Michelle awoke abruptly in the middle of the night. The dormatory was pitch black and nothing could be seen-but she could hear the distinct sound of a human voice. She struck a match and lit a candle, her ears sharpening to pick out words or sounds to find the identity of the voice. The light however didn't yield any answers, as she stared into the silent dorm.

So where was the voice coming from?

From the foot of her bed the wall movedand opened as somene entered. There was no real door there, and Michelle held her breath as a human entered the room, closing the door behind itself. Michelle watched as it looked about itself then she realized that it was a boy-a young man was more precise. He closed the door, and stepped more into the bedroom, placing his hand on the bed railing at the foot to Michelle's bed. He didn't see her yet which gave Michelle an opprotunity to study him; young, slender, and pale, wearing a mask to cover a mystery on one side of his face.

His eyes flickered against the candlelight and then he saw Michelle.

Michelle held her breath as he turned to face the awake human and moved closer hie pale green-blue eyes locked on her emerald greens.

"Christine?"

"No,"

"Who are you?"

"Michelle Le'Clair'e,"

"Michelle," his voice sounded warm as he repeated her name. She felt slightly uncomfortable, but was curious more than anything why this man had entered the women's chamber, "Why are you awake when it's so late out?"

"I couldn't sleep,"

"No?"

"Nightmares,"

"Of course," he remarked, "This place does that even for me,"

"And you are?"

"Erik," he sat down on the bed near Michelle who sat up straighter and pulled her knees to herself. He stuck his hand out but when Michelle reached out to shake it, he drew the top of her hand to his lips and kissed it's surface. She trembled under his tender touch.

"Why are you here Erik?"

"I am Christine's tutor-her angel I suppose. I am here to teach her song so she can become the leading sopranna over Carlotta."

"You don't like her either?"

"No," he answered shortly, and glanced about in the darkness until he saw Christine.

"Why teach her at night? She won't answer you in her sleep."

"She learns better that way-when she's asleep. The music of the night possesses more power than daylight dancing." he paused, "Though Madame Giry tells me that you are one of her brightest pupils so far."

Michelle blushed, and nodded shortly, "I hope to stay here and perform-it was my father's wishes."

"Can you sing?"

"I think so-I was at least good enough for my father and his guests when he would play on the piano."

"Your family was good enough to let you sing-it's a good sign."

"They loved me very much, but I don't know if I was really that good."

"Well, if it's of any consolation, Madame Giry thinks you area very promising student."

"It is good news," she shrugged and smiled broader than before.

He noticed her expression, "Perhaps you can help me one day,"

"How? I am not that good," Michelle dropped her head, knowing the look he was glancing at Christine-love.

"I am writing my own opera. I could use someone that Madame Giry likes for proofreading."

Michelle was flattered; she was only sixteen, "I would be happy to help you."

He grinned, "Glad to hear it." his gaze returned to Christine; "She's beautiful, isn't she?"

"She's only twelve," Michelle could hear the small pang of jealousy and immediatly dropped her head in shame.

Erik caught her chin and rose it, "Not everyone is fortunate to be like you Michelle,"

"What do you mean?"

"Talented and beautiful is a rare combination,"

Michelle's brow rose as she looked at Erik, "But you,"

His finger was pressed against her lips then, "I am not beautiful. I am a monster, and an angel of death," he rse and started for the door he had entered from.

"Wait," Michelle protested rising from her bed, and snathing his arm drawing him back to face her, "You are no monster,"

"You know nothing then, Michelle." he turned away but not fast enough to miss Michelle's hand snap out catching the ceramic mask, and it fell onto the think carpet they stood on soundlessly.

Erik's hand went up to cover his markings, but Michelle snatched his hand, "No, Erik. I know much. This face cannot kill." she sounded angry, and she hoped that he understood this genuine emotion, "I have seen much, and I sat next to death himself as he took my father away. Death took my mother before I had a chance to remember her. My closest friend Herriott was burnt as punishment for her innocent mistakes, and was mauled by dogs for amusement until my father took her from her previous owner. Tell me I know nothing, Erik, I know a lot." her voice was low enough despite her anger that no one stirred.

Erik's defenses lowered his arm dropped and they stood there staring at one another, waiting for the other to break. When no one did, Erik reached out and stroked her cheek.

