Lysette found herself being led through a dark passage, which was only illuminated, by the lantern that the masked figure ahead of her was carrying. The flame from the lantern flickered and cast strange shadows upon the walls as the couple made their way slowly through the tiny passageway. Lysette found herself looking back periodically as the masked figure continued to lead her. "Where…where are you taking me?"

Eric turned his head toward her. "Home."

Lysette turned around again and could see the darkness consuming everything behind them. She was actually starting to become frightened. She stopped in her tracks, pulling on his grip. "Please…"

Eric stopped and turned toward her touching her face gently. "There is nothing to harm you down here, Christine."

Lysette hesitated for a moment and then looked deep into the eyes that were protruding from the mask. She felt no danger from the figure and once again let him lead her down the dark path again. As she was led down various steps, an image flashed in her mind of her walking down ramps on a stage being led by a masked figure. She then mouthed and sang the words: "In sleep in sang to me, in dreams he came, that voice which calls to me and speaks my name…."

She then watched as they came to another passage and saw a white horse standing at the end. The horse neighed as Eric led her to it. She patted the horse's muzzle softly before she was helped onto his back. Eric then took a hold of the halter and started to lead them down a stone path, which led down. As she looked forward she could see that they appeared to be approaching what looked like a body of water. A body of water below an opera house, how was that possible? Her eyes then fell upon what appeared to be a boat.

Eric brought the white horse to a stop and extended his hand to Lysette. "Come, Christine."

Lysette let go of the rein and turned to Eric, holding out her hand. She then took his hand and he carefully helped her off, setting her gently on the ground. She looked back at him for a moment before following him as he guided her toward the boat. As she approached the boat she could see what appeared to be mist rising up from the water. "And do I dream again, for now I find….the Phantom of the Opera is there…inside my mind." She then walked into the boat and took a seat. She felt the boat move as it was pushed away from the side and began its journey down the lake. The water was briefly lit by the lone lantern, which was positioned on the front of the boat as it continued its path toward Eric's lair.

Dana Scully opened her eyes and found herself standing on the steps that led to some kind of building. The steps were very much like the theatre in Washington D.C. and so for that brief moment, that was exactly where she thought she was. Then she looked up and realized that this building was far too grand to be the performing arts theatre. The architecture was much more detailed and it almost looked like the faces that adorned it were looking down at her. "Some thing tells me I'm not in Kansas any more." She whispered.

"It's really quite grand isn't it?" Came a voice with a French accent from behind her.

Scully turned to see a man staring at her. As she looked at him, she found something vaguely familiar about him. His hair, eyes and face were unmistakably familiar to her. "Mr. Barrettt?"

"Barrett? I'm sorry but that is not my name." He paused. "Although, in the case of a beautiful woman such as yourself, I wish it were. For it appears the man who owns that name is quite lucky indeed." He bowed to her. "Bouquet, Joseph Bouquet."

"Dana…Dana Scully."

Joseph took her hand and kissed it. "I'm delighted to meet you, Mademoiselle Scully." He then pulled back and looked at her. "You are most certainly dressed strangely for this part of Paris."

"Did….did you say, Paris?" Scully asked with a confused face.

"Indeed I did. Are you not familiar with where you are?"

Scully shook her head. "I….I don't remember."

"Well, you are standing on the steps of the Opera Populaire in Paris, France. Perhaps one of the grandest opera houses in all of Europe." Joseph replied proudly. "As a matter of fact, a performance of Faust just concluded with the most wonderful debut of…" He watched as Scully turned away. "Mademoiselle?"

"This….this is impossible." Scully whispered. "It can't be."

"I can assure you that I would not mislead you, Mademoiselle. I am sorry if you are not pleased with where you are. Perhaps if you tell me where you wish to be, I could help?"

"I…I don't know how to…" Scully put her hand to her forehead.

"Are you sick, Mademoiselle?" Joseph asked with a concerned voice. "Why don't you rest on the steps?" He carefully eased Scully down onto the steps. He then noticed a book in her hand. "I see you are educated?" He glanced at the title. "The Phantom of the Opera? A most interesting title."

"It's…it's a book I'm reading."

"We also have a ghost here at the opera." Joseph answered. "We sometimes see shadows and hear voices. He also occasionally steals props and music."

Scully looked back at him. "Did…did you say this was the Paris Opera and that there is a ghost here?"

"I did." He then watched as Scully's face turned pale. "Is something wrong, Mademoiselle?"

"Dear god, what is this?" Scully asked as she put down the book and put her face in her hands.

