François and I made up yesterday as I lurked around the Opera and he moved backdrops around. He was truly apologetic, although I think that he was still a little angry with me.

"I'm just concerned about you, Christine," he'd said in his typical worried tone.

Ha! Concerned! There's something new from someone. Nobody cares about me - or, at least, the only ones who care about me are the ones spreading the legend of The Phantom of the Opera throughout the Opera.

It's quite interesting to be famous - or, perhaps in this case, infamous. I haven't committed a murder yet, but the whole company goes in fear of me. They scream every time they see me. Well, the chorus girls do, at least.

It's also quite charming as well. The choristers have come up with a theme song for me! Every time something strange happens in the Opera, I'm the one to blame, and they burst into song with the charming little tune they've made up. I often find myself humming it as I lurk in the shadows.

Perhaps I could live like this. Maybe I could be alone and it would be all right. Maybe...

One day, not too long after the morphine incident with François and the day after he apologized, Christine lurked around the Opera, looking to see if she could give someone a good scare. She enjoyed doing that and did it every time the opportunity presented itself.

She was hiding by a wall by the floor of the stage, where there was a small window to see the stage on. The men's chorus was having a rehearsal and were singing and dancing about the stage. It was then she caught sight of someone she'd never seen before.

There, in the center of a stage, was a young man with loose blonde hair, clear blue eyes, and a rather breathtaking smile that stretched from ear to ear on his handsome face. He stood on the stage, talking to another member of the men's chorus and laughing a contagious laugh every so often.

Looking at him, she felt something new rush through her. She'd never been in love before, but she was sure that this was what it felt like. He was so... handsome!

"Oh..." she breathed softly, then continued to stare at him with glazed fascination.

François then walked by and caught sight of her. He walked up to her to greet her, but she took no notice of him. Then he saw that she was staring at something - or someone - out on stage. He followed the direction of her eyesight and then saw who she was staring at.

"Is there something you see that you like, Christine?" he asked, a small, knowing smile coming to his face.

She gave him a side glance of acknowledgment, then turned back to the stage at the spot where the young man stood, the entranced look he'd seen before starting to come to her face once again.

"Oh, François," she replied, sighing rather dreamily, "who is he?"

"You mean the young man you're gaping at?" he said lightly. "His name is Cameron Luc. Men's chorus. Came here from London four years ago to have a career at the Opera."

"How old is he?"

"Nineteen."

She nodded. "Is he any good of a singer?" she demanded.

"Who knows?" he sighed. "They'll hire anyone for the chorus these days."

"Don't I know it," she grumbled, shaking her head. "I wonder if he is..."

He smiled. "Why are you so interested in him?"

"No reason," she said guardedly. "He's just new to me, that's all. I've never seen him before."

She let out a sigh, then turned to him and saw his knowing glance. "I've got to go," she then said, feeling her face start to flush, turning and starting to walk back down to her lair.

Hell is, as my father once said, not a place, it's a state of mind and body; it is an obsession with a name, a face...

I have a new obsession - or, at least, I think I do.

His name is Cameron Luc, and he's a chorister here at the Opera. He's been here since the Opera rejuvenated, meaning that he's been here for around four years.

I'm shocked that I've never seen him before today. Of course, I was shocked to see him at all... he was so incredibly handsome that it was unbelievable! If only I weren't something of a recluse, then I possibly would make my presence known to him. Possibly.

But it won't happen. Never, not in my wildest dreams. I'm about the most monstrous thing that's ever walked this earth, and he is undoubtedly the most handsome man I've ever laid eyes on.

But I can still dream. I can still worship him in silence, even if I can never actually be in his presence. I can still admire him from afar.