Disclaimer: I do not own the song in this chapter. The song is called Lullaby by Emmy Rossum on her album Inside Out. Happy Erik thoughts!

The Phantom's Lullaby

They returned the next day to do what work just two people could do and also for her father to compile a list of everything that needed to be replaced, let alone everything that need to be scrubbed, polished, and cleaned. Meanwhile, Alethia wandered through the rest of the opera house, candlestick in hand, throwing what light she could throughout the pitch black dormitories and dressing rooms behind the theatre. When she entered what looked like the lead soprano's dressing room, judging it as so by how extravagant the abandoned furniture appeared, she lit the candles around the room. Thinking she was obviously alone, her mind and body gave way to frivolous desires spinning around the room. Suddenly the phantom invaded her thoughts and once again she felt his sadness. She decided to hum a Greek lullaby for him, hoping that he was still here and might be listening.

He stalked up and down the secret passageways within the walls of the opera house, deep in thought. Violation was an inevitable emotion that the Phantom was feeling at the moment, but another feeling was conflicting with that; many more actually. He still seemed curious at their presence, the father and daughter that were going to be the new managers of his opera, hence the reason why he had not killed them outright as soon as they had entered the dark theatre. Still more, he had been sure the girl had seen, or even felt, his movements in the darkness which fascinated him even more. It had been quite dark. It was almost as if she had perceived him, as if her sixth sense had reached out and knew he was there.

He had wanted to purge them from the building so that yet again he could have his peace. But something occurred to him; what was his peace but loneliness and solitude among his torturous thoughts?

He truly did not know what he wanted. Such was his confusion until he stopped dead in his tracks as he heard a very faint, yet extraordinary humming reverberating through the walls. His head twisted around to find the source and was shocked as he realized it was coming from the Prima Donna's dressing room. Christine's dressing room.

Christine, he thought. A lump of pain formed in his throat as her name filled his thoughts. He shook his head and barely brushed the thought away as his feet took him to his destination. He stopped in front of the window/mirror and to his astonishment, laid his eyes upon the girl from the theatre, still humming.

She twirled around the room with stunningly graceful movement, a smile on her face and her eyes closed as her voice intoxicated the air. Finally she opened her lips to sing:

Ah-ah-ah-ahh

Ah-ah-ah-ahh

Laying alone with the history that made you cold and uncertain inside

Careful now, deep breath, the water's still rising

But your silver lining is inside

A sharp breath caught in his throat.

When you, you feel like you're breaking down

And you, your body's just giving in

And you, you can't go on broken like this any longer

Close your eyes, don't you cry, let the sorrow within you subside

Don't despair, have no fear, give your weight to me when you hear this lullaby

You say all seems so wrong with the life that you're living

You're searching for some reason why

You're so scared to trust, you're feeling unworthy, aching for comfort tonight

When your heart's too sore to beat

And you, you fear it might never heal

And you, you feel not even beggars want you, I do

Close your eyes-

Just as a tear was making its way down his cheek, he heard distant voices, loud, laughing, mocking voices. And then a man's angry shout, followed by a single gunshot. At this, the girl gasped and ran out of the room.

Regaining his senses and brushing his shock and emotion aside, the Phantom ran along the tunnel, fury lining his senses at his silence being disturbed, as well as the girl's song. What the hell was happening in his Opera House?