(A/N: Okay, I love that the fact that in the last chapter Carlotta died, but I still have to say that that was probably my least favorite chapter so far that I wrote.

For those of you who didn't understand what killed her: Ah, you must not have read the book. Sorry! There is a Siren that lives in Erik's lake, and when anyone other than him tries to cross it, she drowns them.

To everyone: I'm sorry about not updating for two days, I couldn't find time! Sorry again!)

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Across the Lake

Christine followed Madame Giry through the dark passageways, and at last they reached the lake.

It was still and silent, but oddly…

Christine frowned. "What is the boat doing in the middle of the lake?"

Madame Giry didn't answer right away, staring at the boat. "I'm not sure… It might mean… But I can't be positive…"

Christine was about to ask what she meant, but abruptly Madame Giry turned and strode back off into the passageways.

Quickly she ran after her, but then tripped and fell in the darkness. "Madame Giry, wait! Where is Carlotta? I don't understand…"

xxxxx

Meg stood in Christine's dressing room, debating on going after her mother after all. After a moment, though, she brushed the idea aside. If she had, she would probably have gotten lost, and that wouldn't have helped at all.

Instead, she contented herself with the only thing she could help with at the moment—she began to pick up the shattered glass to the mirror.

When she had most of the bigger pieces collected, she found a broom and brushed the small ones away from the ruined mirror and into a pile in the corner.

She surveyed her work and nodded. It would have to do until she could find a dust bin.

Meg suddenly jumped as she heard voices in the hallway. They were close—why hadn't she heard them before?! They sounded angry, and Meg realized with panic that they were the voices of the managers.

She turned to face the shattered mirror. What to do?!

Her eyes found Christine's dresser, and she quickly ran over it and began to push it across the room to the empty frame.

She had just finished when the managers walked in.

"Meg Giry? What are you doing here? Where's Ms. Daae?" Firmin asked.

Andre just smiled and waved at her, and she forced a smile back. He was obviously still very drunk.

"She's out at the moment, but she'll be back soon, I think. Is there something you wanted to tell her?"

Firmin sighed. "She probably could guess, anyway, as the ghost seems to fancy her for some reason, but she has secured the largest role in his opera. We were just going to give her some of the music to practice…"

"I'll give it to her." Meg offered. Then, curiously, she added, "So you are going to perform it?"

Firmin gave her a sour look. "Do we have any choice? Here is Mademoiselle Daae's music."

Meg carefully took it from him, and then the managers left.

She breathed a sigh of relief and set the music on the bed.

Then her gaze turned back to the pile of glass in the corner. 'I'll have to find a dust bin before someone notices.' she thought, then turned to go look for one.

However, the doorway was blocked by a shadowy figure.

Meg gasped as she realized that it was the Phantom… or Erik, she supposed.

She was about to ask why he was here, but he spoke first. His voice sounded worried—almost frantic.

"Where is Christine?"

"S-she went to look for you." Meg stuttered.

Erik groaned and leaned against the doorway. "When?" he whispered.

"A little while ago… maybe ten or twenty minutes?" suddenly Meg was worried, too. "Why? What's wrong?"
Erik shook his head and wouldn't answer. Then he looked up and noticed that the dresser was pushed in front of the mirror. He frowned.

"Why is the mirror blocked?"

Meg flushed. "Oh… I… well…Carlotta, you see, she was going to…and she threw Christine's hairbrush at… So she could get through, you see… and she… Well, she broke it."

Erik waved that away, too upset to worry much about the broken mirror. He was too troubled about Christine to think of anything else.

"She… she wouldn't have tried to cross the lake, would she?"

"In what? The boat that the Persian took me back in?" she asked curiously. "Well, yes, I suppose. She was really upset and wanted to see you… so, probably…"

Erik closed his eyes, trying to compose himself. "Was she alone?"

"No…" the panic was beginning to well up inside of Meg, "M-my mother was with her."

Erik's head snapped up and he stared at her. After a tense moment, he said, "Follow me."

He walked out into the hallway, and after a moment Meg followed out of sheer curiosity.

She followed him around to the back entrance to his home—the one that went through the torture room—and then he led her out of the front door again.

"We couldn't take the shorter route, over the lake." He explained, "And that is why."

Erik pointed out to the middle of the lake, where the boat floated.

Meg gave him a puzzled look. "What happened?"

"I'm not worried about the boat. The Siren will bring it back. But…"

"The Siren? What happened?"

Erik sighed. "If anyone other than me tries to cross in that boat, the Siren in the lake drowns them." his voice broke about halfway through, and he turned away, trying to compose himself again.

"That is why I asked you where Christine was." he whispered. "I heard someone crying out, but by the time I got out here… It was too late."

Meg could only stare, stunned and dazed. Christine? And… her mother had been with Christine…

She fell to her knees and stared off into the darkness. "No… no… that can't be right! It can't be!"

xxxxx

Madame Giry turned around and calmly took Christine's shoulders. "I think that Carlotta is dead, child."

Christine's skin whitened several shades. "W-what do you mean… he didn't kill…" she trailed off, eyes wide with horror.

"No."

Christine sighed, relieved. "Then why do you think that?"

Madame Giry gestured to the boat. "I think she drowned. Quite frankly, I don't mind much. I want to make sure Meg didn't follow us, now, though. She could be lost in the passages…"

Then Madame Giry turned and started to walk off again.

Christine was about to follow, when she heard someone cry out from across the lake. It was too far for her to see who it was, but the cavern was huge, and the voice echoed. Christine knew at once who it was, and so did Madame Giry.

"Meg!" they both chorused.

"That foolish girl! How did she get over there?"

Christine stared across the lake. "The other door… She could have used the other door, because she wanted to see what was going on, I suppose. But why is she crying? What—"

She suddenly stopped and frowned. "We have to see what's going on."

(Okay... so it's short again. I'm sorry! I got caught up in other things I was doing... ((cough)) such as talking to people who read this fic and IMed me... ((cough))

Lol, But I love it when people IM me, so remember, my name is Zifnabiskewl!

...Hilary...

(PS--Erik is still in the stunned/shocked mode. He thinks Christine might have died, but he's not willing to believe it yet. Believe me, the reaction is more emotional later...)