A Phantom Awaits You by Flashbeagle

Chapter Ten: Kim and a Course of Action

Disclaimer: Kim, Lotte, Nate, and all the aspects of their world are my own original creation. Lawrence is the elaboration of a character on the ride. All the other characters are featured in the ride and therefore belong to Disney.

"We just wanted to know if you have any ideas, Miss Kim." Lawrence said. "None of us have any ideas."

"Well, have you guys even tried to think of anything? Trust me, you only want my ideas as a last resort." I said quickly.

"But your theory about Mr. Ravenswood was so thoughtful, Miss Kim!" Lawrence said.

Aww…for a second there I wanted to hug Lawrence, as I believe that's the first time anyone has said something that came out of my mouth was thoughtful.

"Yeah, but I was wrong, wasn't I?" Oh geez, I really don't want to have to think up a stupid plan, because I know it's gonna be wrong, and I know I'm just gonna have to think up a new one!

"That's not the point, Kim!" Lotte argued.

"Well, why can't you guys try to think of one?"

"I wouldn't know what to do." Nate shrugged.

"Well, neither do I!" I said. "I mean, okay, we wanted to find out who the Phantom is, and we did it. What exactly are we trying to do now?"

Nate, Lotte, and Lawrence were silent.

"Well, Miss Kim, we were going to try to see how the Phantom was controlling Melanie. Remember?" Lawrence said.

It was my turn to be silent. "Oh yeah. You know, with the whole ordeal out at Phantom Canyon I just totally forgot!" I laughed nervously. "Okay, um, so we're gonna try to find out how the Phantom's controlling Melanie. But how?"

"We could try to talk to her." Lotte reasoned.

"How? The last time we saw Melanie neither she nor the Phantom noticed us at all!" I countered.

"Maybe they just pretended not to notice us." Nate said.

"Why? Why would they do that?"

"Um, I don't know." Nate shrugged.

"I'll be the Phantom noticed us." Lotte said insightfully. "And he chose to ignore us because…well, we were annoying him."

I shook my head. "None of this makes sense."

Lawrence looked up. "Wait. You said Melanie noticed when Miss Lotte and Mr. Nate were kissing. She never notices anything!"

"Well, maybe that was just a one-time thing." I shrugged. "But I guess we could try. What could it hurt?" Although I said that, inside I was thinking, 'It may not hurt, but it'll never work.' I mean, come on! I've learned my lesson when it comes to ghosts. When you want them to do something, they don't. When you want them to listen to you, they don't.

But I didn't want to seem like I was being overly negative, so I kept my mouth shut.

"We should split up." Lotte stated.

"Nah, I think we should stick together!" Nate countered.

"If we split up, we'll be able to cover more ground." Lotte reasoned.

"Yeah, but if we stick together we'll be safer." Nate said. "You know, in case the Phantom tries to like, do something to us."

"Like what?"

"I don't know. Kill us, or something?"

"Why would he kill us? We'd just end up sticking around here for all eternity." Lotte said.

"And if he did that," Lawrence started. "He'd probably be able to control you, just like he did Melanie. He may not try that, but it's a risk we do not want to take. I agree with you, Mr. Nate. We should stick together. What do you think, Miss Kim?"

Ugh. I hadn't thought of the Phantom trying to kill and control us yet. Great. Another thing to worry about.

"Yeah, we should stick together." I nodded. "But, um, where are we going to find her? We've seen her in different places every time."

Lawrence shook his head. "I've seen her most often in the hallway upstairs."

"Was she holding a candelabra?" I asked.

"Yes, ma'am. Every single time." Lawrence affirmed.

"Well, let's go!" Nate said enthusiastically. "We gotta try!"

The four of us began to head up the stairs when Lotte suddenly got an inquisitive look on her face.

"Larry?" She asked suddenly.

"Yes, Miss Lotte?"

"Larry, have you ever encountered the ghost of Roberta Hawthorne?"

"No, Miss Lotte. Well, I've seen her. Her spirit dwells in the ballroom. She's still dancing with her favorite suitor, Mr. Reginald Paulsen." Lawrence explained. "Why?"

"Just curious. I mean, she was the Phantom's sister when they were alive. Maybe she'd know more about why the Phantom did what he did…after he died."

"Maybe so. We could try to talk to her, too." Nate said.

"What we need to find is someone who witnessed when the Phantom took control of Melanie's mind." I said insightfully. "But I'm guessing that all the ghosts that were around then are under his control now too."

"Except me." Lawrence reminded.

"Hey, yeah, how did you avoid getting put under the Phantom's control?" Nate asked.

"For the longest time, I didn't leave the portrait hall where he killed me." Lawrence explained. "When I finally wandered out, the ghosts were pretty much the way they are now."

"So you don't know of anyone who might know stuff?" I asked.

"No, Miss Kim. If I did, I would have asked them already myself." Lawrence said.

"Let's try to find and talk to Melanie first. If that fails, then we can try to find someone who would know what the Phantom did to all the ghosts." Lotte strategized.

"Good plan." Nate said.

We headed all the way down the hallway, and stood around waiting.

"Nothing's happening." Nate said after a long while.

"Brilliant observation, Sherlock." Lotte said dryly.

Nate shot Lotte an annoyed look. "I was just saying…"

"I know what you were saying, Nate." Lotte cut him off.

"So why do you have to be so mean about it?" Nate whined.

"Ugh, I wasn't-"

"Were too!"

"You didn't even let me finish my sentence!" Lotte shouted.

"Whoa, whoa, hey!" I broke in. "Nate! Lotte! Cool it!"

"Sorry, K.F." Nate said, shaking his head.

"Yeah, I'm sorry, Kim. I'm sorry, Larry." Lotte said apologetically.

"Aw, you two don't need to apologize. You didn't do anything wrong." Lawrence said with a friendly smile on his face. Suddenly he got a far-off look on her face. "Wait." He said very softly. "I hear her."

"Melanie?" Nate asked.

"Who else would it be?" Lotte responded.

Nate opened his mouth to say something, but I shot him a 'DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT' look and he remained silent.

I stopped to listen, and then I heard Melanie's singing.

"She has such a beautiful voice." Lotte commented.

"The most beautiful voice in the world." Lawrence said dreamily.

We heard her singing for a long time, before she appeared directly in front of us, though her back was turned to us. She gripped the candelabra in her hand.

"Well, here goes nothing." I said, stepping in front of everyone else.

"Wait!" Lotte whispered.

"Just let me try, okay?" I whispered back. I didn't really know what I was doing, but I figured that what to do would come to me as I went along.

I leaned forward and tapped her shoulder. "Um, excuse me, Melanie." I said.

Melanie didn't even seem to notice me at all.

I walked directly in front of her, cleared my throat.

"Melanie, we need to talk to you."

Thanks to all my readers and reviewers! I appreciate you guys so much!

I'm currently remodeling the story's end, and I'm busy, so Chapter 11 will come along in about two weeks. Sorry to keep you guys waiting!