(A/N: Thank you so much for all of the reviews! I hope you all enjoy this chapter as well. :) Please remember to review at the end! ((innocent smile))


Chapter Six: Christine's Secret

Christine stared at the envelope in her hand for a while, trembling. She tilted her head up and her eyes scanned the rafters, searching for whoever had dropped it.

There was no one there.

Christine took a deep, steadying breath and looked back down at the envelope. The gruesome skull looked right back at her. Her eyes shut for a moment to close out the horrible visage. Then she opened them again and slid her finger under the seal, breaking it. Every one of her senses told her to flee, but she held her ground. If this was someone playing a prank on her, she wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of seeing her run.

Slowly she pulled the letter out. It was hand-written, which surprised her, and it had a type of childish quality about it. The letters were disconnected, and looked as if it had taken a great deal of work to write them. Christine frowned at it for a moment before taking in what it said.

To Ms. Christine Daae:

She paled slightly. Whoever wrote this knew her name. Gradually she composed herself and read on.

Your voice makes the angels in heaven cry in shame. The tone, quality, and pitch are perfect. Hold your head up when you sing, though, it will help your voice carry better. Your support is rather good, but you still might want to practice on it. The only true problem you have at the moment really portraying the emotions in the song. Before you sing, close your eyes and imagine yourself as the character who sang this song. Think of how they would feel as they sang the words you are singing, and put all of that feeling into the lyrics.

Behind you on the right edge of the steps are copies of music from a Broadway musical that is currently missing their lead. I imagine they will require a new one, and you are exactly what they need. Practice this music.

I will deliver the date of the tryouts to your door.

Christine finished reading, eyes wide. Not only did this person know her name, but they knew where she lived! Christine leaned on the podium, trying to gather her scattered thoughts. She probably knew this person—for all she knew, it was Meg or Raoul playing a trick on her.

That didn't make sense, though. Neither of them knew that she was here—in fact, no one knew she was here. She didn't even know when she left that she would come here. Her gaze suddenly dropped to the signature.

Your friend and assistant,

The Phantom

Christine dropped the paper like it was on fire, the little color that was left in her face leaving it. The Phantom. The man that had threatened Carmelita, ruined her costumes, killed her dog…stole her music…

Christine's eyes flew to the music that sat at the edge of the small platform, then back to the note on the ground. He had stolen Carmelita's music…and now he was giving it to her!

Christine side-stepped the note and walked hesitantly over to the music. She should take it, and turn it into the police, along with the note. They could analyze the handwriting, and possibly catch this man before he did any more damage.

Christine gathered the music up and felt a pang of longing. She wished that this wasn't stolen music, and that someone was really trying to help her get on Broadway. She paged through Carmelita's music absent-mindedly. Perhaps she could…

No. This man was a maniac, and needed to be stopped. This was possibly the only evidence they had against him.

Christine firmly tucked the music under her arm and walked back over to the note, picking it up off of the floor. She frowned as she noticed something on the back…a post script.

P.S.—Good luck at your recital next week.

This time, Christine didn't hesitate. She fled.

xxxxx

Golden eyes followed after Christine as she ran out of the door, slamming it shut behind her. Erik smiled slightly. She was frightened now, but she would quickly learn that she had nothing to fear from him.

He carefully climbed down from his hiding place, switching off the lights before taking the back door out.

Soon, everyone would forget Carmelita, and Christine would be the new star of Broadway…

xxxxx

Christine got into her car and started it up, before realizing she hadn't shut the lights off to the church. She winced… there was no way she was going back in there. Hopefully, someone would notice, and if no one did then nothing could be done. Someone probably came around to check on it, anyway.

As Christine pulled out of the church's tiny parking lot, she looked back over her shoulder.

The lights were off.

To stop herself from hitting the gas and pealing out of the parking lot as fast as she could, she told herself that the lights must have burnt out already. All of them. At the same time. Well, it could happen…

xxxxx

Meg was waiting for Christine when she returned, a smirk on her face. "So... did you have a good time at Raoul's?"

Christine stared at her friend for a moment, momentarily lost. After all of the things that had happened, she had completely forgotten that she had originally been at Raoul's house.

"Oh… right. Yes, that. I didn't stay for too long because I didn't want to bother him. But Meg—" She was about to tell Meg about the note when her friend interrupted her.

"When did you guys leave?"

"I don't remember. Meg, I got this note—"

"Oh come on, Christine, you have to remember."

"Sometime around… Oh, I really can't recall Meg. Look—"

"Christine! This is important. He could be your first boyfriend!"

And this is my first stalker…who happens to be a notorious criminal! That's rather important as well! Christine thought furiously. "Meg, this is much more important than Raoul. I was practicing for my recital when—"

Meg sighed dramatically. "When will you learn, Christine? There are much more important things in life than singing."

"Meg! I was rehearsing for my recital when I got a note from that Phantom guy—the one who's been threatening Carmelita. He knows my name, where I live, and that my recital is next week. I don't know how much more he knows about me…but…" Christine was about to continue when she saw her friend's face.

Meg's eyes were as wide as saucers. "Christine…that's really serious! Did you call the police yet?"

Christine was about to tell Meg that she hadn't when she thought about it…really thought about it. She had Carmelita's stolen music. Her finger prints were all over it, and all over the note. Why would they believe that she hadn't been responsible for everything? She didn't have any proof that it wasn't her! Besides that, even in the event that the police did believe her, this man was an insane criminal…who was to say he wouldn't just go after her? Or worse, since he knew where she lived, threaten to kill Meg?

"I…" Christine forced a small laugh. "I'm sorry, Meg, I was just kidding. I… wanted your attention…you know, you kept interrupting me."

Meg blinked for a second, frowning. "Christine, that really wasn't funny…you completely scared me."

"I know…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I was trying to come up with something that was more important than Raoul. But you're right; he's probably the most important thing in my life right now."

Meg was not to be put off so easily, though. "Are you sure Christine? You really sounded scared…"

"Did I? Good, I've been practicing on my acting for a while now, I'm glad it paid off. Anyway," Christine quickly changed the topic to something she knew would make Meg forget everything about the Phantom, "Raoul asked me out!"

Meg jumped up with a squeal, "I knew it!"

xxxxx

Erik returned to his house and nearly ran right into Mariette. "Where have you been? Jacques told me you went out to investigate a car that was near that little church…"

Jacques happened to walk down the stairs at that very moment, and immediately received a sharp glare from Erik. His eyes went from him, back to Mariette, and he instantly understood everything that was going on.

"Ah, yes, the car," Jacques put in, "I was receiving suspicious readings from it…we thought that it might be containing weapons."

Mariette's eyes narrowed. "I see. And we wouldn't want anyone to put Erik in danger, right?"

"Exactly."

"So naturally Erik was the one to go investigate."

Jacques paused for only a moment. "Naturally." He answered with a small smile. After receiving a glower from Mariette he added, "Don't ask me…Erik's the one who insisted on going."

Erik's glares at Jacques became deadly. His head servant coughed and began back up the steps. "I'll just be going now, shall I?"

"Don't you move!" Mariette snapped. Jacques froze. "Now, you're both going to come with me, and explain what you've been up to."


(A/N: Lol, I couldn't help but update… Even though I haven't updated on other one's for a while… ((guilty look)) Don't worry, Crimson Rose will also be updated tonight. PLEASE REVIEW!)

—Hilary