A/N: This little chapter was odd, and I feel bad for the shortness, but I wanted to give you something! Hope you like! I'll so try to write more soon!

Chapter 12: Missing

Meg was racing through the hallways of the Opera Populaire, panicked. She was looking for her mother. Or the managers. Or someone. She was frightened. She looked around behind her, still running, and turned her head around just in time to see the handsome Viscount de Chany in front of her, but not quickly enough to avoid crashing into him. Again.

"Oh, forgive me, Viscount!" She apologized hurriedly. He looked at her with compassion in his eyes.

"Dear Meg, please address me as Raoul. Is anything the matter?"

"I ... well, I ... " the girl stammered, trying to hold back the inevitable tears of worry which pricked her eyes. He brushed a strand of hair from her face, and she calmed down enough to mutter, "It's Christine." Raoul's face twisted with emotion: worry, fear ... Meg continued, after drawing a few deep breaths. "It's Christine! She is no where to be found. For almost two days." The young girl began to pace, and Raoul just watched and listened, dumbfounded. "The Opera Ghost! The murderer of Joseph Bouquet! He is there, and she is missing. I'm frightened for her, Raoul!" Her tears finally broke free and Raoul pulled her into his arms without thinking, and she willingly surrendered to his improper embrace.

"It will be all right," he whispered after a few moments, once her tears calmed down. He tried to hide the worry that he also felt for his dear friend Christine, in order to comfort Meg. "I will help you find your mother."

Raoul and Meg found Mother Giry in the ballet practicing room. The room had very light wood floors, white walls and a lot of mirrors, and the entire room was lined with practice balance bars, and Madame stuck right out. The woman in a dark dress had her leg up impressively high on one of the bars and was stretching gracefully. Meg stepped in.

"Dear daughter?" Mother Giry spoke, concerned by Meg's expression, but rose her eyebrows when she saw the patron walk in behind her. "And viscount? May I help you?"

"I'm afraid Miss Daae has gone missing again, Madame." A shadowed expression graced the older woman's face, but disappeared quickly once she spoke.

"Thank you, I'll see to this matter," she said hurriedly as she practically kicked them out the door and closed it behind them.

A faint smile grazed Raoul's lips as the cute young blonde immediately dropped to her knees once she heard the door lock, and drew her eyes close to the keyhole, peering inside. The girl's innocent expression of curiosity once turned to fear and bewilderment and her jaw dropped. She stood back up to Raoul's level, eyes wide, and his smile disappeared.

A/N: Ok! Cliffie! ... kinda. I got a new reviewer, score!

Arwen1604: I'm glad you liked the 'prying Pandora' scene, and the 'will Erik be ok?'ness! I'm so happy that you like my story, your review means so much to me! I hope it continues to please you:D