Stories about the Phantom of the Opera still circulated throughout the Opera House, though it had been a few years since he or any sign of him had last been seen. Old stagehands and others who worked there told the tales, some true, some not.

This particular evening, the evening Faust would be performed, one such other happened to be telling one such story to a group of the young dancers, and several younger who were children of other employees.

"The phantom wears all black, and a white mask. He has black hair and a black cloak slung over one shoulder, and there is no noise when he walks. He can appear and disappear just as quickly as you could turn your head. And people who've seen his face say-"

"I've seen a man like that."

A little girl, whom it had seemed was too busy playing with her doll to pay attention to the story, had spoken, though she was still holding it's hands and making it dance to an opera melody she was humming.

The old man raised an eyebrow. "Oh really?" There was no doubt in his mind that she had simply seen a man dressed in black, as many men did, with black hair, who was there to see the opera playing today, but he was curious as to what she had to say.

The little girl nodded, twirling the doll, and answered. "Yes. I saw him walking through the crowd earlier. But I didn't see him very long. I just remember that his cape was big and scary. He had a lady with him. She was wearing a black dress, and she had a black cape, too."

The old man shook his head. That was obviously not the Phantom. The Phantom didn't wander around with women. The girl was clearly making it up to get attention. He went back to his story, and she didn't speak again throughout the whole thing.

•

Desiree and Erik made their way through the crowd, on their way to Box Five. Desiree kept looking over her shoulder. Most of the people ignored the two figures, one male, and one female, dressed in black with flowing cloaks and white masks. She raised her to touch hers again. The mask covered her eyes. It was terribly and surprisingly comfortable. Erik had given it to her before they went, claiming that it would hide her identity from any authority who had seen her duck into the Opera House and were searching for her. It was so perfectly shaped to fit the sides of her face next to her eyes, the bride of her nose, and her eyebrows, and so flexible that it moved with her eyebrows and didn't smother her expressions at all. He hadn't had a reason for having her wear the cape, but it too was comfortable, and she didn't have a reason not to wear it, and so she had.

Now they entered Box Five, and Erik shut the door behind them. "If you don't mind," he said, "I think we should only stay here for part of Faust. I have something I want to do just after intermission. But don't worry, we won't miss any of it."

She blinked. "What are you going to do?"

"Don't worry! Just do what I tell you to do, and all will go well. It will only take a moment, anyway."

She looked at him suspiciously before cautiously sitting in a seat next to him. "Alright…"

The opera started, and she forgot about Erik's plan for after intermission. She was amazed at the incredible vocal abilities of the singers. Her feelings must have shown, even with her face masked, because she heard Erik whisper in her ear, "You could be that good if you were to let me teach you."

She turned to look at him. "I don't think so."

He smiled. "Oh, I know so. Stop talking, pay attention to what's going on."

She was about to point out that he was the first one to speak, but he put one finger in front of her mouth and pointed back to the stage. She returned her focus to the opera, and, for the time being, forgot that statement as well.

Finally, intermission came, and Erik stood up and stretched. "Let's go, we want to come in on cue."

A questioning look came over her face as she stood up. "I thought you had something to do…"

"I do. And I need your help with it. Now come on, we don't have as long as I'd like."

He gripped her hand and pulled her out of the box and through the crowds. He could've gotten backstage in a matter of minutes, but he was the trapdoor lover, and she wasn't. They finally got backstage, and they hid behind a curtain. Singers, dancers, and extras were everywhere, and they couldn't be seen.

•

The opera started again, and Desiree watched it from her spot behind a curtain. "I thought you said we wouldn't miss-"

He covered her mouth gently with his hand. "You're not missing it. Now, you and are going to climb up that ladder-" he pointed to a ladder on the other side of backstage area- "Across the catwalk-" he pointed upwards along the catwalk where lights were controlled- "Don't worry, at the point that we're up there, the hands controlling lighting won't be there. Then, you and I are going to jump down onto the stage, behind the singing and dancing that's going on. I'll carry you and set you down once I've landed."

She stared at him. He was insane. She pulled her head back away from his hand. "What? That's insane! There's not even a point! Why on earth would we-"

He covered her mouth again and sighed. "Trust me. And be quiet." He led her over the ladder, which several people had just come down, and let her go up first. "And don't panic when the lights go out, no matter what, alright?" She looked down at him as if he were insane once again and nodded, then waited for him at the top of the catwalk.

They walked out along the catwalk until they were above the middle of the stage. He looked at her. "And don't look so confused. Look calm. Like you know what's going on. Relax your eyelids, raise your eyebrows a little, and smile with one corner of your mouth. Lift your chin just a little. Okay, good. Do that when we're down there."

"Erik, what's the point of-"

He picked her up, one arm around her back and gripping one of her shoulders, and the other around her legs, wrapping around the insides of her knees, and leapt off the catwalk. He landed in a crouching position with no sound whatsoever, set her down, and stood up quickly. He looked around in a superior, almost threatening manner, and she looked out at the audience with a similar expression.

Chaos ensued.

•

The little girl jumped up and down and pointed at the stage. "There! There! You see them! You see the man and the lady! That is who I saw! I told you! I told you I saw them and there they are!"

The old man stared at the stage, then walked away, rather like a cat whose ear had just been blown in.

•

Singers jumped away from the two and the audience erupted into the shouts and gasps and whispers and exclamations. Erik took two steps toward the front of the stage and the lights went out. Desiree dropped her serenely superior face and froze, looking franticly for Erik. She backed against the scenery to avoid be trampled. Suddenly, she saw two bright red lights in front of her face, like burning coals, and before she could scream, a hand covered her mouth again, and Erik's sweet, smooth, addictive tenor voice whispered hastily.

"It's me, don't worry, everything's under control. Just stay with me. I'm going to keep my hand over your mouth to stop you from asking questions for now. Just wait till we get back to the box."

She made a shocked, squeaking sound and stared at the coals, and followed him as best she could without stumbling. She heard shouts of, "Get those lights back on!" and "Everyone stop running!" and then Erik cursing under his breath.

"Try to walk faster if you can. We can't be seen."

She did her best to speed up. After an eternity of confusion, they reached the box, and he released her after shutting the door.

"What was the point of that?"

He smiled and pointed at the stage, where they'd finally gotten lights back on. One of the directors walked out onto the stage and spoke.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I believe we have just witnessed the return of the Phantom of the Opera- and the Phantomess."