The next day, I had slept in until twelve in the afternoon. I must of been very sleepy, for I don't remember waking up in the middle of the night at all. But that night I also had a dream. Well, it was more like a nightmare to me. It went like this:

I had found the rusty brown key to open the two doors which Erik had not shown me. When Erik was playing his organ, I unlocked one door and went into it. It was quite dark, and I didn't want to go on without a light. As I turned around to get a candle, Raoul was standing there. He was as I saw him last, no tongue, and his pupils were gone. He pushed me in the room and locked me in. I pounded on the door and screamed at him to let me out, but nothing happened. All of a sudden, the room was filled with white light. I looked around the room and saw spirits, ghosts, entities, whatever you call them, floating around the room. Once they had seen me, they charged for me.

But that is when I woke up. I was glad too, that I woke up before they could do anything to me. Even though now that I had a nightmare about that room, I still wanted so badly to see what was inside of it. But I knew that I would make Erik angry. He always gets angry when someone doesn't obey him.

I got out of bed and put on a white dress. I brushed my hair and put on some white shoes to match my dress. Again, no makeup. I decided I would use that makeup once I was much used to the house. And Erik.

When I had got into the kitchen, my breakfast was already prepared on the table. But Erik was not in the kitchen. I was quite confused, where could he be? I then noticed a note near my plate. I opened it up and it read:

My Dearest Christine,

I have gone into town to buy more groceries. Please eat your breakfast and do not worry about me, for I shall be back soon.

Love,

Erik

I folded the note back up and set it near my plate. I ate my breakfast in silence and when I was finished I cleaned the plate. Afterwards, I was completely bored. What was I suppose to do? I walked over to the library and decided to read a book. I picked up a book; Jane Eyre which I have actually read before. I sat down at a nice cozy chair and started to read.

But after reading five pages I got bored. Not with the book, I just thought I could do something else. I put the book back in it's place and looked around the room. Maybe I could explore Erik's house? I decided to do just that, so I started exploring the library.

There was a desk in the corner of the room with many papers scattered around the top. There were two ink bottles and four quills, two dipped into each one. I sat down on the wooden chair and looked at the desk. The papers were basically all of his musical notes. I looked over them and smiled. He was such a genius, and sometimes I wished that he would share his music to world.

After looking over the notes, I got out of the chair and walked towards the door. I didn't want to be an annoying little snoop, so I left the room and went over to the music room.

I found Ayesha curled up in a ball on Erik's organ bench. She looked so snuggly and cute I wanted to go up to her and pet her, but then I remembered the scracth. I felt my cheek and stroked the scar. How I wished so much that it would go away!

Just then I felt a presence behind me. I immediatley flung around and saw Erik standing in the doorway. I was happy that I wasn't doing anything dumb in here, or he would of caught me. He smiled and asked,

"Did you enjoy your breakfast, Christine?"

I nodded and replied,

"Yes, it was delicious. Thank you."

Erik nodded and then drifted his eyes towards Ayesha. He crossed his arms over his chest and said, "Ayesha, how many times have I told you not to fall asleep on the organ bench?"

I swear, I think that cat has some kind of power. It's like she knows when Erik enters the room and what he is saying! She was sleeping a few minutes ago, but when Erik speaks to her it's like she automatically wakes up. Note to self: stay away from Ayesha.

Ayesha meowed and leaped off the organ bench. She ran over to Erik's side and started to rub against his leg. He chuckled and picked up the cat, holding her securely in his arms. He stroked her furry head and then kissed it. After petting her for a while longer, he set her down. Ayesha didn't seem happy, for she kept trying to leap into his arms.

"Christine, I would like to show you around the Opera House later, when everybody is gone and the place is locked up. Would you like that?" Erik offered.

My face lit up. Finally, I could do something that I have wanted to do all my life.

"Oh yes, yes, yes! I have always wanted to explore the Opera House. Oh, this is too exciting. You will really take me with you?"

Erik raised his eyebrow at me, amused. I guess it was because I was acting like a five-year-old. He then told me firmly, "Of course. I have just offered you to go, haven't I?"