"You're right, Michelle, but I am right also; I have killed. One day I shall tell you about it, but not tonight. It's late, and we both need rest. Tomorrow perhaps we shall talk again, little songbird."

Michelle bent down and picked up the mask she had knocked off of him, and placed it in his hands. His bright colored eyes glistened with respect. She took it as a good sign.

"Until tomorrow," he said curtly, and once he returned the mask to it's rightful place vanished through his door.

Michelle looked forward to meeting Erik at night, his polite manner loosened as they discussed music, politics, family, and Erik's personal favorite to inquire about; life outside the opera house.

"How old are you Erik?"

"Madame Giry believes that I am twenty-two."

"Twenty-two," she chewed on it. that was six years her senior.

"She rescued me when I was ten. She was not well treated for what she did, and not long after that, she was pregnant. Not by me, but by one of the older dancers here. Meg was born at the turn of my first year here."

Michelle nodded wathing the girls sleep. They sat on her own bed watching them dream. It was close to the end of their normal meetings when he suddenly asked a random question.

"Have you ever been on the rooftop here?"

"Of the opera house? No,"

"Would you join me? The moon is out tonight."

"Of course-but not too long. There are classes that I must attend tomorrow."

"Indeed." He took her hand and lead her through his secret door, and through a narrow corridoor to the main stage.

She paused noticing how large the stage was in the dark.

"What is it?"

"The stage," she answered, staring at its vastness.

"It's large in the dark. Wait until you become the leading sopranna."

"It takes on a whole new light then," she agreed, and then turned to face Erik and follow him further.

He lead her to a metal staircase and as they reached the top and around a few narrow wooden aisles, they reached the trapdoor to the top.

A whoosh of cold air hit them in the face as they stepped out into the cold. The skies were clear, and pristine. Stars littered the sky, and the moon was full of it's luminous glory.

"Oh Erik, this was a good idea."

He drew her to his side, his hand at her waist, "I know."

They stood in silence their breath making ice crystals in the air.

She leaned up against him after a while, her head on his shoulder as a sound came from behind them.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here? Trespassers?"

"No, sir." Michelle turned to face the security guard, Joseph, "No my dear friend asked for me to come out and see the glory of the moon tonight."

"Who are you two?"

"Michelle Le'Clair'e," she paused looking to Erik, who had suddenly vanished from her side. She glanced about turning in a full circle before Joseph slammed the trapdoor shut, and she heard the lock latch from the inside.

Gasping, Michelle raced back to the door, slamming her hands into the ledges trying to pry the door open, only to have her fingers grow numb from fighting against the cold.

"Damn it!" she hissed to herself. She stood and looked about herself; there had to be another way into the building. She looked about herself in the darkness seeking her passage, only to find nothing, and worst of all; no Erik.

Where had he gone?

He must have found a door, she told herself, and tried to follow his footsteps only able to find her own had confused the precise steps he had taken.

She cursed, sitting up against a vent, and tucking her cloak about herself. She would sit here for the rest of the night, and in the morning she would find the door Erik took, or she would try the trap door again.

She stared up at the moon and watched it cross the sky, certain that she would be fine out here on her own.

Madame Giry did a count of participants in her morning warm ups before she began teaching her students how to perform for one of the future youth performances that she usually coordinated. The class usually had a missing student due to parents visitin, but one of her most advnced students was missing. She did role call in her head several times before she realized that Michelle Le'Clair'e was missing. She gestured to Meg to come forward while everyone was still warming up.

"Have you seen Meg today?"

"No-I thought she just got a head start on today's activities."

"I doubt that," Carlotta remarked.

"Why?" Meg asked turning to the ever so nosey Carlotta.

"Because if you've noticed ove the last couple of weeks, she's been brighter than normal. She was all sad before two weeks ago."

"What do you suspect, Alyssa?" Madame Giry asked.

Carlotta rose her brow at her teacher, "Why the obvious; she's got a romantic partner."

"I don't think so," Meg countered, "Someone would have seen her with someone then."

"Enough," Madame Giry cut the two girls off. She was certain neither one was correct, but then again, Carlotta was right about one thing; Michelle had been in a great mood over the last few weeks. Had she really met someone? She prayed not; the girl had a harmonious set of pipes made for singing. Her life could be well carved out for her here.

She would check with Joseph Fukay and see if he had seen her. She turned her attention back to her students thinking she would send for him after today's class.

Madame Giry found Joseph on his lunch break, and didn't show her any expression of her presense.

