A/N: I'm about to say that I'm going to Perth for a few days so I won't update for a few days. Obvious, huh? LOL! Anyway, this chapter is going to have a bumper as see I'll explain a bit. A long time ago before everything happened, Erik had met up with John as he knew John worked for The Vicomte. Erik was in need of money at that time so he told John he would sell his horse to him. Erik has a black horse and it was his only way he could get money at that time after The Opera House fell but fortunately, it has been rebuilt anyway. So here, John and Erik meet back again. Tired of explaining because I find this story SOOOOO challenging. And I'm so tired right now because I'm leaving for Perth tomorrow, Saturday. See ya all!

Disclaimer: I don't own the POTO. Fair and square. Circles and pears. I don't know but it just sounds right. LOL!

Sorry about not replying again...I know, you all must hate me! SSSOOOORRRYYYY! But I seriously have no time these few days! Sob Sob!

Out of the Shadows

The heat of sunlight fell on Christine's face and she opened her eyes to see John's face above her.

She yawned, "Good morning, John…"

She sat up and rubbed her eyes. Her knees were better and today, John was going to help her remove it.

But when Christine stared up at John, his face was full of worry.

He nodded, "Good morning, Mademoiselle…I'll remove your bandages before you have your breakfast…"

When he started to undo the bandages on Christine's knees without saying another word, Christine touched his face and asked, "John…Is something wrong?"

John hesitated and continued to remove the bandages.

Christine cupped his chin and turned him to face her, "John, tell me…"

John sighed and turned away, "Mademoiselle, the Master's search for you had widened and he is searching in every single place he can reach. He had already ransacked The Opera House and --"

"What…?"

"It's true, Mademoiselle…He's searching every nook and cranny in sight…"

John slowly gulped, "And...He will show no mercy to the person who is keeping you…"

Christine gasped.

"Oh John…What are we going to do?"

"Please Mademoiselle. Please return to him before anyone of us gets hurt. Remember that Monsieur Francos is on this to? So he will be in trouble as well…"

Christine frowned, "No John. I'm not going back to Raoul. And I don't believe this, John. Where are you getting this information from?"

"But Mademoiselle, it happened yesterday afternoon and it is continuing from then on. They are still at search and they probably are not going to stop until they find you…"

Christine's expression did not change and she demanded, "I don't care John. I want to see this with my very own eyes. Go now and buy me today's newspaper and avoid being seen at all cost!"

Then, she sighed, "I trust you, John. You're the only one I can trust now…I don't have my Angel with me anymore. When I think of him, I feel strange like I have done something wrong to my Angel…"

She bit her lip, "But I can't remember what it was…"

John wondered, "Maybe it has something to do with the Master…?"

Christine shook her head, "It can't be, John. Raoul doesn't know my relationship with my Angel that well. I got to know my Angel better in my days at the Opera House…"

"Ah, but we don't know that do we, Mademoiselle? You can't remember much…"

"But I love my Angel…"

"But what love are you referring to, Mademoiselle…? Is your Angel someone who you'd rather commit to, rather than the Master…?"

Christine stared silently at John for awhile before saying, "Yes…"

"But Mademoiselle…Why then did you marry the Master? And how can you love something that isn't real? You can't marry an Angel…"

"No, John. I can't marry him…But before my Father died, I promised myself I will commit myself and only love one person. And that is my Angel whom I have been loyal to all these years. I'm not about to break that promise just because I found out I am married to Raoul and I can't remember anything else…"

Christine shook her head, "Let's not talk about this now, John. Please, go to the newsstand and buy me today's newspaper. I want to know what Raoul has been up to…"

John walked down the street towards the nearest newsstand he could find and he searched for the Daily newspapers.

When he spotted it, he sighed, picked it up and flipped through it.

The Search Widens for the Vicomtess De Chagny throughout the Whole of Paris's City!

The Vicomte had ordered more than thirty officers to move around the whole city of Paris earlier yesterday afternoon and they had been ransacking every home in sight. The Vicomte has raised the amount of reward for anyone who would give information on The Vicomtess's whereabouts. The Vicomte has also warned about the punishment of anyone who had prevented the return of The Vicomtess. In other news –

John shook his head and folded up.

Just as he was about to move to pay the paper, he heard a soft voice saying, "It's insane isn't it?"

John turned around and saw a tall man standing right beside him hiding his face behind the newspaper he was reading.

"Yes…It is, Monsieur…"

"You work for the Vicomte, don't you…? Stable boy…" and the stranger removed the newspaper from blocking his face to reveal a man with a mask.

John drew in a sharp gasp, "You! I mean – Good to see you again, Monsieur…" and John took his hat off to greet him.

"What are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be with the Vicomte? Or maybe back home in his big manor where all his servants wait on him and the Vicomtess…"

The stranger hissed the last word so strongly that John was rather taken back.

"I – I don't understand, Monsieur…What do you have against my Master's wife?"

"Don't lie, John. You know what I mean by that. How is my beloved horse which I sold to that useless fool?"

John took a few seconds to realize that the stranger was referring to the Master's horse, Black Fire.

"But why did you want to sell her to the Master in the first place, Monsieur. I never understood why you came to sell the black beauty to the Master…"

"It's not like I wanted to sell her to him. He was the only one who wanted to buy a horse at that time and I needed the money at that moment, John. It is good you followed my instructions and told The Vicomte that I was the seller and you would pay for the horse. I wouldn't want to meet him anyway…"

"But who are you, Monsieur? Why do you dislike the Ma'am? The Master never even told the Ma'am who he bought Black Fire from…"

"He didn't now, did he?"

"You want to know who I am, John? I am the Angel of Music sent to the Vicomtess by her Father."

For a minute, John didn't say anything.

Then, John choked, "You're him! The Angel my Ma'am spoke before is you! You're a real man and not an Angel!"

Erik raised his eyebrow, "What do you mean by that, John?"

"The Ma'am…She told me about you…"

"What use is that anyway, John? She's gone and has disappeared. Why are you telling me this? She has left and abandoned me after running off with The Vicomte."

John couldn't keep the secret anymore.

He silently whispered, "But she's with me…All this while, Monsieur."

Erik frowned at John and gave him a serious look, "John, I know you more than anyone else in this city about Christine. Now tell me what is going on because I know you were at the scene when it all happened. You were there…"

John sighed, "The Ma'am is with me, Monsieur. Please don't let the secret out, please don't do anything that might let people know bout her…She doesn't want to be found by the Vicomte…"

Erik raised an eyebrow again, "Why…?"

"Because the Ma'am…The Ma'am has lost her memory, Monsieur."

Erik's eyes widened, "She what!"

Erik leapt forward and grabbed John by the collar and growled, "Take me to her, John. Take me to her…"

A/N: I was suppose to add the long part where the EC fluff comes in when Erik meets back with Christine. But I wanted a cliffhanger because it's be more of a challenge to write when I come back from Perth. Sorry about the cliffhanger! LOL! I promise I will reply your reviews AND make EC fluff next chapter. But this story is such a challenge.REVIEWS PLS!