Underground Adventures: The Phantom

''"Insolent boy, this slave of fashion! Basking in your glory!" ''the Voice boomed. He sounded livid and betrayed. "Ignorant fool, this brave young suitor! Sharing in MY triumph!"

"''Angel, I hear you! Speak. I listen. Stay by my side, guide me!" ''I sang back trembling. "Angel, my soul was weak. Forgive me! Enter at last, Master."

The Voice seemed to consider this for a moment. "Flattering child, you shall know me. See why in shadow I hide. Look at your face in the mirror. I am there inside!"

I obeyed. I stared at my reflection. I hardly dared to believe my eyes. A man in a black evening suit and a black cloak stood by my reflection. He wore a black skull mask that covered his entire face. He wore black gloves and a black top hat. I looked behind me, but not a soul was there. I turned back, and the man was still there. His eyes peered out at me through the mask.

My blood turned to ice and I began to tingle all over. I felt the blood drain from my face and my hands go cold. I couldn't believe it. Was someone fooling around? Was this a trick of the candlelight? I really didn't know.

The man must have notice my fear, because his stare burned deep into mine. His stare held me to the spot. Then he began to sing. It wasn't music I knew, but it was beautiful. It filled my spirit with a strange, sweet sound. There was music in my mind, in my heart, and in my soul. It comforted me and soothed me. It made everything else go away, including the pounding on the door.

"Catherine? Whose is that voice?? Who is that in there?! Open up! The door is stuck!!" Raoul cried desperately.

Try as he might, I was miles away in another world. There was no stopping me from listening to the voice. At that point, I just wanted to listen to it.

Suddenly, the mirror swung open, like a door. The man stood there, a real, living being.

''"I am your Angel of Music. Come to me, Angel of Music." ''the man sang.

I obeyed. I trusted the man, even though I didn't know him. I felt under the effect of a cordial, a trance.

The man took my hand and led me closer to the mirrored door. I let him pull me. Closer, closer... Until I heard a slam behind me, confirming that the door had been shut behind me. I was alone with an unknown man, in complete and utter darkness.