to those of you keeping up with this story, sorry I haven't updated in a couple of days. double sorry that I won't be here for the weekend to update eveb more, I'm going to Atlanta and won't be able to write. I hope this story is growing and I appreciate reviews!

oh yes, and in my world, I can lace a corset by myself:D

Erik: Hurry up! on with the chapter! And she owns nothing related to POTO.

yes, yes... chapter 9:

I followed the directions Erik had given me, slipping in and out from behind canvases, staying in the shadows… not being seen.

I had been seen!

I stopped suddenly and hit my forehead with my fist

Stupid, stupid, stupid! You can't do anything right! He tells you not to be seen, and what do you do? Go running up to Mary, and then let that…FOP touch you and talk to you? You disobey the first thing he says! STUPID!

I stopped hitting myself, feeling a little dizzy, and checked the bodice of my dress for the note Erik had given me.

I glanced at his directions again and was sure to pull the cloak tighter around me, walking on to Madam Giry's quarters all the time chanting in the back of my head, "Stupid, stupid, stupid…"

She stopped so suddenly I almost ran right into her. I had to regain my footing and step back to be sure she didn't notice my presence.

She couldn't have heard me following her.

Then this girl did something I had never seen a respectable young lady do.

She began beating herself. Almost punching herself in the head, this girl was clearly insane!

After a few good seconds of bodily harm, she seemed to be satisfied and continued her journey.

I watched her walk with her black cloak billowing around her small form as she walked.

She was nothing like his Christine. Her long blonde hair was wavy compared to the chestnut curls of Christine.

Sheridan, was that her name? Yes, Sheridan wasthe name she said.

Sheridan had blue eyes that looked like the sea after some wild storm. You could almost see a small ship being tossed around her irises, being brutally assaulted by the pounding waves. Christine's eyes were deep and chocolate.

Sheridan had fair skin, with freckles across the bridge of her nose, while Christine had skin as white as fresh snow.

And then there was the height.

Christine was petite, small, and low to the ground. While this new girl stood at almost six feet.

But they both had a sense of innocence. The one thing he thought that she and Christine shared, that glorious innocence. You could see it in the way they held themselves, the way they talked, the way they held their hands behind their backs, like an obedient child waiting for some sort of praise.

But this girl who had blindly stumbled into his life (literally) seemed to have something else about her, something he could not name.

She had a fire inside. You could see it in her eyes, the way she held herself, the way she let things slip out.

Maybe that's why he was following her. She had a fire that he shared.

I paused at the damp, deserted hallway I had to walk down and held my breath as I braced myself to once again step into darkness. Glancing down at the directions Erik had quickly scrawled, I read the word, "Shortcut"

"Nice shortcut..." I said to Erik, even though I knew he couldn't hear me, as I took a step into the ominous corridor.

well? let me know what you think!

Erik: do it, or I'll never hear the end of it all the way to Atlanta. /mocking tone/ "Do you think they liked it? I hope I get a lot of reviews! My life is so sad that I have to depend on other people to cheer me up!"

hey mister...