A/N: I realized, Francois reminds me of Jean Claude but creepier.

There were many whispers floating around Aimee as she stood patiently behind the curtain along with the many other girls who were auditioning for the role of Arabella. There was no nervous in her body, even her hands weren't sweating. Her shoulder was bumped hard making her stumble back a bit. Aimee frowned a bit, rubbing her sore shoulder but shrugged it off. The conversations got louder until Mme. Giry banged her stick, hushing them up.

All of the attention turned to the curtains as they slowly pulled back. Below the stage, Christine, Matt and the two managers were seated with a quill and paper. Firmin stood up with a smile.

"Bonsoir ladies, I am Monsieur Firmin, one of the managers of the Opera Populaire. Today, you are auditioning for the role of Arabella. You may pick whatever song you like. After that, we will pick our leading lady. Please form a line behind one another."

Aimee felt someone took her elbow and guided her across the stage. She felt herself between two people and turned her head to the right.

"Good luck, Aimee!" Meg whispered in her ear. A small smile curved her lips as she took Meg's encouragement to give her a little boost.

"Anna Hope." Firmin called the first girl. Anna inhaled a little but stepped up from the line and into the center of the stage. All eyes were on her now.

"What will you be singing today, Anna?" Christine asks. This went on for a half hour. The girls were getting restless and nervous. Some even stopped mid song and ran off. Many names were crossed off the list from their singing or just freezing midway. After Abigail finished her audition, there was much applause.

"Alright, gather around ladies." Firmin announce. The names that had been chosen for the role of Arabella get a second call back and then it'll get tense form there. Aimee stood where she was and lean against the column. Her performance was praised but she had a feeling Abigail would get the leading role.

"Nervous?" Meg asks coming beside Aimee. She shook her head as she listen to the names that had been rejected the role. She could sense the disappointment and sadness around her.

"Abigail Hernandez, you get a call back." Obviously…. "And Aimee Beaumont." Aimee's ears perked up hearing her name. Did she just hear that right?

"Congratulations and good luck next time ladies." Firmin said. Aimee excused herself and quickly made her way through the theater. Her hand reaches out besides her, touching the wall and ducked her head under an archway. Erik had shown her a secret entrance to reach his lair that no one knew. Her feet turned right and carefully, she gently pushes against the stone cold wall. It moved back and to the side, letting her walk through.

"Erik!" Her voice echoed throughout the lair. Quickly, she descended down the stairs and towards the music that he was playing. Her arms came around his neck, hugging him tight. He stopped playing and angled his head up seeing it was Aimee.

"I got a callback!" She said, seating herself beside him.

"Congratulations. Now you'll really have to work for the role," he said, flipping his music sheet for the next part. She gave a big smile, leaning forward and planted him a kiss on his cheek. His fingers stopped playing as he sat there in shock.

"Thank you! I have to go!" Erik sat there and listens as her footsteps disappeared behind him. He had tried many times to restrain himself from touching Aimee. He admits he was starting to have feelings for her. It was getting stronger and deeper. He just hopes he won't be wrong this time…

"Francois wants to invite you to accompany him for a dinner." Cecile said to Aimee in her room. Cecile took a brush off the vanity table to begin brushing Aimee's hair.

"No, I don't want to see him. He's…..creepy." She shook her head lightly and sat still as Cecile twist her locks into place and secures it with a bobby pin.

"I heard you got a call back for your role. Are you excited?" Cecile asks, forming a half bun updo.

"Very. It's only Abigail and I for the part." Cecile pinned the last hair into place when the door knocked. Aimee listens when Cecile went into a heated argument with the unknown person at the door in whispers.

"I'll be right back." Cecile said, closing the door behind her. She let out a sigh, propping her elbow against the table and rest her head on her hand. Curious, she went by the door and placed her ear against the door.

"You know he is not allowed on the premises!" Cecile said sharply.

Francois?

"He'll keep persisting on this meeting with her!" The unknown person was Matt. They were discussing about Francois.

"Aimee will have to be looked after then. But how?" Cecile asks. Their conversation drifted away making it hard for Aimee to hear. She gave up, retreating back to her bed. It seems Francois will keep asking her to dinner with him no matter how many times she said no.

She swiveled her head to the left, seeing a blurred image of her hand. She then wiggled her fingers. It looked like waving cheese strings. Out of boredom, Aimee began to hum different medley all together as she moved around her room. Her hand reaches out to touch the wall and she began guiding herself around. There were many boxes accumulating in the corner. Mostly were empty boxes she had inspected.

Moving onto the next part of her room, her hand brush against the spines of books. Some were to be read to her and some were in braille for her. Quickly, she grab her cloak and made a dash out of her room.

