I woke in the same place I did 10 years ago. This time though the Phantom was awake and was looking at me with a look of concern so I smiled and said good morning. He smiled relieved. "Good morning. You had me rather worried there."
I felt something on my head and reached up to get it off but he took my hand shaking his head. "You have quite a nasty cut and were losing a lot of blood."
I tried to stand and was rewarded with a wave of dizziness. The phantom caught me and helped me sit back down on the bed.
"What about you" I asked "I fell on top you Monsieur..." I realized I did not know his name.
"Erik. And I'm fine."
"My name is Aria"
"What a beautiful name."
"Thank you." I paused and looked around" I think of this place often you know."
Looking amused he replied "Is that so?"
"Yes it reminds me of a lullaby. You remind me of another lullaby my mother would sing me. Would you like to her it?"
"If you don't mind to sing it."
I don't know why, I mean I know the story of the Phantom, but I completely trusted him.
"Masquerade paper faces on parade
Masquerade hide your face so the world will never find you
Masquerade every face a different shade
Masquerade look around there's another mask behind you."
I choked, unable to go on. I covered my face and cried. All the pain of my parents came flooding back. He sat by me and wrapped me into his arms, rocked me slowly and sang softly to me. I cried until I had no more tears. I drew away and he gently wiped away my tears.
"Christine Daae was your mother wasn't she."
I nodded, sniffing.
"You have her voice."
"But that's were similarities end."
He took in my ivory skin, near white hair, and black eyes. He smiled and stroked my head and tucked me back in. Then he walked out.

I stayed there for 2 weeks while my head healed. Afterwards, he began to give me singing lessons. He also taught me how play the organ, in both he said I excelled. He would even ask my opinion on the music he would write. I'd always looked forward to the night when I'd get to visit him. I had begun to think of him as a father. And whenever he saw me he looked glad to see me.

During rehearsals I could feel him watching me from the rafters. One day Carlotta and her husband, the new owners of the opera house, came to watch us practice our dance while Maria, the new lead soprano, sang. But then Carlotta had to her how "it was done". I'd liked to have ripped my ears off. I looked up and saw Erik was suffering too. I mouthed "dead animal" and he tried to hold back a laugh. We had many laughs at her expense that night.

Another time, while he was on one of his "live off the music" periods, I walked up and grabbed the sheets of music and ran. Naturally he chased me saying "give those back!" Laughing I cried "NEVER". I jumped into the boat and pushed off yelling and laughing "now how are you going to get me". Knowing now that it was a game he walked into the lake and turned over the boat dumping me into the water. I splashed him and he slashed me. This continued till we were both soaked. The pages were ruined but he didn't seem to care.