(Rebecca's POV)

Everything was fine, but I couldn't hear the music I was playing. After what seemed to be long enough, I tried to open my mouth to sing, but in vain. My legs felt as if I had popped put both of my knees, and at the same time, I felt weak all over, and yet I had no feeling whatsoever. It became harder and harder to breathe with each quick and shallow breath I took. Then I started to hope that Gloria would turn to me and do something. I glanced up from the piano that I suppose I was still playing, and didn't see Gloria. I saw black with purple and green spots, and then heard ringing in my ears, not the piano, and felt hot and cold at the same time. I feared the near future and could breathe no more.

When I awoke, I recalled all that had happened last…last…last time I was conscious? Then, the memories flooded my head, drowned me. What would happen today? How long was I out? I hoped I wasn't going to be fired and that I still would get paid, for if I go, then so would my dear, dear friend Gloria, and in this dream that I have so long wished shall crash down upon me, and Gloria would be dragged down with it. I'd rather had a visit paid to Death than hurt Gloria. She's my friend. We clicked since we first met. I could never hurt her, if I had the power to control the cause of harm coming to others. I looked up, a habit of mine that I give in to when in a desperate situation in need of hope, and finally took account of my surroundings. I was not in the dressing room. What I was in seemed to be a cave. The ringing in my ears was replaced with soft, angelic music. My head felt heavy and I still felt weak. I swung my legs in an attempt to place them on the ground so I could try to walk and perhaps not get killed by the specter which I knew was there. However, they hit something hard and wooden, and made a low clunk.

"Ow," I muttered. I sat up to see if the music was disturbed, but it wasn't. I realized I was in a bed that had a similar shape to a bird. I found it quite attractive, and admired the complicated details.

A second time, I swung my legs, this time sure to not hit a part of the bed, and stood up. No matter how many times that I or anyone else could watch the movie, nothing had I ever seen been so real and so beautiful. I didn't really know what to do, but I at least knew enough NOT TO PULL OFF HIS MASK.

I stood up, took a deep, yet quiet breath, and for some reason, I was unable to move quickly, but I managed to shuffle to the middle of the room…er, cave. I was surrounded by candles, and I could see Erik playing the organ, but I kept my distance. I have read stories about people going back in time and falling in love with the phantom, but this isn't a story, so I have no chance of living or escaping, I mean, after all he's been through, he probably just did this to scare someone, perhaps by killing me and putting a note on my dead body, and no one would miss me. Well, except Gloria.

The music became delayed, the tempo's speed fell, and he eventually stopped. He slowly and creepily turned, I saw a part of his snow white mask first, then the normal side of his face in which I saw wild eyes, which made my stomach drop, and gave to me the feeling of wanting to run far, far away—and fast, too.

"Greetings, Rebecca,"

"What? No, no, I am called Marie-Ange, who is this Rebecca?"

"Do not speak falsely to me, innocent child; lying is unhealthy for the soul."

What? You're a bloody stalker, you think that's healthy?

I looked away, but he continued, "Are you jealous of her?"

"Jealous of whom?"

"Your sister, Gloria, or as you would call, Renée."

"What would I be jealous of?"

"The act of knowing the occerences of her being favored? She always sings before you do. Have you ever noticed that? In every performance, she always goes on stage before you do, she always sings before you, and speaks before you."

"So..?" yeah, so? That's a stupid reason to be jealous.

"Well, she is older than you; thus, she has many privileges that you could never obtain. Are you jealous of that?"

Gee, this guy was a crazy little nutcracker. Wow.

"Well, you were always the youngest, and no matter what you change your name to, you can't lie about that."

"How do you know that I've always been younger that those around me?"

He grinned. It gave me a shudder that I couldn't hide and I knew he saw it.

"I know a lot of things,"

Shmack, how many things? I got goose bumps.

"Perhaps too many things?"

He made a deep noise in his throat, which sounded like a contemptuous grunt.

"Sometimes, child, sometimes." His crazed grin never vanished from his face.

I wondered what he would do next; he reminded me of a wild animal toying with its prey. Seriously, what was he going to do? This was too weird for me. I've already spent enough time here, oh, this was the time that I most missed home!

