Alright, finally a long chapter! Thanks so much for the reviews, I tried to reply to you all, but for some reason it wouldn't work. hmm. Anyways, on with the story!

Chapter 8

No dreams within her heart,

But dreams of love!

No thoughts within her head,

But thoughts of joy!

Christine felt that these words were hollow. The only thoughts in my head right now are of confusion. At least rehearsal is almost over, and I can go see if—now her mind interrupted itself. Erik?! Christine shook her head slightly. He was a puzzle. Too much work. To travel through time with someone, and still feel awkward and uncomfortable around that person! Christine sighed. Sure, I still hardly know him. But I feel like I've known him for ages! She set her mouth stubbornly, and began to sing once again.

The staircase creaked slightly as Christine stepped up it. Her legs felt like lead. Only two more dress rehearsals until the first performance! Why was that fact so unnerving?

Along with her new memories, Christine had been blessed with the knowledge of each scene, line and song upon entering this other time, so she didn't have to worry about forgetting something. In fact, it seemed to her that performing the play would actually be easier then fixing whatever time had shown her.

She had now reached the end of the dimly lit staircase and entered into the "Silent Room", so called by the ballet rats for of the aura of power throughout it. Upon entering, there seemed to be a heady silence which made none want to speak.

The room had a large stained glass window of an angel in the far wall, which, at sunset, filled the entire room with little glittering specks of multi-colored light.

Christine stepped soundlessly towards the immense candelabra in the corner and kneeled in front of it. She had finally compromised with herself and decided that instead of going to find Erik, and instead of hiding from him in her dormitory, she would come up here, to this Silent Room, in hopes of not having her thoughts interrupted.

In this haze of dust motes and fragments of light sat Erik, on a wooden stool directly behind Christine. Deep in thought, she had not noticed him, and now he gazed wistfully at the upturned face before him. Christine sat facing the window, her eyes closed, the setting sun bathing her features in soft yellow light and creating a white halo on her curls.

Erik did not dare move. His grip on the stool was painfully tight. He had not wanted it to happed like this, had intended to speak to her as she entered the room.

Now there was a maze of emotions rising up in Erik, and he wanted to beat them down but couldn't. The first were quite east to understand, confusion, fear, and so on, but as Erik traveled through the maze he became lost.

There were emotions there he didn't know he was capable of feeling… and didn't want to feel, especially when caused by this innocent face in front of him.

And then there were suspicions, which deep down Erik knew to be more than suspicions. One, which was starting to torment Erik much more often, was in reference to being thrust aback in time. There must be a reason for it! Erik felt he had to fix something, but what was it?

And why was it Erik who was thrust back into time? Surely there had to be a reason for that! It could've been anyone! Why him? Erik's suspicion on that was a bit more complicated. For example, he reasoned with himself, how am I able to remember all these things so suddenly? They couldn't have happened to someone else, they happened to me!

And… and… if I somehow replaced the Phantom that used to be here when I switched times, then where is that Erik? Unless … Erik's mind began to work furiously. Unless I am that Erik. But how could I live in the 1800s and 2000s at the same time?

The ending of the maze had now become clear to Erik. He shook his head to clear it, realized that his eyes were still tightly shut, and blinked them several times.

The Silent Room had now become dark, and only the moon shining through the window allowed Erik to see Christine lying slumped on the floor, sound asleep. The moonlight glittered on her Aminta costume, and Erik thought vaguely that he'd better not be falling in love with her, better not be repeating time. He hopped stiffly off the stool and gingerly shook Christine awake. She blinked sleepily, her eyes staring at the ceiling above her, and then coming to rest on Erik. When this happened, she sat straight up and became very stiff.

Erik then realized his hand was still resting on Christine's bare shoulder, and he scooted away from her awkwardly. He opened his mouth, shut it, and then cleared his throat.

"I have figured out why we're here," Erik said slowly, cautiously. Christine nodded, her eyes jumping from where his hand had touched her shoulder to focus on him curiously.

Erik cleared his throat again. "Did you suddenly remember… another life—when you got transported back here, to 1863?" Again Christine nodded, this time more thoughtfully.

"I thought it was because I had simply replaced the Erik that was here before me. But now I know that doesn't make sense! I couldn't have someone else's memories!

"And so I've realized that I must be the Erik from before! So I really am the Phantom! And you the Christine Daae!" Christine began to open her mouth, but Erik silenced her with a wave of his hand. "No, listen! Something must've caused us to change times, and I think it's because we have to change something while we're here!" At this Christine shifted uncomfortably.

"And so we've been living in two time periods- and we've been able to because-" Erik said excitedly "-Because- and I know this is crazy- but I believe that our souls were split! I mean, the me in 1863 must've had half and the me in 2006 half!"

Christine made a noise of disbelief. "Your soul can't be cut in half!" She scoffed. "You'd die!"

Erik shook his head. "Can you ever remember a feeling of wholeness? As if you were finally all in one place? Maybe time slowed down for you right then?"

Christine stared at the floor between them, her eyebrows lowered. She licked her lips, and then began to chew on her lower one. Slowly the disbelief in her expression changed to surprise as she nodded slowly. "Ye--es…" she paused. "With music, I felt…" she sucked in her breath. "I felt as though a part of me was filled- with- with something, out of control, bursting with…" her voice dropped to a whisper. "I felt complete."

Erik nodded, wordlessly showing he understood what she meant. "Your souls had to be linked together by something… Music is what linked them through time." Erik studied Christine's face. She looked incredulous, surprised, and maybe… disappointed, all at once. His eyes finally came to rest on hers.

Christine could feel a sort of pulling on her, and like magnets, her eyes drifted to his. A little jolt shot through her at the intensity of his gaze. The moonlight cast a shadow over the lower part of his face, so that his white mask and amber eyes glowed.

The expression on Erik's face was still excited from all he had just explained, and Christine felt herself falling into those pools of amber, which for once were open and readable. She felt herself leaning into him.