Thanks for the reveiws it really means a lot to me... /sniffle/...

Erik: No, she really did cry after she got four.

Please read on... /sniffle/I'm too verklempt!

Erik: She doesn't own anything... on with the chapter!

"You may go now." He said, tilting his head toward the boat floating by the shore.

"Do you think you could, perhaps, help me in?" I said blushing, knowing that if he allowed me to get in on my own I would surely turn the boat over.

"Oh, yes, of course." He quickly replied as he got up from his organ to assist me into the small craft

"Thank you," I said once I was safely in the boat, "For everything. Thank you, Erik."

I pushed off the shore and glided slowly across the underground lake, rowing slowly, trying not to make too much noise. The only light I had was the small lantern he had given me at the front of the boat.

"This is really creepy." I said to the silence. Hopefully I won't have to do this alone again.

Would humming help? That always helps when I'm afraid. I began humming "Row Row Row Your Boat."

That helped a little.

After what seemed like forever I felt the boat tap the opposite shore. I lifted my skirts and my cloak and stepped out of my little vessel. I tied it to a hidden metal hook that Erik had told me about and pulled out the piece of yellowed paper he had written my directions on to get to the upper world of the opera.

I gazed at his writing and traced my fingers over the swiftly written letters.

Red ink.

I found the catch in the stone I was looking for, and pulling my hood over my face stepped into the darkness of the secret tunnel.

I followed her along a small path that led around the perimeter of the lake.

I couldn't completely trust this girl. She was alone and didn't have anyone to run and tell of my secret home,but still I had to be sure she wouldn't betray me.

She seemed frightened in the darkness and began humming to herself a tune I didn't recognize. She had a nice throaty sound coming from her that seemed to calm myself and her.

When the boat came to the other side of the lake she tied it up like I had instructed her and she began looking at her directions. She stood there for almost two minutes looking at the paper.

She probably can't read my directions in the darkness.

Suddenly she seemed to understand them and found the catch in the stone immediately.

"Good job." I said to myself as she stepped into the passage and I walked through another to follow her up to the opera house.

Well, that wasn't as hard as I thought it would be!

I had come up through a trapdoor in what looked like a prop room that was backstage. I crawled to the floor and stood up, brushing dust and cobwebs off of my lovely black cloak. I walked almost soundlessly to the door and opened it. Seeing no one outside I gingerly stepped out and stood in a shadow.

I pulled out the piece of paper again with directions to Madam Giry's room and began making my way swiftly to my destination.

I was beginning to round a corner when I heard a familiar voice. I pulled my hood around my face and looked around to see where the voice was coming from.

"Yes, I've always sung! I sang in a chorus back in my old home. We were very popular and performed all the time! I've never been in an opera chorus before, so this is all new to me!"

My eyes widened and my mouth dropped open as I saw my friend Mary against a wall with her arms crossed talking to Raoul, who was standing over her with his arm against the wall leaning towards her.

"Well you certainly have a lovely voice, if I do say so myself." He said leaning closer to her.

"Oh Vicomte!" Mary said, and started her insane giggling.

We're going to have to have a little talk about all this.

Whispers were exchanged and I couldn't hear exactly what had been said, but I knew it was inappropriate when Mary turned redder than I had ever seen her turn before.

Raoul turned on his heel and began walking in my direction, I was so shocked by my friend's display to the fop, that I didn't see him making his way towards me. The next thing I knew he was standing in front of me smiling.

I'm 5'10, and so I was almost exactly on his eye level. He just stared at me and smiled.

"Is there something that you want monsieur?" I said sarcastically.

"Your hair is fabulous." He said and before I could walk away laughing he smacked my butt!

I was disgusted but began laughing insanely, forgetting I wasn't supposed to be seen. Mary obviously heard my familiar laugh and came running towards me.

" Sheridan! Where did you end up last night, I was worried, someone said they saw you fall down after the Phantom! I was so worried--but I got a job here in the chorus! Isn't that great? Isn't it wonderful? Where were you? I didn't know where you were, and oh my goodness that Raoul was talking to me, and he said something bad, but I didn't recognize the word. Do you know what a 'quinny' is?"

She said this at rapid Mary speed, and the only thing I caught was, "Do you know what a 'quinny' is?" I started laughing again and whispered in her ear what it was. If it was possible she got even redder, and I laughed even harder.

"So where were you!" She yelled after I had stopped laughing.

"Oh, I have a job now too, you could say. But I'm doing something right now, so I'll see you later." I began walking away, but decided to turn back around and yell back "FOP LOVER!" for dramatic effect.

I slid back into the shadow and continued my way to Madam Giry's.

She was doing well, until she saw some girl she knew.

And then that boy ran up to her and touched her. No not touch, he smacked her behind. Something about his touching her made my blood boil. Probably because I knew he did this to Christine as often as he wanted to.

Then she started talking to that girl!

I told her not to be seen! Why didn't she listen?

I saw her brush this obviously insane girl off and continue to make her way towards where she was supposed to be. She disappeared almost so quickly into the shadows of sets that I didn't see her.

I quickly found her and continued my journey behind her.

Love it? Hate it? Want to throw rocks at me?

Erik: I'll througha rock at you if you don't stop degrading yourself and wallowing in self pity.

Hey mister, you can't talk

Erik/silence/

No but really, reviews are lovely!