Authors Notes - Thanks everyone for reading. I will reply to each reviewers comments at the end of the chapter.

Chapter Six

The following day rehersals started as normal. After breakfast, Charlotte escorted Joshua back to their rooms. 'Now, you be a good boy and stay here while I go and rehearse,' she said. Making sure he was set up with some paper, crayons and some toys, she kissed the top of his head and pulled on her dancing shoes. She was already dressed in her white rehersal outfit.

She gave him another kiss on the top of his head before she left him and raced down to the stage, knowing she would be running late. Madame Giry had allowances for her but she wouldn't take advantage of the older womans generosity toward her.

Erik walked toward the mirror and look through it. He saw the young boy sitting on the floor, playing with some toy carriages. A tiny smile appeared on his lips, seeing how the young boy was concentrating as he pushed the toys along, making soft noises as he did.

Erik jumped slightly when one of the toys hit into the mirror with a soft crunch and watched silently as the boy moved to pick up the car. However Erik held his breath when the young boy looked at the mirror but seemed to be staring into it, as though he could see through it.

Erik remained still, unsure of what to do. It was impossible to see through the mirror unless there was light from this side and Erik didn't even have a candle with him. Perhaps he could sense him?

He watched as the boy moved away after a few moments and went back to playing with this toys and Erik quickly went back to his lair.

In reality Joshua hadn't been looking at anything except his own reflection. Like a young child, he enjoyed pulling faces at himself in mirrors sometimes but his toy carriages held more interest to him.

However it wasn't long before he had become bored. He had played with his toys and drawn some pictures. With a soft sigh he stood and moved to the door of the bedroom.

He stared at it for a few moments and grinned. He knew he wasn't supposed to leave the room but that seemed to add to the appeal. He was being naughty.

With a soft chuckle to himself, he opened the door and peered out into the darkness for just a few minutes before he left the room, closing the door behind him

The dancers were allowed a ten minute break and Charlotte moved to the side, doing some leg stretches. She had come down rather hard from a leap and her right ankle was aching.

'Are you sure you're alright?' Meg asked softly.

'I'm fine,' Charlotte assured her. 'A dancers hazard I suppose,' she smiled before excusing herself to use the bathroom. Her ankle was aching and she wanted to run some cold water on her face.

Joshua had wandered into the auditorium and could hear voices. He looked around trying to find them but couldn't.

Finally he pushed through a curtain and looked down at the stage. He knew where he was now. He also remembered seeing the man in the mask here several weeks ago.

He looked down, seeing his sister on the stage. He grinned and wanted to call out to her but he knew he'd be in trouble if she discovered he had left the bedroom.

He watched silently as she walked across the stage and disappeared to the side. His eyes went wide, scared she was returning to their room.

Panic striken he turned and left the Box and ran back toward their room.

It was lunchtime and Charlotte moved back to her room to collect Joshua for lunch. She stretched her shoulders and arms as she walked. It had been a long rehersal and Madame Giry was working them hard, not that Charlotte minded. She wanted her steps to be perfect and ignored the other girls who complained. If they didn't want to be great dancers, why were they here?

'Joshua, it's lunchtime,' Charlotte announced as she opened he door to her room and looked inside. Not seeing him, she frowned slightly and moved inside, looking around the room before she moved next door, seeing that room was empty too. 'Joshua?' she called softly, in the hope perhaps he was hiding and would emerge at her voice. However he didn't and a quick inspection of under the beds proved he wasn't in either room.

Panic gripped her. 'Joshua?' she called out. 'Oh no Joshua!' she ran out into the halls, looking up and down. Where had he gone?

Thanks for reading everyone, I love to know people are reading my stories, it makes it more enjoyable to write.

southerncrossgirl - Thank you for reading, I'm glad you're enjoying my story.

Emma-J-Riddle - I'm sorry to hear you have such a huge responsibility. I'm glad you are enjoying my work though

DallyGirl4Life - Thank you for reading, glad you are enjoying it. I haven't updated for a little while but will update more often now

Nota Lone - (x 3) Thanks for reading. Yes, Down Syndrome was first named in 1866, so about 6 years before this story is set. Glad you liked the pretty boy Viscount, thinking of the movie Raoul and to me, he was indeed a pretty boy!

fluffybubbles - Yes, Erik is based on ALW's version, in particular the recent movie, I liked him alot and could really feel for him, especially in the last lair scene.

RoseQueen - Thank you for reviewing. And yes, Erik has a crush, although he is far too stubborn to admit that. I also dont think he'd simply be ready to get closer to anyone, especially after Christine

MayaBeeBop - Thank you for reading my story. I appreciate your views and I will keep them in mind. However Charlotte is not a Mary Sue (and yes I know everyone says that :P ) She is very different to me, physically, emotionally, pretty much everything. Although I do think, all writers put a bit of themselves into their characters. Personally I'll be Charlotte if she gets to cuddle up to Erik LOL Otherwise, she isn't me.

surf with music - Yes, institutions were terrible, not that they were any good even 10 years ago but that long ago, they were terrible. Thank you for reviewing

Zippy-Rox - Thank you for your feedback, I appreciate all comments. I do have alot of experience with people, especially children and adolencence with Down Syndrome. There are several different levels of Down Syndrome, from mild to extreme. Many do not talk, read, write and many cannot live independently. Others can do all these things and live more independant lives. Also this story is set is 1872 and Joshua naturally has had no sort of education as he was placed into an institution at birth. Also the syndrome was fairly new at this stage (it had only been given a name in 1866) so it was highly unlikely Joshua had been taught to read, write and as he was an institution where everyone else was disabled in some way and the institutions at that time where terrible and certainly had no structed educations, the people were simply locked up and kept there for their entire lives. So I'm portraying Joshua how I feel he would act considering the circumstances

IndiaPyro - Yes I can see why you'd like him falling for a red head. :P Thank you for reading my story, I'm glad you're enjoying