Author's note- Jen here once again! Oh, and my muse, Erik!

Erik- waves

Jen- Gabby would say hi, I'm sure…but…she isn't here right now! So, it is just me and Erik…who…we have yet to meet in the story…speaking of which, how about I answer some reviews! Here we go…rubs hands together

ErikandChristine- Thank you much! You were the first to review. I like first reviews , especially when they come only a few hours after posting the first chapter. Glad you enjoy it, and here is the next chapter!

Tallacus- haha, my devoted fan, I'm glad you found this, enjoy the rest of the chapter! And yes, Gabby is a good cook!

Chapter 4

Into the Dark

Gabby sighed as the sun began to set. She hadn't had any luck, only finding locked doors. Maybe Jen had done better, she thought. She hoped. They HAD to find the Phantom. SHE had to annoy him. A grin spread across her face at that. Annoying the Opera Ghost was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Once in a lifetime, because, she figured, after annoying him, the Punjab would be around her neck. With a nervous and less than sane chuckle she opened the door to her and Jen's room, and got ready for bed. She frowned at the skirts. "I'm going shopping tomorrow…" she told herself, as there was no one else in the room. "Playing cello in a dress sucks. Dresses in general suck." With that, she sat down on her bed and found some paper and a pencil. She smiled and began to draw, waiting for Jen to return.

XxXxXxXxX

Jen returned to consciousness with a groan. Her body ached, and she didn't know why. She looked around, but if she hadn't known better, her eyes might still have been closed. She couldn't see anything. With another groan the percussionist attempted to stand. Rather unsuccessfully, she thought, falling back to the ground. She breathed heavily, ignoring the pain that greeted her body as she slumped against the wall again, and tried to stand once more. She made it, and yelped slightly. Her arm was killing her. Probably hurt it on the fall. The fall? What fall? Jen's head was swimming as scant memories rushed back to her. "The fall…yes, I fell…and, I must find him…" she said softly, to herself, and wondered at the sound of her voice. The percussionist shook her head, trying to clear it, and sighed. She had a long walk ahead of her, she was guessing, though she couldn't see where she was going. Keeping a hand to the wall, she started forwards.

Hours seemed to pass as Jen slowly made her way down the path way. She tripped more than once or twice, and found herself wading through waist-high water eventually. When she first found the cold lake, she had walked in, unknowing, and cursed, then realized where she was. Currently, she was still in the icy liquid, shivering and muttering to herself. "When I find that Phantom, I will give him a piece of my mind." She muttered angrily, teeth chattering. The dark that surrounded her didn't help the temperature either. "I'll take one of those lasso's he's so famous for, and…and…throw it around HIM. Then…then…I…I'll make him suffer through saladfingers! And Milkman!" (Authors note- stupid flash video's that scare me to death…) A demonic grin crossed her face, or, she thought one did. She couldn't see enough to know for sure. Of course, getting a computer with internet service seemed…nearly impossible, but so had arriving in the Opera House. Jen shrugged, she would thing of something. Just as she was about to take a break, she heard music up ahead. Very soft music, still a distance away. Organ music. He was ahead. With a triumphant punch to the air, Jen waded further across the lake, following the music. It grew louder and louder steadily, cressendoing until Jen saw soft candle-light ahead. She smiled and swam faster. The further down the tunnel she had gone the deeper the water had gotten, but it was becoming shallower again. Her feet touched bottom, and the infamous ghost came into view. He was sitting, back to her, at his organ, playing something. Composing, Jen thought. She crouched in the shadows, out of the water, keeping him in view yet staying out of his. The song entranced her. The intoxicating chords and rhythms blended almost too well. Jen sighed, and felt herself slipping from her hiding spot, and nearly fell back into the water. She caught herself before ending up back in the lake, but let out a soft yelp. She hoped he hadn't heard, but it was too late. Erik turned from his playing and glanced about the room, eying everything carefully. As his eyes came closer to her, she ducked and closed her eyes, then opened one to look at him. He didn't seem to see her. After he had looked about the room, she heard the sound of the organ once again. When he finished, Jen, without thinking (again) called out, voice low, imitating his from the movie. "Brava! Brava! Bravissima!" she said, voice lowering on the last word.

