Chapter 10: The Nightmare

Erik caught Annette as she fell. He looked at her face, she was asleep. Erik chuckled as he lifted her into his arms. He went back down the tunnel to the trap door. He opened it and stepped out of her closet.

Erik set her in her bed and lay the covers over her body. When he saw her mask was still on, he hesitated. Erik reach for it and gently took it off. There, her face was burned, very red with skin peeling from it. Before he knew what he was doing, he gave her a kiss on the cheek, then he set her mask on her piano.

Before he left, next to her mask he set a small jar with a note attached to it.

Then he disappeared.

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Annette gasped as her eyes shot open. She looked around, reminding herself were she was. She blushed scarlet when she remembered the events of last night. She quickly got dressed and sat at her piano. Then she saw the jar. Annette read the note:

Annette,

Apply this to your face everyday, and your burns will soon be gone.

~ Erik

She smiled at the fact he sign his name as 'Erik.' Annette opened the jar and looked at the cream. She applied it to the left side of her face.

"Let's hope this will actually works," she muttered as she sat down at her piano. She started to sing her exercises.

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Annette stood with the crowd as they roar in applause. It was opening night of the opera, and Annette could not help but smile (Even if Carlotta's singing made her ears bleed).

Her gazed went to Box 5. In the shadow's she saw Erik's dark figure. She smiled, but he probably didn't see it.

It had been a week since Annette had started her singing lessons an even Erik had to admit, she was very good. Annette felt like she had formed a friendship with Erik, but she bet Erik didn't even notice that excitement filled her heart every time she was in his lair.

Annette never told her father were she was ever night, because if she did, Raoul would have Erik's head.

The after party was spectacular, but Annette didn't enjoy it. She spent most of her time searching the shadow's for Erik. At one point she did see him. She felt like running to him, but he put his finger to his lips, and disappeared.

Later that night, Annette crashed into bed. Her mind went to Erik. Hi cream for her face was working, her burns were beginning to disappear. But what really troubled her mind was if he was coming for her tonight? She didn't know. Annette rolled over and fell asleep, her mind on the mysterious man and what it looked like under that half mask.

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"Annette," a voice whispered, "Annette."

Annette groaned as someone took her from her sleep. She rolled over to stare into Erik's face.

"Get up," he said. Annette groaned. "I know you're tired, but I have to tell you the plan for tomorrow." Annette nodded as she got out of bed. They went down the familiar tunnels to reach his lair.

"So, "Annette said, yawning a little, "what's your plan for tomorrow?"

"Before we go on to that," Erik said, "What opera are you doing?"

"Faust," Annette said, feeling bad for her father. Her mother had been in this opera, and he had never done it tell now.

"Yes, I heard your fathers going to had Carlotta be Marguerite," Erik said, calmly. But Annette lost it.

"Carlotta!" She cried, "that toad can't even sing! I can't believe father's going to give her the part!"

"She not getting the part," Erik said, "you are." Annette nearly fainted. Her, Annette Christine de Chaney, the main part in a opera? Annette opened her mouth to protest, but Erik started before she could say a word.

"You are very good at singing, Annette, Carlotta... she does not stand a change compared to you. Now, my plan is to make Carlotta not be ably to sing," Erik was to go on, but Annette guessed his plan.

"Are you going to make her croak like a toad?" Annette smirked when Erik looked at her in surprise.

"Well yes," Erik still could believe she knew that, "but when that happens, ask your father to let you try," Erik saw the doubt in her face, "you will be wonderful." Annette smiled at this.

Suddenly, she felt that sleep was soon to take over her. Erik must have seen this, for he began to lead her to the swam bed. Before they got there, Annette pasted out and fell backwards. Erik quickly caught her.

"Sorry," she muttered as Erik slipped his arm under he thigh and lifted her. You might be wondering 'Why does Annette keep passing out?' Well, if she doesn't sleep, and her day was hard, she would pass out if she doesn't sleep. And it didn't help with night lessons.

Erik set her in the swan bed and stared at her. She sleep in silence, breathing softly. Erik sighed as he walked down the stone hall and unlocked one of the spare rooms. It felt strange to have Annette here, but he liked it. Erik fell asleep, his mind on his devise plan...

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Erik opened his eyes, slowly. He sighed as he got up and dressed. He should wake up Annette to take her back to her room. As he walked down the hall, he heard murmurs, and the sight he saw made his heart ache.

Annette tossed and turned in the bed. Murmurs came from her mouth, but Erik could not hear what she was saying. Erik sat on the edge of the bed. Should he wake her, or not? Before he could do anything, Annette woke up, screaming.

"Mama!" she screamed as she shot up in bed. Tear fell from her eyes as she screamed. Erik quickly wrapped his arms around her and rock her back and forth.

"Mama," she said through tears as she took deep, trembling breaths. Erik pulled her close to him, soothing her.

"Sh, it okay, everything will be alright," Erik said, "I'm here." Annette didn't want to let go, she wanted to stay in his arms forever. But as soon as her tears stopped falling, she let go to look at Erik. Tears will still on her face.

"Don't cry," Erik said, using his thumb to wipe the tears from her eyes. "What were you dreaming about?"

Annette took a shaking breath before she answered: "I was dreaming of the day my mother died."

Erik frowned. "The day your mother died, but you were only two."

"But I saw her die," Annette said, "I have this dream ever year, on the day it happened."

"What did happen?" Erik asked. Annette knew she should tell him, she tried not to cry.

"My mother was running through the burning building, holding me. She said everything was going to be alright. But then she tripped and dropped me. I saw her fall into flames, and then she was crushed by the falling building," Annette felt the tears falling.

"Oh Annette," Erik pulled her into a hug. She cried into his chest. To Erik, this was all new. He had never had a crying girl in his arms, and it felt strange to have his student crying on him.

Once Annette's tears were dry, Erik lead her to the trap door. Before she went up the stairs, she turned and hugged him.

"Thank you," she said. She gave him a small kiss on the cheek, and then she hurried up the stair and shut the trap door.

Erik was shocked. Did she just kiss him? Now, his mind was made up. Through the week, Erik had been feeling very strange about this girl. Made she was like her mother, in many ways...

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I know, I'm ruining Erik's character! But I can't help it!

Review me!