A/n: I don't own it! Why hello! I finally got this chapter done. I had to rewrite it… and now I'm not sure if I like it still… If it needs any changing I'll change it. Tell me what you think!

Days had been getting longer. The sun was just going down and Ana closed the door to her dressing room. After practicing for a few minutes she would change and then go down below to begin her "lessons".

She reached her hand as far up as she dared to take it and drew a foot forward. Her feet were killing her, but it was just one price to pay. Another slow position and then she was off. The dance was very quickly paced at first, and she always felt the need to go faster than it was. She felt the need to let the music come alive within her. She knew Erik would kill her if she did this, however.

After the strange meeting with Erik's ghostly companion, Erik had not seen either of them. When she returned the next night Erik seemed somewhat scared to talk to her. It was odd, however, he seemed strangely happy. It was the first time he hadn't yelled at her for not getting something completely right. Ana knew that he would never yell at her for this under different circumstance, but his tension grew every day. Just by looking at him she could see that there was a massive wall on top of his shoulders, forever pushing him down…

The next position Ana threw herself into made her wince and stumble to the floor.

"Oh no!" She cried, forgetting the pain in her foot when she saw her slippers completely bloody. Her fingers worked rapidly and soon they were off. Without even bothering to look at her injured foot she ran her fingers along the slippers, holding them close so that maybe this disaster would fade away.

Bloody slippers were nothing knew; all ballerinas went home with bloody slippers every once in a while. Sadly though, these slippers were ruined. Ana didn't make enough money to get new slippers. She stared a sighed. Well, hopefully she would do all right with singing… if not she would surely be fired…she would lose her dreams all together!

She stood and limped across the room to get bandages, never faltering on her grip on her beloved slippers.

After bandaging her feet up, she opened a small drawer and placed her devastated ballet shoes there. She picked up the shell cameo of the sad woman. Her sat down at the cot in the room and swung her feet around on the bed. Soon enough she was lying down, staring at the cameo, which she positioned above her face.

"Oh mother…" She sighed, and pushed her hand away from her face and to the cot, where she wouldn't have to think about anything. But she had to think about everything!

Still, if she kept her body moving, nothing could penetrate into her closed mind. She stood up, trying to concentrate on anything but the pain in her foot, her childhood, or the man she was going to see.

Of course, she knew she couldn't love him. It was an unbearable thought really- a very continuous unbearable thought. How could see love someone who tried to kill her? How could see have feelings for someone who could never return the feelings? But, then again, she didn't have any feelings for him. He was a simple teacher. He wasn't friend, and he wasn't a ghost either.

The hard wood floor made Ana wince, but not as much as her next shoe. Although simple, nothing could help the pain in her feet. Also, the shoe didn't fit because of swelling and because of the bandage. She would go without.

The air outside of her changing room seemed oddly cold and Ana wished that she had brought something to wrap around her body, where sweat was drying rapidly. The same route was easy after she had memorized it once. It had taken her a long time to find, and the only reason she found it was out of coincidence. She had fallen into it actually… of course, at the time she was looking for it. It was around the same place she had first seen this ghost…

She slipped down into the walls and began her way to the lower cellars. Of course… she didn't really walk… she limped. Her mind was spinning the entire time, and she felt so tired. Still, if she didn't show Erik would certainly kill her.

There were no lights in the hallway and Ana spotted a rat. She made sure not to scream. Suddenly there were two rats. No… four. Eight. Sixteen.

She felt dizzy. An un-sturdy arm went to the wall to hold the rest of her weight up and she felt herself slipping. If she woke up here she didn't know what she would do. She certainly wouldn't be able to find her way. She would go mad with hopelessness and she would end up screaming as loud as she could until someone found her or the breathe in her lungs was gone.

She walked on until she found the lake. Her head was worse and she could scarcely remember what to do know. She kneeled down, trying to regain a sense of herself. Her foot was bleeding through the bandages and she was leaving a bloody trial behind her. This had just happened recently, but she couldn't tell you just when. Still, no one could follow her.

"Erik?" She asked the darkness, feeling faint. There was a soft echo before she started tumbling down towards the floor. There was only darkness after that.

When Ana finally awoke, she was lying in an all-too familiar room: Erik's room.

She felt like she had been out for hours, and clearly, she had. Erik was in the room as well. As soon as she could see clearly she noted that he was standing a few inches beside her. Not really standing…. Sitting. Sleeping.

Ana smiled when she saw him- His elbow was keeping his body propped up, and it seemed he ad been sitting there almost as long as she had been out. She pulled herself up, relieved in moving. And then she had the strangest idea.

She knew how absurd it was- she really did, but this thought was oddly new. What was the face behind this mask? Who was Erik that he needed to hide his face from the rest of the world. Why did he live down here all alone?

"Ana, dear, we need to tell you something."

"Yes Papa?"

"It's about your mother."

All alone.

