((AN:fairygalcaz :'' oops, sorry about that. I know that Erik is written with a 'k', but I just kept on writing the old style Eric with a 'c', but I'm glad you still like the story:)

Fallingdownonbrokendreams – wow! I'm really glad, you like it! This is really flattering…:''

ChristineAngelOfMusic – thanks! Wow, you don't know how much this means to me guys:) thanks for reading my story and liking it so much! Lol :) ))

CHAPTER THREE:

Doctor Limaur, the doctor treating Christine, looked once more trough her file and took a deep breath. He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. What had happened to this young woman who had such a rewarding career ahead of her? What was this Phantom she spoke of? The truth is, after three murders, the Opera Populaire was shut down, every single employee sent away. Miseour Limaur would have gladly talk to any of them to understand Christine's case better, but most of them were hiding, not living in paris anymore or just to upset with all that had happened at the Opera Populaire, that they didn't want to mention it anymore. Even though Christine was convicted for Raoul's murder, she was also suspected for the murder of Joseph Bouqet and Signore Piangi, but nothing ofcourse could have been proven. Doctor Limaur got up from his work desk and walked over to the window. He could see it was going to rain again. How bleak the sky looked, so dark. He knew how much it made the patients nervous whenever a storm appeared. He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment, but was disturbed by knocking on the door.

''Yes...?'' a young woman dressed in nurse's clothing stepped in rather shyly. Doctor Limaur turned to her and smiled which he rarely did.

''Jeanne...'' the nurse smiled slightly.

''There is someone here to see you doctor Limaur.''

''Yes? Who?''

''She says her name is Meg Giry. She says she wants to see miss Christine Daae.'' Doctor Limaur nodded.

''Let her in.'' Jeanne nodded and quickly left the room. After a few moments, Meg Giry, the young student of ballet and the daughter of Madame Giry entered dressed in a light blue dress which went with her slim body and blond hair which was tied in a bun.

''Mademaoiselle Giry?''

''Yes.''

''Take a sit, please.'' Meg sat on a chair against the work desk, opposite doctor Limaur. He sat in his own chair and looked towards the young Meg Giry.

''I understand you want to see miss Christine Daae.''

''Yes. She is my friend after all and I wasn't able to see her all the while while the poor thing was unconciouss and lying in this dreadful place.''

''Mademoiselle Meg, you do understand that your friend murdered her fiancee with no logical motive. And she keeps speaking of a Phantom and a man named Erik. When she woke up, she was convinced that her fiancee was alive!''

''...Doctor Limaur, I have a right to see her. She is my friend and you will surely show some descensy and let me see her, to comfort her. Surely is in a horrible state.''

''Yes, she is...Alright, mademoiselle Meg, but if you get her atleast a bit upset, I will have to ask you to leave.'' Meg frowned as if that were an insult, but simply muttered:

''Fine.'' She got up and left the room.

Christine was on the balcony in the weelchair they had set her in. They told her she had a visitor, but they didn't tell her who it was. When she heard the familiar young female voice call out her name, a wide smile came across her face and her eyes brightened.

''Meg? Meg!'' Meg quickly ran over to her and hugged her friend tightly.

''Christine...My dear friend.'' She looked at he friend sadly, trying to hold back tears of seeing what they had done to her.

''What has happened to you?''

''Meg...Meg, you must believe me! I don't belong here! I didn't kill Raoul!''

''Ofcourse I believe you didn't kill him Christine...But...they way they found you with him...''

''Meg, please, you have to believe me...! Erik killed him.''

''Erik...'' Meg said and looked away for a moment.

''Yes, Erik, rememeber. The Phantom of the Opera, the one who caused so much trouble!''

''Yes, I know who you're speaking of...'' she spoke quietly and looked up at her friend.

''What's wrong? Please, Meg, tell me! I woke up yesterday in this horrid place and I had no idea where I was! I need someone to tell me what had happened!'' Meg sighed.

''Alright...Where should I start from?''

''...Where do you think you should...?'' Christine asked confused.

''The day of the Hannibal rehersal, when you told us of the Phantom...''

Christine looked to her listenres, all of the balerinas, dressed in their costumes of the slave girls.

''The Phantom is a genius who lurks around the Opera house, frighting the chorus, scaring the actors and making in each light dissapear so his steps could be traced only in shadow...'' with that she swiftly turned to one of the girls and screamed. The girl was frightened by the sudden gesture, but they all laughed at it after she took a deep breath. Madame Giry suddenly approached and the ballet girls took their places. Christine didn't notice her, her back being turned to her. Madame Giry turned her swiftly to afce her and said:

''Miss Daae! It is time for rehersals and not sotries. And you should not speak so about the Phantom!''

''But Madame Giry, it is only a story and the girls wanted...'' Christine didn't finish her sentance:

''No excuses! You must practise aswell. And no more talk of the Phantom. Keep quiet about that young girl, I have already told you so!'' with that she left and Christine simply turned around and looked to the woman unemotionally as she walked away. Suddenly, the theatre was filled with Carlotta's irritating, high pitch voice. Christine walked over to Meg and sighed:

''Did mother give you too much trouble?''

