Disclaimer: Nothing Phantom belongs to me (mostly means characters)...

November 7, 2018

Hey, look at that. Two days in a row that I've written. Go me! Also ten days... Anyway, last night's lesson was interesting. I arrived at precisely 8 o'clock as usual and, I don't know, maybe I looked more tired than I did the last two lessons, but he immediately started asking me questions.

"How have you been sleeping?"

"Fine, Erik. Are we-"

"How have you really been sleeping?"

"What are you talking about, Erik?"

"You're obviously exhausted. Why is that?"

"It's nothing, Erik, really. Now, are we going to-"

"It's not nothing, and we both know it. So tell me the truth. Why are you exhausted?"

"I'm not exhausted. Now can we please just-"

"You cannot sing properly on little amounts of sleep and you know it so tell me why you look so tired!"

"Because I've been having nightmares about my father's execution every night! Are you happy now?!"

That silenced him briefly, but before I could say anything else, he continued.

"You'll sleep on the cot tonight. No, you can't negotiate. My decision is final. No, we won't be singing tonight. Try and get some rest. I'll be here if you have another nightmare."

After staring at him for a moment, I headed over to the corner and climbed onto my old cot. As soon as I was underneath the covers and my head had hit the pillow, the music started up. Very softly, he played the song from my music box, lulling me to sleep. When the song ended, a few moments before sleep completely overtook me, he switched to a different lullaby that he had written for me a few months back before Christine had arrived. He sang softly along with the notes and I quickly surrendered to the lull of sleep.

I woke up with a start.

"Daddy!" I cried out.

Immediately, I felt a cold hand on my face as Erik came to my side.

"Hush, Jesse. It's alright. It was just a dream," his velvet tones relaxed me until I lay back against the pillow.

"They're getting worse," I whimpered, shutting my eyes as he stroked my hair out of my face.

"Shh. It's alright, my dear. It'll all be okay now," he continued to assure me, humming my lullaby softly.

"I can't lose him again, Erik. Not again," I told him sleepily as the lullaby continued, lulling me back to sleep.

"I know, love. I know," he purred, continuing the lullaby.

I was already back asleep before I could register what he had said. The next time I woke, it was daytime and I hadn't had another nightmare. I sat up groggily, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. Swinging my legs off of the small cot, I stood and stretched before making my way over to the tunnel entrance that was connected to the mirror in my room. This had been the normal routine before Erik started tutoring Christine. When I reached my room I hurried and got dressed and then headed out to get something to eat.

When I glanced at the clock on the stove, the time was nearly 2 in the afternoon. Had Erik really let me sleep in so long?! Shaking my head, I stubbornly still made myself some breakfast- eggs infused with cream cheese, my favorite -and sat down in the dining room to eat. After a few moments, I sensed a familiar presence enter the room and sat across from me.

"I assume you slept well," Erik stated, watching me eat the late meal.

"Why'd you let me sleep until 2?"

"You needed the rest."

"But until 2?"

He shrugged as I finished the last of my eggs. I went and put the plate in the kitchen before joining him back at the table.

"So now you know."

"Did you really expect me not to find out?"

"I don't know. I guess I was hoping it would take you longer. I mean, you didn't notice the last two times I came down for lessons, so I thought..."

"Oh, I noticed. I just didn't comment because I didn't think it was any of my concern. However, last night you didn't seem in any state to be singing."

I scowled at that but didn't reply. When I stifled a yawn he smirked.

"Maybe let you sleep a little longer next time, hm?"

"Erik!"

He chuckled softly and then it was silent.

"I'm going to go read in my room," I announced, standing up.

"Fine. Try to rest a bit while you're at it, won't you?"

"After how long I just slept in? Not a chance!"

So we parted ways. I came back here to my room and he left to do who knows what. After reading for a little bit, I do admit to dozing off a little, but I'll never admit it to Erik. After my short snooze, I brought out my journal and here we are. Now Erik knows about my nightmares. They're getting worse. The execution is in ten days. I'm getting less and less sleep. Oh yeah, and I'm pretty sure Erik called me love last night! I think that's about it for the extent of the update. I don't think I'm leaving anything out...

Oh yeah! I promised to tell you more about the deal my father made, didn't I? Well, I feel like I can't tell you everything right now because I've already been writing for a while, but I'll tell you a little bit. It was nearly three years ago, Christmas eve. My father had received an anonymous call a few weeks prior promising big money if he killed this man by the name of Erik Destler. I did some digging and finally tracked down where Destler was located.

That night, like usual, he hid me in one of the bushes outside where no one would see me before going in. Unlike usual, I followed him at a distance instead of waiting until he got back.

Sorry, someone's knocking at the door so I'll have to finish in the next entry. I promise I'll finish, though. See you later!

-Jessica Snow

AN: Hey guys! Posting this a little early. Didn't think you guys would mind. I know the few things she says about the night in the prologue is stuff you already know. Calm down, because the next chapter is where you find out more details. Thanks for the support!