A/N: Sorry this has gotten off to a slow start! I will make it a little more interesting and romantic and different from the original in this chapter.

As always, I do not own Phantom of the Opera or the songs in this story.

I remember there was mist...

*8*8*Annabelle's POV*8*8*

I woke up in a strange place. I was in a bed that was shaped like some sort of bird. Next to me, a musical box was playing a tune. It had a little monkey playing the symbols on top of it. I felt very relaxed. I realized it was the first good night of sleep I had gotten in a while.

I should be worried now, but I felt very peaceful. I walked out of the small bedroom while trying to remember what had happened…

I remember…I remember there was mist
Swirling mist upon a vast, glassy lake
there were candles all around and on the lake there was a boat…

I walked out of the room and into one that was much larger. Sure enough, there was a lake and mist and candles and a boat. But that wasn't it.

And in the boat there was a man…

I turned to see a man by an organ writing something and playing on the organ. The Phantom of the Opera. My angel of music. Who was he? Whose is the face in the mask?

I crept up behind him. He was so absorbed in whatever he was doing that he didn't know I was there. It would be so easy to take his mask off and see who he was…

No. I couldn't it's his secret. He has the right to keep it if he wants. I have no right to be nosey. Instead, I did something that I can't explain. I wrapped my arms around him and kissed his cheek. He jumped slightly and then leaned into me.

TTT—Erik's POV—TTT

This was wonderful. I hadn't been able to write such wonderful music in a while. I could hear it in my head. I couldn't hear anything else when I was writing. I became extremely absorbed in it.

I felt two thin arms suddenly wrap around me. I flinched as it startled me. What surprised me even more was when she kissed my cheek. Annabelle.

Oh, Annabelle, you are different than Christine, you really are. Christine tore my mask off, which frightened her. Christine hated me out of fear. Annabelle, though, was able to resist temptation and find beauty instead.

"You're music is beautiful," she said.

"It's better when you sing it," I replied. I moved over to let her sit on the piano bench.

"Can you play me some?" she asked. I was about to refuse, but I couldn't say 'no' to her. She was too sweet.

I nodded and began to play. She smiled and leaned against me. I stopped immediately.

"Oh," she sat up and moved away from me, "I'm sorry,"

"Anna, please, don't get too close to me. I'm dangerous. You can't get too close to me," I said.

"I'm not afraid of you," she looked up at me. Her eyes told me that she was trying to understand me.

I sighed, "I know,"

**/Phillip's POV\**

I stared at the note in shock.

M. Patron,

As much as I admire you support for my opera, you come to it for the wrong reasons. Miss Annabelle is a beautiful singer and deserves someone who will appreciate it. Do not make an attempt to see her ever again.
Your faithful servant,
O.G.

I immediately made my way to the opera house.

"Carlotta, did you write this?" I asked her.

She scowled, "No," she roared, "The Phantom of the Opera did! He ruined life for me once, and now he's doing it again! Look at this!" she handed me a piece of paper.

Carlotta,
You may own the opera house now, but I still run it. In the new production, your protégé will play the silent role and Miss Annabelle will play the lead.
I advise you not to forget that my salary is due.
O.G.

"See?" she cried, "He's doing it again! He wants her to play the role of the Egyptian queen and my student to play the oracle who is in the play for all of two minutes!"

"He's done this before?" I asked.

"Yes!" she yelled, "He's famous for it! If these orders aren't followed, he'll do something drastic! He killed someone last time!"

"Killed someone!" I exclaimed, "We can't let Annabelle perform!"

"Oh, yes we can!" she said, "Oh, yes we can!"

*-*^-Annabelle's POV-^*-*

I had been brought back to the surface. Before my angel left, I called after him. "Wait!" he turned. "What's your name?"

"Erik," he said and left through the mirror.

I smiled. "Erik," I breathed.

I went out into the hall and thought about what had happened.

"Annabelle!" someone yelled. I was suddenly embraced by Phillip.

"Ah! What? What's wrong?" I asked.

"You never showed up last night. I heard you were kidnapped!" he said, "By the Phantom!"

"Oh, I guess I was…" I replied.

"That monster, I'll—"

"He's not a monster, Phillip,"

"Anna…never mind. Are you alright? Did he hurt you?"

"What? No, no, no!"

"Okay, but can you sing in the musical? I mean, do you want to?"

"What?"

"You're the lead in next month's musical,"

"Yes," someone said. Carlotta stepped out, "Our precious little singer! You'll be the lead! Of course, Caprice will be your understudy,"

This was amazing! I spent the next month rehearsing. Of course, I went to see Erik every day.

It was one such day that it happened. I finished up the final note of my solo.

"Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!" Erik praised.

"Well, I've been taught by the best," I replied.

"You didn't need training," he got closer to me.