"Who are you?" a male voice asked. She smiled, grinning. "I am the phantom of the opera…." She sang, her alto voice almost as low as his. Amusement crept onto his face. "Are you?" he asked softly, chuckling to himself. "But of course. Unless, good monsieur, you claim to be him. In which case, I am only Jen." She called out, staying hidden. The man thought for a moment. "Well then, show yourself, Jen." He said, voice gentle yet commanding. Jen smiled to herself. She had been waiting for this. "I am afraid, good sir, that I can not. You must find me." He frowned, then seemed to be debating with himself about something. "Alright, mademoiselle, I shall search." Erik turned her direction. "Can you sing?" he asked her. Jen was surprised by the question. "Not very well, monsieur. Though, some believe I can. I am a better musician than singer. That is to say, I am in the Opera's orchestra."

"Let me hear your voice." He said. Jen interpreted that as 'sing.' In her mind, she added 'my angel of music,' though she knew she was far from an angel of music. "What shall I sing for you then, mon cher phantom."

"Whatever you want, mademoiselle." He said. Jen laughed softly to herself, still hidden behind the crate, the place she had been the whole time. His voice had seemed closer, and she turned to see his progress. Her eyes widened in surprise when she found him standing above her, leaning on the box, smirking. "Alright then good sir, I shall sing. But, do not expect me to sing as your angel does." She took a deep breath and began. Jen chose Learn to Be Lonely, though she didn't know why. Perhaps it was because she was currently phatom-phied, her mind completely overwhelmed by what was happening. "Child of the Wilderness, born into emptiness…" she began, voice low, as always. With a mental laugh she thought about how her voice matched pitches with the musical genius listening to her. "Learn to be lonely…" he was thinking while he listened, and she finished the rather short song and took a slight bow. She wrapped her arms around her, just realizing how cold she was. "You are not as bad as you say, my dear." He said after a long silence. "You look cold."

"I AM cold." Jen replied, shivering. Her swim hadn't helped matters much. Erik smiled. "Come, I shall lead you to your room." Jen opened her mouth, then shut it, unsure of what to say. When she opened it again, he had already donned his black cape, and was moving towards one of the many tunnels. "You know who and what I was?" she asked in anguish. He nodded. "You could say. I knew you were in the Orchestra, and I have seen you on my nightly patrols." Jen stared at him, open mouthed. "You have been sneaking about the Opera quite a bit of late. May I inquire as to why?"

"Searching for you." She said quickly, then mentally kicked herself. The visible side of his masked face raised an eyebrow. "Why, might I ask, have you just now taken an interest in me?"

"Would you believe that I woke up one morning and found myself here? Would you believe that I come from a time in the future, many years from now?"

"No." he replied, seemingly enjoying himself. A rare smile passed his lips as he listened and led her. "Well then, I will tell you the lie I came up with for this reason. I heard one of the stage-crew talking of a phantom two days past, and decided to find out if you were real. I seek musical lessons, monsieur." She told him, happy that she had pulled the lie off. "You do? For what? Singing? Or percussion?"

"Percussion, sir. I wish for help."

"I do not play percussion often. Your friend, does she also seek help? Cellist, am I correct?"

"Aye, indeed, cher phantom. If you would be so kind as to help us." Jen said, smiling sweetly. Erik thought for a moment, then nodded. "Met me tomorrow, with your friend. That is, if she doesn't find her way down here first." He said, laughing softly. Jen nodded. "After rehearsal we shall come, monsieur. Through our mirror, perhaps? She asked, looking at the glassy wall up ahead. "of course. Now, go." With that, he disappeared into the darkness, leaving Jen to find her way out.

Authornote- please review! Reviews make me and my muse happy! And, 'mon cher' meand 'my dear' in French. Alright, until the next chapter, adieu.