Wow, I got a lot of reviews for this chapter! Thank you sooooooooo much! You guys are great! So, here's another chapter for you.

Review Praises:

SilverWolfSingsToTheMoon: Thank you. A lot! I love reviews! And I am hoping to update soon.

Lunasariel: I try to make my characters real. She might have her moments (and have already had) when she loves the Phantom. Like when she was giddy about being 'something of an acquaintance' to him. And with Raoul, I personally do not like him (sorry!), but Elise is not me, and doesn't have an entirely set opinion on him yet. But I promise that he's in this chapter.

way2beme: I was hoping that not just Elise and I would hate the ballerinas. They were kinda fun to create, though. They remind me of the popular people at my school.

Jinxed4Life: Yay! I am glad that you reviewed... four times! I'd be giddy if I got just one letter from Erik, but Elise got what, three or four! Lucky. And I'm always glad to meet another Star Wars junkie.

Ami M. Mercury: If you'd seen the movie, it wouldn't be so much of a surprise! C'mon! We gotta watch it! Thanks for reviewing, anyway!

Disclaimer: Nothing's mine. Unless you don't recognize it, of course. Then it's all mine! Mwahahahahaha!

And this is a bit of a filler chapter. I don't even know if the Phantom will be in it at this point. Sorry! All right, I think that's it. Please, read on. Enjoy yourself. I can't make you.

Chapter Five. This is chapter five, right?


I awoke to complete darkness when a church clock rang three o'clock. Great. I was awake now. As if last night hadn't been horrible, now I'm gonna have to go a day with about three hours of sleep.

I sat up and let my eyes get used to the darkness. Nothing appeared to be different. Even the darkness hadn't lightened at all.

A chill swept past me. This place was huge, and drafty. Great. I was already in a terrible mood. I am not a morning person.

Almost straight above me, I heard the creaking of wood. I squinted, but that really didn't help. "Couldn't sleep, either, could you?" someone asked me. The voice was male, and echoed through the auditorium. Amos.

"I was sleeping," I answered. "What about you?" I added. "Nah. Couldn't sleep. I guess I'm just a little spooked about the Phantom really existing. After all my rounds up here, I had never seen him, so I didn't believe in him."

"Makes sense to me," I called out. "It's not your fault. Even if you had seen him before, what could you've done?"

I heard the boards shift again. I waited a moment, and turned around. Amos was right behind me. He was really good at navigating through the dark, I noted.

"So... why were you here?" he asked. I let it all spill out. Who could I tell besides him, anyway? "On my first day here, I had a run-in with the Phantom. When I arrived to my room, I saw a note from him. I wrote back, and we communicated like that for a while."

I sat down and saw Amos knelt beside me, his wide eyes so understanding. "In one of his letters, he said that Joseph would be dealt with. He had told me, Amos! Then he killed Joseph, displayed it publicly, and then I had another run-in with him. I went back to my bed and found my three roommates gossiping about the Phantom. Then one of them—Marie—pulls out a letter from the Phantom that I hadn't received yet! I left because of them," I concluded. Amos stared.

"Marie... does she have Janet and Emma with her?"

"I only know of Marie and Janet. But there are three."

"I should've guessed. Y'see? That room was intended for more stagehands. At one point, there were four stagehands in there. Them they all quit one by one. The room stayed empty until Marie asked Madame Giry if they could use it. All of the other ballerinas are in one big room. "

My mouth fell open. Those little prima donnas! And they had shunned me, who really belonged in there. "Yeah, I know. But no other ballerinas have asked for that kind of treatment. Those girls rule over the rest with an iron fist. I hate them." He felt just like I did!

"Yeah, I hate them, too."

Amos got up and started to walk away. "If I were you, Elise, I'd get some more sleep," I heard him say. Then he was gone.

Where could I go? I am no ballerina; I highly doubted that I could bunk with them. None of them would probably let me, with Joseph spreading rumors about me. So I curled up on the floor again. I slept soundly.


"Is she dead?" I heard someone ask. A foot nudged my shoulder. I winced and someone gasped. "She's moving! Someone, get Madame Giry!" My eyes shot open and I looked around.

My vision cleared and I saw that I was still laying down on the stage, surrounded by employees and performers. Madame Giry came running up. She knelt down, looking extremely worried. She grabbed my wrist and checked my pulse.

"Elise, what were you doing!" she asked in an exasperated tone. I looked around. Marie—of course—and her cronies were in the crowd. They were snickering.

"Sleepwalking," I lied. "No she wasn't! She was probably with the Phantom again!" Marie shouted. Madame Giry sent her a piercing gaze. Marie quieted down immediately.

"Really, Elise? Were you sleepwalking?" Madame Giry asked me. She looked scared and concerned. "Yeah, I was," I replied blankly.

Madame Giry got up and commanded, "All right, get to your posts. Shoo!" All of the people left, leaving me and Madame Giry on the stage.

"W—what's going on?" I asked. "Well, you can imagine the shock and surprise of finding someone curled up, asleep on the stage. And with Joseph's passing, everyone has death on their minds." she explained.