I smiled and nodded in embarrasement. He then smiled and said: "Come with me. I will tell you more of the Opera House. We will be able to visit there at about nine 'o' clock tonight."

I took his arm and followed him into the library. He sat me down on a fluffy black couch that I literally sunk into. It was very warm, as if someone had been sitting in it earlier. Erik sat across from me, in the same type of chair, and he sank down a bit too. I couldn't help but giggle.

Erik seemed confused. "And may I ask, Christine, what is so funny?"

I giggled once more and stated, "Oh, it's nothing really. It's just that when we both sat down in the chairs we both sunk down a bit."

Erik smiled at me, but didn't reply. I felt a bit embarrased, and I looked down at the floor. But I could still sense Erik's eyes on me, watching me blush.

He then spoke up and said, "Have you ever pictured what the Opera House looked like?"

I looked up at him. "Oh yes," I stated. "I picture off of the 1925 version of-" I then stopped, for I knew he would not know what I was talking about. So I cleared my throat and simply said, "Yes, I have pictured it."

Erik eyed me curiously for a moment and then stated, "Do you picture it big? Beautiful? Breath-taking?"

"Oh yes!"

"And tell me, what do you think of the outside of the Opera House?"

I thought about this for a moment. I flashed back to when I was reading Phantom by Susan Kay. Erik had built and constructed most of the Opera House, but with much help from others, and I know he had done the outside too. I always thought that the walls outside the Opera House were beautiful, with many designs and statues. But I have never been able to see it. I have only seen pictures from films, and those were so gorgeous. I knew that anything Erik did, weather it was about music, architecture, magic, etc., was beautiful, so I said:

"I always thought of it beautiful, with many designs on it."

"Would you like to see it also?"

I smiled brighter this time. "That would be lovely."

He then asked me, "Do you enjoy listening to Opera?"

I nodded and responded, "Yes. I think it is lovely music."

He smiled at me, and then asked me many more questions of what I liked about Opera, more of the Opera House, favorite Opera singers, etc. We talked for hours and hours and I felt as if I already knew what the Opera House looked like. Time must of gone by quite fast, for when Erik looked up at the clock, he jumped from his chair and exclaimed.

"It's already 8:30!" He then chuckled and said, "Time flies when you are speaking with such a lovely woman."

I flushed and could feel my face getting warm. He then extended his arm and said,

"Come, we must go. People should be leaving the Populaire about now."

Erik led me into the main room and out a large wooden door that led to the lake. The wooden door was always open, I had noticed. He carefully led me into the boat, and when I was seated safely, he stood on the boat and grabbed a large pole. We rowed down the lake and the whole time neither of us said a word, but I could somehow feel his eyes on me.

Once we had reached the shoreline, or as they were mainly stairs, Erik leaped out of the boat and then helped me out. He then led me down a few dark corridors which I was very terrified.

I was a bit afraid of the dark. But I don't mind being in my room in the dark. It depends on where I am, and I was very terrified here. Erik was holding my hand as we walked down the corridor, so I felt a bit safer. But when I felt some rough skin brush across my ankles, I screamed.

Erik immediatley spun around and grasped his sword which was tied to his belt. He spun around in every direction and then turned to face me.

"What happened?" He asked worriedly.

I studdered a bit and then replied, "Something rough brushed across my ankles."

Smiling, he put his sword back in his belt and then took my hand again.

"Christine, Christine, my child. Do not be frightened. Those were just the rats, they won't harm you. And if they do, they'll be dead before they can let out another annoying squeak."

After I smiled he brought my hand to his mouth and kissed it. I blushed and then looked to the floor, embarrased. We then started to walk again, his hand still clutching mine.

Once we came to the end of a tunnel, Erik said:

"I have been foolish not to light the torches in the corridors. I forgot how frightened you were in the dark. Excuse me, Christine. Next time I will bring a torch when we come down here."

I nodded and said,

"That would be very helpful. Thank you, Erik."

He then again kissed my hand and to my surprise, opened the wall. The end of the tunnel apparently was a little trap door he could go in and out of. Erik climbed threw the tunnel and so did I.

