About two days later the opera was in full swing, the ballerinas practicing the new choreography, the choir warming up with strange singing exercises, everyone seemed to be practicing for the new opera ll Muto. Everyone kept whispering about Christine and I and how we were absent today. Christine, still exhausted from finding out that her angel of music is the Phantom himself, was in the ballet dorms sleeping in her bed. I wonder what in the world went on when she was down there with him. She was so jumpy now and afraid of her own shadow. I was wide awake wearing day clothes trying to find the managers, sense they have called for my presence. Walking down the hall where the opera boxes are I was too distracted as to why the managers wanted me to see them.. millions of thoughts ran through her head as I sped down the long hallway. Suddenly something fell on my head and I made a face and grabbed it off my head. It was a letter. With a seal shaped as a skull. My heart felt like it stopped and dropped into my stomach. 'nice way of dropping off a letter" I mumbled to myself. I hesitated before breaking the seal, and read the letter slowly letting every single word sink in.

My dear beautiful Emma,

I am sure to make it my mission to get you the part of the countess. Your angelic voice will be heard by Hundreds. If those two fools who run my theater cast any other woman as the Countess, then they will be sure to have a disaster unimaginable occur to them. But you do not need to worry about anything to worry about.. Maybe once you perform in your first big singing role you will start to understand why you, Christine and I are meant to stay together.

Your admirer, and Angel,

O.G.

My hands were shaking as I read the last of the letter. I looked around the hallway for any sign of the Opera Ghost. But, I was completely alone, or so I thought. He is watching me more closely now and I hate it. My adrenaline kicked in and I ran as fast as I could into the Ballroom. Wanting to get away. What I didn't expect was to be instantly thrown to the ground as I ran into someone. "I am so sorry! I was not paying attention to where I was going" I quickly stood up and dusted My long simple dress off. Standing across from me was a tall man with jet black hair and the most beautiful green eyes. Everything about him looked like a fairytale. But he was not dressed like the king of France, He was instead wearing a tan coat that reached down to his knees, and was wearing regular peasant clothing. I just kept staring at the handsome man not knowing what to say next. He looked so familiar to me and I swore I have seen him before. Usually I'm never this gobsmacked about a man.  actually I never looked at another man that way because of my infatuation with Erik. The man smiled and chuckled to himself. "It is fine, Mademoiselle. Just be careful next time, you might get hurt! Are you alright?" The stranger gave me a look when he noticed that the woman who bumped into him was just staring into outer space. He waved his hand in front of my face and snapped his fingers two times. "U-um, yes, ahem! I'm quite fine thank you. I should look where I am going next time ha-ha!" I smiled at the man laughing awkwardly rubbing the back of my neck. "Do you work here?" he asked politely.

Third P.O.V

In response Emma nodded and he stuck his hand out to kiss Emma's. "Yes I do, I dance here. I'm Emma Silver. And you are?" as he grabbed Emma's hand she shook his hand just before he could bring the back of her hand to his lips. Emma inwardly cringed at the contact of his lips on her skin out of habit. "Great! It's nice to meet you Miss Silver. I am Gustave Leroux. I am a writer and I wanted to write about this beautiful opera house." She smiled a real smile and in the corner of her eye she could see the manager walking towards them. "Well you won't be disappointed sir the Populaire is a wonderful beautiful place. If you want, I could give you a tour of the opera house?" "Yes I would love that. Could you point me to the stage please? I need to talk to the head ballet instructor." Emma gave him the directions to the stage and again they shook hands, but they lingered for a while. "Until we meet again Miss Silver "he gave her a charming smile and walked away. Emma twirled around and threw her arms in the air. Though her happiness ended right away as M. Firmin came up to her with a tomato red face, with small beads of sweat dripping down his forehead. He was gripping a crumpled up letter in his right and his handkerchief in the other.

"yes sir? what is it that you need to talk to me about?" Emma honestly did not want to deal with the managers today. Her thoughts went back to the handsome writer, Gustave. Just saying his name gave her stomach butterflies! Though the young woman felt like her emotions were mixed up since she had only ever loved one man her entire life and that was Erik. She cursed herself in her mind for being so complicated with love and emotions. M. Firmin shook her from her thoughts, his patience wearing thin, and his face turned the color of a cherry. He collected himself and took a deep breath. " Andre and I must talk to you. It is very important...Ah! but not here, come with me. We will talk in our office." His pace was swift and fast, I had a bit of a hard time keeping pace. They had made it to the manager's office finally, making sure to 'look calm' in front of the rest of the workers who were cleaning. Thankfully they made it into the office shutting the doors. "Now mademoiselle, we have both wanted to talk about something regarding the next opera casting. We have both received notes regarding that we cast you as the prima donna for the production of Il Muto. Do you have any idea who could have sent these notes to us?" Andre asked Emma with all seriousness in his voice. Oh no....play dumb Emma! " I have no idea who could have sent those notes. Could you possibly read them to me? I am curious as to what the sender wrote exactly." I stood up tall and straightened my posture. "Very well..." Andre replied and started

reading his note. "Dear Andre what a charming gala! Christine enjoyed great success!

We were hardly bereft when Carlotta left - otherwise the chorus was entrancing, but the dancing was a lamentable mess!" my eyes were as wide as saucers, the dancing!? Firmin continued with his note. "Dear Firmin, just a brief reminder: my salary has not been paid. Send it care of the ghost, by return of post P.T.O.: No-one likes a debtor, so it's better if my orders are obeyed!" he said and looked outraged.

