Note: For part of this chapter, it will be in 3rd person. Which means Emily will not be narrating. But I will switch back to Emily's narration in a certain part(s).

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Chapter Ten

"Meg! May I have a word with you, please?" Madame Giry asked. She had been scolding Meg throughout rehearsal for not paying attention.

Meg sighed and walked to the side of the stage with her mother.

"Meg you must pay attention!" she demanded.

"But, how can I, Mother?" the girl argued. "Emily is down there alone-"

"She is not alone, Meg," Madame Giry sighed.

"But he's not much company," she protested. "Honestly, mother!"

"Meg, Meg! Calm down!"

Before Meg could respond she had started to walk away from her mother. She remembered that night three years ago she found the Opera Ghost's lair. She found it once and…could she find it again?

She walked into the leading soprano's dressing room- formerly Colette Durand's- and walked to mirror. She had also found this passage and she knew it led somewhere…

Meg carefully- and nervously- opened the "door" and stepped through. She turned making sure her mother wasn't following her. She sped up her page and walked down the path. When she came to the lake she began to think. Soon enough, she took off her dancing shoes and waded into the water.

Meg gasped and muttered, "Cold!"

Despite the fact that she was losing the feeling in her legs, she was determined to find Emily.

Point Of View Change

I stared at my reflection in the water. Reaching down, I created ripples, destroying the pretty face that had once been there. I sighed and didn't move from the water's edge.

I longed- dreamed- for a voice other than Erik's; I longed to see a familiar face other than Erik's. I turned around for but a moment to look around his lair again. Everything was the same. It was no lighter than it was before; no darker than it was before. The light of the flickering candles did do justice to the beauty of the Opera Ghost's home, though.

Now, I just swirled my finger in the water lazily. I lifted my finger from the water and dried it in the folds of my dress. Just as I was about to walk to the swan room, I heard splashing.

Looking up, I saw Meg outside the gateway entrance to Erik's lair. "Meg!"

"Emily!" Meg said. "Emily, hurry! We must get you out!"

I got up and looked around the cave. I saw a lever and walked over to it. I nervously placed my hand on it and pushed it forward. To my surprise, the gate lifted and Meg rushed inside and onto the shore.

I ran over to her. "Meg, you have to leave. He'll be back any moment," I explained.

"No, Emily. Come back with me. You'll be safe. Jude and Mother won't let him get you again."

"Meg, no. That will only cause more trouble. Leave, now," I demanded. "Return in two days with Jude. Two days."

"But the wedding is in two days," Meg said.

"All the more reason to bring him! I will want to see him one last time before he leaves for England."

"Emily-"

"Go!"

Meg sighed and stared at me. She reluctantly turned and began to wade back through the water when Erik came on his gondola. He saw her and then his gaze snapped to me.

"Meg! Keep going and don't stop!" I yelled after her.

She didn't even turn to look at me, but I saw her rushing through the water as fast as she could.

Erik leaped out of the boat even before it reached the shore. He grabbed my arm firmly. "What is this?" he demanded.

I winced and looked at him in the eye. "I don't know, I swear! She came to me!"

Erik let go of my arm and turned away from me. "If you try to escape again…" he trailed off. I had the feeling he was going to say 'I'll kill you', but he wouldn't do that. I knew he wouldn't.

He took a breath. "If someone tries to rescue you again, their stupidity will end their life."

"You wouldn't kill anyone," I muttered.

Erik turned to me with a sly smile on his face. He chuckled. "Oh, you think so?"

I shook my head. "You wouldn't kill anyone."

His intense eyes stared at me, one from underneath his white half-mask. "Come, Emily. Come sing with me."

Scared his temper would flare again, I walked over to him. "Why must you keep me here?" I whispered.

He looked me. "You willingly gave your heart, mind and soul to me."

I looked at the floor. He always reminded me of this, but what happened that night? I didn't remember anything! People said I left my room and I claim I never did! Who was right?

OoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Meg rushed around the opera house looking for Jude. When she saw Aurora she ran over, "Excuse me. You haven't seen Judas DeLouise anywhere, have you?"

Aurora nodded. "I have. He's in his room." She gave Meg directions to his room and Meg hurried straight there.

She opened the door quietly and saw Jude sitting on his bed silently. "Jude?" she called.

"Yes?"

"Emily...sent me," Meg replied.

He stood up, gaining sudden energy. "Emily? Is she alright? Is she back?"

"Well, no, but she's alright."

"How do you know?"

"I've seen her."

"Where?" he asked quickly.

"Underneath the opera house. But, look, she told me to take you there in two days."

"Two days?" he echoed. Jude wasn't quite grasping the situation. "Take me there, now."

"No, Emily said, 'Return in two days with Jude.'"

"Now," he demanded firmly.

"No. In two days you will see Emily and she will be waiting for you," Meg said. "Just wait."