After getting out of the tunnel, I noticed we were in the main room of the Opera Populaire. I gasped at how beautiful it all was! I then said,

"Erik, this is all so beautiful! But-" I then stopped. I couldn't feel Erik's presence near me and I could not see his shadow. The room after all was quite dark, but I could still see threw it fine.

"Erik?" I asked worriedly. "Erik!"

I picked up the skirts of my dress so I could run without falling over. I ran to the center of the room and looked around madly.

"Erik, please come out! I'm frightened!"

Just then I saw something pass me. It was a white shape, floating in the air. It went by slowly, so slowly that it frightened me. The white glowing shape floated upwards, and I looked up to see what it was doing. It floated over to the chandelier which I thought was the biggest chandelier I have ever seen, but I knew there must of been a bigger one in the actual theatre.

"Erik!" I wailed again. I was getting so frightened, and yet I couldn't keep my eyes off this ghostly figure.

I kept looking at the floating thing, and to my surprise it looked straight at me! I wanted to scream, but I couldn't move or speak. I just stood there like a dummy, staring at the white figure.

The figure floated down towards me, and oh so close! So close I could almost touch it, but I didn't dare move. I could not see a face on the figure, it was just a big clad of white.

All of a sudden, arms started to peek out from the figure. Ghostly, zombie like, bloody arms. The white figure slowly started to transform from white to red. I wanted to scream out for Erik again, but I just couldn't.

It was so disgusting what I had seen next. A human head, a blood red human head started to pop out from the now red figure. It had veins all over the face, and blood was pouring from it. Just then the legs popped out immediatley and I noticed that the toenails were long, bloody, chipped and gross. I felt the need to dispose of my breakfast, but I just stood there in disgust.

The red figure was now formed into a body. A naked, bloody, disgusting body. The face looked at me, those blood red eyes looked into mine and I was so scared. But just then, the lights to the main room turned on and the figure, or monster as you might call it, hissed.

Suddenly, Erik charged at the figure, sword in hand. He pushed me aside and I stared in shock as Erik plunged his sword into the figure's body. The figure hissed and cried in pain, and in started to melt into the floor. The figure eventually melted and was completely gone, and all of the blood too. Not a trace was left of it.

This is when I burst into tears. God, I didn't know how scared I was! I tried to cover my face with my hands but Erik darted up to me and slowly pulled my hands away from my eyes, showing my tear-stained face.

"Christine, do not cry! It gives me great pain to see you cry!" He exclaimed.

I did my best to hold back the tears. Erik dug his gloved hand into his pocket and searched around for something. He then smiled and pulled out a hankerchief, handing it to me. I took it gracefully and wiped the tears away from my eyes.

"Thank you." I said quietly. He only nodded and watched me as I dabbed away the tears.

Once I was finished, he took the damp hankerchief from me and stuffed it back into his pocket. I took his arm and he led me into the theatre.

I did not want to lose Erik like I had done in the main entrance. I stayed close to him as he turned the lights on and the whole theatre brightened.

I gasped as I looked around the huge theatre. It was so amazing! I had never been in a real Opera House before, and this was just so wonderful. I looked up and saw the infamous chandelier dangling from the ceiling by a simple thick chain. It was so beautiful, with many crystals and diamonds decorating it.

"I assume you like it?" I heard Erik say happily from behind me. I turned around and smiled at him.

"Oh Erik, it's so gorgeous!" I cried.

"Yes, indeed it is. Now come along, let me show you the rest of the theatre."

The rest of the theatre was gorgeous, just how I expected it to be. He even let me look inside of the restrooms, which of course he didn't follow me in. We explored the boxes, and he showed me his box, which of course was Box 5. He even let me go onto the stage in the theatre. Once I was on, I pretended to be a dancer and I danced around the stage. Erik seemed amused, for he had one eyebrow raised and a smile on his face.

Erik even showed me the roof. I got to see Apollo's Lyre and looked down onto the streets of Paris. I still wondered however, where Erik had taken me once he pulled me threw the Ouija Board. The past, into his world? Or maybe some other world, like a spirit world? I thought about this for a moment and then looked down onto the streets of Paris to try and find someone.

