A Few Quick Notes From the Author: Thanks to those who reviewed the second chapter. Glitter Queen - I'm glad you're enjoying it. The Queen Sarah - Thanks for sticking around. I hope you continue to enjoy it.

Again, please read and review! I love to see comments on my work.

Chapter Three: Confrontations

Meg started to shake off the petrified state of mind she was in, both literally and figuratively. She began to jump and twist around, all the while flailing her arms and trying to remove the rope from around her neck. She found the strength to scream and, before long, her cries of terror accompanied her panicked attempts to save her life.

Meg's screaming had grown so loud that she was unable to hear the footsteps that approached her from behind. She did not notice as the Phantom of the Opera, the one she had been searching for, drew nearer to her. When he reached the frightened young girl, he raised his arms and grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Relax. You have nothing to be afraid of," he assured her with a firm, yet gentle, tone.

Meg stopped moving and stood as still as a statue when she felt the powerful touch of his hands and heard the strength of his voice. The Phantom picked up the rope and untangled it, freeing Meg from its grasp.

"I suppose you thought this was the 'magical lasso' Monsieur Buquet often spoke of, didn't you?" the Phantom asked. His voice was sarcastic and he almost seemed to find the situation comical. However, Meg sensed a hint of sadness and a larger amount of resentment in his tone as well.

"Yes," she answered, surprised at how easily the word left her mouth. "Yes, I did." The Phantom sighed.

"It's only a thick cord from that old curtain, which has grown rather fragile. If you aren't gentle with it or any of the others, they'll fall apart fairly easily," he explained.

Meg turned around and started in awe at the Phantom and the golden rope he held in his hand. A rope from a curtain? That's all it was? Suddenly, she felt rather silly, though she was mostly relieved to know that she was alive.

"So, what are you doing here?" the Phantom inquired, beginning to walk away from Meg. "You don't belong here."

"I - I." Meg began. Suddenly, she had a harder time speaking. She sensed the Phantom was not pleased with her for coming to his lair. She shook her head and began again, "I'm here to find Christine."

"Well, you won't find her here. She's gone," the Phantom told his unwanted guest.

"Where is she?" Meg demanded, quickly becoming angry. "Did you hurt her?" The Phantom turned to look at Meg with a cold stare.

"Hurt her? No, mademoiselle, I did not hurt her. I would never hurt her," he informed the young ballet dancer. "What, do you imagine I did? Do you think I killed her? Is that why you think she's missing?" He practically spat the words at Meg. The Phantom took a deep breath.

"No! I mean, yes. I mean, I don't know!" Meg cried out. "I have no idea what to think. All I know is that I miss Christine. She's my best friend. She is like a sister to me! You can't expect me not to worry when I discover she's gone! I - I want her back," Meg paused. "I miss her. I love her." Meg felt her eyes swelling with tears as she continued speaking. She barely noticed when they spilled over and fell down her cheek.

"As do I," the Phantom told Meg. "I love her very much and I would never do anything to harm her. She's fine, mademoiselle, I assure you."

"Where is she?" Meg choked out in between sobs. She wanted to be relieved at knowing that her dear friend was all right, but she wasn't yet sure if she could trust the Phantom.

"She left with Raoul. I let them go," the Phantom explained. "I have no idea where they are, though. However, now, it is time for you to go. You got what you came for, please go and leave me alone." He walked away from her to sit at the grand organ he had once used to write his music of the night.

"But…wait, please, I have more questions," Meg said, afraid of what the Phantom's reaction might be but unable to stave off her potentially dangerous curiosity. "Are you really an angel? Christine called you her -"

"No. I am not an angel. I am a man and my name is Erik," he answered without looking at Meg and without allowing her to finish. He wasn't sure he wanted to hear the words "Angel of Music". He was not sure how much pain they would evoke.

"Erik…" Meg said. "Did Christine know that was your name?"

"Do you always ask this many questions?" he snapped back. "No, she did not. Now, please, just leave me."

"You don't seem like the monster everyone says you are," Meg said quietly. "I'm sorry you lost Christine. I understand how sad you must feel."

"No, mademoiselle, I assure you, you do not understand. You never will," he told her. Meg heard a change in the man's voice. She wasn't positive, but she thought that change was the complication of speaking through tears. He really isn't a Phantom or a monster. . . He's human . . . He has a heart, and it's broken. Meg realized. For the first time in her life, Meg pitied the "Phantom" instead of fearing him.

"I have to go now," she told him. "But, I'll be back."

"Why? You have no reason to return. Why can't you just let me be? I answered your questions, what more do you want from me?" he demanded. Meg paused, trying to come up with an answer.

"I want to help you," she finally explained. "If the police find you, they'll kill you!"

"I can take care of myself. Go away and never come back here!" he replied with growing agitation. Her words had reopened the wounds in his soul and he wanted desperately to be alone.

"Well, if you insist," Meg conceded. However, she knew she did not have the heart to leave him alone forever. No one deserves to be alone. She thought. I'll talk to mother. Together, we'll check on him every now and then, just to make sure he is okay. Meg waited for a response, but when she received none, she turned to leave. Once Meg was out of sight, Erik sighed and allowed the tears of pain he had been fighting to flow freely.