silky smooth. She would definitely be able to entrance many people (of both genders) by singing.

"What Christy?" Christy... Must be short for something... Christine, most likely.

"It's so beautiful... I just have to take a picture of it for photography class."

"Take a picture of wha-oh... I see now." She stood to the side while the brunette took a photograph of the serene scene before walking over. "I wonder who these belong to... Or if they're still here. They had to have left in a hurry to leave things like that there."

"Maybe they're a costume creator for theatre, there's a mask and cape." Okay, it's not a cape, it's a damn overcoat. You know... Like a peacoat.

"Maybe... I mean like I think I'd be able to know if a music kid wore such strange outfit choice."

Okay, I have to admit. I am a little offended. He looked down at his white shirt with slightly flowy sleeves with a cravat tied around my neck. Over it, he is donning a black vest and some similarly coloured trousers. His pocket watch gleamed dully in the theatre which now has some illumination because of the two intruding ballerinas. Okay. Maybe she has a point. But I only wear this when I'm feeling properly dramatic.

When they mount the stage, he slowly and quietly made his way to the piano and gathered his belongings and went back to his box -  the one he practically lived in. Box five, he thinks. If they're going to interrupt his practice time then he might as well figure out what they're doing here.

He places the mask onto his face and donned the overcoat.

He shruged his leather side bag on and somewhat gently stuffed his pen into it and very gently places the sheet music in the folder.