Bonjour! So this is Chapter 3, and the story is getting better (I hope you think so)! This chapter is longer and has a bit more action. I hope you guys are liking this story because I am planning for this to be a lot of chapters! Thanks for reading and don't forget to follow, favorite, and review!

~Lauren

Chapter 3

The Delivery

Eva was surprised to see a note sitting on her desk since she had only been in the Opera Populaire for a couple of hours. Who could have sent her a note? She picks up the rose first and caresses it while smelling it. Was this a sign of love or just respect? She didn't know, but maybe the letter would help. She picks up the letter and turns it over to open it. But she shudders, seeing the red skull. Her heart rate goes up, and she slowly tears the letter open. She slowly pulls out the letter, scared of what she will read. But, as she is reading the letter, she smiles. It was a very nice letter. She sets it back on her desk and sits down. As she is combing her hair, all she can think about is the last two sentences. "You seem very lovely. Very, very lovely."

What did he mean by that? Did this mysterious and secret man like her? A million thoughts were coming into Eva's head and she couldn't help but desperately wanting to know who this man was. Why did he have to be mysterious? And that was when it hit her. He is mysterious, secretive, and there was a red skull to seal the letter. "It couldn't be…" She refused to accept this. If it was the Phantom, she just wanted to meet the man. Eva sets down her brush and turns in her chair to face the mirror. She heard all the stories from her friend, Meg Giry, and all the other ballet girls, about how the Phantom came through the mirrors to visit that other girl. What was her name? Oh right, Christine. She thought about it. And then she sighed. "I must send a letter back. It is only polite." She says to herself quietly.

Eva then goes rummaging through the desk drawers to look for a piece of paper and something to write with. Finally she finds some parchment sitting with a quill and ink. She grabs them carefully, making sure she doesn't drop the ink all over her dress. She dips her quill in ink and starts to write a nice letter.

Dear O.G.,

Thank you for all those things you said about me. I truly appreciate your respect and welcome. I hope to know your name too. I would also like for us to meet, I know we could become great friends! I have left this letter in your box, and I would like you to please leave your response on the same chair. So, I hope to see you soon, hopefully. Thank you again, monsieur.

-Eva Wilkinson

She then lightly blows on the letter to help the ink dry. Then she slowly folds it up and puts it in an envelope she also found in one of the drawers. As soon as she is about to get up and put the letter in the box, Meg Giry comes running through the door screaming, "You got a letter from the Phantom?!" Eva's eyes practically pop out of her head. "How did you find that out?" Meg gasps. "So it is true?!" Eva sighs and runs behind Meg to close the door. After she slams the door shut, she runs back in front of Meg. "Yes…No…I don't know. He didn't say in the letter that he was the Phantom. So, I am not positive." Meg furrows her brow and sighs. "Well," she replies, "How was the letter signed?" Eva shrugs and says, "It was signed O.G." Meg's eyes bulge and she gasps, once more. "That is how the Phantom signs all his letters! It means "Opera Ghost"! You got a letter from the Phantom!" Eva starts to pace back and forth in front of Meg. "Well what am I supposed to do? You know more about him than I do. I have been here for not even 12 hours!"

Meg walks closer to Eva and grabs her forearms. She then stops pacing, and they are looking eye to eye. "I think that you should reply to him, and see what he says." Eva nods and Meg looks over at the desk. She scurries over to the desk and grabs the red rose with the black ribbon. "He…gave…you…a rose. Oh, my, gosh." Eva rushes over to Meg and grabs the rose out of her hands and hold it close to her chest. "What's wrong with that? What does it mean? Meg, please tell me!" Meg takes a deep breath. "It is just like Christine all over again." She whispers. She then turns and faces Eva again. "Listen, just write him a letter, and see if he shows any more signs of emotion. Has he show any more than the rose?" Eva has a worried look on her face and Meg bulges her eyes out. "Eva, what did he say?" Eva presses her lips together tightly, not wanting to say anything, but then all of a sudden, she just bursts it out. "He told me I was 'Very, very lovely.' Oh, my, gosh, Meg! You have to help me! I don't know what this means!" Meg just shakes her and shrugs.

"Meg, I already wrote a letter back to him. Will you come with me and deliver it to Box Five?" Meg exhales and her shoulders drop. "Ok, fine. But let's do it now. The Phantom is always lurking around at night." Eva nods, grabs the letter on the desk and rushes out the door.

Once they get to the box, the slowly creep in, hooping the Phantom would not be there at the time. As they get farther into the box, they soon realize that he isn't there and they both exhale in relief. Then they both stop in the middle of the box, knowing what to do. Meg nudges Eva and whispers, "Go on! Put it on a seat!" Eva bulges her eyes at her and makes a face. Then she slowly creeps up and drops the letter on a seat. She sighs and walks back over to Meg. As they are turning to walk out of the box, the feel a whoosh of air, and banging. It sounds like someone is running. They both turn quickly, and expect to see the Phantom there. But they see nothing. Eva tip toes up to the seat where she dropped the letter. She gasps. She then whispers to Meg,

"The letter is gone."