Beware of the night’s whispers at the opera house... Beware of the shadow that creeps among shadows in its depths... Beware of the unseen genius.”
The words echoed in the red-haired man’s head; over and over again, imposingly; like the lowest notes of a pipe organ. That was what they said.
The word that made all those poor people’s eyes flicker with fear. It could make his own flicker too; albeit due to a much different emotion. Awe. Except, the cypress green orbs were currently closed, as his fingers ran absent-mindedly and out habit across the white and black expanse of keys before him; right at the center of the main opera scene; within the dim light of the sole candle that was lit next to him. “You are the most talented pianist we have ever heard...How come noone had known your name before?” this is what the managers told him. Little they knew that whatever they perceived as an unparallel struck of luck was in fact only a pretext... A smokescreen that provided him access to the Opera’s affairs, and ,what’s more, a bed at its dormitories. Poor them. They only made my investigation easier. However, he had to admit. Countless decades of practice had not proven to be in vain, after all.
Night after night he lurked and endeavored, exploring each corridor and corner of the Opera Garnier; observant of each sign of his presence. He did not know precisely what he was after; yet he was certain, all the same. For there was much more in those rumors than it met the ear; it was about the atmosphere of this place; the murders and disappearances...and the haunting melodies that were connected to this person... To a...creature like himself, those were tell-tale signs. I have to do with a broken man. Devastated. A man who abandoned the world that cruelly abandoned him. A man whose soul was an open wound, gushing hatred and notes.
Even though his eyes were still closed, Mysterio’s lips curled slightly into a small melancholic smile.
“What art thou, o Phantom, but a man condemned to die?”