"What can I do for you today, Madame?"

"One of my students is missing, Joseph."

His brow rose slightly, "What's their name?"

"Michelle Le'Clair'e,"

He dropped his sandwich on his plate, "Damn,"

"I beg your pardon?" Madame Giry drew a blank on why he would curse over one student.

"Le'Clair'e?"

"Yes," Madame Giry confirmed, "Michelle,"

"Hell," he muttered, and grabbed his keys from a hook on his belt.

"What?"

"You've checked everywhere?"

"She's my best student, misseur. She never misses a class."

"Follow me," he said rising from his seat on the lunch bench.

He lead Madame Giry across the master stage to a cascading staircase going up to the roof.

Why are we going this way? Madame Giry wondered, as he unlocked a padlock securing the trapdoor to the roof, and pushed it open.

Then she noticed the scratch marks along the edges of the trapdoor that were fresh.

"Joseph?"

"There were a couple of kids out here last night, and I thought they were trespassers."

"I will be the judge of who is and isn't a trespasser, Joseph. You shouldn't have left them out here."

"The boy vanished." he answered helping her onto the roof.

"Boy?"

"Yeah-dark haired, masked. More an adult if you asked me."

Erik? Madame Giry wondered. "Did Michelle follow?"

"No, she looked about confused when he vanished and I shut the door."

She could have slapped him then-she had done it many times before, but her only concern was what had happened to her young pupil Michelle.

Frost had set a fine layer across the roof overnight, causing the air to be crisp and Madame Giry's nerves to twist as she walked about the rooftop.

In the far corner near a heating duct, she found Michelle tucked up into a tight bundle. She was very pale, but alive.

"Joseph!" she shouted.

The stage hand sprinted over to her side and helped her raise the teenager from the frost and back inside the opera house. She lead him back to the girls dormatory where he left Madame Giry with Michelle to change her out of her frozen clothing and into bed. Michelle didn't awake during the entire movement.

Madame Giry hoped she would recover, as she set the hearth alight with fire, to draw heat into the dorm. She was afraid to lose one of her brightest students.

Meg entered the dormatory with Christine, and paled when she saw Michelle unconcious with a hint of blue touching her fingers and lips.

"Where was she?"

"On the roof." Madame Giry answered.

"Why?"

"I won't know until she awakes."

Christine looked at Michelle with dread, "Was it the Opera Ghost?"

"There is no such thing," Madame Giry informed Christine.

"But," Meg started, but Madame Giry shot her daughter a sharp look.

"No, Meg. This was no ghost. Jpseph Fukay saw her out on the roof with someone. Perhaps Carlotta was correct about her finding someone."

"That would be a first," Christine remarked.

Madame Giry grinned lightly, but tried to remain serious, "Has she been seen with anyone here in the dormatory?"

"No-it's against the rules for opposite genders to fratinize in the dormatories. Michelle follows the rules too well to break that one."

"Who would she have been up there with?" Meg questioned.

"Yes, I wonder that myself." Madame Giry remarked, "I will stay here tonight and keep watch. I want to see if anyone enters the dormatory in the night."

Michelle's coloring hadn't improved when night fell, and in Madame Giry's opintion, the girl had picked up a fever that was beyond her control.

Fate would have to determine the girl's future.

Madame Gir sat with a cup of tea watching the fire, when a door opened near Michelle's bed, and the Madame knew who it was immediatly.

Erik; the boy she had saved from the traveling carnival.

She wasn't sure which he saw first; the fire or herself.

"Anne," he said in a low tone, as he came to stand by her side.

"Erik, what are you doing here in the girls dormatory?"

He dropped his gaze glancing back at Michelle.

"I came to see how she was-if she was able to get back inside last night."

"How did you get back inside?"

"A window," Erik answered shortly his gaze fixed on the unconscious Michelle.

"Josheph Fukay left her out on the rooftop last night intending for you both to freeze for trespassing. He didn't realize that she was one of my students."

"How long was she out there?"

"Until midday today, when I asked him if he had seen one of my students."

Erik paled dropping to his knees in obvious regret.

"I didn't know he would leave her out there,"

"What did you think would happen, being out there if you got caught?" Madame Giry's anger was rising, despite feeling sorry for her friend.

"But," he couldn't speak, hid mind clearly overflowing with thoughts and emotions.