"Where are you going?" Cecile called out when she arrived halfway with a tray of lunch.

"To the bibliotheque!" Aimee answered back, skipping down the stairs.

Everything is as quiet as it should be inside the library. Aimee liked it that way. She stroll down the correct aisle that provides books for the blind and started running her fingers against the spines of the books. Her teeth nibbled her bottom lip in concentration as she searched for a right book. Finally, her hand came upon the book she was looking for. Her hand snatch out to grab it but found something else was pulling it back. Her eyebrows lower in confusing and tugged on it to free it but it's no use. Aimee gritted her teeth and brought her other hand up to get it out but it was no use either. Finally, she releases the book in disappointment and it suddenly shoots away from her and hit someone straight in the face. She gasps, slapping her hand to her mouth in shock.

She could hear someone grunting on the other side and felt her cheek start to burn with an embarrassment blush. Aimee rushes to the end of the aisle and turn around the corner. Her pace slowed down when she heard mutters of pain underneath their breath.

"Are you alright I-are you hurt?" She asks, stepping closer. She listens as the stranger sniffed their nose and bent down to pick the book.

"I'm fine. Just a little nosebleed." The masculine voice answered with amusement. Aimee caught the strange accent in him. Very foreign. "I believe this is yours," He said, taking her hand and place the book in her palm.

"How did you know I was blind?" She asks.

"You are standing in the blind section, mademoiselle." Her cheeks flushed red again. He only smiled.

"I'm Nicholas. Please to meet the famous Aimee Beaumont." His hand came up to wipe away the brown strand of hair away from his face as he straightens his back from the bow.

Aimee opened her mouth to speak but the big clock chimed loudly. It was time to go home. Regrettably, she bid Nicholas goodbye.

"How will I see you again?" Aimee asks when he said they meet again.

"I have a feeling," He said.

"Alright, this is your last audition ladies. This time you will sing with one of men from the play. Nicholas will be playing his role of Marc. And Geoffrey will be playing the role of Pierre. Abigail, you're up first." Andre called.

Nicholas? Aimee's ears perked up. Can it be? She nudged Meg beside her. "Who are Nicholas and Geoffrey?" Her costume for Arabella gave her cold shivers for a while sometime. She had Meg to give her a cloak to warm her up whilst she stood behind the curtain and waited for her name to be called.

Meg tore her eyes off the two men and turned her attention to Aimee. "Geoffrey and Nicholas just came today. They had auditioned before and were personally picked by the Opera Ghost. Nicholas is from America and Geoffrey is from Spain. Both are very well known in their homeland for their skill."

"Does Nicholas have a bandage on his face?" She wanted to make sure if it's the right one.

"Yes, a little white bandage on his nose. How do you know?" Meg asks, looking at Nicholas again. He was in an embrace with Abigail as they sing harmoniously together. Aimee only shook her head. She didn't want to explain why. It'll be too embarrassing.

"Aimee. You're next." Firmin announce. Aimee let out a shaky breath and approach the stage.

"Aimee, Nicholas is to your left and Geoffrey is to your left. You know your way across the stage." Andre said, sitting back down again. Silence came through the theater as onlookers stop and watch Aimee's performance.

"Just follow my lead…" Nicholas whisper in her ear. The music began to play and Aimee felt her waist being pulled against Nicholas hard body.

"She's mine! I have and always will love her!" Nicholas belt out in a sharp octave. His voice is clear and strong…She gasp, feeling another pair of hands pull her back away from Nicholas' body.

"She was never yours from the first place! She chose me!" Geoffrey sang back. Aimee closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath. This is it…What is she waiting for? Remembering her steps, she pulled back from his touch, stepping back from the two.

"No!" Aimee shouted. The music stopped but continued, softly this time. Her arms crossed, hugging her elbows in. She sighed, turning around and walk back to the stage and circled a bit.

"What more can there be to this?" She sang softly, her voice shaky. Aimee was in character. She was Arabella. "How am I to love one when my heart conflicts!"

"Arabella…" Nicholas's soft voice rang out. Slowly, she looked behind her shoulders halfway. As the music crescendo into a nice sweet, melody, his arms came around her shoulders, hugging her.

"Cut!" Andre said, cutting the mood and music abruptly.

"But it was getting good!" Meg protested. She received a chorus of 'yeahs' behind her.

"We've seen enough. Wait just a moment. We will call out who will have the leading role." As the group left and into Matt's office, Nicholas let go of her.

"Where did you learn to sing like that?" Nicholas asks.