I spotted one lady walking down the street. She surely didn't have any clothes like in the year of 2005. She had a corset, although I couldn't really tell the color since I was so far up. I leaned closer to try and get a better look, but instantly regretted it for I was leaning so far over the ledge. I almost fell over the side, but just then some strong hands gripped my waist and pulled me back.

I turned around and saw Erik panting. He looked so afraid, and I felt so stupid trying to lean so far over the edge. I probably frightened him.

"Christine!" He said sharply and worriedly at the same time. "You gave me a scare! Do not try to lean so far over the edge, my dear! If I didn't make it here in time, you would be - well..."

After saying these words, Erik looked as if he were about to cry. He looked me in the eye and I saw that his eyes were getting red and puffy. He pulled me closer to him and hugged me, breathing into my hair.

"Thank god I didn't lose you. There would be no reason for me to live," He mumbled into my hair. I closed my eyes and said,

"Erik, forgive me. I was so stupid to lean so far over the edge like that. I'm so sorry I gave you a scare! Please forgive me."

He nodded in approval and took his face away from my hair. He held my face in his hands and looked deeply into my eyes. I looked into his and saw that he had been crying. God, I felt so bad! I knew it was dumb to lean over the edge like that. I was about to speak when he said,

"Come. We must go now. I'm sure you're getting sleepy?"

Before I could reply he took my hand and led me back down to the lair.

x x

I was tucked nicely into my bed. We had just gotten back to the lair, and I had so many thoughts running threw my mind.

I leaned too far over the edge. I feel so guilty. Poor Erik even started to cry!

What year was I in? Was I in Paris, in the past? Or in some sort of spirit world?

What were in those two rooms that he doesn't let me see?

Would I ever be able to go back to my own world again?

Did I make Erik angry?

Shut up! Shut up! I yelled at the little voice in the back of my head. Too many questions for me, way too many! But I was curious of what year I was in.

For an hour I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking about where I was. In the past? In a spirit world perhaps? Do those even exist? These questions screamed in my head and I just couldn't take it anymore, so I pulled the blankets off me and went over to find Erik.

First, I looked into the music room. I could see no Erik, but I saw Ayesha sitting on his organ bench. I smiled at the cat but once she saw me, she hissed and looked ready to jump from the seat and attack me. I ran away from that room and looked into the kitchen. Not there either. I looked in the library, drawing room, and even the bathrooms but I still couldn't find him.

Just then I heard a sigh come from behind me. I had just entered the hallway where the two secret rooms were, the library, and a bathroom. I flipped around and came face-to-face with one of the secret room doors. It was opened a crack, so I decided to look inside.

I looked into the room, but I didn't dare go inside. Erik was sitting on a chair at his desk, and he was holding up the hankerchief he gave to me earlier that day. He held the hankerchief in his hands for a long time, and then he sighed, closed his eyes, and pressed his lips to the hankerchief.

When he took his lips away, he said sharply to himself:

"I want her. I need her. She will be mine."

I gasped as he said these words. Luckily he didn't hear me, apparently he was too busy pressing his lips to the hankerchief again. When he was finished, he smiled and then he opened his eyes and said:

"Her tears smell so sweet."

But just then, his smile faded and he clutched the hankerchief tighter in his hands. He then smacked it to the desk and yelled,

"But she doesn't belong to me yet! I want her, she is mine! All mine! I want her-" Before he could finish his sentence, he broke into a sob and once again kissed the hankerchief.

"Oh Christine," He whispered. "Why do you listen to a monster talk to himself? Why are you listening to me at the doorway?" He then turned his tear-stained face to mine.

Great. He caught me.

xxx

Oh yeah, a cliff hanger! I haven't had too many of these yet, have I? Well, first of all I want to thank my lovely reviewers! I read all of my reviews and they are all so gosh darn sweet. Well, the bad news is that I have camp starting on Monday. And the really really bad news is that it starts from 8:00am to 4:30pm. Eight in a half hours until Friday! That's why I won't be able to update soon enough. That's why right now at this very moment I am trying to write at least two more chapters so I can upload them when I get home from camp. Yup...so please review! Hehe. :)