I'm sure many of you know the story of the Phantom of the Opera, yes? Well, let me tell you that there was more to that story. In fact, it occured in the 21st century, the time we all know so well. A lot has definitely changed since the disaster that occured at Opera le Populaire that night the Phantom escaped through the tunnel behind the shattered mirror. A lot of secrets that were never told. Well, I'm here to tell you the story of the Phantom's second chance.

"How is he alive?" you ask? There are lots of rumors that go with this secret story about that, but there is one that I truly believe.

You see, the Phantom did die once. However, he died just as he had lived, alone without anyone to love him or miss him. This legend says that the lord of our world took great pity on this poor phantom of the opera. So, the phantom was reincarnated. He was born as the child that everyone said was the "Devil Child" once again. When the age of twenty-one came upon him, the memories of Christine came flooding back, and his mind was arranged so that he knew how many years had passed since then, but he did not know how. His life tumbled into agony once more from the painful memories. Though, once the poor phantom turned twenty-three years of age, he did not age anymore. And, he would not age until he found someone to love and to cherish. In his lair under Opera le Populaire was he to wait for that someone to come along. Let us just hope that this time the phantom will receive love in return...

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Alaina Belleneux stood in front of the newly repaired Opera le Populaire. All the original items had been returned to their rightful place inside the ancient opera house. Alaina couldn't wait to see it. She had always been fascinated with the legend of the infamous Phantom of the Opera. She was barely listening to her new instructor, Madame Elizabeth Giry. She was only able to snap back when the rest of her fellow opera performers began to file inside the newly designed doors of the opera house.

"Miss Alaina Belleneux," called Madame Giry. She smiled at Alaina approvingly.

Alaina smiled back and gave a small curtsy. "Madame Giry, it's an honor to meet you," and indeed it was. The woman who stood in front of her now was the great-granddaughter of the Madame Giry that helped the Phantom of the Opera when he was just a child. Alaina hoped she would get to talk to her new ballet instructor later. She had just about a million questions running through her mind about everything that had happened in this historical place.

"Come child, let me show you to your room," Madame Giry said, beckoning for Alaina to follow her. Everyone had arranged for somewhere to stay in Paris, France while their performances at Opera le Populaire were going on. That is, everyone except Alaina. The poor girl was an orphan since she had been about eight years old. She had transferred from one foster home to the next, and now that she was no longer a minor, she was excited to be able to live on her own. Though she hadn't figured out until recently that Madame Giry was going to let her stay in the opera house. Ever since she found out about this, the expression on Alaina's face had been nothing less than an excited grin.

Alaina followed her new dance instructor away from the main doors with her things, while the others went to the stage to learn what performance they were going to give next.

"Your previous teacher tells me that you were most excited about this trip," said Madame Giry in her heavy french accent. She smiled down at Alaina with kind eyes. They almost looked pitiful.

"Yes, and I was hoping I would get to see you," Alaina explained about all of her wonders about the Phantom of the Opera. "I mean, he did so many horrible things, and also so many genius things. Your great-grandmother had said he was a genius; that he was an artist, a composer, a builder, and a magician. Please Madame Giry, please tell me, is he real? Is the Phantom of the Opera real?" Alaina's eyes sparkled with wonder. She kept rambling on with her questions while her ballet instructor waited patiently with a small amused smile on her face. "Did the Phantom really once haunt these very hallways? And walk across that very stage singing to Christine his beautiful composition of "Point of No Return" in their performance of Don Juan Triumphant?" Her last question was probably the most powerful. "Was he really an Angel of Music?"

Madame Giry gave Alaina of look of slight surprise. She was amazed at how curious this child was of someone who was said to be a genius, but also a murderous, deformed monster. Suddenly, Madame Giry quickened her pace. "Come, we must not speak of him here," she said in a hard tone. Alaina followed at a soft jog behind the woman. They suddenly came to a tall, brown wooden door, and Madame Giry seemed to have decided something, and her worried expression turned into one of approving as she looked at Alaina. "This is where you will stay," she said, opening the door with an old fashioned key.

When Madame Giry opened the door, Alaina's eyes widened as she gasped in shock. She would be staying in- "The dressing room of Christine Daae," said Madame Giry. Alaina looked at Madame Giry with her eyes wide, and walked slowly inside the dressing room that had been turned into a bedroom as well.

Alaina walked up to the mirror that stood against the wall. She ran her finger tips across the glass and stared into it. "The mirror..." she whispered, more to herself than to Madame Giry. Though, Alaina saw Madame Giry nod and smile behind her. Alaina turned to Madame Giry and whispered again, "This must mean..." she couldn't finish her sentence. It seemed almost impossible. She had been wanting to know ever since twelve years ago when she first heard the legend from her "father" in a foster home she'd stayed in.

