Thank you RedDeathLvr, MarieCP, and Guest for your reviews. You guys rock!

I'm sorry to say that after this chapter, I got nothing ): so the story might go on hiatus. I'll try to avoid that, but it's hard to work without motivation. I hope you enjoy this chapter though (I particularly do!) and try to be patient. Reviews help immensely!

Chapter 9

Anna wakes to a clinking sound and quiet music. Perplexed, she turns and finds the source to be a small toy monkey gently striking a pair of small cymbals. She stares at it for a moment wondering where it came from before recollection crashes into her, making her gasp.

Suddenly, a figure appears in the doorway. The Opera Ghost looks down at her. He studies Anna blankly as she stares up at him in shock. Now that she's fully rested, it feels like she's seeing him up close for the first time. He pointedly moves his eyes to the right. Anna follows his gaze and sees a simple green dress hanging in front of a mirror. They look at each other for a moment longer before he exits.

Anna stares wide-eyed at the empty space. What was she thinking?! Of all the bad ideas she's come up with, this one surly tops them all! Now she was trapped down here with a man who was probably going to kill her.

Her head falls into her hands and she tries to slow her breathing. She knows panicking will only make matters worse. With a shaky breath, Anna gets up and pulls the dress on. It's simple, but lovely and goes well with her dark hair.

It's a dress she wouldn't mind being buried in.

Anna shivers and exits the room.

The Phantom is far away from her, bent over a table and scrawling on a piece of paper. He looks up and frowns, as though he had forgotten about her being there. Slowly he stands and gestures towards the organ. Anna walks over to the instrument, never breaking eye contact with him. He climbs the steps and they come face-to-face in front of the instrument.

"Sit," he commands.

Anna can't help herself. "Thank you, I would like to have a seat," she retorts as she sits on the bench. The Phantom's jaw tightens. He bends over and picks up a noose that had been lying next to the organ. She stares at him coolly, but keeps her teeth locked together to stop them from chattering.

"You come into my labyrinth and mock me. At the moment, you should be grateful to be alive, Mademoiselle," he says darkly.

"If you're going to kill me, then kill me." Anna snaps, "There's no point in wasting time putting it off, Monsieur."

The Phantom blinks, unable to hide his surprise. "Bravery will gain you nothing."

"And hostility will gain you nothing. I do not fear what you threaten me with."

His eyes narrow and he speaks evenly, "That is not a surprise. I thought you mad when you first laughed at the sight of it. But I can see now that you're not mad. Why, then do you not fear it?"

Anna clenches her mouth and looks away.

"If you will not answer my questions, there's no point in keeping you alive." He plays with the noose and Anna swallows.

"The answer will not benefit you in any way." She fights to keep her voice steady, "I see no point in answering it."

"Alright, then answer me this: what are you doing in my labyrinth? And how did you get down here?"

Anna looks back up at The Phantom and sees something that she missed before: a kind of anxiousness in his eyes. She thinks of the situation from his point of view and begins to understand his unease. Who wouldn't be worried if a stranger invaded their home? Anna sighs and slumps forward a bit.

"I already told you – I couldn't sleep."

"Explain."

Anna takes a deep breath and closes her eyes, steeling herself. "I can hear your music. Every night before I sleep, I listen to it, and it's become a sort of…lullaby for me. You have not played in a week, so I haven't slept in a week. I came down here because..." she pauses.

"Yes?" he pushes.

Anna opens her eyes and looks at him, "Because I was worried."

The Phantom stares at her coldly. After a moment of silence, he speaks, "Did you really think I would believe that?"

"Not really, even though it is the truth. It sounds crazy even to me."

"I hate liars," he growls, and steps towards her.

Anna shrinks back and holds up her arms in defense, "The last time you played music it was the saddest music I've ever heard! That was the night Christine kissed the Viscount de Chagny."

Anna opens her eyes to see The Phantom frozen, staring at her in shock. She continues, "The happiest music you played was during the weeks after Christine came down here. I heard her voice too, and I heard you get angry about something."

The Phantom stares at her openmouthed. His hands shake and he closes his eyes. He sinks onto the bench. Anna flinches, but he's too far away to touch her. The silence drags on until he manages to whisper.

"How?"

"I live apart from the other girls," Anna answers quietly. "I live farther down into the Opera House and my floor has gaps in it. Your music seeps through."

"How long?"

"As long as I've lived here. Eight years."

The Phantom opens his eyes and glares at her. "After all that time, you never tried to look for me. Why now?"

Anna flinches, stabbed by guilt. "I never knew you were real. I always thought I was the only one who could hear the music. I thought it was meant only for me."

He gapes at her dubiously, "What on earth did you think I was?"

She whispers, "An angel."

"An Angel of Music?!" he asks in amazement.

"No…" Anna blushes, "my Guardian Angel."

