Hey guys sorry for the belated update! Exams and revision you know…but anyway the Authoress is back! Yay! I may not be able to update again for another couple of weeks because of exams. So bear with me.

Disclaimer: Do I look like I own POTO? Looks at ragged jeans and ripped top covered in dirt Exactly. I. Don't. Own. It.

Xxxxxxx

The Phantom placed a hand on a certain brick in the stone wall directly opposite and pushed inwards. There was a crunching noise and slowly the wall swivelled inwards allowing enough room for a fair sized person to slip thorough.

The Phantom cocked his head to one side listening for movement. There was no other sound apart from his and the girls breathing. He slipped out once he was sure there was no one near.

The girls followed him quickly, glancing around the room they entered. It was rather a splendid room. Pale pink wallpaper adorned the walls. A tall lamp stood in one corner near an ebony coloured armoire upon which lay a series of photographs, books and papers, in the centre of which stood a black and white photograph of a young girl with fair hair and expressive eyes. A small couch lay to one side and a fair- sized bed in another corner, above a shelf, which held books and ornaments. A vase if pink tulips stood on a low table near the couch, a lace daily at its base.

Jenine nudged Fiona and nodded towards the photo of the young girl. Fiona moved closer to the armoire and read the name written on the top of the letters "Celine Giry" she read.

So they had entered Madame Giry's chambers. That explained the photo.

Fiona glanced up at Jenine. She smiled and nodded to show she understood. The Phantom meanwhile was placing a letter on the low table with the flowers on it. He also produced a small box of English sweets – Mme Giry's favourites and placed them beside the letter.

The Phantom turned and walked to the door. Pressed his hand to a certain place in the door frame, the wall they had entered from closed and a trap door directly beneath the Phantom opened up and he dropped down out of sight.

Both girls gasped and ran over to door. Glancing down Jenine whispered urgently "Monsieur ca va?"

The Phantom had landed gracefully on both feet and was straightening his cravat when Jenine's call reached him. Ignoring her call the Phantom meticulously smoothed back his hair and made sure that the ever-present mask was still in place.

"Monsieur! Ca va? Are you hurt?" Jenine's frantic call echoed down narrow shaft "Me parler s'il vous plait!"

The Phantom sighed and raising his head to Jenine and Fiona's anxious faces.

"Yes I am quite unhurt mademoiselle. Now if you would stop lingering and get down here, perhaps we could finish delivering these notes before tomorrow!" he said smartly and turned on his heel and disappeared into the blackness within. Both girls looked at each other. Then Fi dropped down, swiftly followed by Jenine who landed on her feet. As soon as she stopped falling, the trap door closed above her and plunged them both into darkness.

"Damn," Fiona swore softly "I can't see a sodding thing."

"State the obvious Ms Intelligent." Jenine muttered sarcastically brushing herself down.

Fiona huffed and spun round. "Monsieur?" she called out softly. "Monsieur la Fantome are you there?"

Silence answered her.

"Monsieur?" she said again. Again nothing.

"Fiona, if he doesn't answer he is obviously not here."

"Great. Just Great."

"I know. Tell me about it."

"We're stuck, lost and HAVE NO LIGHT!" she said placing emphasis on the last words.

"Okay, Fi calm. We'll just find a way out, surely there must be a way out."

Fiona stared at Jenine – or where she thought Jenine was bearing in mind she couldn't see her.

"That's a bad idea. In fact that's the worst idea in the history of bad ideas. What about Erik's traps?"

"I know it's not great but it's the best one I've come up with. You got any better ideas?"

"Yeah. We stay here and hope Erik finds us."

"Yeah because that's not a bad idea.'

"Better than yours." Fiona spat back.

"Well at least I came up with a decent idea." Jenine retorted.

"Decent! Decent! That was decent!"

"Yeah. You can stay here and die of cold or hunger or which ever's the easiest. I'm going to find a way out." Jenine said walking forward.

"What! You can't leave me here by myself!"

"Watch me."

"Jee, wait! I'm sorry!" Fiona scrambled forward and grabbed Jenine's arm. She overbalanced and they both fell over – Fiona landing on top of Jenine, in a rather awkward position that would make immature boys snicker in amusement.

"Fi – what the hell?" Jenine gasped out winded, winded.

"Oh I'm sorry." Fi apologised spitting out a mouthful of dirt and blinking dust from her eyes. She felt for Jenine's hand and helped her up.

"I didn't mean to…you know." She said gesturing to the ground.

" 'S okay." Jenine muttered.

Suddenly the sound of nails on stone was heard. Jenine started in fear.

"Fi – what the hell is that?"

"I don't know." Fiona whispered fearfully, peering through the endless darkness.

"It's getting nearer, oh God it's getting nearer." Jenine whispered shaking slightly.

"Oh God." Fiona grabbed Jenine's hand. The noise seemed to be so close. So close…it was almost on top of them! The noise seemed to fill the girls ears.

"Oh God, what is it? What is it Jee?" Fiona edged closer to Jenine. The other girl squeezed Fiona's hand tightly.

The sound of thousands of nails on stone seemed to penetrate their brain, a continuous scrape. Something slithered over Jenine's left foot, brushing her leg. The girl screamed in fright and jerked away.

"Something went over my foot Fi!" she shrieked. "It felt wet and hairy." She shuddered.

Fiona grabbed Jenine in fright. "Oh God Jee - a light!"

In the distance a light was just visible in the darkness. It grew larger as it grew closer until it was recognisable as a ball of fire. Fire that seemed to contain in it, as Jenine peered closely-

"A death's head!' she said breathing heavily.

The heads' eyes glared menacingly at the two girls, it's lips curled in a leer.

"Who disturbs me?" it growled. Fiona's mouth opened and closed several times.

"I – Er - He - We - Um – Help" Jenine squeaked.

"Who disturbs me?" It growled again coming closer. "Who scares my rats?"

"R – R –rats?" Fiona squeaked faintly.

"Yes my rats girl!" Suddenly the light moved illuminating the figure of a man with pale skin and sunken eyes, with shadows under his eyes and a thin lips. The man was hunched slightly and leant heavily on a stick. The light illuminated the hundreds of rats around them, feet making noises of nails on stone as they skittered about.

Jenine uttered a shaky sort of laugh. "Oh. Monsieur can I ask who are you?"

Mwahahahaaha! The cliff hanger! I know I'm evil but I can't help it! So my loyal reviewers you know what to do. Read and Review! If you do I'll give you each fifiteen minutes alone with Erik in which you may do as you please. Wink.

Erik: Would you stop? It's bad enough I had to hug them last time.

Angelflowers: Erik, who controls your Milk Chocolate and Turkish Delight supply?

Erik: Umm….You.

Angelflowers: Sweetly Exactly. I wouldn't annoy me if I was you. Do what I say.

Erik:….

Angelflowers: Do it or the chocolate and Turkish Delight perish! Mwahhahaha!

Erik: Okay okay. I'll do it. Grumbles Stinking sneaky Authoresses. I'll get you one of these days, mark my words child.