Author's Note:

The next chapter is up, and here we have some interesting character development, just with Jenna's character, but the character that she's portraying: Christine. It seems to me that Leroux doesn't really give us any information that Christine had any kind of love for the Phantom. True, she probably felt sorry for him, but what about her feelings before that? He doesn't really explain as to what she's actually feeling, since she's probably feeling a lot of things at once. So, in a way, I decided to fix that problem here as we get to see a bit more of Jenna's overall conflicted feelings for the Opera Ghost, something that seems fitting for a character like her, and for Christine Daae herself.

Hope you enjoy it! Don't forget to review and follow if you wish to see more! :)

- Dante

Jenna © Universal

Inspector Jean-Claude belongs to me.

Chapter 2

Jenna slowly laid her head on the pillow in her apartment, having experienced a terrible night on New Year's Eve. It was supposed to be a night of fun and wonder, but now it was nothing more than a reminder for the monster she had unleashed, and the nightmare she was trapped in.

She sniffled, as she rubbed against her pillow, trying to remain strong. She had been brought to her apartment by Steele, and despite the Vicomte wanting to stay with her, Jenna strongly protested, to which the reluctant malamute agreed.

Why did this happen to me? She thought, wondering as to what the source of this madness had begun. Is it because of the mistake I made? I never wanted to hurt him, but…but what did he mean by "In the end, you will be the one to decide."?

The husky glimpsed out the window, the darkness of the sky seeming like some kind of errie blanket being placed over the city. She deeply sighed, realizing that she was somehow trapped between this horrible triangle of love and betrayal.

But, I thought he would understand. I didn't betray him, did I? She asked herself, is he jealous? I know he has ill feelings for Steele, so should I be worried about that? Would he want to try and hurt him? No, Balto would never do that…but…

Jenna turned over to her other side, as she pulled up the covers up to her neck with her paws. She hadn't felt so conflicted in all her life. She had to tell someone…someone that could try and help her…someone like…

She immediately hopped out of bed, and went over to one of the drawers in her bedroom. After turning on the lamp, she opened the drawer and pulled out the card that the Inspector had given her.

Perhaps…he could help me…or at least help me try and understand this whole predicament.

But could she? This would mean exposing the true identity of Balto to the police, and to the one who she knew was hunting the Opera Ghost. If she did this, she would not only betray Balto yet again, there was also one terrible question that she would have to endure: What if he finds out again, and what kind of horrible thing would he do next?

No, he won't find out. I'll speak to him in private…but…but what if… Jenna felt a chill go through her body. She knew that Balto was somehow only stationed at the Canine, but what if he could move about Paris? With the way he silently moved across the floor, and his darkened appearance, he could easily be hidden from sight within the dark shadows of Paris.

He could possibly come to her apartment without her knowing, listening in on her, and check her while she slept.

With this thought, Jenna ran to the window, and as she lifted it up, she peered outside. To her relief, all she could see was a few dogs laughing and walking along, and a carriage pass by.

She sighed, just calm down, Jenna. He wouldn't do that sort of thing. He may love me, but not that much. She went over to the card that Jean-Claude had given her. Still, I'm going to speak with the Inspector. At least he'll help me try and figure this out.

She grabbed her bandana from the chair she had left it, and after fixing her fur a bit, she went over to her door, locked it behind her, and she rushed off to the Palace of Justice.

Much like the night before (and many from the previous months) Inspector Jean-Claude was up past closing time, as he was still cooped up in his office. However, his mind was elsewhere, as he was deep in thought.

The ghost is real…the ghost is real…the ghost is real…He repeated those words over and over in his head. He had just witnessed the most crucial piece of evidence he had ever seen: He had just encountered the Opera Ghost, and having felt him when he went after him in that room of mirrors.

I know I was close, but at least I know he exists. He smiled joyfully, at last, I'm right! He does exist…he's a rather lanky sort of fellow, and he certainly does have wolf-dog paws and ears. Very large, and very strong. He pushed me through a glass mirror! How is that possible? How can someone so skinny be so strong? It's abnormal. This could be a problem, since he might not have an issue with fighting someone in paw-to-paw combat. Besides, he's a rather sneaky fellow, like he's some trained assassin or something. Interesting…

Anyway, there is still some questions that need to be answered. First, what was with the room of mirrors I jumped in? What was that for? Was it specifically designed as a trap room, or some sort of macabre fun house? The fire was clearly an illusion, a truly incredible one at that. How he does this is unknown to me. He slightly chuckled, Well, I suppose entrance is everything when you're pretending to be a phantom.