"I can't wait! She could die down there for all we know!" Jude exclaimed.

"She's quite healthy, Jude. She'll be fine."

"Everyone says that and they know nothing-"

"And I suppose you do?" Meg pointed out.

Jude shut his mouth, not having a snappy remark to that.

"Wait two days. You can see her then," Meg said. After that, she turned and walked out of his room.

Meg found her mother and told her everything.

"Why did you go down there, child?" Madame Giry asked.

"I hoped I could save her. Bring her back," she muttered. "But then he came and I didn't have time."

"We will bring her back, dear. We just have to wait. Sooner or later, he will give us the chance to save her."

"No he won't," Meg sighed.

Madame Giry shook her head, quietly and gently scolding her daughter.

Meg walked away quietly from her mother.

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It was dark… The moon shone dimly and it was cold. How did I know this? Erik had brought me up to the roof. I didn't know why, or why so late. He didn't want everyone to see that they may try to take me from him.

A few snowflakes began to fall. Winter was beginning and so was a new night that I once again feared.

I sat down in the thin layer of snow and stared up at the moon.

"What are you thinking about, Emily?" Erik asked softly.

"I'm dreaming…" I whispered. I closed my eyes and took a breath.

Erik didn't question me after that, to my utter surprise.

I opened my eyes and he offered me a gloved hand. I took it and got to my feet.

Then he took a rose out of his cloak and handed it to me. "It's as beautiful as you are, Emily…" he whispered. He leaned forward and kissed my forehead.

My cheeks flushed pink, but they were already pink from the chilly air, so it was hard to tell; I stared at the ground, not knowing what to say. The rose was held in my fingers loosely.

"Don't do this, Erik," I said quietly.

"What?"

"Enchant me with your voice and your charm… You know I don't want to stay with you," I answered. My voice shook, but it sounded rather firm.

"You will with time. And I'll train you to sing just like…Christine Daae and then you will be admired by people from all over."

I sighed. "I've told you I don't want to be admired. I like to stand in the corner and observe, not act. I like to be quiet… But my lo-love for you says otherwise."

"Your…love for me?" He seemed not to believe what I had just said.

I nodded a bit. "Yes… You have captured my heart, but my mind…is working to overpower my love. I do not know what to do." After this I did not look at him again.

"You will know," he whispered.

My eyes grew weary as the night went on. Eventually, though I don't remember much, I remember Erik carrying me back down beneath the Opera Populair. I remember thinking of him the whole time while on that roof. No other person passed into my mind. Not Meg nor Jude nor Madame Giry. Only Erik…and this scared me. Had I really loved the man who imprisoned me? Had he truly won my heart and soul? These questions made me anxious and I didn't want them answered, for I was afraid of the outcome of this treacherous story.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

I sat by the water of the cave, listening. I could hear the music from the opera that was being performed. It drifted down, down, down to the lake underneath the Opera Populair and I listened to it. I missed being there, actually watching. But all I could do now was listen.

Although the new leading soprano was singing, I could hear my mother's voice. It was so lovely in my mind. But soon it ended and then Erik's voice filled my ears.

"You were singing, Emily," he pointed out.

I twisted my back to face him, still sitting at the water's edge. "What?"

"I've said it before, and I will say it again: Your voice is…lovely. Your voice is of an angel…"

I looked at the water into my reflection. I studied the reflection for a moment and suddenly my eyes began to play tricks on me. I saw my mother's face in place of mine. I narrowed my eyes oh so slightly, but when I blinked it was gone.

Perhaps it was true. Perhaps I had been more like my parents than I thought.

"I trained my former student to sing loudly and show her voice, but with you… This is much more difficult," Erik said. "Your voice is meant for softer tones and softer music."

"I've been so quiet all my life, I'm not surprised," I muttered with a faint smile. I got to my feet and walked to Erik. "Erik… Tomorrow, my friend is to be wed. I would like so much to be there."

"No," Erik answered firmly. His voice had changed from calm and nurturing to rather…loud, I suppose. "I let you go once and never again shall you leave me."

I quickly turned around, not wanting to look at him. No matter… Meg will come with Jude tomorrow and he will return me, I thought. But I secretly doubted I would ever escape this.

In my hand was the rose that Erik had given me the night before. I stared at it. He was so passionate and caring towards me, but wouldn't give me up for anything… Yet, I knew he gave Christine Daae away. Why go through trouble keeping me?

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Author's Note: Sorry it's so short! I have a few ideas planned for Chapter Eleven and I hope you are pleased with the outcome of Chapter Ten.

I am trying my hardest to extend the story to at least fifteen chapters, because as I read through the story again and again, I realize that it's coming to a close and it should end soon. I'll try to make it longer, but I can only do so much. Please forgive me…

If you have any questions about Chapter Ten, please ask and please review!

-O.G. Knights