The Phantom stares at her in wonder. Anna stares back and holds her breath. She has no idea how he'll react to all of this. Will he still kill her, or will he let her live? Will he be
happy about how much she knows, or will he feel threatened by it? The seconds tick by and her anxiety only grows.

Eventually, The Phantom looks away and seems to be in deep thought. Anna tries to slow her heart beat and control her breathing.

"So, you like my music?"

The question throws her off. "What?"

"You said you listen to my music. Do you like it?" he asks coolly.

"I…" Anna's at a loss for words.

His brow lowers in disappointment. "Ah, so you feel indifferent towards it?"

"No!" Anna nearly shouts, "No, I love it! More than you could ever imagine. It's beautiful."

The Phantom stills and closes his eyes. "How?" he whispers.

"I'm sorry?"

"How is it beautiful?" he says through his teeth.

Anna looks at him curiously, "Do you not know?"

"Please just…tell me."

Her mouth pops open in surprise. He sounds so…desperate.

"Well," she begins hesitantly, "the melodies themselves are beautiful. They are so complex, yet they seem to weave between each other without effort. And the emotion that you put into the music…it's like you're speaking; telling the world exactly how you feel. But even in the music that's filled with sorrow, no matter how deep it is, hope can clearly be heard in it. And your voice-" Anna abruptly stops. She forgot for a moment that she was actually talking to The Phantom and got carried away.

He studies her quizzically. "You truly enjoy it, don't you?"

Anna nods, unable to speak.

"But just because you like the music does not mean you like the musician."

Anna lowers her brow in confusion, "Pardon?"

A dark look comes over his eyes. "I am the Opera Ghost. Of course I can play music. But you know what I am capable of."

Anna shudders. "You mean Joseph?"

The Phantom is silent.

She speaks softly, "Yes, I know what you are capable of. I know that you might very well kill me tonight. But that does not mean I fear you."

"Do you not care for your own life, Mademoiselle?"

"No, it's not that. I just…can't fear you, even though I should."

"And why is that?" the only thing in his voice is curiosity.

"I don't know. I just can't seem to think of you as evil."

"But you saw what I did that night," he says coldly. "You saw his body hanging in the air; it was my hand that killed him."

"Yes, but I also saw you crying," Anna replies before she can stop herself.

The Phantom jerks his head towards her, "What?" he growls.

Goosebumps run up her arms. "I don't know why you can kill a man and not feel regret. Nor do I know why you killed him in the first place. But anyone whose heart can break because of unrequited love cannot be evil."

Agony briefly flashes across his face, but he covers it up in an instant. "So that was you!" he exclaims instead. "And you were the girl who played the piano!"

Anna blushes and looks away, "Yes. Even then I did not fear you."

"Well, that was before I killed an innocent man."

Anna can't hold it in. "You killed Joseph!" she spits. "I'm not sure how much you knew about him, but he was far from innocent. I feel bad for saying it, but the Opera House has been much more peaceful since that night. Even though I haven't slept much, it's been nice not having creep through the hallways, always being afraid of what he'd do if I was alone for too long."

The Phantom doesn't seem surprised. "I knew what kind of man he was. That's why I chose him. But still, I killed a man and feel no regret. Does that not make me a monster?" He seems to be asking himself.

Anna looks up at him with pity, but he does not see it. He stares off into space, lost in his own thoughts.

"Honestly," Anna says softly, breaking the silence, "The night of 'Il Muto' was one of the best nights of my life."

The Phantom looks at her incredulously but remains silent.

She continues, "The main thing I remember from that night was when Carlotta croaked on stage. She sounded nothing short of a toad."

Then, despite everything, Anna chuckles. She glances at The Phantom to see him staring at her. She bites her lip, but cannot stop a snicker from escaping her lips. He turns and faces her full on, staring at her like she's crazy. That throws her into a fit of giggles. She covers her mouth with her hand, but cannot stop. She tries to speak between breaths.

"Did you-" (breath) "see-" (breath) "the look-" (breath) "on her-" (breath) "face?!" Then she laughs out loud, unable to contain it.

A throaty chuckle sounds next to her and Anna looks up in surprise. The Phantom is trying not to smile! He bites his bottom lip and glances at Anna, who's still laughing.

"Her normal voice doesn't sound very different," he mutters indifferently.

Anna stops laughing and stares at The Phantom with her mouth agape. The corners of The Phantom's mouth turn up, the right side nearly touching his mask, and he breaks into a wide grin. Then, they both begin to laugh out loud. His laughter echoes through the labyrinth, deep and resonant. Neither of them can stop.

Within a few minutes, both Anna and The Phantom double over and have tears streaming down their faces. Their sides and cheeks hurt, but they don't stop – partly because they can't, and partly because they don't want to.

I don't own The Phantom of the Opera (except for the character Anna Larose)

DAT FLUFf DOE!