"Mademoiselle, there is no reason to cry." Joseph replied as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Please, let me help you. Where are you from?"

Scully lifted her head and tried to concentrate but she found her mind clouded. "I….I don't remember."

"You don't remember? Did you…perhaps hit your head?"

Scully nodded. "Yes, I…I hit my head."

"If you will pardon me for saying so, Mademoiselle, this is no place for a young woman like you to be wandering at night alone. Do you have a place to stay?"

"No, I…I don't. And….I have no money."

"Well, you most certainly can not just stay out here on the streets." Joseph paused. "I know a place where you can stay."

"Mr. Bouquet, I hardly know you to be able to…"

"No, Mademoiselle it would not be with me. I…am also too much of a gentleman for such an arrangement. However, I am also too much of a gentleman to let a beautiful young woman stay out here and risk being taken advantage of." He carefully helped Scully to her feet. "A friend of mine owns an Inn not far from here. It is not the grandest but it will at least offer you a bed and meal for the evening." He took some coins from his pocket and handed them to her.

"Oh no, Mr. Bouquet, I couldn't accept such a thing from you."

"Please, Mademoiselle it is the least I can do for you." Joseph answered with a smile. "The streets of Paris are no place to be lost in, Madame."

Scully looked down at the coins in her hand and jiggled them. "You are very kind, Mr. Bouquet and I promise you I shall find a way to pay you back."

"You accepting my offer and knowing that you will be safe is enough, Mademoiselle." He led her up the steps. "Allow me to retrieve my belongings and I shall escort you to the Inn."

Scully looked at the building fearfully remembering what Joseph had said about a ghost. And something deep inside also told her that she had a good reason to fear this place. She stopped at the top of the stairs.

Joseph turned around. "Mademoiselle, I can assure you there is nothing to fear and you are quite safe with me."

Scully gave Joseph a slight smile before following him into the opera house from a side door. As she looked around she started to have visions of the backstage of the theatre in Washington D.C. The ceiling was filled with the same kind of catwalks and pulleys. "Incredible."

"I apologize that I am not able to give you a grand tour of the front of the opera house. It is really much nicer then the backstage area here. There is a grand staircase that goes into the house itself and many candelabras." He led her to the stage. "But…you can see what the house looks like from here. As a matter of fact, why don't you wait right here and I'll be right back." He then left Scully and headed backstage again.

Scully gazed out into the vast opera house. Her eyes examined all the exquisite architecture and opera boxes. "This is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. It's like….something from a dream."

"Pardon me, Mademoiselle but what are you doing here?" Asked Madame Giry as she came up behind Scully.

Scully turned around and looked at the older woman. "I'm….I'm sorry, I was just…"

Madame Giry looked Scully over. "Who are you?" She asked in a stern voice as she stamped her cane.

"I'm….I'm Dana Scully, ma'am and I…"

"You have no right to be here! The opera house is no place to be…"

"Madame Giry, you may refrain from accosting this young woman." Joseph replied as he returned with a bag. "She is with me."

"Now is not the time to bring strangers into the opera house, Monsieur Bouquet." Madame Giry answered.

"What do you mean?" Joseph asked.

"The police are on their way here." Madame Giry answered. "They will soon be combing the opera house in search of Mademoiselle Daae."

Joseph raised his eyebrows. "Mademoiselle Daae?"

Madame Giry nodded. "She somehow disappeared from her dressing room this evening. Monsieur Vicomte de Chagny has requested that the police search for her."

"Daae?" Scully asked. "Christine….Daae?"

"Monsieur Bouquet, I advise you to get this woman out of here before the police arrive." Madame Giry tapped her cane. "And do not bring strangers back here again. Now go."

Joseph looked at Scully. "Come with me, Mademoiselle Scully and I'll take you home."

Scully glanced at Madame Giry for a moment before following Joseph. "Mr. Bouquet, that woman mentioned a Mademoiselle Daae."

"Yes, she was referring to Christine Daae, the understudy to La Carlotta who gave a most wondrous performance tonight." Joseph led her out of the opera house and toward the street. "Do you know her?"

"The name somehow sounds familiar to me, yes."

Joseph whistled toward a carriage. "Driver!" He then looked back at Scully. "She is a very sweet girl. Has a very pretty voice too. It's hard to believe she used to be a part of the corps de ballet years ago. She sang a little then but then one day was given the secondary female role of Siebel in Faust as well as being the understudy for Marguerite. And tonight, La Carlotta became ill and she performed for the last act. She sounded even lovelier then La Carlotta herself." He watched as the carriage stopped in front of them. "This carriage will take you to the Inn." He helped Scully up into the carriage and then walked up to the driver. He handed him some coins. "Please make sure this lady gets to the Le petite cheval, please."

