(( AN: Yeah, I know it's confusing. I'm trying hard not to confuse myself lol :P No, it wasn't Chrstine's shadow. It was someone else, but I can't say who. Anyways, enjoy chapter 5 :) ))

CHAPTER 5: Hidden behind Christine's mirror

Doctor Limaur knocked on the door once more. It was probably the fitfth or sixth time he had knocked. No one answered. He could hear voices in the house, but still no one answered. Already, loosing his patience , he banged on the door.

''Yes, yes, I'm coming! I heard you the first time!'' the door was suddenly opened by the young Meg Giry. She froze suprised when she saw doctor Limaur standing infront of her.

''Oh...Good day, doctor..?''

''Limaur, doctor Limaur mademaoiselle Giry.''

''Alright...I something wrong with Christine?'' that was a stupid question to ask since she had seen in what state her friend was.

''Well, last night she somehow freed herself of the straps that held her to her bed and had gone to my office. She said she had seen her fiancee..Alive.'' Meg put her hand on her mouth, her eyes filled with sadness.

''Oh God...Poor Christine.''

''Meg, who is it?'' a voice was heard from inside the house. Meg turned around and said:

''A friend, momma. I'll be quick.'' She closed the door and looked at doctor Limaur.

''She told you this?''

''Yes...And when she led me to the balcony where she claimed she had seen him, she was in distress when she saw no one was there.''

''Christine...'' Meg whispered sadly.

''But I didn't come here just to tell you about this. I need to ask for your help.''

''Help?'' Meg asked confused.

''I promised miss Daae that I would go to the Opera Populaire and see for myself that there exists an underground.''

''You promised her what!''

''She asked me and I wanted to calm her down somehow..!''

''You stupid man, getting her hopes up like that. It's madness!'' she quickly muttered, trying to get herself out of the conversation. Limaur wasn't a fool and he noticed this.

''You're hiding something, aren't you mademaoiselle Giry?...Listen, if you can help your friend somehow, then do so!'' Meg looked back to her door and then back at Limaur.

''What did she say?''

''She said that I ask you to lead me to her dressing room in the Opera Populaire. She says there is a secret entrance to the underground behind her mirror.'' Meg looked thoughtful suddenly. She rememebered what happened after the Hannibal premiere...

Meg quickly rushed to her best friend's dressing room. She stopped right infront of it, seeing the door slightly open. She heard Christine talking in hushed whispers. As she looked trough the the half open door, she saw Christine against her mirror, touching it lovingly.

''You enjoyed the performance?''

You were beautiful, my angel. Meg shaked her head, convicing herself that she couldn't have heard a voice. Especially one coming from behind Christine's mirror! She quickly entered. Hearing the door open, Christine quickly backed away from the mirror and put on a smile:

''Meg...!''

''Mademoiselle Giry! Mademoiselle Giry!'' Limaur spoke seeing how she was cought in some far away thoughts.

''Oh, sorry! Yes, I know where her dressing room is, but the Opera Populaire has been closed since the incident...'' she stopped, knowing Limaur would know she would have finished the sentance.

''Shall we then, mademoiselle?'' Meg looked to the door and whispered:

''My mother is going to be very angry when I get back.'' With that, she quickly took Limaur's hand and started to walk in the direction of the Opera Populaire.

''Technicly, the Opera is closed, shut down. We actually can't enter without permission.'' Spoke Meg as she and Limaur stood infront of the abbandonend Opera Populaire.

''It seems so.'' Meg looked at hims uprised which suprised Limaur even more.

''Why are you looking at me like that?''

''Just because it's abbandoned, doesn't mean we can't go in!'' Meg picked up her skirts, watching that the tips didn't touch the ground. She hurried to the entrance which was only guarded by two wooden boards.

''Mademaoiselle Giry!'' limaur shouted, hurrying after her.

''What are you doing mademoiselle!''

''I'm getting in.''

''But..!''

''You have a promise to keep to my friend and I'm making sure you do!'' the young ballerina spoke firmly and started to pull on one of the boards that were on the door. Seeing how she couldn't do it herself, she stopped and looked at Limaur frowning.

''Well, are you going help me or no!''

''That's called a break in, madomoiselle Giry!''

