(A/N: Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!)

Chapter Twelve: Why, Erik?

Christine ran back to her room at once, not wanting to face Meg.

Meg, however, wouldn't let her get away so easily. She followed her friend at a sprint.

"Christine! Christine, wait!"

At last, Christine stopped, knowing that she wouldn't get away. She didn't face Meg as she asked, "What is it?"

"You know what it is. What happened back there?! Someone could have been seriously hurt! Christine-"

Finally she turned, eyes slightly glassy. "I know Meg, I know, he's dangerous- you told me before!"

"And you didn't listen! Please, you're starting to worry me… If you see him again, I'll… I'll…" Meg floundered, "I'll tell someone about it!"

Christine flushed. "Meg, you can't! You promised me-"

"I promised you that if you never talked to him again I wouldn't tell."

Christine just stared at her friend for a moment, stunned, and Meg stared back.

"Please, Christine… I'm just concerned. I don't want anything to happen to you- you're my best friend!"

"But Meg, I-" She trailed off, gazing helplessly at Meg.

Meg met her gaze stubbornly. "Just remember that, Christine- And I will find out if you do talk to him again, believe me!"

With that, she left.

Christine leaned against the door to her room, shocked at her friend's reaction. She wondered if Meg would really keep true to her word. Remembering her face, Christine knew that she would.

Christine went into her room, locking the door behind her. Hesitantly, she turned to face the floor-length mirror. After a moment, she walked over to her dresser and gave it a shove. Slowly but surely, she pushed the dresser in font of the mirror.

When she was finished, she surveyed her handiwork sadly. The trapdoor would never open again…

She crossed the room, then changed into her nightgown and got into bed.

xxxxx

Meg paced her room for a long time, anxious about Christine. She had been a bit harsh on her friend, and she really had no other excuse than that she was worried.

Finally, Meg decided she would go apologize when she was finished changing.

xxxxx

Christine couldn't sleep. She kept hearing his voice over and over again in her mind, so gentle, so tender…

Christine blinked, then realized what she had been thinking and blushed furiously. Why was she thinking of him now? Meg was right; he was dangerous, so why did she still want to see him?

Christine rolled over, knowing that she wouldn't sleep until she talked to him again.

Making up her mind at last, she stood and shrugged her robe on, then went over to the dresser and shoved it out of the way.

Taking a deep breath, she flicked open the catch to the trapdoor and walked determinedly into the darkness beyond.

xxxxx

Meg was just finished changing when there was a sharp knock on her door. After a moment, her mother entered.

"Meg, dear, I wanted to talk to you about-"

Meg braced herself.

"-the dancing in the last scene."

She breathed a sigh of relief. "But mother, I have to talk to-"

"I don't care, it can wait. Besides, I also want to talk to you about your friend, Christine."

Meg went white. "I don't know anything!"

Madame Giry raised her eyebrows, "Anything about what? I haven't asked my question yet."

Meg gulped.

xxxxx

Christine walked slowly through the darkness for what seemed like ages. Her hands were pressed against the cool wall so that she could feel her way down.

Abruptly, the wall ended, and Christine continued until she stepped in something freezing cold and wet.

For a moment she stood still, confused, until she realized she had forgotten something very, very important.

"The lake…" she whispered, wanting to smack herself. "How am I going to get across the lake?"

Last time there was a boat, but that would be on the opposite shore by now.

She paced, wondering what to do. It was times like these that she wished she had learned how to swim.

After a moment, she realized that she had two options. She could either make her way back to her room, or she could do something she considered utterly desperate.

Christine stood in silence once more. She knew that she couldn't go back, not when she had gotten this far…

She took a deep breath, and then shouted his name as loud as she could across the lake, hoping he could hear her.

xxxxx

Erik stopped scribbling down notes for Don Juan and looked up. Usually, the only sound he could hear was the scratching of his quill, but he thought he'd heard…

After a moment he shook his head. It was wishful thinking.

Then he heard it again. Someone was calling his name…someone he knew.

Erik stood and dropped his quill, hardly daring to hope.

"Christine?"

xxxxx

Christine opened her mouth to try again, but a cool hand clasped over it.

"Hush, my dear, you'll harm your voice."

Christine stiffened for a moment, then recognized the voice and relaxed. "Erik."

There was a moment's pause, and then he spoke again. "Why did you come here, Christine?"