I mean, this was incredible. I would always daydream that I would meet the phantom, but he would be kinder, for his spirit and desire for life would have been killed, and would be so broken down, that I would come to his rescue and we would live happily ever after.

Silly, huh? That's me, for you, a hopeless romantic. This isn't romantic, this is creepy, and how much did I long for a hug from Gloria!

I took a step back, and studied the ground. I didn't want to look at him and his scary smile and those wild eyes.

I wanted to wake up. Wake up. I shall sleep when I am dead, I promise to never dream again, just let me wake up! Four years of my life I have wasted in slumber, in a daze, in a fog. Wake up, stupid, open your eyes! Be blinded by what they behold, and know this is reality, and I was in the freaking pits, at the very bottom.

Suddenly, I saw the ends of his thick, black formal shoes. I then glanced at my old ballet shoes. I looked up and saw the same insane look on his face. And before I knew it he put his rough cold hands on the back of my neck. My eyes widen to the size of dinner plates, fearing what he could do. "Come," said he, as he led me to the organ. Although I continued to stand by the organ, he sat and began to play a soft melody. "Because you see, I face a similar situation." He said, not taking his eyes off the keys and yet not taking apathy out of them. "… at a very young age, my brother and I… were in a fire. Our house burnt down. My brother and I were trapped in the fierce blaze. We both were changed… but he was the lucky one." I took in the detail of his face, his eyes glazed over in reminisces and his hand shot up covering his mask. He was breathing heavily, as if he ran a great distance, and glared at me. Thence, slowly lowered his hand and returned to play, still glaring at me. Eventually he stopped staring, and continued his tale. "As we were going down the stairs, it collapsed, and we fell into the fire. I, face first, but a rope holding a plant snapped, and wrapped around my ankle…my brother, on a step that didn't catch fire yet, could only stare…the rope, I swung from it, and clung to the wall that had the railing… I grabbed my brother, for where I was standing I fell through first—I grabbed my brother's hand, but the rope fell from my ankle, caught fire, and slapped across his back and chest… I swung his weight out the window above the railing that I clung to… then I jumped out… mother never came out--" he gasped as he whispered this, "He was the lucky one…" his fingertips lightly brushed his snow white mask. "He was the lucky one…" both of his hands turned into fists and the music stopped. "I was unfortunate!" his fist began to shake furiously. I took a step back fearing the worst, but he, in one swift motion stood up and seized my shoulders, shook me, and yelled "And have you ever the chance to gape upon my brother, you would see his perfect, handsome face… we're twins!—So you could see—you could look upon him, then back at me and say 'That is what you should look like! That is how misshapen, how mistaken—that is how ugly—you are!'" He squeezed tighter and tighter, to the point that I lost feeling in my arms and part of my chest, and his eyes were freakishly wide with rage. I wrapped my hands around his to get him to let me go.

Realizing that, he loosened his grip slightly and stared at me. He was peering into my face. I stared back, in awe, and we both stood there, staring at each other for a long while, and he let me go.

Gloria's POV

As I walked down the dark hallways, I used my iPod as a flashlight, for its light could illuminate a good section of the hallway. My mind was buzzing on how I could possibly get Kitty-Cat back. I could feel my heart pounding with each step I took. My breaths came out quick and swift and my legs felt like Jell-O.

As of what seemed like forever, I began to see what looked like an underground lake.

Well, you don't see that everyday. I thought to myself, looking into the icky brown water. But strangely, I could still my reflection. My once dark chocolate eyes were red and puffy after all the crying that I have done with dark circles around them that made it seem that they were sinking inward, my skin became pale from refusing to come out of my room, and my hair lost its shine.

I placed my iPod on the ground gently, getting ready to dive into the water, even though it was really gross looking.

Suddenly, I felt a great jerk on my arm that prevented me from being swallowed by the blackish liquid.

"My child, don't do such a foolish thing as this. Don't you know that he already knows that you are here? That would be meaningless and stupid on your part."

"M-Madame Giry?" wow, I didn't even know that this woman was still living.

"Yes, it is I; I am here to prevent you from making a regretful decision in your life. If you are wise you will follow me."

I obeyed her command, somewhat afraid that she could read minds or tell the future, for she reminded all too much of a witch.

Stupid me, I didn't realize until later that I forgot the iPod…