"What were you two doing out there?"

"Talking," Erik answered quickly, "I took her to the roof because the moon was full last night. It's one of the most beautiful sights to see from the opera house roof."

She could see that he was telling the truth, "How long have you been coming here?"

"Two weeks, give or take. Michelle caught me on my first attempt as I sought Christine." His eyes went to her bed, "She doens't know I've been here. I end up spending the night talking to Michelle instead."

"About what?"

"Everything, Anne. She tells me about the world and tells me about things that I have never heard of."

She smiled, "You have grown attached."

"I have,"

"There are recitals in two months for the new leading sopranna. If Michelle can recover in time, she can take over the role. Carlotta otherwise is in line for the position. Christine's too young for it. Three seasons or so from now perhaps she will be ready-old enough to participate."

Erik stared at Anne, "What are you suggesting?"

"If Michelle pulls through, take her under your wing; you're a genious Erik. You need a student."

"But what if-,"

"If she dies?" Madame Giry cut him off, "If Michelle dies you will have no reason to return here."

The room seemed fuzzy, and Michelle blinked to refocus her vision. Her dreams had been hazy, full of confusion and left her inable to recall how she had made it back to her bed in the dormatory. It was light out-that much she could see. She sat up, unable to recall anything. The only thing she could think was the sudden need to use the powder room. When she returned, she sat on her matress thinking trying to recall her last memory. She could recall being on the rooftop with Erik, but nothing after that. She recalled how kind he was, how he held her near him as they watched the night sky.

Nothing came to her after that.

No one was in the dormatory, and she sat waiting for some sign of that time it was, but when no sign came she decided to dress and wander the opera house. Her footsteps made no sounds as her dress's hem danced around her knees. No one saw her as she entered the main theatre where Madame Giry's class was ending their seminar for the day. Meg saw her first, and leapt off the stage to her.

"You're alive!"

Michelle nodded, as she accepted Meg's warm embrace. The others paused their practice as Madame Giry turned to face Michelle.

"Welcome back, dear child." was all Madame Giry said directly at her, "Class is dismissed for today."

The others joined Meg, in seeing Michelle, embracing her and trying to get her to reveal what had happened.

"How long have I been out?" she asked Meg when the others left the theatre.

"A week,"

"Seriously?"

"Yes. Mother and Joseph Fukay found you up on the roof passed out nearly dead from the cold."

"What were you doing up there?" Christine asked, sitting beside Meg in the opera seats.

"Watching the moon,"

"Good cover, Mitch." Carlotta snapped, "But we know that there had to be a man up there for you to go that way."

"No," Michelle answered, "I went up on my own."

"Ladies," Madame Giry called out from the stage, "Michelle and I need to talk; she can answer your questions later."

Meg nodded and catching Christine's hand lead her from the theatre for the dining commons. Carlotta stared at Michelle a moment longer before following.

"I bet there's a boy involved,"

"No," without thinking further got up from her seat and went to the Madame.

"Come," Madame Giry took Michelle's hand lightly, and led her to her office.

When the door was closed behind them, Madame Giry had her take a seat.

"Have you eaten?"

"No, not yet."

"Then I will do my best to keep this short, Michelle." her voice had a hint of coldness to it, causing Michelle to mentally cower.

"Okay,"

Madame Giry spoke before the word had become silent, "I didn't let you come here to die. Nor was it my intent for you to be such a match for Erik."

Michelle's eyes widened slightly, knowing that she had been had.

"Erik told me everything-some he didn't even have to say. But because I have no intention of taking love from Erik, I am granting you this one stroke of affection. I would prefer that you keep it to yourself. Erik has promised me his highest level of confidentiality. Nobody else needs to know about your friend-yet. He likes you very much Michelle-don't blow this, for he may go mad otherwise."

"What are you telling me, Madame?"

"I am letting you have your friend. Erik is to be discreet in his visitations however, and he has to prepare you for the auditions that are soon to arrive anyway."

"What auditions?"

"For leading sopranna-Lady Jenifer is leaving for marital purposes."

"Sopranna?"

"Yes. He is eager for you to take it over, little songbird-unless your short comma has rendered your voice."

"I don't think so,"

"Good, now go eat something. Erik will probably drop in tonight to see you. He's been checking on you every night."

"Has he?"

"Yes, I told you; he likes you very much." she paused, "Now go; I have paperwork to do."