''No, don't worry. '' another high pitched tone of the song filled the theatre. Meg made a painful expression on her face and Christine rolled her eyes.

''Sometimes I wish the Phantom of the Opera really does exist. He would stop this woman from her awful singing.'' Christine whispered to Meg. Meg knew it wasn't like Christine to talk bad about people, but everyone thought the same about Carlotta so it was nothing suprising.

''So you don't believe he exists?''

''Well, the descripiton Joseph Bouqet gives are horrid. He isn't like that...He's...He is actually quite mesmerizing.''

''You mean...You really saw him!'' Christine smiled and laughed sweetly.

''No...I mean, I thought I did once, but that couldn't have been the Phantom, it was my angel.'' Meg laughed.

''And this angel...Does it have a name?''

''Erik...'' another high pitched tone echoed trough the theatre and Meg and Chrstine weren't the only ones rolling their eyes now.

''If she could just stop for one moment!'' Meg muttered.

''If she would just stop period.'' Muttered Christine annoyed. After a few moments, as Carlotta started destroying the ''Think of me'' aria, a scream filled the theatre as something fell down. Meg and Christine quickly ran up to the stage and saw the people gather around Carlotta. She was almost hit, but still her whining and crying had been over exhasurated.

''Christine...'' Meg muttered and looked to her rather scared. Christine said nothing.

''I didn't mean it Meg...I just said it in conversation. It's not my fault...I...'' she looked up and suddenly saw a figure in the shadows. She gasped and placed her hand over her mouth to hide it, but one of the ballet dancers noticed this and yelled out:

''The Phantom! The Phantom of the opera is here! The one Bouqet and Christine spoke of!'' everyone turned to Christine who still held her hand on her mouth. She removed it slowly, only now realizing everyone was starring at her. Meg quickly took her by the hand and hurried ot her dressing room to get her away from the curious glances.

''You mean...? I wasn't the only one spreading rumour about the Phantom!''

''Well, you told me once that you saw something strange pass by your open door in your dressing room. You joked that maybe it was a phantom. Bouqet heard of it and spoke his version of the death head and the skelet and you...Well, you got rather angry and spoke that the Phantom was spohisticated and wore evening clothes. And ballet girls actually liked your version better.'' She smiled strangely a bit, but the smile soon dissapeared.

''I started it!''

''In a way. I told it and...''

''Yes, I understand...'' she looked for a moment, cought in a thought. Did she truly invent the Phantom herself? Meg raised up her chin and smiled softly:

''Smile, Christine. This sad face doesn't suit you.'' Christine managed to smile for a moment as she wiped away a tear.

''Meg..please tell me...Was he real?''

''I...I must go Christine...'' Christine grabbed her wrist.

''Meg...please!'' Meg starred at her for a moment,s ilent. Chrstine looked at her eyes, somehow knowing what she was thinking about.

''No, I didn't kill him! Erik did! Erik did!''

''Erik wasn't there! No one found him! To the police, he didn't exist and later to no one of the theatre. As far as he's conserned...Erik wasn't real...And you killed Raoul.''

Three shots.

Erik.

Not real.

Raoul dead.

''No! I didn't kill him, I didn't! You saw him! You saw Erik! He was real! He wasn't just a figment of my imagination!'' Meg started to cry as she backed away from her friend. She hated to do this to her, but convincing her that Erik wasn't real was the best thing to do...It was surely him who made her do such a dreadful thing, to murder Raoul and then he fled like a coward. Yes, it was the best, to let Christine think of him as a figment of the imagination.

''Chrstine, do not do this to yourself...! I am sorry, ym friend, I must go!'' she pulled away her hand and ran off, tears streaming down her face.

''Meg..! Meg..!'' Christine fell down to the floor on her knees and placed her hand on her face. She cried and cried, feeling the parisian air tug at her short brown hair.

Christine...My angel...Open your eyes...

Meg looked terrified at the Phantom who was holding Chrstine close as they sang together. Christine seemed not in a trance, but she seemed to smile in a few moments as the man traced his hands around her waist. Meg kept starring, as did the others (especially Raoul) what would happen next. Then, the Phantom suddenly sang to her:

''Say you'll share with me one love, one life time,

Please save me from my soltiude...'' Meg saw the look in Christine's eyes as the Phantom placed the ring on her finger. She saw her eyes filled with tears, her lips trying to put on a smile, but it disspaeraed each time. Then she saw Raoul, sneaking up to get behind him.

''Chirstine!'' Meg shouted, but she couldn't hear her. The Phantom didn't notice Raoul aswell and continued to sing:

''Any where you go let me go too!

Christine, that's all I ask of..!'' Christine shouted Erik's name, but it was too late. Raoul tore off the mask and the audience screamed. Erik, enraged, pushed away Raoul and cut the rope that held the chandelier. He grabbed Christine by her wrist and quickly dragged her away.

Christine suddenly woke up in her bed and looked towards the balcony door which was open. She looked to the straps that held her down to the bed. They were no longer there. She looked confused, but she quickly got out of the bed and stood outside on the wide balcony.

''Who is there...?''