"Honestly who would have the courage to send this!?" Firmin's temper started to spike again. I'm surprised they haven't figured it out yet, he did have his signature at the end of each note! "Monsieur's haven't you thought that it could be O.G, sense the letter is signed P.T.O?" I arched one of my brow and crossed my arms in front of my chest.

"Of course! Opera Ghost!" Andre exclaimed. He laughed shortly and said "It's really not amusing!" Him and Firmin went on and on to each other with me to the side, my head swiveling back and forth from one manager to another as they spoke. "He's abusing our position!" each of them getting read in the face, "In addition he wants money!". Firmin slammed the note on the desk and went for his tobacco pipe, lighting it. A puff of smoke emitting from it. "He's a funny sort of specter . . " and Andre added, ". . . to expect a

large retainer! Nothing plainer - he is clearly quite insane!" I sighed and sat there entertained slightly by all of the Craziness happening in front of me. I could help them, but that wouldn't be fun. Firmin was about to say something to me when there was a loud yelling at the entrance of the opera house. The three of us jogged to the source of the yelling...it was Raoul! He was yelling like a 2 year old having a tantrum. He walked up to the managers, furious. "Where is she?" the managers blinked and then Andre finally spoke up. "You mean Carlotta?" Raoul looked at them with no patience and shook his head "I mean Miss Daae - Where is she?" Firmin held his pipe in his hand and looked confused as ever. "Well how should we know?" he asked in honesty to the Viscount. Though Raoul looked like he was about to lose it, as if he hadn't already. "I want an answer!" he yelled, making the managers jump comically. I tried not to snicker as Raoul handed the now crumpled note he was squeezing tightly in his hand. "I take it that you sent me this note?"

Firmin sighed and put out his pipe and stepped forward to hi taking the letter "This is ridiculous let me see it!" He read the note out loud and since I already knew where Christine was that whole time, I kind of just stopped paying attention and dozed off thinking about my problem with the phantom. Though, shortly my ears were greeted by the shrilling voice of yours truly, Carlotta. She looked like a giant ball of pink candy floss they would give you at a circus. and so the whole "did you write me this letter!?" things continued. I stood to the side and just watched the show. Poor Raoul looked done with the world and looked at Carlotta who was fuming "What is it now?" She handed him the note and said "I have your letter, a letter which I rather resent!" she said and crossed her arms, Piangi of course was with her and put a hand on her waist to comfort her.

Frimin looked tired as well as Andre with this note fiasco. "And did you send it?" he asked him and Raoul skimmed over the letter and answered, "of course not!" he seemed offended by the question, but hey they needed answers. Andre groaned and leaned on the pillar that was next to him mumbling to himself "whats going on...?". This wasn't a good enough answer for the queen of drama, "You dare to tell me, that this is not the letter you sent?" Andre rolled his eyes and grabbed the paper from the Viscount "And what is it that he was meant to have sent?" he asked and opened the letter to read it out loud. I was of course in the background watching and listening to everyone fight and argue. I felt as if someone was burning a hole in the back of my head. looked around to see no one.. I came to the only conclusion that Erik was watching us. "Your days at the Opera Populaire are numbered. Emma Silver will be singing on your behalf tonight. Be prepared for a great misfortune, should you attempt to take her place." Oh crap...Everyone shifted their gaze to me and held a look of shock, annoyance, confusion, and anger.

Carlotta was fuming. I could almost see the steam coming out of her ears! "You! This is all a little scheme to help you and your career! Why would he want you to sing!? you have never preformed a day in your stupid pathetic life!"" she ran up and pointed her finger at me. I rolled my eyes and replied " I honestly could care less about what you say you awful woman!" I couldn't take it anymore! I wish that the phantom would already get rid of her! Carlotta huffed and crossed her arms like a spoiled child! "Monsieur's, another note." Madame Giry said gravely as she made her entrance with meg by her side. Both of the managers let out a loud groan. Madame Giry paid no mind to it and read the note aloud for everyone to hear. "Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature, detailing how my theatre is to be run. You have not followed my instructions. I shall give you one last chance . . ." Emma silver is here for you and I am anxious her career should progress. In the new production of "Il Muto", you will therefore cast Carlotta as the Pageboy, and put Miss Silver in the role of Countess. The role which Miss Silver plays calls for charm and appeal. The role of the Pageboy is silent - which makes my casting, in a word ideal" my jaw dropped as I heard that and couldn't help but giggle and Carlotta shot me a deathly glare. "I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in Box Five, which will be kept empty for me. Should these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur. I remain, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, O.G."

There was a terribly long silence until Carlotta decided to scream again. She ran off Shouting that this was all to help me. The managers groveled at her feet and tried their best to make her feel better. But I could care less about Carlotta at the moment though. How can the managers give me that role if they haven't even heard me sing at all, and how could Erik think that they would just suddenly drop everything and hire another new singer on as the prima Donna in the new opera of the season!? I regret that I ever bothered to open my big fat mouth to sing that night in Erik's home. I walked to my room as slow as I could to collect my thoughts and finally when I got to my room, no surprise, Madame Giry was there hanging the costume of the pageboy on my changing screen. well this is going to be fun!