I awoke in my dressing room at around 7:00. It was quiet and peaceful. I figured that Erik had gone back to his room for the night. Flinging my legs off the side of the bed, I cracked my feet and stood up. Never in my life had I been this rested; it was quite the feeling.

I walked into my bathroom and got ready for my day. I wore one of the dresses my Aunt Claudine bought me. It was pink, a color I didn't usually wear. Don't ask why I chose to wear it. I felt like being pretty. I put on smoky eye makeup and put my brown hair into a ponytail. I looked at myself in the mirror. Not to sound narcissistic, I looked rather good. I just hoped Erik would like it as well.

Who was I kidding? Why would he even look at someone like me? I walked out of my room and headed towards the main stage. I had this feeling the pit of my stomach. Erik had told me that the music of the night was over. Did that mean he wasn't going to kill anymore? Was I to be the new Christine? I tried to ignore it and continued my walk.

"Hey, Caitlyn." I heard a low voice drawl from me behind me. I turned and saw Xavier Rockwell running towards me. I started to blush; I had always found him attractive. "Congratulations on landing that solo song. I'm surprised Carlotta hasn't tried to murder you yet." He teased as I waited for him to catch up to me.

"Thank you, monsieur. I'm just surprised that they let me, an alto, have the solo." I laughed. He smirked and we walked together. Everyone knew that opera wasn't a very kind environment for an alto. It was a soprano world and altos always took a backseat to the soprano's musical talents.

"You deserve it. You have one of the best voices here. Carlotta sounds like a dying moose." Xavier laughed running his hand through his hair. My cheeks turned red and I stared straight ahead. "Caitlyn, I was wondering if you wanted to have dinner with me tonight."

I thought about my session with Erik. Would he be upset with me if I left for one night? What am I saying? Of course, he would be upset with me. I couldn't stand the thought of Xavier getting hurt. I started to protest, "That would be lovely, bu-" He interrupted me

"Great! I'll pick you up at around six! That's a really pretty dress you're wearing. You seem so much happier today. Yesterday, it looked as if you would've burst into tears at any second." Xavier stated. He was so excited. I felt like the worst person on the planet.

"I felt as if I could use a change. It's nice to be happy again." I sighed. "But I-"

"I will count the minutes until tonight. Goodbye for now, Caitlyn." He took one of my hands and kissed it. I blushed and looked down as he walked away. I tried to go after him but I was called away.

"Ahem, excusez-moi, mademoiselle, are you ready for your rehearsal?" Monsieur Reyer asked from his music stand.

"Yes, I am. Sorry to keep you waiting." And so we began practicing.

Erik's POV:

I watched as that miserable oaf walked away from Caitlyn. There was something in her eyes that I had never seen before. It was adoration. Oh, how I knew this would happen. It was like Raoul and Christine all over again. No. I would not let that happen. I will not share Caitlyn with this babbling buffoon.

It has been a day and she has already forgotten her Angel of Music. Well, I will be sure that she remembers. Caitlyn de Chagny will rue the day that she betrayed me.

Slowly from the rafters, I watched as Xavier reached his normal spot working the ropes. He leaned on the railing and watched as my Caitlyn ran through her song. I crept to his railing and waited until he turned his head. As he did, he began to walk down the stairs, almost like he were going to go watch from the seats. As he reached the bottom of the stairs, I grabbed a hold of his collar. This little fop was going to pay.

I put my hand over his mouth and dragged him to the bottom of the orchestra pit. He was struggling against my grip and I pushed him into the pit, a little more forcefully. Xavier's eyes were filled with fear as I reached into my cape, pulling out a noose. He tried to scream but I pressed my hand farther on his mouth.

I wrapped the noose around his neck and began to pull on the rope. His face turned red, and his eyes seemed as if they were to pop out of his skull in a matter of seconds. The red turned into a sickening shade of purple and then his struggling stopped. I did my job. The fool was dead.

Making sure not to make a sound, I picked up the body and threw it over my shoulder. How was I to make it clear that I wasn't to be toyed with again? I walked backstage without being noticed and hung the body from a rafter in such a way that he was only to be seen when leaving the main stage. I quickly grabbed a piece of parchment and wrote down a letter.

The piano stopped playing and I heard Reyer clapping his hands, telling Caitlyn how great of a job she did. She was in for quite the shock. I attached the letter to the body and walked out of the main stage, going below the main floor into the bowels of the opera house once more.

This would show her not to toy with my emotions anymore. She belongs to me.

Caitlyn's POV:

"Great job, Caitlyn! Go and get yourself some water and we will continue in 20 minutes." Monsieur Reyer applauded and I curtsied. I was getting better and better every day. I grabbed a glass of water from the girl in front of the orchestra pit. I thanked her kindly and began to sip at the refreshing liquid.

A bloodcurdling scream rang out from the stage entrance. I turned and saw Meg crying on her mom's shoulder. Madame Giry's face was pale as the moon and her eyes were like saucers. I ran to them and saw what they were looking at. There hanged Xavier Rockwell, whom I had spoken to not 10 minutes before.

My eyes filled with tears and I saw a note tucked into Xavier's collar. I began to sob and reached for the letter. The front of the envelope read, Caitlyn de Chagny. My breath caught in my throat.

"For God's sake, Caitlyn, do what he asks you! I knew this was going to happen!" Madame Giry cried out.

I didn't respond as I read the letter.

Ms. Chagny,

You think that because I am not around I do not hear what you say? That miserable fool thinks that he can take you away from me? I thought I made it very clear when I sang to you. You are mine and no one else's. If you try to run away, your friends will pay the price. If you try to contact Raoul, I will make sure that you never see the light of day again. This is your first strike. Two more and you're out.

Your Angel of Music,

O.G.

PTO: Your lesson remains at the same time and place as before. Remember, just because I am not with you doesn't mean I don't hear you.

My tears flowed out of my eyes. I was terrified. My hands were shaking and my mind kept going back to the words 'This is your first strike. Two more and you're out.' Xavier's dead eyes looked into my very soul as I watched the body sway back and forth. The Opera Populaire was no longer my home; it was a prison. A prison that I would live in until the day I die.


AN: I changed the way the Xavier exchange occurred, simply because I didn't really enjoy the little fight scene later to come in the story. I still do not like the baseball metaphor in the note from the Phantom. Unfortunately, my creative juices are not a-flowing.