Disclaimer: I don't own PotO. I own the girls and their ideas and the storyline. Now READ!

Review Replies:

Enchantment3000: Thanks so much! Don't worry, they will. I've got loads planned for these guys...

mrs. malfoy: Thanks a lot, enjoy it!

Mouse in the Opera House: yea, somebody new! thanks for reading, I'm updating as quickly as I can!

Erik&Christine: Awww, that's kind of sweet, you angry for me. thanks, lol. They FINALLY meet Erik, I was so happy to finally get around to this chapter. btw, the laptop can play dvds, as can the portable dvd player that Sam has (you don't know that yet, tho. :))

Kendall

Chapter 9 – Face-to-Face With the Punjab Lasso

The gate creaked as it rose from the water, and now everything seemed louder than normal. From recently finishing the novel, I knew Erik's senses were better than most people's. The organ instantly stopped, and as we floated beneath the gate, I saw that the candles were all lit, sheet music was littered across the keys, but the bench was empty. We came to rest on the bank, and Kayla tied the gondola-thing off again.

"Now what?" I whispered to her.

She appeared not to hear, but was glancing around the room with complete alertness.

"Monsieur?" she called out. "Monsieur, ou étés-vous?"

No answer.

"Ca chanson, c'est très belle," she tried again.

I suddenly felt very uneasy.

"Kayla, you don't know where he is," Josie whispered urgently. "He could be anywhere in here."

Anywhere…

Kayla gave up speaking in French. "Monsieur, please come out. Where are you?"

No answer again.

Sam leapt from the boat to the steps and ran up to the piano bench.

"He disappeared! He's nowhere up here!"

"How do you know?" Kayla asked.

"No wonder he likes the organ up here," Sam muttered. "You can see the entire place from the bench."

Kayla and Josie stooped to pick up their things, and I stepped onto the bank.

I went up the steps and raised my voice a little, looking up at the domed ceiling.

"No wonder we could hear the music, this place has awesome acoustics!"

I heard a gasp from behind me and Sam cried, "Josie!"

I turned around to look.

Josie was holding her flashlight, one foot on the lowest step, and the Phantom stood behind her, the Punjab lasso tight around her neck.

Okay, that's the most clichéd cliffhanger ever, and 'Josie' is probably gonna kill me for it, but I didn't want everything to happen to Kayla. (She's my character, and probably would have had that happen to her if it weren't for my supreme self-control.) Anyway, please R+R! I could care less if you give me flames (if you don't like the story then why take the time to tell me you hate it?), however I will listen to constructive criticism and (duh) good reviews!

Phantomfreak07

PS: French: Ou étés-vous: where are you?

Ca chanson, c'est belle: That song is pretty.