I found him leaning against the wall of the fifth cellar. I was out of breath as I had ran all the way there. "I did not intend for you to run like that, drink some water." Erik came towards me and sighed. "I have nowhere to go. When I was out with Caesar people stared at me and pointed at my mask." I looked at him. "Well what exactly are you going to do?" Erik glanced around the cellar. "This is a pleasant, secluded area. I've explored the lower parts and there is a lake that terminates into a cavern. The cavern, with a few adjustments, will suffice." I giggled, and then burst outright laughing. "You mean to say you want to live in a cave? In the cellars of the Opera, like a Hermit?" Erik glared at me. "Hermit is such a dreadful description. I prefer ghost, or Phantom." I collected myself and smoothed my skirts. "Well Monsieur Phantom, how do you plan to eat? To get necessary items? To even survive?" He sauntered over to me, this ten year old boy, and I felt my knees buckle. He was indeed powerful, and as he grew older he would become dangerous.

"That is why I contacted you Ann. I could very well have snuck back in here quietly and never alerted anyone to my presence. However, I need you to deliver my items here, to act as messenger between the managers and myself, and to keep me company." The little boy looked down at the floor. "I've never had a friend before." He said. I smiled and placed my hand on his shoulder. That one act of affection soon became our friendship pact. We spent the next few days securing blankets and candles for Erik's "lair". The water between the banks of the lake and his lair was almost shoulder high, and so he created a raft to propel us across. We spent long hours talking, and he listened so intently. It was almost as if no one had ever taken the time to converse with him. He had appeared disappointed at my mention of Jason, but he also told me he wanted me to be happy. I had smiled and mussed the lapels of the evening coat he had stolen from the costume department. It was a grand time with this little boy.

I had developed a system with Ann. Whenever I had a note for one of the employees at the Opera I would send it down to her from the rafters. I explored the entire Opera vicinity, from beam to beam, and roof to foundations. She would eat lunch with me but her evenings were always full. I began to frequent the productions by sneaking into Box Five. I'd scared more than one patron out with my ventriloquism. It was an amazing experience, to watch the Opera's and haunt the employees. I spent my spare time fixing up the cavern, which Ann had nicknamed "The Lair". I had candles everywhere and swaths of fabric.

I almost threw my back out trying to carry a large swan bed down to my home. Ann had laughed but I warned her. No one laughed at me, or else. I would never hurt anyone intentionally, but there were times when I had to act in self-defense. I installed a large gate across the top of the cavern, and the only person who could control the switches was me. I never allowed Ann to use the key that turned the lever on, and there had been times when she stood outside my gate for hours. The one thing I wanted more than anything however, more than the books and the painting supplies, more than the couch and the table and the company of Antoinette Giry, was my music. I wanted to compose, to sing, and to enjoy the sensation of pounding my frustrations into the keys of an organ piano. Ann seriously told me there was no way we could get an item like that down to "The Lair". I told her defeat was not an option.

Erik had been living under the Opera for nearly two years now. I was sixteen and he was twelve. We thought it was all a fun game; he haunted the patrons and tricked the managers. However, things had become different. For one, Jason proposed. Erik had not taken it well. He had smashed a candelabra and looked menacingly at me. Then to my surprise he fell at my feet. "What about me Ann? Who's going to be my friend when you leave to live with him?" I had never expected him to become so dependent on me. Of course he had no other friends, and no one knew he was there. They knew of the Opera Ghost of course, but no one ever bothered to actually talk to him. If he had died and I told no one, his body would have decomposed there until the new Millennium. I had lain my hand on his shoulder and he stopped pacing.

He'd looked at me with such sorrow, such desolate anguish, that I reached out and tried to kiss his handsome right cheek. He yelled at me to get out, to leave the beast and run to my prince charming. I did, just for spite, and did not see him again for over two months.

I set to work on getting my organ piano. It cost nearly five thousand francs, and that's when I started asking the managers for money. I needed some clothes that fit, that were tailored to my tall frame, and a saddle for Caesar. I also required paper, pencils, and mirrors. I had an idea for the black room that was located under the front of the Opera Populair Foyer. Right under the large staircase would be a trapdoor, just for amusement really. If anyone fell in they would have a hell of a time getting back out. It took a few weeks and several dead rats in the manager's pants before I got my first check. Twenty thousand francs and I blew it all on music. My organ piano, a violin, sheets for writing melodies, pens and inks, and a carousal statue that revolved while it played "Sweet Harmony." It was a gift for Ann if she ever returned. However, Ann was not the least of my problems after I bought the organ. How in hell would I get that thing down to my lair? The seller had simply delivered it to the Rotunda side of the Opera House, as was his instructions.

There were four cellars and several miles of stairs before ending at the bank of the lake. I sighed as I ran out to buy eight small wheels and several nails. I spent the entire afternoon nailing and cursing until the organ was ready. I then stood up and began to push. I pushed and shoved as the organ slowly inched forward. It took me all evening and night until the thing was even inside the Opera House. I never took a break unless it was for water, and spent over a week pushing the damn organ down to the beginning of the first cellar. I sighed as I approached the situation. Nothing ever defeated me, and this was just a small challenge to achieve mastery over. I practically broke my back heaving the organ down the stairs. The wheels were getting loose and I had to stop at the end of the first cellar. After I tightened them I made it past the second cellar and a small scrape with Joseph Bouquet, a nasty stage-hand. I easily pushed him into a broom closet but not before he saw my face. I only wore my disguise when I was out or around Ann. Alone I could be who I was without fear.

I made it to the third cellar two days later and finally stopped to eat. I laughed at the whole situation. After resting for long enough I began to drag my organ piano down the last cellar. No one ever bothered with the fourth or fifth cellars, the props and scenes were all kept upstairs. These two areas were mainly for the lake and possible flood, and me. Suddenly I heard a gasp and dropped the end of the organ I had been pulling on. "Shit" I muttered as Ann came screaming at me. "What on earth are you doing! You're going to kill yourself! What if that thing topples over on the stairs and crushes you! What if the pipes fall off or you trip or…" I glared at her. I was now thirteen and beginning to develop quite an attitude. "Why does that bother you? You left me for nearly two months to fester alone. I've decided to start working. Really haunting the place, not just childish games anymore. I want to manage the performances, hack the actors that aren't worth pay and develop my own Opera."

I laughed in her face as she began to cry. "Erik, I'm so sorry. I never intended for you to stay here. You can always leave. I know I left you, but you must understand I have a husband now. I love him dearly and I love you too, but really I can't take care of you both!" She watched as I continued to heave and shove the organ onto the bank of the lake. "You're really serious." She whispered. I stretched out my back and began to rub my sore muscles.

I knew she was watching and I put on quite a show. My body was tight and attractive; it was only that one small area of my face that prevented me from any decent life. I had of course become interested in the female form, and wondered if any woman would ever choose to lay with me. Ann sobbed as I resumed working. I went around the other side of the organ and pushed it into the water.

Ann followed meekly as I shoved through the waist high canal. It was much easier to push in the water, and I bent down to the hidden keyhole to unlock the gate. Ann stepped past me and stopped, astounded.