"I know that Joseph wasn't a good man, but he wasn't always like that, y'know? He came here when he was about fifteen, and was very good at his job. Then, two years later, both of his parents died when their roof collapsed on their house. Instead of coping with it in a healthy way, he drowned his sorrow in booze. Then it just became habit. It's hard to imagine that he was almost forty."

I stood in awe. I had never been told what Joseph's deal was. I just figured that he was mean by nature. Wow. I feel kinda bad.

Madame Giry had begun to walk away. "Madame Giry!" I called. "Yes?"

"What's going on, I ask again," I said. "No one's at their posts, but you told everyone to." She turned and smiled slightly. "Our annual Bal Masque is in one month. There is rehearsal going on for the dancing and music."

"But it's gonna take all month!" I sounded a bit too exasperated. "Of course. It's a work of art, and you cannot rush art. It must be absolutely perfect. Besides, it's not a ballet, it's an intricate dance of independent movements. No one has the exact same moves for most of the song! It always takes a month. That's why I start it now."

Wow. A month. I wouldn't be able to learn it. Why would I, anyway? I'm no ballerina. "I—is there anything I can do to help?" I offered.

Madame Giry pondered for a moment. "Possibly. Come with me." We walked together—well, not together, I had to jog to keep up with her—to the giant entryway that I had been in just the day before.

There were small groups of performers already there, and I could see the orchestra and Monsieur Reyer in a balcony above them all. As soon as I walked in, I felt hard, hateful glances fall on me. Maybe this was a bad idea. I began to turn to leave, but Madame Giry grasped my shoulders and turned me around so people could get a better look at me. A deep blush made its way onto my face.

"Everyone, attention, please. This is Elise. She will be helping me with the Masquerade," she announced. My face grew redder. This was worse than last night.

She let go of my shoulders and moved closer toward the group of people. "Arrange yourself. Men on right; women on left. Three rows. Tallest in back. Now." On 'now,' she clapped her hands. And the performers began to arrange themselves no questions asked. Madame Giry was born for this job. And I could see that she loved it.

"Here, I am passing out the score. We shall learn the lyrics, and then the dance. Those of you who have done this before, please help the newer students." She sounded like a schoolteacher again. I smiled.

She turned and called, "Monsieur Reyer?" He began immediately. The tune was high and pretty. Madame Giry was directing with her hands and pointed to the group. They immediately began singing.

Masquerade! Paper faces on parade.

Masquerade—

Madame Giry cut them off. "No! You are too flat. Begin again."

Masquerade! Paper—

"No. Still too flat. Begin again."

Masquerade! Paper faces on parade.

Masquerade. Hide you face so the world will never find you.

Masquerade! Every—

"Argh, no. You are still too flat. And on 'hide your face so the world will never find you,' I can scarcely hear the women. Sing from your diaphragm."

I could see why this took a month. For the rest of the hour, it continued like this. A bell rang, signaling eleven o'clock, and all of us were excused. Madame Giry stayed behind. "Y'know, they really are good. It just takes a while to show," she said. I smiled, but I could see that she was tired. She sat on one of the marble stairs. I sat beside her.

"Elise, when you said that you had been sleepwalking, you were lying, weren't you?" she asked. I giggled. "Of course I was."

"Why?" she asked. I sighed. "Because my roommates are demons and I have been exiled from my dorm room." Her eyebrows shot up. "So, I was sleeping on the stage," I finished.

"Why did they exile you?" she asked. "I don't wanna talk about it." She placed an arm on my shoulder. "Does it have to do with Erik?" she asked. But immediately brought her hand up to her mouth. "Who's Erik?"

"N—no one you'd know." She was nervous obviously. "Is Erik the Phantom?" I asked. She simply nodded. "Yes, it does have to do with him," I answered.

"I was afraid of that."

"But we don't talk anymore. I think he's mad at me."

"Then get back on his good side."

"Why?"

"Didn't you see Joseph! He'd contradicted the Phantom in more ways than one without ever actually seeing him! Then got himself killed!"

I shivered. I didn't want to die! I had no reason to! "W—what should I do?" I asked. "Ignore him. Try not to make any kind of contact."

"But Madame Giry! Joseph had spread rumors about me! And Marie— Marie found one of his letters." Her eyes grew wide. "What?"

"Erik had been writing to me. And Marie invaded my personal space and stole one of his letters." I felt so ashamed. And disgusted at myself.

Her arms wrapped around me in some sort of hug. "Oh, Elise. It's hard; I know. But you must be strong. He's lonely and needs someone to commune with. But remember that he can be dangerous." I sniffed. "Are... are you suggesting that I befriend him?"

"Not 'befriend,' just be something of an acquaintance." I gasped. That is what the Phantom —Erik— had called me! Did she know? She smiled a half-smile and stood up. "Come now, dear. Let's see if I can't find you somewhere to stay."

She began trudging up the stairs, muttering to herself about the performance in a month, and I thought I saw the Phantom looking at us. He was far away, looking out through a sheet of glass. Had he been listening? Madame Giry didn't seem to notice him.