The driver nodded. "Of course."

Joseph then walked back over toward Scully. "This driver will make certain you get to your destination. Once you arrive there ask for Madeline. Tell her I sent you there and she shall take good care of you." He then kissed Scully's hand. "I hope to see you again soon, Mademoiselle."

"Thank you again for what you've done" Scully answered with a smile. "And…I hope so too."

As soon as Joseph moved away from the carriage, the driver put the horses into motion and started down the street, leaving the massive Paris Opera behind it. Scully glanced back and could see several horses approaching the Opera House with French policemen on their backs. She then sat back in her seat, clutching the book she had brought with her. She then slowly came to a realization. "Christine….Lysette!" She whispered. "Lysette is Christine and she's….oh my god she's missing! And that means somewhere out there is…Mulder!"

The driver tilted his head upon hearing Scully's voice. "Everything all right, Mademoiselle?"

Scully had forgotten that the carriage was an open one and not closed. "Yes, I'm…I'm fine, thank you."

"It is terrible about Mademoiselle Daae isn't it?" The driver asked. "And just after her debut in the lead role. I do hope she is found."

"Yes. Me….me too."

The driver then pulled on the reins bringing the carriage to a stop. "Whoa." He then looked at Scully. "Here we are Mademoiselle."

Scully looked at the building just to the right of the carriage. It did indeed look a tiny Inn that one might find in an out of the way area in the United States. But instead of looking like a dump, it looked cozy. She carefully climbed out of the carriage. "Thank you."

The driver nodded at her. "Have a good night, Mademoiselle." He then urged the horses on, taking the carriage down the street once more.

Scully took a breath and then headed up toward the tiny little building which had the sign Le Petite Cheval swinging from the night air. She jingled the coins in her hand and then headed inside. She observed several small paintings on the wall as she walked over to the front desk. "Ummm…excuse me but I'm looking for someone named Madeline?" She watched as the man at the front desk gave her a strange look.

"Ce qui?"

"Oh terrific, he's speaking French." Scully muttered. "Wish I would have taken French in college now instead of German." She cleared her throat. "Madeline? I…I need to see someone named Madeline?" She paused. "Ich muß jemand sehen genannter Madeline?" She could actually see the clerk now glaring. "Guess you don't like German huh?"

A heavy set woman then came from the side and looked at the clerk." Il est tout exact, soit sur votre chemin." She then turned to Scully "I'm Madeline."

"Oh my god, you speak English? Thank goodness!" Scully answered.

"Yes, how may I help you?" Madeline asked.

"My name is Dana Scully and I was sent here by someone named….Joseph Bouquet?"

"Ah, Joseph, of course." Madeline replied with a smile. "Joseph does have a weakness for beautiful ladies. Please, follow me."

Scully followed Madeline down a hallway. "Uh, I actually don't know Mr. Bouquet, I…actually kind of ran into him by mistake."

"Joseph is a good man, Mademoiselle. I can tell you that he would not harm a living soul." She stopped in front of a door and then unlocked it. "This will be your room for the night."

Scully opened the door and stepped inside. "Oh, Madeline this is…is…"

"I know it is probably not much to you, Madame but…"

"Oh no, it's….it's perfect." Scully answered before placing the coins in Madeline's hand. "I'll most likely never get the chance to stay at a place like this again."

"Mademoiselle?"

Scully shook her head. "Nothing."

Madeline scrutinized Scully. "If you will excuse me for saying so, Mademoiselle you could use a change of clothes. If you are going to be in Paris you must…well dress like a Parisian lady. You do not have any other clothes with you?"

Scully shook her head. "No, I…I didn't bring anything else."

Madeline paused. "Then I shall go get you some clothes and also a night gown."

"Thank….thank you."

"You're most welcome, Mademoiselle." Madeline answered. "Any friend of Joseph's is a friend of mine. I shall come back with your night gown and bring you your clothes in the morning." She then smiled at Scully before leaving the room and closing the door behind her.

Scully sighed and set down her book before walking over to the window. She gazed out into the night. "Welcome to Paris, Agent Scully." She paused. "I know you are out there somewhere, Mulder and I will find you, I promise." She then turned back around and jumped onto the bed and laid her head on a pillow.

Note: I apologize it took so long to get this new chapter out! Thank you to those of you who continue to read this! It's your reviews that help to keep me going! There is much more to come!

Dana