"But I'm glad I got it," I said. We were an inch away from each other, and I guess it just happened. One moment we were talking, the next we were caught in a romantic French kiss.

I don't know who pulled away first, but we were both blushing and embarrassed by the end.

"We should—" I began.

"Keep practicing—" he continued.

"Singing!" I clarified.

"Yeah," he replied.

_-_-Erik's POV-_-_

After the kiss, I felt horrible. I set her up for a broken heart. We couldn't be togeather. It wasn't good for her. But I was deeply in love with her.

She could stay here forever, couldn't she?

^v^_Annabelle's POV_^v^

The day finally came. I was so excited, but very nervous. I was dressed a short white dress with gold trim and a golden head dress. I had gold sandals and arm bands. My belt was blue and gold. I looked just like an Egyptian princess.

I took a deep breath. There was a knock on my door. "Come in!" I called.

"Ah, you look…lovely," Caprice said, walking into the room.

"What are doing here?" I asked.

"Oh, just to wish you luck. After all, this theater does belong to my sister-in-law. If you fail tonight, we're broke. So I brought you something to drink. You know, to calm your nerves," she explained.

It made sense. Besides, why would one role make her so upset? She would have the next lead because there were two leading ladies in the next show.

I smiled and accepted the drink I gulped it down as my throat was very dry. Caprice left to get to her place. I quickly put earrings in and dashed to the stage. Phillip met me in the hall. He wished me luck and kissed my cheek.

I took a deep breath and skipped on stage when my music started. "Ah-ahahah-ah-ah-ah-ahah-ah," I began my song. "Ah-ah, ahah-ahahahah-ah *cough, cough* ah," I blushed. There was something wrong. "Ah ah ah ah-ah ah ah *cough, cough, cough*" I began to panic. What was wrong with me? "Ah *cough, cough, cough, cough* ah…ah…ahh….peep…." then my voice was gone. I tried again, but nothing was happening. I gave a panicked look to the stage manager. He motioned for me to come back. I backed up enough so I was behind the curtain when I closed. I could hear people booing me. Tears streamed down my face, but my sobs were not heard. I kept coughing. I couldn't stop.

Juliette and Claire-Marie ran on and helped me off. They ran me to my room and wiped my eyes. They rubbed my back to calm me.

_-_-Erik's POV-_-_

I was amazed by her voice at first. Light and delicate. But then she began coughing. Her voice faded to nothing. It was unnatural. She wasn't sick at all. I looked around the theater. That's when I saw her, Carlotta was smiling triumphantly. She gave a little wave good-bye as the curtain closed. Then she got up and walked out of the theater.

That bitch! She sabotaged Anna's performance. I slipped out of box five and followed Carlotta.

"You did very well getting rid of that little inconvenience, my dear," she hugged Caprice who was already dressed for the role.

"I know! It was so easy! She's so gullible!" Caprice said.

"I have to return to the audience, now, but I'll see you then!" Carlotta kissed her cheek and left the room. She had to go a back way to the theater so no one would suspect her of this. It was perfect for me though.

"Carlotta," I chimed. She jumped and looked around. Her confidence turned to fear in a second. A small cry escaped her. When she turned back, I was right in front of her. She screamed and ran. I chased her. I was faster than her and I knew the theater better. She didn't stand a chance.

*^*-Meg's POV-*^*

I found Claire-Marie in Anna's room.

"Clam," I said, using the name we gave her. She was comforting a sobbing Belle. "They're using the ballet to stall," She nodded.

"I'll stay with Anna, don't worry," Juliette said. Clam nodded and followed me out.

"Is she alright?" I asked.

"Yeah," she answered, "She's just embarrassed. And…" she nodded to something. I looked up to see Phillip headed towards the door of Anna's room. Clam and I giggled.

We made it to the stage and began to do our routine. It went well. We always did better in front of an audience. All of a sudden, though, someone screamed. I looked up.

It was happening again. I saw him before I saw her. His black cape was disappearing into the shadows. I followed the rope down to where Carlotta hung, her eyes blood-shot and her lips were blue. She was limp and lifeless. Everyone was screaming and panicking. This was horrible. Why had this happened?

But I knew why. I looked into the audience where Raoul was holding Christine protectively.

I met up with them in the hall. "Christine! You have to leave!" I said, "He must know you're here,"

She simply nodded and Raoul helped led her out the door. I followed them. Once outside and safely away from the opera house, Christine had time to talk to me.

"I thought you said he was dead," she gasped.

"I-I…" I sniffled, "I'm sorry. I had to lie. I didn't want to worry you," I sobbed.

Christine gave me a look.

"Christine, I'm so sorry," I tried to make it better.

"Sorry?" she yelled, "My cousin is there! What if it was her that was killed?"

"Christine, please, I…I promise nothing will happen to her," I said, "If I have to kill the Phantom myself,"