Thank you for all the kind words. Truly.

Phanatic01 thanks. It is quite a disaster zone in that house. Let's see how it unravels.

icanhearthedrums life with the Phantom was always going to be a struggle. But I'm sure that there's light at the end of the tunnel.

Dice, no. Not magic. I know you, you shouldn't believe in magic. It's risky.

Erik scrambled about the house, calling her name. There was no way she could have left the house - yet still she was gone. Nadir aided in the search, as did Christine to no avail. They searched every crevice, every nook and cranny, every cupboard, every wardrobe, under every bed. Where could she be?! But have you ever heard the saying 'An old house holds many secrets'? Well this was exactly like that.

An ache echoed through her sore head. It was dark, so very dark and cold and empty. She could see nary a few inches in font of her and she dared not to move in fear that she would fall, for it felt as if she was balanced on a height.

All she could remember was being sat in that wardrobe. There was a click. Then she remembered falling - before ending up here, trapped in the dark. There was moisture in the air, there was little air to breath. Suddenly she was aware of a closing in feeling. Like the walls were trapping her, contracting as if breathing.

Then she screamed. Pouring as much sound out as she could, until her lungs were empty. Then clutched her chest, taking deep breaths she needed Erik now to save her. Scared again, she curled up tight. Trying to fight off the chill on her back. To no avail.

To think this was how he used to spend his time, wallowing in this tomb of eternal darkness. All alone without any human contact. Her teeth chattered as she rubbed her arms. Now aware of running water. Lots and lots of water, masses of it all around her.

This was a well, deep underground. She was balanced on a single stone slab, hoisted above a torrent of water, heading for the sewers. Then, her body went into shock. White lights burst before her eyes and she felt as if air was in short supply. Taking short rapid breaths, she gasped for air and held her chest. Lest her heart pound out of her chest.

Abruptly, her life flashed before her eyes and she ran out of air to scream with. Letting her head fall and body flop. Silent and sleeping. As the cold water roared and pushed its way through the well beneath the house.

.

"Where is she?!" Screamed Erik as he tossed a chair across his room. His mask now hanging off his face. Yet he was too worried and fretful to care - carrying on his search through the house. Ripping down curtains and tossing open drawers, spilling their contents all over the floor.

Stressed, he ran his hands so viciously through his hair it tore off his wig and he rid of that also. Nadir stared as his overwrought friend. Never had he seen his friend look so lost before, so helpless and scared. Happiness was within his reach and now he had lost it. Once again.

"She must still be in the house." Nadir tried to assure him, "We just need to keep looking." The Persian put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, which was shrugged off so that he could heave them.

"This is all that vixen's fault!" He yelled as he rocked in his seat. Said 'vixen' was stood at the door. "If she had not come here wanting to abuse my feelings for her there would be no problem!" The Phantom held his shuddering shoulders, "She would be here in my arms!" Christine held her stomach and lightly cleared her throat.

"So this is how it is to be between us Angel? You loathe me as I beg for your forgiveness?" A stray tear rolled down her perfect cheek. She never wanted it to be like this. Once upon time her angel loved her, as did she her angel. There was nothing he wanted more than to be with her eternally. But now his heart had moved on, it beated for another, like hers beated for Raouls - lest he know she exists anymore.

"You have a husband to go home to Christine. Go." Said Nadir, the previous warmth and respect void in his voice. As he too turned his back on her. Now she felt alone. Despite the child growing inside her, it was a very lonely world - had she any idea about the hell Cendrillon was in, she would count her blessings.

Christine looked over to the wardrobe in the corner. Edging over to it slowly. Erik raised his head and watched as she unlatched the door.

"I've checked in there already." He grumbled, "No where to be seen." When Christine kept staring into it, he stood, fists clenched and angry. "Stop! I said she isn't in there! Do you not listen to a word I say?!" Still she ignored him. Taking as large strides as he could, he crossed over to her.

"SHE'S NOT HERE!" Erik began to grab the clothes, without mercy, throwing them out of the wardrobe and onto the floor. All of her dresses, her coats and unmentionables. Nadir blushed when he saw them on the floor and kicked them into a pile on the floor. Eventually, Erik stopped.

Holding in his hand a box, small. Velvet red and square, lined with gold and un-opened for years. So he knocked open the latch and took a peek inside. Nadir watched as the box dropped to the floor.

A light chime came from within it. A ring rolled out of it, shimmering and polished silver, jewels embedded in the top. Pure and flawless diamond. The same engagement ring he wanted to give to Christine, long - long ago. Erik stood, eyes only half-open.

That was right, he wanted to propose. It was his Cendrillons birthday soon and he was going to throw a party. All of her friends were going to be there, then he would ask her that most divine question. It would be the happiest day of his life. As well as hers. Now it was all slipping away, so near yet so far.

"Erik?" Christine asked, scared to come any closer towards him. Never before had she seen him so void, so empty without her. Cautious, she took another step closer looking where his line of sight was - straight into the wardrobe. "Is that?"

Inside the back of the wardrobe was a door, a panel. Dust covered it thickly, two hand prints on the edge of it. Cendrillon's beautiful, petite hand prints. Erik moved into it, putting his knee on the lower ledge of it and pressing his hands against the back. Tracing his fingers along the wood where she had touched it.

The panel sprung to the side and he found himself tumbling forwards, nearly into it. Cold breeze slithered through the new hole.

So this house had secrets too.

Sorry about this being such a short chapter.

I wanted to make the big rescue longer and more heroic. So expect a much larger chapter next time.

Also, i'm publishing a side story, simply to unravel my writers block by getting rid of my lesser ideas.

I know this kinda sucked, but hey.

Thanks for reading anyway.