Well... I left you all with a bit of a cliff-hanger last time. I think you'll all find this chapter rather interesting...

Oh, by the way, it's my birthday today! I'm 18! And I got the Phantom of the Opera on DVD from my brother! Sweeeeeet! But if you'd like to send me a birthday present, click the little button-thingy at the bottom of the page and review!

So here's the new chapter! Enjoy!

XxXxX

Erik spun around, tearing his arm from the assailant's grasp and raising his cane, ready to defend himself.

"Monsieur Erik! Stop!"

"Amarie?" Erik heard the girl whimpering before him. He lowered his cane. "Amarie Lachappelle! What are you doing up so late? And why are you lurking about these halls? Honestly, you shouldn't be sneaking up on people! I could have hurt you!"

"I'm sorry," she said softly. "I didn't mean to scare you."

Erik stammered. "I – I… I never said I was scared!"

Amarie sighed heavily. "I wanted to get a drink of water… But…"

"What is it?" Erik asked, rather impatiently.

Amarie tugged on his cloak and, sighing, he bent down to her level. "It's dark out here…" she whispered into his ear.

"What?" Erik said, knotting his brows in confusion. "So?"

"Sooooo…" Amarie sounded embarrassed. "Please don't think me silly, but… I'm afraid of the dark." She paused. "I saw you out here and I… I thought it wouldn't be so scary if I was with you."

Erik sighed. "Darkness isn't that scary. It's actually quite… comforting."

"Why?"

Erik grumbled to himself, not really wanting to share his life's story with this child. "In the darkness, no one can find you. Amarie, have you ever felt alone? Have you ever felt that everyone was against you? That no one loved you? That no one even cared?"

"All the time…" she whispered.

Erik was surprised by this side of Amarie that he had never seen before… beneath the annoyingly-bubbly, squealing, arm-squeezing, hand-grasping little girl, there was a lonely young woman who had no real friends… just like him… "Darkness is your shelter," he told her. "In the light, there is pain, disappointment, rejection… Darkness brings peace."

Amarie was silent. Exhaling, Erik held out his arm to her. She slipped her small hand around his large, firm bicep.

"Come. I'll take you back to your room."

The halls were eerily quiet, with only the sound of Erik's cane tapping and Amarie's tiny footsteps. It was too quiet. And Erik found it rather annoying…

He began to sing. "Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendour. Grasp it. Sense it. Tremulous and tender. Turn your face away from the garish light of day. Turn your thoughts away from cold unfeeling light and listen to the Music of the Night."

"You really do sing beautifully," Amarie commented as they reached her room. Erik opened the door for her. Then, much to her surprise, he came in with her. Amarie laid down on her bed, and Erik pulled the covers up around her chin.

"Floating, falling, sweet intoxication. Touch me, trust me, savour each sensation. Let the dream begin. Let your darker side give in to the power which you know you cannot fight. The power of the Music of the Night."

Erik paused. He heard Amarie's deep and steady breathing before him. She had drifted to sleep… Erik smiled. Perhaps living here wouldn't be so terrible. He left the room, closing the door behind him, and headed back to his own room down the hall.

"You alone can make my song take flight… Help me make the Music of the Night…"

XxXxX

Short but sweet? Hey... I said Amarie might get less annoying. Maybe Erik has just found a new friend! Anybody else sense a plot twist?