Time seemed to stop as Ana wobbly hand started for Erik's face. Maybe if she knew he wouldn't have to be all alone anymore. Perhaps she could begin to understand… if only. If only…

Maybe he wouldn't have to hide from her after all. This could possibly make him trust again? Let him know that she wanted to know and wanted to help him. She truly did.

She leaned forward, an inch away from his face. She veered her arm away and she felt over, grabbing his arm. Of course, it wasn't because of a weakness, but she could pretend it was anyway.

Erik was instantly wide awake and instantly he was on his guard.

"Oh Erik!" She cried, "I'm so clumsy… Oh- I didn't-" She stared. His body relaxed and he shushed her without speaking. He leaned over and helped her back into the bed, for she had been as clumsy as to fall off. Then he bent over again and picked up the chair they had both knocked to the floor.

When he stood back up, he glanced her over. "You'll need to change, mademoiselle."

Ana smiled. Always the gentleman.

"What happened?" She asked anxiously.

Erik seemed to frown, and he pulled the sheets around her. "You were bleeding. What happened?"

Always, an answer in the form of another question.

"Oh. Nothing." Ana brushed it off. "Just dancing… it isn't the first time and besides, it-"

His silence made her stop making up excuses and look in her hands, which were placed gracefully on her lap.

"Perhaps I should tell my plans to Mme. Giry and you can stay here and practice until the show on Saturday."

"What's today?" Ana asked. What if she had wasted valuable time? Damn her foot!

"Tuesday." He stated, as though irritated by her disruption of his private thoughts.

"But- Erik! My foot will be better! I promise, I'll try harder!"

"Shh…" He cooed. Ana quieted down. This was the first time this voice had ever been directed completely at her. It was soothing… really meant for small children and the one that Erik would love. She, of course, was the winning child, which needed hushing. "I don't want to put you in jeopardy for performing. After the show, of course you may go back to dancing. This will also give your foot a chance to heal."

"Erik?" Ana asked meekly. Erik's gaze kept locked on her and she had trouble continuing. "Why do you allow me here?"

Erik took his time answering, and Ana almost thought that he had answered in his mind. Then she looked up, noticing the emotion that ran through him. Her eyebrows knit together. "I'm sorry, You don't need to answer."

There was silence, both of them contemplating what to do or say.

"You should change, you outfit is bloody." Erik said softly.

Ana looked down, and saw her lovely outfit ruined! Completely ruined… like her shoes… Her shoes!

She couldn't hold down her tears on this. She didn't even notice Erik sit on the bed next to her, his eyes staring at her… trying to find something.

She sat and bawled, for what seemed like hours. When she finally could control her self she couldn't begin to look at Erik. What a fool she was making of herself!

"My- ballet slippers- they're- completely- ruined." She sobbed, and she felt Erik sigh- in relief?

"We'll get you more, mademoiselle. After the performance." He spoke gently.

Ana face grew and she finally looked up at him. "I could? You mean- oh yes! I'll have money if I do well?"

She heard Erik chuckle and she couldn't help wanting to throw herself into his embrace.

In fact, she had a feeling that was what she might do. Not of her own accord, but her body would completely take over. And of course, it did.

She wrapped her arms around him, and she knew she was falling. She didn't care.

However, she didn't fall. Erik's thin and deceiving frame caught her, though he might as well have dropped her. He tensed up- went completely rigid. Still, this only made Ana hold him tighter. Of course, this was because she couldn't dare to see anyone suffer so much, right?

Violently she was pushed away. She landed on her bad foot and fell to the floor. It still didn't hurt as much as her heart. Erik was turning away from her, shielding himself. He seemed to be fighting an emotion very powerful, one he didn't know well. Although Ana was hurt, how could she not forgive him?

Erik wrapped his arms tightly around himself. When Ana made a move to help her, he stopped her with his powerful voice that was failing to resume control.

"Go to your room Ana." Was his fierce command. She couldn't leave him. Although she knew she should have she couldn't bear to leave him like this!

"Erik-" She stared.

"Damn you!" He bellowed, sending her to the door in fright. He had a sudden rush of vengence which seemed to bounce off every inch f this house... every inch of the world. Perhaps she had unleashed this side she was frightened of… perhaps she deserved whatever was coming to her. "Get into some other room! You have no idea what you do to me! You women are all the same!" He threw a desk over and simmered himself to a shelf. He rested his hands on it in attempt to keep himself up. "So curious! You all want to help me! Do you think I need help?"

Erik turned on his heel and in one swift movement he seemed to be by Ana's side.

"Do you think you should know? Do you think you're that goddamn special? Well, you want it! You shall know what it means to know the Phantom!"

Ana was now frightened. He was gripping her arms and she knew there would be bruises… why did she open her mouth? Why couldn't she listen? "You'll see it all!" He cried, dragging her the only mirror in the room. He seemed to stop to take in everything around him, and then he pulled her forward, ripping her arm out of her socket. In a swift moment he made her hand rip off his white mask. It fell to a silently watching ground.

A/n: Thank you so much everyone for your support!