Okay, I know I feel really, really bad because I haven't updated in weeks (cough, cough...months). I know what you're going to say..."Oh, she's going to give some lame excuse for not writing and updating!" But, this time I swear I have a pretty legit reason for not writing...I had finals...and lots of them at that. Not just the easy kind either! But, I'll save you the pain of my complaining because I know that everyone else has finals as well. Also I dedicate this chapter to everyone who watched The Fault In Our Stars when it came out. I cried and don't even try to cover it up if you did! I don't know a person who hasn't cried at that movie, because if you haven't...you are heartless...just kidding. (As an afterthought since I wrote this awhile ago) A tornado touched down in the town that I live in. It ripped up our businesses pretty bad but no one was killed. Five were injured but they're going to be okay. I thank the world and God for making sure these people are going to be okay.

Chapter Ten: Labyrinth

(In which Christine Daae gets stuck in a maze of cavernous chambers and antechambers, finds a horrible secret, and gets stalked by a masked beast.)

Okay, I guess that I lied about not needing any more motivation than his voice to get me moving through the tunnels, though him yelling my name certainly was a main reason I ran faster than I ever have in my life. Once I was in the caves I jumped at every little noise I heard thinking it was the sound of footsteps following me to the world above. After days and possibly weeks (I lost count) in the darkness I felt like I was going crazy and nothing was stopping me from getting to my destination...except for the scary possibility of getting lost.

I felt like I was going in circles. Every path looked exactly the same: walls dripping water in torrents down to the floor, rats scurrying through the ripped hem of my dress, and floors covered in a slippery, foul smelling moss. I slipped on the floor and fell to my knees more times than I could count in the past hour I've been down here. I ran my hand along the wall; a feeble attempt to feel my way through the darkness of the caves.

After another hour passed without luck of any kind I became frustrated and scared. A few tears slipped down my cheeks and I pounded my fist against the cave wall breaking the skin on my knuckles which just made my cry more because of the pain. I know it was stupid and my hand didn't even hurt that bad, but I cradled my fist against my chest and sat down on a rock wanting to just cry my feelings out for a few minutes. But, when I sat on the rock I felt it move beneath me and I jumped up to my feet, forgetting about the pain in my hand and heart. I heard a grinding sound to my left and turned around to see what was happening. My jaw just about dropped to my corset when I saw the sight unfold before me. Against all odds, the cave wall was opening and there was a candle lit tunnel beyond it.

Candles lined the walls, held by what seemed to be iron human arms. A couple of times in the corner of my vision I thought I saw the arms move, but it must have been a trick of the light. The corridor is bright and extremely well lit which confuses me. How could all these candles still be lit? Erik was with me all of the time...unless he left the lair at night, but that still doesn't explain why the candles aren't burned to stubs. Nighttime was at least twelve hours ago.

I step into the hallway knowing that it is probably a terrible idea. I sometimes feel like I can trust Erik but now I'm not so sure. For all I know there could be a pit of snakes waiting for me when I step on a wrong stone tile. I breathe in and out attempting to calm myself before stepping any farther.

When I finally continue to walk on a few minutes later most of the horrific images of me falling and dying have left my head, except for a select few which have manifested in my back of my brain and keep me shaking despite the well lit corridor. I know it sounds strange but if you didn't know Erik and you just knew the stories of his terrible killings, going down this hallway would probably be less scary. If you just knew the stories you would guess that he would just hang you and be over with it, but now that I know him personally I know for a fact that he could do much worse. He could make you relive the worst moments of your life before killing you slowly. With that knowledge in the back of my mind I make sure to tread extra carefully.

My satin shoes feel soaked through and I can feel the wet in my toes every step that I take. Surprisingly the labyrinth doesn't smell dank and moldy as I would have expected considering that I can feel the moss growing all over the wet walls. It smells like the things I love: lavender and sage, candle wax, book paper, and my house by the sea... but how could it be possible? There is nothing here, except for the candles, that could cause smells like that to occur. Confusing thoughts immediately leave my head when I enter the next the next chamber though.

I put one hand to my chest and the other to my mouth trying to stifle a scream rising in my throat. I see something that makes me wish to be a child again so I can be held safely in my father's arms. In the chamber in front of me there is every torture device you could possibly imagine. The Rack, The Head Crusher, a large spiked whip, a stake, and others that I couldn't even imagine what they did. And, of course, hanging in every corner of the square room a noose...with a skeleton hanging in every one.

I scream not be able to help it. It is just to much for me to handle. I stumble back and put a hand out to right myself. I feel something sticking and pull my hand back and see that it is covered in blood.

"This is a nightmare!" I think to myself.

I walk backwards toward the door, my head consumed with thoughts of escape. I don't even notice the sound of footsteps behind me.

I feel a hand on my back and freeze.

I can feel the anger and scary smile in his voice when he speaks, "You shouldn't have come down here my angle."

Again I am sorry for taking so long to update. I hope that you guys are having a fantastic summer break! I swear that I will try to update again as soon as humanly possible. Please review *hopeful smile*