Sweet Phantom

The story has been adapted more than once: the mysterious, somewhat murderous, Phantom of the Opera - the "Angel of Music," a disembodied voice who tutors Christine, a poor chorus girl, until she can take the stage and sing solo. But when she does, and is recognized by an old friend who is now a suitor, the Phantom reveals himself as a hideously deformed man, kidnapping Christine in a fit of jealousy - and the suitor must seek and rescue the girl in the hidden tunnels beneath the opera house. There are stories, books, movies (silent and otherwise), and a musical for the stage.

But what if the Opera-house Ghost really was . . . dead?

(This is a 2,000-word short story, told in the interstices of plot. Some knowledge of the original story is advised.)