Let me know what you guys think of this...whether or not I should keep going with it. I'm going to follow more of the classical Gaston Leroux version of the Phantom vs the ALW...it's much more dark and seductive in my opinion.

Hope you guys enjoy!

Prologue

a spiderweb of memories and dreams
crushed by a careless passer-by
with no idea of the impact she'd had
on two entwined lives

She was out of place, and she knew it.

The small, unproposing slip of a girl kept flicking her head over her shoulders as she tiptoed across the massive stage. The sheer size of the auditorium in the grand theatre of the Paris Opera House was enough to make anyone look small, let alone the pale, slender creature. As she tiptoed across the stage, the girl was forced to dodge ladders and equipment carelessly left strewn about by the renovation crews. With the opening night only a few weeks away, most of the renovations had already been completed. Tomorrow morning, the opera house would be filled with the noise of practices and rehearsals, as well as the hammering from last minute repairs.

But the girl cared nothing about this. For now, she simply stood in awe, gazing at the enormity and splendor surrounding her. Perhaps because the lighting was so dim, the dark shadows caused the cavernous room to seem even larger than it already was. The pale girl shone out like a beacon amid the shadows, her white dress and luminous skin reflecting back what little light there was. She licked her lips and closed her eyes, trying to imagine what the theater would be like packed with thousands, lights from the massive chandelier gleaming.

She glanced around once again, reassuring herself that the theater was still empty. Tentatively, she opened her mouth and began to sing the opening lines to In Truittina. Although she sang softly, her voice echoed eerily resonating off the walls. Closing her eyes, the girl tried again - this time concentrating on her song. She spread her arms, then slowly lowered them, crossing them around her abdomen, holding herself gently.

Tears welled in her eyes, but she blinked them back. She whispered softly, "Papa...Papa I'm here, I made it...I just wish you could see me. It's what you always wanted..."

A sudden flash of movement out of the corner of her eye, startled the girl. She jumped and a small shriek escaped past her bloodless lips.

There was nothing there. "Hello," she called out. Sighing, she shook herself, "Silly girl, giving yourself the heebie jeebies for nothing." She hugged herself, then walked across the stage towards the exit. "Come on, my dear...let's see if we can find our new dressing room."

The pale silhouette retreated, disappeared into shadows. Once again, the still, cavernous theater remained silent...but not empty. Deep in the darkness of what was once known as Box 5, a pair of yellow eyes gleamed.