"Indeed child, the Phantom of the Opera was real. Some say he still lives on somehow today," Madame Giry said quietly. When she said her last sentence, she winked at Alaina, who beamed at her. Alaina's eyes sparkled with wonder and excitement. "Come now, put your things on the bed and you can get settled later, it is time to learn what you shall be doing for your first performance here," Madame Giry smiled. She practically had to drag Alaina out of her new room as she took one last look around for any sign that anyone was there. She stared at the mirror as Madame Giry pulled her out the door.

Alaina followed behind Madame Giry quietly as they walked back the way they had come. Eventually, they entered backstage, and Alaina moved the large red curtain aside to stand by her best friend Anna. The director of all their performances stood in front of all the dancers, singers, stage crew, etc. Everyone seemed to be waiting for an announcement. It seemed as if Alaina made it back just in time to hear what show they would be putting on.

James, the director, cleared his throat. "Well, I'm sure you've all been waiting to hear what we've come to this place to do, but I'm surprised that someone hasn't guessed yet," his gaze turned to Alaina, and he winked at her.

Alaina looked at Anna and beamed, "Anna, I think I know what we're going to perform!" she whispered excitedly. Anna returned a soft smile and giggled. "Then why don't you guess like James expects you to?" Then she took Alaina's hand and raised it in the air, much to her embarrassment. Alaina blushed when James called on her but she knew she had to say it.

"Sir, may we be performing the Phantom of the Opera?" Alaina said, still beaming.

James grinned and chuckled, "You catch on fast Alaina. Yes, our academy shall be performing Phantom of the Opera at the original place where all the disasters and love affairs are said to have occured." At his words, Alaina became so excited she almost started jumping up and down. She couldn't wait for auditions to start. She knew she had a beautiful voice, but she doubted she would get the part of Christine. Alaina was good, but she didn't know if she could hit all of Christine's high notes.

Though, if Alaina didn't get the part of Christine, she knew someone else that she really didn't want to get the part. Erica Baldwin, a stuck up girl who thinks she's royalty and that everyone worships the ground she walks on. She can sing very high, but it's not that kind of beautiful pitch that appeals to the listener. Erica sings with that kind of voice that makes you wish you were deaf, but she always got the lead for only one reason. Her father pays for everything. He was the richest man out of anyone's parents at the academy, and always made a very generous donation to the payments of the costumes and set designs just so his daughter could get special treatment.

At the thought of performing the Phantom of the Opera, everyone started conversing with each other, including Alaina and Anna. They giggled at the idea of goofing off on the stage and taking plenty of pictures for memories. James hushed everyone, "Alright everyone! It's been a long trip here, why don't we all go to where we're staying and get some sleep?" Everyone started exiting the stage, and Alaina walked back to her new bedroom after saying a long goodbye to Anna.

As Alaina walked the halls to the old dressing room, the lights of the opera house dimmed for the night, some of them going completely out. Alaina hurried to a slight jog, and turned another corner. The darkness made the Opera le Populaire seem all the more mysterious and scary, despite the fact it was just finished being rebuilt. Alaina's breath started to quicken as she started to run down the hallway, and then she gave up and decided she was lost. She had remembered things in the halls that she had passed when she was with Madame Giry, but the darkness hid everything in shadows.

Suddenly Alaina's breath started to quicken, and cold sweat started to drip down the back of her neck. Why was she scared? Just a few minutes ago she had been more than excited to be living here. Now, she felt like someone was watching her, and the feeling frightened her. She turned around in circles, running through hallway after hallway. She started to get desperate now, and tears of fear slipped down her cheeks.

Then, Alaina felt a change in the pattern of the floor. She had stepped on something. When Alaina turned back around, she saw an envelope on the floor. She picked it up and saw something on the seal. She went up to a dimmed lantern and squinted her eyes at it. The seal had been a skull that was formed in red wax. She opened the envelope and read a note...

Miss Belleneux,

I'd like to welcome you to my opera house. Madame Giry has told me about your excitement to be here. I must say I am pleased with your curiosity. I must ask you to remind that director of yours that my salary of twenty-thousand francs is due next week. He can pass the message on to the owners next time he sees them.

Good night,

O.G.

PS: Go back through the hallway in which you found this and go right, then take a another right and the door to your room is right down that hall.

Alaina stared at the note with wide eyes. "O.G." she thought, "Can it be...Opera Ghost?" Alaina grinned to herself, and then looked up ahead of her. She had sworn she'd seen something, or someone, turn the corner. What if it was him? Alaina raced to the end of the hall, but stopped at the corner so she wouldn't get lost again. She called quietly, "Thank you!" and turned to head back to her room to get some sleep.