We walked past my old room and I could hear cackling behind the closed door. Madame Giry knocked and the evil laughter stopped. "Girls, please leave for a moment," she requested. The door opened a crack and the three girls filed out. Marie saw me right off the bat and gave me a smirk. I smiled sweetly.

"Go on, Elise. Get your things," Madame Giry told me. What things? I had come with very few belongings. It only took me a moment to gather them up. To my relief, none of my original belongings were missing. But Erik's letters were no where to be found. Probably circulating freely through the opera house.

I stepped out and the ballerinas rushed in again immediately. Now they have something else to talk about.

Not far from my original room was the chorus girls' dorm. It was huge! But it needed to be; I counted about fifteen beds. A few circular windows dotted the white walls.

Some of the beds looked lived-in, others just had a sheet and a pillow. These ones must be empty. I chose one in the corner close to a window. I dropped my stuff onto it. Now it's mine.

Madame Giry left soon, letting me settle in. Another church bell rang, signaling twelve o'clock. I laid down on my new bed and closed my eyes. so much had happened since I came here. Most of it for the worst, but it was never boring. And I was doing the job that I had always dreamed of. I kept reminding myself that things would get better.

I was thrust out of my thoughts when I heard the door open. I opened my eyes slightly, so they were only little slits. Christine came in. The Vicomte, too. Hmm. Wait, Christine hadn't been at the rehearsal!

I was glad that I had picked a corner, because they didn't seem aware of me. "Raoul, thank you. I just needed a break from this place, I guess." That was Christine. I didn't know that the Vicomte's name was Raoul!

"You are most welcome, Little Lotte." a voice said. Male. The Vicomte.

"I just hope that this nightmare will soon end," Christine said. Nightmare! I think what I have been living would be considered a nightmare. I heard her gasp. "Oh, Raoul! The Masquerade rehearsal! I've missed it!" she gasped.

"I don't think Madame Giry noticed..." I mumbled. I hated myself at that moment. Had I really blown my cover and spoken aloud?

None of them sounded surprised or upset, though. "Thank you," Christine said. I didn't hear Raoul, though. I sat up. No use pretending to be invisible now. "We've met, haven't we?" she asked.

"Yes. Hi. I'm Elise. I delivered your flowers yesterday"

"Oh, yes. I remember."

"How do you do, Elise?" Raoul asked. "Fine, I guess," I answered automatically. Pretty much, it was a lie.

They seemed to forget about me again and began to say good byes. Raoul left soon after, leaving Christine and me alone.

"What are you doing in here?" she asked. Not in a mean way, though. More like curiosity. "I got exiled from my room, so Madame Giry allowed for me to bunk here." Christine smiled. "Exiled? By whom?"

"Marie. And Janet. And Emma." Her smile disappeared. "No one likes them. They are all a year my senior, and have been like that since I came to live here," she said. Wow. They don't have that big of a fan club.

"I—I hope that no one minds me living in here now. I'm hoping that they'll leave me alone."

"Why?" she asked.

"Some rumours."

"From Marie again?"

"Yes. And from Joseph."

"About what?"

I paused for a moment. "Um... let's just say that we both actually know him. Not just from the stories about him. And these rumours happen to be about me and him." I tried to emphasize the correct words. "You mean..." Christine's vice trailed off. I nodded. "Oh," was all she said.

"Yeah. And if anyone else totally believes them, I'll be exiled again. I mean, yeah, maybe some of them might have a shred of truth, but I don't wanna risk it," I confessed.

She walked over to me and sat on my bed. "Do not fret. These rumours come and go. Within a few days, no one will remember anything about them." She didn't sound so sure, though. I could tell that she was feeling uncomfortable. So I changed the subject.

"The Vicomte... you know him?"

She smiled again. "Yes. Since childhood." She didn't say anything else. That conversation died quickly. I took a look at her and realized that she was love struck. She deserved to be. She deserved only the best.

"Do you know what the next show is?" I asked. "No. We are not doing one this month. To commemorate Joseph's death, and for the Masquerade rehearsals. Which I forgot about." She laughed softly at herself.

"I better get going. There's probably someone that could use a little help," I said, getting up to leave. But I felt Christine's hand on my arm. "Elise, you have seen him before, haven't you?" I nodded.

She let the rest out in a whisper. "If you see him again, tell me. Please." I nodded again, and her hand left my arm. I walked out of the dorm room and down a hallway. I wasn't very far away when I heard Christine singing in a hushed tone:

In sleep, he sang to me.

In dreams, he came.

That voice which calls to me.

And speaks my name.

Then it stopped. I left.


I'm sorry if this chapter was incredibly lame and boring. There will possibly be one more filler before something more eventful happens. Maybe or maybe not Masquerade next, cause this story will be really short! It already is...

Three reviews, please. I love reviews! Only flame me if you have a reason. And a good reason. Please state that reason, too. Okay, that's all, I think.

Until Next Chapter,
DaydreamingTurtle