"I just…picked it up. I had a little help from someone also." Aimee said, smiling at his direction. To be honest, she was a nerve wreck from performing. She had never been that close to a man, except Erik, let alone be touched like that. She also felt a warm, glowing feeling inside of her as well. What was happening to her? Aimee shook the feeling away and averted her attention somewhere else.

"Aimee Beaumont." Many applauses and cheers erupted throughout the theater as Aimee blinked in confusion.

"You got the role of Arabella! Congratulations!" Geoffrey said, patting her shoulder. A crowd of people surrounded her, congratulating and praising for her. Aimee stood in the center, still registering what had happened. She got the part.

"I got the role!" She shouted happily. Erik leaned back in his Box Five with a satisfied smile. Did Abigail really think she would get the leading role?

A month later, the opera house was rushing to open the play of A Lover's Embrace. It was coming together perfectly just as the managers has envisioned. The set was newly built and decorated to resemble a gypsy setting. New costumes and choreography had been created as well. This was going to be the biggest and extravagant show of all.

Aimee placed a hand on her stomach, calming down her stomach. There were many butterflies in there, she was beginning to feel nauseous.

"Here, take a sip," Nicholas said, handing her a glass. A sweet aroma filled her nostrils and she took a sip. Aimee taste the sweet liquid and took another sip.

"It'll help you calm down before the play." Many hours of hard work had been put into this play. Aimee can still feel the aching joints from her muscles and vocal chords when she practices over and over with Nicholas and Geoffrey. Aimee had a feeling Nicholas was attracted to her but sometimes she could be wrong…

"Good luck tonight." She said to him.

"And forever shall I be happily in love with you, till the end of time." Aimee and Nicholas sang together. They were in perfect harmony. Matching each other's pitched and tones. Loud applause and cheers came from the audience as well as backstage when Aimee and Nicholas came back behind the curtain. They only had a few minute to change until their next scene.

The cheers and applauses drifted further away as she came into her separate dressing room. A hand clasp upon her mouth not giving her a second to scream. Aimee let out a muffled scream, clawing at the intruder.

"Scream and I will cut your throat!" Abigail hissed in her ear. Aimee let out a shocked cry when she was shoved against the dressing table. Her hip hit against the sharp corner causing her to let out a painful cry.

"What are you doing here?" Aimee asks, glaring at Abigail. Or at least where she thinks Abigail is.

"I deserved that part! Not you!" Abigail shouted, backhanding Aimee across the cheek. Aimee's head swiveled to the left. The force was strong, knocking her down to the floor. Her arm reaches out to steady herself but all it knocked down were makeup and hair accessories on the table.

Aimee felt dazed and lightheaded as Abigail lifted her up. She was pushing Aimee backwards. But Aimee gritted her teeth, shoving Abigail back. However, Abigail was stronger than her. She received another slap, knocking her unconscious this time. Abigail lifted Aimee's ankles up with her hands and started to drag her body into the closet. Quickly, Abigail locked the door from outside and dressed the role of Arabella.

"Where's Aimee?" Meg asks, seeing Abigail appeared.

"She was kindly enough to let me take her role. The performance exhausted her so much she went to rest. She also said no disturbance." Abigail said, joining the confused cast on stage. Meg felt an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Erik leaned forward from his seating in Box Five as he looked displeased at Abigail singing. The audience were confused at the sudden change but they had ignored it and continued to enjoy it.

"Something's not right…" he stood up from his seat and left. Erik made his way through the backstage, unnoticed and came upon the prim donna's dressing room. He didn't bother to knock. The door was already unlocked.

"Aimee!" He called, looking at the bed. No sign of her there. The closet! He kicked the door open, seeing Aimee's unconscious body on the floor. His blood ran cold, seeing a trail of blood on her chin. Gently, he kneeled down, lifting her head up. His hand moved her hair away from her face. There was a red hand mark across her right cheek with a cut above her lip.

"Aimee…" He said softly, shaking her. She stirred slightly but awoke with a gasp.

"Erik! Abigail! The play-"

He gently shushed her, cupping her jaw line. There were no damages other than the red mark and the cut on her lip. But she was okay, and he was relieved about that.

Her shoulders shook as her arms snaked around his neck. He automatically wrapped his arms around her, letting her cry.

"I tried to fight her back but she…she's wicked." Aimee sniffed, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. Erik wiped one falling tear with his thumb.

"I know. But what are you doing here when she's out there, taking over your part?" Aimee stopped sniffling and formed her hand into a fist. She hoisted herself up with the help of Erik and walked out of the room.

"Thank you. For saving me again, Erik." She said softly, turning to look at him. She stood on her toes, planting a soft kiss on his lips. He lingered the kiss for a few more seconds before pulling away to watch her leave. Here we go again….

