>It was two days before the opening night and Christine was doing pretty good. Except that her father wasn't going to be there. Most of the cast had stopped acting rude to Christine. Josh was constantly asking Christine out, but she didn't want to. She had been so busy with rehearsals, she hadn't seen Erik for a few days. As soon as it was their 10 minute break from rehearsal, she ran to her dressing room. But just as she was about to go through the mirror, someone knocked at her door. She opened to find Josh.
"Christine. I really need to talk to you." She started to close the door, but he stopped her.
"What is it?"
"Who is this Erik guy that you always go see?"
"My friend."
"Does he go to the school?"
"No. He doesn't go to any school."
"Christ, how old is he?"
"He's seventeen, now please, Josh. Could you go now?"
"Christine, where does this guy you know live? On the streets or something? A sweet girl like you shouldn't be seeing a guy like that." He touched her hand and she drew back.
"No, he does not. And don't tell me who I shouldn't be seeing."
"Fine, but Christine. You'll probably regret this later." He said and walked out of the room. She sighed and sat down onto her couch. She looked at the clock.
"Oh great, now I can't go talk to Erik. I only have five minutes of break left. Once again, Josh screws up everything�" She said to herself and went back to the stage.
Christine was dressed in her Cinderella costume. Even with the old looking clothing and her face covered with dirt, she still looked very pretty.
"I'm as mild and as meek as a mouse. When I hear a command, I obey. But there's one place I know in my house. Where no one can stand in my way�.In my own little corner in my own little chair, I can be whatever I want-" Suddenly, the lights flickered and then all went black.
"What the hell�What in God�s name is happening?" Mr.Stans said angrily. A few of the �townspeople children�, who were only about seven, screamed.
"No one panic. Everyone just needs to stay still and calm." Christine could hear Josh saying.
"Where's the fuse box, Mr.Stans?"
"In the basement." The basement. Christine thought. Erik. I hope he's okay�
"Mr.Stans, I'll try to make my way down there, okay?"
"No Josh, I don't think you should-" "Yeah, the ghost might get you!" Christine heard one of the boys say.
"The ghost?" Christine heard a terrified little girl said.
"Yep, the ghost that haunts the theater. He lives in the basement and he's really, really ugly-" Everyone started talking at once. "Oh no! What if he tries to take one of us in the dark?" "He's the one who probably turned off the lights!" "We're all gonna die!".
"Everyone please! There is no ghost living in the theater!" Mr.Stans shouted into the darkness.
"No, but there's a man." No, Christine thought. Who said that? She wondered. Suddenly the lights went on. Everyone sighed in relief.
"Who said there was a man here?" One of the younger dancers asked nervously.
"I did." Marissa, one of the stepsisters in the show, said loudly.
"There is no man!" Mr.Stans said angrily, but it also seemed like he was nervous.
"I've seen him!! He wears a long cape and a mask on his face!! He watches rehearsals from above the stage!" She said stubbornly. Everyone began whispering.
"I've seen him too!" Someone said.
"That's it! Rehearsal is canceled for the rest of the day!" Mr.Stans yelled.
"But, opening night is in two days!" one of the soloists said.
"Well, obviously you all don't seem to be in the mood to practice!" He said and walked to the door. When he left, everyone looked confused.
"I guess we can leave." Someone said, and half the cast left. But many others stayed and crowded around Marissa.
"There's a man? Where?" "Well, he's about seventeen years old, I think. I heard that he doesn't show his face because he has a really messed up face or something."
"Yeah, I've heard some people talk about him doing things during the performances."
"Like what?"
"Like what happened today. Lights flickered, microphones turn off. Scenery gets switched around. I think someone got hurt too once. I guess he's mad he doesn't get to be in the shows because he's a freak." Christine couldn't stand to be hearing everyone speak of Erik like this. Erik would never play foolish pranks like these. And he would never hurt someone intentionally. She decided to speak up.
"Even if there was a person living in the theater, I don't think you should speak of him that way."
"Why not? Its his own fault he hides away like a coward and never comes out!"
"Well maybe he doesn't come out because he knows the way people like you would treat him!" Christine yelled and ran to her room.