''Oh...Shut it!''

''What!''

''You heard me! Come here and help me!'' Limaur shook his head and approached Meg. He pulled on one of the boards and soon it fell down. They did the same with other one.

''Alright. Shall we?''Meg grinned and opened the door. Limaur was quite suprised by the young ballerina, but he said nothing outloud.Meg looked around, rememebering of how she once partook in the splendour that was the Opera Populaire. She sighed and turned to Limaur.

''Come, I will show you the way to dressing room.'' Limaur nodded and followed Meg...

Meg touched the door knob, almost fearfully, hearing the voice behind the mirror again.

You were beautiful my angel...

Christine...

Meg closed her eyes, her mind open to the voice that echoed within it. It kept repeating Christine's name.

Little Meg...

Meg suddenly opened her eyes, sure that she had not heard that in her head, but beside her. She looked to Limaur who was standing behind her.

''Are you alright?'' he spoke. Meg nodded.

''Yes, I'm fine.'' She opened the door and walked in to what was left of Christine's dressing room. She saw the mirror and felt that voice again. That eerie, but beautiful, melodic voice. The voice of her angel, the Phantom...Of Erik. Meg approached it and touched it's surface, feeling the cold glass beneath her fingertips. She wiped away the dust that was on the surface and saw her own reflection.

''She said the secret passage was behind the mirror in her dressing room.'' Limaur said. Meg looked at him across her shoulder and then looked back at the mirror.

''There must be a switch of some sorts...'' she thought outloud and looked closer at the mirror. As she went with her fingers down the edge of the mirror, she saw there was a small crack, still big enough for her hand, close to the left edge of the mirror.

''I think I found something...'' she said and Limaur came closer to her. Meg pulled her hand trough the crack and felt something beneath her fingertips. She pulled at it and suddenly the glass of the mirror flew up. Meg and Limaur jumped back in suprise.

''A secret passage...'' Meg whispered and quickly hurried trough the opening.

''Wait! Mademaoiselle Giry!'' Limaur hurried after her, well, as much as he could. The path was hidden completely in darkness and the only thing that Meg and Limaur were sure of that they were on stone steps that led further and further into the dark...

''Ow! Watch it, you stepped on my foot!''

''Sorry, but if you haven't noticed mademaoiselle, it's not possible to see anything in this darkness!''

''Stop shouting! AAA!''

''Mademoiselle Giry!'' Limaur hurried down the steps and stopped right where Meg was sitting down on the ground. He knelt down next to her and said:

''Are you alright, Meg?'' Meg grinned, even though Limaur wasn't able to see it in the dark.

''You called me Meg, doctor Limaur...'' Limaur blushed, but said nothing.

''Are you alright?''

''Yes, I just tripped on the last step.''

''Come on, I'll help you out.'' Limaur stood up and took meg's hand, helping her stand up aswell. Meg now looked to the only light that appeared in the darkness. The light was that of candles on a small boat on the shore of a vast lake.

''Doctor Limaur, look!''

''...My, god...'' he whispered in amdiration. Meg quickly ran over to the boat while Limaur slowly followed and looked around.

''I knew that Paris had it's underground, but beneath an Opera house..! Mademaoiselle Daae was right...''

''About the passage. Now we need to find Eric.'' Meg interupted and got in the boat.

''Where are you going?'' Limaur asked confused.

''I don't see any other way of getting to the otehr side, mesiour Limaur. So, please...'' Limaur sighed and quickly entered the boat and took the paddle in his hands.

He felt the wound still sting. It was hard enough to heal himself, with no help at all, but it was also hard to think about what had happened to Christine. If he could have gone and searched for her, he would. But he hardly had got himself back to his lair. His pride made him try to get to the boat a couple of times, but everytime his strength lost it's grip on him and he had to return to his lair. He called out her name, but he knew that she would have never hear it. He knew it, but still, with tears coming down his face (which he said was cursed) and his wound hurting more and more, he could feel his sanity slowly fade away once more. Suddenly he heard footsteps close to his lair, voices. A man and a woman. His eyes suddenly went open, that golden color coming to them again. He rose from his chair and picked up the lasso that was placed by his side. 'Leave me be...' he thought to himself as the light fell across the white mask on the floor.