Secondly, I've noticed that he clearly showed distaste towards me, so he somehow knows I've been tracking him for some time. How does he know? I guess he listened in on my conversations with the Managers, and my interviews with the Canine employees and staff. Clever that is, I'll give to him. But I wish I knew how he does this.

Third, and this is probably the most important detail I saw at the festival. He seemed to show some sort of interest in Mademoiselle Daae. I know I couldn't hear what they were saying, but it seemed like he was somewhat upset with her and the Vicomte de Chagny.

I guess she does have some sort of connection with the Opera Ghost. What that is I still don't know. Perhaps she doesn't work with him, but they know each other, including the Vicomte. I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

Finally, there's that damn question I can't figure out…what is the reason, the motive that drives this dog? Why does he lurk in the Opera Canine, and what does Jennifer Daae have to do with this? Every criminal I've taken down has had reasons for their misdeeds, no matter how stupid or unbelievable. But what's his?

Jean-Claude laid back on his chair, rubbing his eyes, and peering over at the grandfather clock near the door. It was 1:30 AM. He hadn't gotten much sleep, and he felt it was time to head on home. But just before he could get out of his seat, he heard a knock at his door.

"Monsieur Inspector?" Officer Babet opened the door, "I'm leaving for home, and I suggest you do the same. It's past midnight."

"I am, Babet, I am. Let me just get some things together." Jean-Claude gathered some papers up from his desk and placed them in some of his drawers, rather quickly. He was rather skilled with filing his notes, organizing them neatly in a row.

Babet then turned his head, and said, "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what, Monsieur?" Jean-Claude answered, looking up from the desk's open file drawer.

Babet peered over in the darkened building, "It sounds like someone is knocking on the entrance door."

"At this hour?" Jean-Claude replied, wondering who was knocking.

"Should we let them in?"

"Go ahead, I'll speak with them." Babet nodded and ran over to the front door. Jean-Claude closed his desk drawer and sat down on his leather chair, fixing his collar a bit.

Babet then returned from the entrance, "Well, who is it Officer?" Jean-Claude asked.

"You won't believe this," Babet responded, "its Mademoiselle Daae."

"What?" Jean-Claude replied, raising a brow. It was a strange coincidence for the husky to be coming over at such a time, but it seemed even stranger that she was one of the dog's that he had suspected to be in cahoots with the Ghost.

Perhaps she wants to tell me something. I gave her my card after all. Hmm…

"Send her in." The Shepard ordered, and in a flash, Babet went over the entrance door, and lead the husky over to the Inspector's office.

"Mademoiselle Daae," Jean-Claude smiled, as he walked over to the husky, giving a small kiss on her paw. "I wasn't expecting you to come here."

The husky shuffled a bit, "Well, I had to come. I'm have a sort of…problem...and I was wondering if you could help me."

"That's what I'm here for, Mademoiselle," Jean-Claude grinned, walking around to his chair again, "Would you like some champagne?"

"No, thank you." Jenna replied, as she sat down on a chair near the desk.

"Alright," Jean-Claude could see Babet was still in the doorway, "You may go now Monsieur." The Officer wasted no time in leaving, as he closed the door for the Inspector.

The Shepard placed himself on his desk, with the husky sitting down across from him, "Now then, tell me, what's on your mind?"

The husky sighed, "Well, I suppose you've been wondering…about…well…the Opera Ghost…"

"Yes, and…?" Jean-Claude replied, sitting a bit straighter in her chair.

"I…I want to tell you that…" Jenna gulped, "I know something…about him…something important…"

"Are you alright, Madame? You seem bit shaken up. Do you need some water?"

"I'll be fine," She replied, "I guess I'm just…nervous…"

"Why is that?"

The husky darted her eyes from left to right, "Monsieur, have you ever felt like something…or someone…is watching you?"