As Abigail went backstage after finishing the scene, two strong hands grab her before anyone saw her. Her efforts of fighting back and struggling was no use to the strong arms that held her tight.

"Refusing to accept my dinner invitation is not a way to make a man angry, Aimee." The deep voice said menacingly. Abigail stopped struggling. I'm not Aimee! She wanted to scream. But it was no use, his hands had roamed across her chest and stomach.

"I'm taking you with me. Where no one will ever find us. Not even your stupid brother." He said. Abigail's eyes widen. It was Francois. The creepy man who was obsessed with Aimee. As she continued to fight to escape, she just hopes someone will save her.

The show had finally finished but there were so many encores from Aimee that the managers had to ask the audience to leave because it was getting to closing time. Aimee decided to hang backstage along with Nicholas and Geoffrey since everyone was too tired to go their own bed, they had hang here and talked quietly among themselves. Half of the theater were beginning to close for the night as well.

"I knew you wouldn't disappoint," Matt said with Christine beside him.

Aimee hopped off her seat and gave the two a big hug. She'll have to remember to give a personal thanks to Erik for helping her as well. She was greeted with a tight hug back and a pat as well.

"Nicholas, Geoffrey. Wonderful as usual. Are you planning to stay here at the Opera house? We do have openings…" Matt said.

Nicholas glanced at Aimee and back at Matt. "I could…" Matt motions them to follow him into his office to discuss the business privately between the three of them.

"How are you feeling?" Christine asks, hugging Aimee again.

"Numb. I'm also shaking but from excitement. If that makes sense," Aimee shrugged it off with a smile. "Have you seen Abigail?" Christine answered with a no which sent a chill down Aimee's spine.

"Why? I know she tried to steal your part."

"It's just…no one saw her after that…"

Francois tugged the rope harder to make Abigail walk faster. They were on the third floor, close to the exit he had discovered that he knew would make the perfect and quickest escape. He was angry when he discovered it was not Aimee but Abigail. However, he didn't care; it was too late for her to escape. She knew too much and he would be arrested. She'll have to do.

"Walk faster!" He said sharply, pulling the rope. She tumbled forward; the costume had been torn from the sleeve and at the bottom hem of the skirt as well. But her furious eyes made him amused.

"I hope you deserve the cruelest punishment for doing this to a woman!" She barked, pulling back the rope. He almost stumbled but he regained balance with a smirk. She was a feisty one. He'll enjoy this. Suddenly, a creaking noise came above them as they stopped and stared each other in confusion.

The creaking noise became louder and changed into crackling noise, sound of wood breaking above them. The old roof above them was collapsing due to the heavy snow and rotten wood. The wood splintered, sending snow and wood crashing down. The two tried to escape but it was no too late, the snow along with the wood had crushed them.

"What was that?" Aimee asks, alarmed. Her hand curved around Christine's arm at the loud noise of something that had crashed on the third floor. The sound had also shaken the entire opera house, leaving tremors beneath everyone's soles.

"Everybody, please stay calm. We will inspect what had happened." Andre said, following Firmin behind. Christine grabbed Aimee's hand, leading her up the stairs, a trail of people behind them as well. A low whisper of voices came when they reached the third floor. At the end of the corner, moonlight poured through the gaping hole from what was once the ceiling. A heap of snow and splintered woods had crashed down onto the floor but there were also two blooded hands underneath it.

"Someone, get them out!" Firmin ordered. Two male stagehands started to dig through the snow and miraculously pulled the two bodies out. A chorus of screams came from the girls as they saw who it was. Christine gasp, covering her mouth with her hand and watch in horror at the two bloodied lifeless bodies.

"What? What's happening?" Aimee asks, tugging at Christine's arm.

"It's Francois and Abigail. They're dead."

Owls filled the silent night with their haunting calls along with other insects and animals answering back with their own beat. It was almost midnight, everyone had been sent to their dormitory for safety whilst police came to analyze what had happened. It seems the old roof was already rotten and Francois and Abigail just happened to be caught under the misfortune event. But Aimee knew what happened.

She turned to her side, letting out a heavy sigh. She was still shaky from what had happened today. The play had given her good shivers but also frightening feelings when Abigail tried to trap her. Now the death of Francois and Abigail.

"He thought Abigail was me…" She whispered, staring at the darkness ahead of her. He had mistaken Abigail for her because of the costume. She swallowed a thick lump down her throat. If that had been her…Aimee shivered, pulling the bed sheets over her neck, welcoming in the warmth. She didn't dare to think what would happen if that was her.

A/N: Eight pages while finishing this up DX RIP fingers and hands. but it was worth it!