wuh hoo! another chapter already? i must be insane!
Margaret Giry was a kind, but stern woman, named (as you may have guessed) after her great-grandmother, who usually went by the nickname Meg. Although she was named after her, Margaret was the spitting image of Meg's mother.

Like Maurice Andre, Margaret knew all about the Phantom of the Opera. Unlike Maurice, she knew how things had really been. She knew that the frightening apparition was only a man. He had been mortal like everyone else. Therefore, Margaret had been quite shocked to hear that Coralie had seen him. Of course, Maurice told her of all the notes he had received over the years and of the boy's voice he heard claiming to be the Phantom, but she had written them off as pranks. After all, if the Phantom were still alive, he'd have to be around 170 years old!

"Pas possible!" Margaret whispered to herself as she watched Coralie walk to her room.

"Hm?" Maurice looked at her quizzically, "What's impossible?"

"She says she's seen the Phantom," Margaret said, "But that's impossible. There is no Phantom."

"I'm telling you, Madame Giry, that young boy that I heard six years ago is the Phantom! A young phantom, no doubt, but still…"

"A prank," Margaret said. She refused to believe that the Phantom had returned.

Coralie sat on her bed for a moment, staring at the wall. She heard a soft rustling behind her and spun around.

"No one there," she breathed, "Unless…"

She listened intently in the silence.

"Phantom?" she called out, tentatively.

"Coralie," the voice replied. Coralie stood and tried to follow it.

Where is he…?

She backed into the mirror and turned to see a masked face in the glass. Jumping back, Coralie covered her mouth to stifle a small scream. To her further surprise, the mirror began sliding open, and the Phantom's gloved hand reached out.

"Come with me," he said. His voice was so soft and uncertain, that it sounded like more of a suggestion than a command. Coralie hesitated for a moment before taking his hand.

He sounds so sweet, she thought, He can't be all bad…

"What's your name?" Coralie asked as they walked along the dark passageway. At first, she thought he wouldn't reply.

"Christoph," he replied quietly and quickened his pace, Coralie trotting to keep up.

"Christoph, where are you taking me?"

This time he didn't respond.

They came to a glassy river, illuminated by candelabras on the wall. Christoph helped Coralie into the gondola on the water and they floated down the eerie canal.


"Coralie?" Margaret knocked on her door, "Coralie, it's time for rehearsal."

After a moment of silent, Margaret let herself in. Upon seeing the open mirror, she gasped.

"Oh no! It can't be," she whispered. Because of her stubbornness, one of her students had been abducted by the Phantom! "I have to get her back!"

Running from the room, Margaret went to alert Maurice.

"Why have you brought me here?" Coralie asked Christoph as she looked around the cavern.

"I have a favor to ask of you," Christoph said in his soft voice, "I'm ashamed to say that, most of the time, I am forced to steal to survive. If, every now and then, you could bring me supplies and food, I would be eternally grateful."

"But, why me?" Coralie asked, perplexed. Christoph smiled at her, surprising her somewhat.

"You seemed to be the most understanding in this opera house. Imagine me asking someone like that Suzette girl who's so cruel to you!"

Coralie laughed, "That's true, I guess. But, how did you know that she was mean to me?"

"So many questions!"

"Well, wouldn't you have questions if you were in my place?"

"I suppose," Christoph said thoughtfully.

"Here's another one," Coralie said, smiling, "How long have you lived here?"

"All my life. I've never been outside the Opera House."

He sighed wistfully and sat down at his piano, idly playing a few notes.

"You must get restless," Coralie said, and sat down next to him. She already liked this Phantom quite a bit. He was not at all like she had imagined a phantom would be.

"That's why I first began wandering around the Opera House itself," Christoph said, "At first, I just knew a route to the kitchen to get food, but eventually, I found others. Could you believe that there's a secret passage to every room in this building?"

"Every room?" Coralie asked incredulously. Christoph nodded.

"And I've found all of them," he said, and smiled proudly.


"Dear Monsieur Andre," Maurice read, "Do not fear for Mademoiselle Coralie. I will take good care of her and ensure that she will be on time for the opera tonight, as will I. I look forward to seeing it. Sincerely, O.G."

"This is all my fault," Margaret said sadly, "If she had not gone back into her room, he wouldn't have taken her!"

"Now, Madame," Maurice said, patting her shoulder, "The Phantom said that he would take care of her. She'll be back soon."

"Phantom," Margaret whispered, "I beg of you, keep your promise. Bring her back."