"Not that I know of. Why, are you being stalked?"

"Well, no…but…it just feels like it. Like being trapped in a cage."

"I see. So, what is the real problem here? I'm sure you have more to tell me."

Jenna swallowed a bit, trying to calm down her nerves, "Yes, and it's about him…the Opera Ghost. Only, he's not really a ghost, as you saw."

"Yes, I know. But at any rate, please, inform me on what you know."

With this, Jenna relayed her story to the Inspector. The first time she heard the Angel of Music's voice, the sudden realization it was in fact the Opera Ghost, who turned out to be a wolf-dog hybrid named Balto. She told of her singing with him, her lessons with him, and when he confessed his love to her. She then nervously recalled when she beheld the horrid face of the Opera Ghost, and when she managed to tell this to the Vicomte.

Jean-Claude couldn't believe his ears, for he just heard one of the strangest stories he had ever heard. Was it even believable? It sounded like some sort of vivid dream turned into a nightmare. But, it was certainly real, as the husky across from him seemed a tad exhausted from having to remember every detail she told Steele.

"Are you OK, Mademoiselle?" He asked, "I can get you some water if you want."

"No, I'm alright." She answered, "Just…a bit worked is all."

"Yes, I understand," Jean-Claude replied, "Confession aren't easy to do. Some break down completely, some deny it completely. I'm glad you told me the truth. I'm sure it must have been tortuous to keep all of that locked up."

"I just…" Jenna put her head on her paws on the desk, "I just don't know what to do."

"Do you mind if you answer a few questions for me?"

"OK," The Inspector pulled out a few pieces of blank paper, and a quill and ink.

"Now then, when he confessed his 'love' to you, did you feel the same way? It seems odd that a criminal would do something like this. True, I've witnessed some crazed individuals obsessed with females, but the way you put it, it seemed so…innocent and docile."

"It was so sudden," Jenna answered, "He just went right out and told me. But, he said it such a way, in such a sad and desperate tone, it sounded like he was pouring out his soul to me. He trusted me like I was the only one cared for him."

"And do you?"

Jenna paused. Did she truly have feelings for the deformed hybrid beneath the Opera Canine? What kind of spell had he placed on her? Was it by her own will that she ventured time and time again down into that lair on the lake, or did Balto somehow manage to lure her with his voice?

"I don't know, Monsieur." Jenna got up from her chair, "I don't know what to think. I mean, he's done so much for me."

"Do you think he is jealous of your relationship with Monsieur Vicomte?"

"I know he doesn't like Steele, but I don't think he's capable of doing us any harm…" Jenna turned to face the Shepard, "But, he isn't exactly happy at the moment."

"I see," Jean-Claude folded his paws, "How do you propose we solve this problem? Does this…Balto…still trust you in anyway?"

"Well, from what he said at the festival, he said that I have a chance to go back to him."

"And are you? Do you trust him enough to do so? If you say he would never harm you, would you still do it despite his actions against others that defy him?"

Jenna thought for a moment. Can I trust him? He doesn't seem to be the same Balto that inspired me to sing again, nor is he the dear friend that I once knew. It's like he's turned himself into some kind of vengeful spirit, an Angel of Death. He's revealed himself to me, because he knows that only Steele and I know about his existence, and about his true identity.

"I don't know if I can trust him, Monsieur. I know that he has done bad things, but it seems like he's doing this not just for me…but because he's…angry."

"Angry at what?"

"At the world, Monsieur. He's lonely, and he's afraid. And it seems like I'm the only one that he trusts because I seem to be the only one that can show him kindness."

Jean-Claude could definitely see something in the young husky, something that never actually occurred in cases such as this. "You…pity him, don't you?"

