A/N: Thanks for the reviews! Here's another chapter. Phantoms Chick, you get what you wanted! I own no phantom stuff

Chapter 5: Who Is This?

Slam

My blood turned to ice, my head gave a painful throb, and the hair on my arm goose bumped. The " door" behind me had melted into a large, grey, stone wall. A chilling breeze swept down the dark corridor in front of me. I had no choice, I started slowly down it.

As I wiped a cobweb, I was sure I felt the same feeling of paranoia that I had been feeling since the night after the show. I froze. A dark shadow was 10 feet ahead of me, moving towards me. It came closer...closer.

" Who... who..who are you!" I screamed, falling to my knees. I was dreading the worst, waiting for the blow or the slip of the magical lasso around my neck. But nothing happened, but it was still there.

" Who are you." A deep voice came from above me. I stopped shivering and looked up. A man was standing over me. A tall, dark man... with a white half mask. I froze again. I could feel my heart beating into my chest. But he wasn't trying to kill me.

" Who are you?" He repeated. I took a deep breath.

" I'm... my name is Ariana Masser.. Please don't hurt me!" My voice squeaked. I saw his face frown. He flipped his hair back over his head and put a black leather gloved finger on my chin, lifting it. His eyes were sad.

" Why would I hurt you?" He asked. I was a bit more comfortable, so I responded quicker.

" You... you tried to... you kill, you...you." He frowned.

" I did not kill or want to kill Christine or the Vicount, I ... loved her." I scampered back a bit.

" You loved her! You loved her! Why did you kidnap her and kill Joseph Buckey (A/N: I know, I misspelled it, I'm sorry)?" To my uprise, he gave a small smile. He looked much less intimidating then.

" Love is blinding, and that was my downfall." I pondered this for a moment. He put out his hand ( I was still on the ground).

" Why did you write that first note, about me singing?" I asked him. He smiled.

" You sing like an angel, it is beautiful." He said. I frowned.

" Where have you heard ME sing?" I asked. He smiled again.

" People call me the stalking type, I just like certain people. I've heard you sing in halls, in your room... everywhere Have you ever sang for Jerie?" He asked. I shook my head.

" Then you should!" I shook my head.

" Why don't YOU sing for her, People say I'm not the stalking type, but I've heard you. It's nice." He shook his head.

" Sarcastic, are we?" He smiled. I smiled right back.

" No, you think?" He shook his head again.

" Come, I must take you back, I've finished my note. Give this to Jerie." He handed me a note, a note with the same skull seal.

" Why do you hide like this?" I asked him, taking his hand. He pulled me up with a strong grip.

" They all hate me, Ariana." I gave my first smile.

" You should just give them a chance." He gave a chuckle. The kind of chuckle you make when its not funny. He touched his mask.

" If you only knew, if only." He beckoned.

" Come here, I will take you through another passage." I followed slowly behind. The labyrinth under the house was so incredible. Each turn we made brought another gasp from my mouth. After 10 minuted, we stopped in front of a wall. He ran his hand over the wall and stopped.

" Aah." He pulled a latch and a door appeared. He pulled it.

" Here you are Ariana, please don't speak of this, but give that to Jerie." I nodded. I stepped forward and he made to walk back into the labyrinth.

" Wait! I don't know your name!" He turned and looked thoughtful.

" Erik, goodbye Ariana." And he swept himself away into the shadow. I pushed the door through and let out a small gasp. I was standing in my room. I had just walked through my mirror. I sank slowly onto my bed, letter still in hand. I looked back at the deathly seal and the narrow handwriting. I sat up and walked out of the room.

" Miss Masser! You're late! Explanation, now!" Madame Jerie was marching towards me.

" And look at you! You aren't dressed or warmed up.." But she stopped. I had put the letter in front of my chest. She gave a little gasp.

" May I speak to you, in private, Madame?" I asked. She nodded, her eyes still wide. She hastened me to the back room.

" Miss Masser,... what is this?" Her hand was shaking as she flailed the letter at me.

" The Phantom... I mean Erik... he's back... and I met him." Madame Jerie's eyes grew very wide.

" It's happening again, again, oh my goodness." She collapsed into her chair.

" What? What's happening again?" But I thought I knew what. Why me? What made it me? She opened the letter.

Dear Jerie,

Hello again, This is the girl. She will sing. Prepare for the same if this does not happen. Hope you are well.

Erik

" What does that mean!" I asked her. She kept shaking her head.

" Sing, right now... belt it out!" She ordered.

" What?" She shook her head and gave a sarcastic laugh.

" Think of me." She said. I knew what she meant.

Think of me

Think of me fondly

When we say good-bye

Remember me

Once in a while

Please Promise Me

You'll try

I stopped, but Jerie's eyes had lit up.

" That was beautiful, Ariana, why haven't you sung for me before?" She asked

" I don't know, you never asked." Jerie shook her head.

" What did he say to you?" She asked.

" He said people hate him for a reason, he said he loved Christine Daae, and he want me to sing."

" Well, now that I've heard you, that won't be a issue. Meg will understand." I stood up.

" No! She worked so heard! I can't take that from her! I can't even sing very well!" I exclaimed. Madame Jerie stared me straight back in the eye.

" No, Meg will understand, " She pointed to the door, " PRACTICE NOW!"

I had no choice. I walked back to the stage with her.

A/N: OK, the phantoms out! Review please! Thanks!