I looked at myself in the mirror as I was changed into the dress. It was dark blue with golden flower patterns decorating it, the sleeves were short and only stopped a couple of inches away from my shoulders with white lace at the end. The collar was low, adorned with the same white lace and the skirt was large and round, with a white, silky petticoat underneath.

I pulled my hair back in a braid bun, securing it with pins that my uncle had bought so that I could appear as a proper lady. Usually, I would just let my hair down not liking it being put up as it almost always ends up falling out and is a nuisance to put back up again, but I didn't want to risk angering Henri.

I heard a knock at the bathroom door and I sighed as I took a deep breath, before opening the door.

My Uncle smiled as he looked at me up and down.

He kissed my forehead, making my stomach turn, before speaking.

"Remember to behave yourself today, we wouldn't want there to be any consequences, now would we?"

I shook my head as I looked at the ground, not wanting to look into his eyes, despising his stare.

I felt his hand as he roughly lifted my chin, forcing me to look up into his harsh, dark eyes.

"Would we?" He asked again, his voice growing with slight irritation.

Go to fucking Hell.

"No, I'll behave myself."

"Good."

----------------

As the carriage drove up to the Opera Populaire I looked at the beautiful structure. My eyes looked over the intricate golden designs, seeing the large golden angels above their eyes looking over the streets, glowing brightly against the sun's light. 

I was thrown back to when I first came here as a child my Mother commented about how beautiful the place was, while my Father talked about the opera we were going to see. 

I felt pain fill me at the memory and the familiar sense of longing to be with them filled me.

The carriage stopped, and my uncle opened the door, grabbing my hand and holding it as he guided me out and after tipping the driver, he guided me over to the opera house.

My Uncle straightened his jacket as he approached the door before knocking briskly against it.

A maid answered with a smile as she curtsied slightly, opening the door wide enough for us to walk inside.

"Monsieur, Madame, is there something I can help you with?"

"Oui, we are here for a meeting with Monsieur Lefèvre," Henri told her as he removed his top hat from his head.

"Are you Monsieur Moncharmin?" She asked.

"Oui,"

"Very well, if you will follow me I'll take you to the manager's office."

We went up the marble steps which were decorated with gold and even hints of blue, it was beautifully majestic with the candelabras that adorned the railings and as I looked to the ceiling I could see all of the angels and saints staring down at us from their white painted clouds. It was breathtakingly beautiful.

The double staircase split at the top each one leading to a different hallway, which was lit with oil lamps.

The maid guided us to the right, stopping at the first door and knocking.

"Oui, come in!" A man answered through the closed door.

The maid opened the door leading us into the room.

"Monsieur Lefèvre, Moncharmin is here."

"Ah, Monsieur Moncharmin, a pleasure to meet you in person,"  Lefèvre said as he stood up from behind his desking, smiling widely and offering a hand in greeting.

"A pleasure to meet you, sir, as you can see I have brought a guest along." Henri said as they shook hands with each other.

"So you have, and what is your name, my dear?" The manager said as he turned his attention to me.

As I was about to respond my Uncle quickly interrupted me before I could.

"Her name's Anna, she's my little sister."

I could feel my fists, clench slightly as he said that knowing that anyone who lied knew that what they were doing was wrong and the realization that he had the knowledge of that made me furious.

My uncle knew how much of a sick, twisted man he was and he didn't care.

"It's nice to meet you, Anna," Mr. Lefèvre turned his attention back to my uncle as he spoke. "Now I think it would be best if I show you the theatre, so you can get the feel of where all the performances are going to be held, and you'll get to meet some of the crew here at the opera house." 

"Sounds perfect." My Uncle agreed with a polite smile, which looked out of a place on his face from the perspective of anyone who knew who he truly was.

The manager lead us out of the room, back down the elegant staircase and down a hallway that lead to two golden double doors, where I could hear singing echoing through.

Lefèvre lead us inside and down the path towards the stage, through the rows of plushed chairs. Speaking as he did over the sound of the singing that came from the stage as all the performers sang in union with one another in their bright costumes with a large elephant prop looming behind them and seeming to move as it did.

"As you can see we are rehearsing currently for a new play called Hannibal, have you ever heard of Hannibal before, Moncharmin?"

"No, can't say that I have," He responded.

"How about you dear, ever heard of the story?"

I absentmindedly shook my head as I looked around, thinking of how to get away from my Uncle.

The manager continued talking to my uncle while I watched as we approached the stage.

We ascended up the steps to the stage the performers stopping abruptly as we came on.

The music stopped and I heard an exasperated sigh coming from the orchestra pit from a very displeased looking man.

"Monsieur Lefèvre, can't you see I'm in the middle of rehearsals?"

"Yes, yes, Mr. Reyer, I can see that but don't worry this will only take a moment." Then He turned his attention towards the performers. "I just wanted to make an announcement, though I know you've all heard about it, I am retiring from my position as manager of the Opera Populaire and in my place Monsieur Moncharmin will be taking over, so I assure you, you are all in good hands."

Good hands, if only they knew, I thought to myself with a frown.

"Will he be taking over now?" A women with a thick spanish accent asked.

"Oui, I just wanted to introduce him to you all and I'm hoping that you all will do the same over the course of the time that he is here."

"I will do so now."

The women smiled widely as she quickly approached my uncle, curtsying as she offered her hand to him.

He took her hand into his, smiling as he kissed her hand and I could see the look in his eyes that I was all too familiar with.

My stomach involuntarily twisted.

"Carlotta Giudicelli." She introduced herself.

Before Uncle Henri could respond suddenly a scream pierced through the air and I could hear the sound of running footsteps as a little brunette girl burst onto the stage.

She was sobbing and a girl with curly brown hair and soft green eyes, pulled the young girl into her embrace, talking to her in a soft voice while everyone around her began to murmur among themselves.

I could hear their murmurs clear as day and what they said made my eyes widen.

"It was the Opera Ghost."

I glanced at Monsieur Lefèfvre, whose eyebrows were curved as he looked above at the Opera boxes as he spoke.

"Welcome to the Opera Populaire, where it is haunted by the Phantom Of The Opera..."