Jenna turned her head towards the window, looking up at the night sky, and sighed, "I've never wanted to hurt him, Monsieur. I just can't shake the feeling that I might have some sort of sympathy for him. But how can I? He kills those that he hates, and he steals from those that defy him. He causes terrible accidents and harms others, and the only one he deems worthy is me. Me, of all dogs." She then pictured her first encounter with the Ghost down in his lair, "But his voice. His voice was one of the most alluring things I've ever heard, Monsieur. It sounded like a soft, timid whisper, slowly building into a thunderous boom. It filled me with wonder and happiness, and that's probably why I stayed. But had I known that he had feelings for me I wouldn't have said no. It's just he probably never knew that I probably didn't feel the same way for him. So when he took off his mask, possibly to try to convince me that he was normal, you can't even imagine the sorrow he felt when I was repulsed by it." The husky could still see those yellow eyes, glowing and twinkling like the stars above the city, "Yet, when he revealed himself to me, when he showed me that horrid face and all that pent up anger and frustration and rejection that he probably kept from me after all this time, I saw…I saw this sadness in his eyes, like he was this poor soul, crying out…to me, for me, to try and understand him…and to try and comfort him…and love him. But…now I don't know if I should love him…or pity him…or adore him…" She then sighed again, tears welling up in her eyes, "…or fear him…"

Jean-Claude remained silent, as he continued to listen to the husky speak. He concluded that she was clearly conflicted, and that she was obviously stuck in between some kind of adoration for her friend and teacher, and the fear and doubt she felt for him being deformed and a criminal. He rather surprised to say the least. No one had ever done something like this before. He had seen someone so gentle feel things that she probably never felt before…like hate. But it didn't seem like hate. It almost seemed like guilt, something that was clearly upsetting the young singer.

The main fact the Jean-Claude seemed to realize was that the Ghost's actual motive wasn't something out of rage or anger for his isolation from the world above, nor was it just to make everyone fear him. He killed, he stole, he sang, he loved…for her. He seemed to be doing all of this for her. In hopes of somehow wanting to make her love him, to give him the kindness that he deserved. Jean-Claude almost scoffed at this. It sounded selfish to make the husky decide for her own. He knew that the husky was caught in the Ghost's grip of pity. It was clear to him that he wanted her to feel guilty, and after this, she would soon return to him because he knew she would. That didn't sound like love, it sounded like pure obsession and jealousy. And the fact that this poor husky, who wasn't fit to be in this kind of bizarre situation; it was almost upsetting to be honest, almost like she was helplessly devoted to this dog, one that would probably never let her go.

"Is there more you want to talk about?" The Shepard asked, breaking the silence within the office.

The husky went back over to the desk, "I suppose I've told you all I know."

"Well, it seems to me that you are conflicted, Mademoiselle. I'm glad that you've told me about this, but unfortunately, there's only so much I can do. In fact, I think I understand as to what he meant by 'You are the one that will decide.'"

"What do you mean?" She asked, somewhat still perturbed by those words.

"I believe that not only does he still trust you, but he trusts you enough to make the right decision. I don't know if he will try anything crazy, but you must be on your guard. True, he may seem harmless, but you must understand that according to me, and to the law of Paris itself, he is a dangerous criminal. He seems to trust you…and if you want to take my word for it, it sounds like he knows that you'll agree to his terms. I do hope you know what you're doing, Mademoiselle, you're playing a very dangerous game."

"I understand," Jenna replied, "I still don't think I can make a choice right now, not with him still being angry at me. I just wish I knew what to do."

Jean-Claude got up from his chair, "Well, I do hope you find the answer you're looking for, Mademoiselle." The Shepard went over to the coat rack and took down his trench coat and hat, "Would you like me to take you home?"

"That would be nice. Thank you, Monsieur."

"Pleasure is all mine," He smiled warmly, "Just know that if you need any help, don't hesitate to come find me. I'll do all in my power to make sure he never harms anyone ever again."

Jenna gulped, as the Shepard went over to the door. She knew she made a mistake for coming here, and yet again telling the secret that she was forbidden to tell. She prayed that Balto wouldn't find out, and she hoped that things would not get any worse.

I know he doesn't hate me, and I know he still somewhat trusts me…but the thought him getting angry, and somehow planning on doing something terrible makes me feel…

"Are you coming, Madame?" Jean-Claude asked, placing his hat on his head and opening the door.

"Oh, yes, I am." The husky replied, her thoughts suddenly halted as she followed the Inspector out of his office, and out of the Palace of Justice.

And yet…I still fear that…She thought with a twinge of anxiety, he already has something in store for all of us…