Christine turned to face him, "Because, I want to know… I want to know…" she stuttered, "…Why, Erik? Why did you do it?"

Erik just stared at her for a moment, one hand twirling one of her soft brown curls. She could see his golden eyes glittering in the darkness.

"Erik…"

"I lost my temper."

"You lost your temper?!" Christine demanded, "Erik, you could have killed someone! Losing your temper isn't an excuse!"

Erik paused, and then shrugged.

Christine stared at him incredulously. "You mean you wouldn't have cared if someone had died?" she drew back from him. "What if that someone had been me? Would you have cared then?"

His eyes widened slightly. "Christine, I-"

"Well just imagine that the person who died had someone who loved them, they'd feel the same way!"

There was a long silence, and Christine blushed. Her words echoed back to her… "…someone who loved them…"

Her blush grew deeper. She sounded as if she had just assumed that he loved her…

"I…I mean…" her face was growing warmer by the second, "Erik…please, please don't try to kill anyone again! Promise me…"

Erik moved closer to her, then hesitantly placed a hand under her chin, lifting her face up to his. "Christine…Do you love me?"

Christine froze, staring at him. How could she answer without hurting him? After all, she didn't love him…

A shiver went through her as she looked up into his eyes. …Did she?...

Without even realizing she did it, her arms flew up around his neck, and she buried her face in his chest. "Oh, Erik… I don't know…" she squeaked out truthfully. "I don't know…"

His hand stroked her hair as he stared of into the darkness, thinking. He was jerked back into reality at the sound of her voice.

"But Erik?"

"Yes, Christine?"

"Please… please promise me."

"I promise, Christine… I promise…"

xxxxx

When Meg had finally assured her mother that there was nothing wrong, she ran down to Christine's room to apologize for her behavior.

When she tapped on the door, however, there was no answer.

"Christine?" Meg called softly, wondering if her friend was asleep. After a moment's pause, the ballet girl pushed open the door.

Christine wasn't there.

Meg's eyes scanned the room frantically, searching for any sign of her friend.

It was then that she noticed something strange.

There was a dark crack between the mirror and the wall. Meg moved closer to investigate, and pushed the mirror further out.

It swung open as if on hinges.

Meg's heart skipped a beat. 'It's a trap door,' she realized suddenly, 'So this is how Erik and Christine stay in contact…'

Meg looked into the passageway beyond and shivered. She couldn't go in there… she couldn't, but she had to.

Meg stepped into the darkness, and her eyes quickly adjusted. Unlike Christine, she had no qualms about it being dark. Her only fear was what lay on the other end.

Finally, the wall that she had been leaning on ended.

Thinking she was alone, Meg took another step.

Suddenly, she stopped. She wasn't alone, after all. Not too far away, she could just make out two figures.

Meg backed up quickly and squinted.

Her eyes widened as she recognized one of them. It was Christine, and she had her arms around a tall man in dark clothing and a mask. Meg gasped… she knew at once who this was.

Erik looked quickly at the entrance to the tunnel as he heard her gasp.

"Erik? What is it?" Meg heard Christine ask.

"There's someone there…" he had a soft, musical voice, with just a hint of menace at the thought of someone spying on him.

Meg shivered, frozen to the spot.

Christine looked around to the entrance and, even through the darkness, locked eyes with her friend.

Meg turned and ran blindly back up through the passage.

She could hear Christine shout, "Meg! Meg, wait!" but she didn't stop running.

She had to tell someone… If she didn't, Christine would get hurt.

There was a small gasp from somewhere behind her as Christine, who had been chasing after her, tripped and fell. "Meg, please, don't say anything! Let me explain!"

Meg kept running. Finally, she reached the trap door and ran out, not even pausing to close it behind her. She knew exactly what she had to do…

xxxxx

Christine cried out as she fell for the third time. This time, however, she didn't get back up. She knew that Meg was too far ahead of her…she'd never catch up.

Two tears ran down her cheeks as she stared blankly at her bloodied hands. Who would Meg tell? What would they do? Most importantly… What would happen to Erik?

Christine bit her lip. She knew what would happen. Meg now knew that the mirror was a trap door. She could lead them right to his home…

She shivered… And if they found Erik, they'd kill him…

(A/N: Well, that was a nice long chapter, wasn't it?)