A/N: Hi everyone! Sorry it took so long but I've been bombarded with tests. And to make things worst, my school lost our Homecoming game. Grrr… And the one girl I don't like won Homecoming Queen. I would be really happy to get some reviews to cheer me up… thanks and enjoy! Thank you Megan for a great job in editing this between schoolwork. You're the best!

Chapter 8- Disappeared

"Have you heard about happened to Cat?" Stacey inquired as she came across Christine and Meg.

At their shaking, Stacey grinned. "She's missing."

"Um, no offense Stace, but duh," Meg replied. "She hasn't been here for a couple days now if you haven't noticed the peace and quiet."

Stacey rolled her eyes. "Stop being so bitchy Meg. Forget your Midal this morning?" Meg scowled, but the ballet dancer continued, "Anyways, someone went to her apartment to check to see why she hasn't showed up for rehearsals yet and no one was there."

"She could have gone to her cousin's to vent," Meg pointed out.

"But she's not. M. de Chagny already called her and after being yelled at she told him Cat wasn't there. Detective Kanye has been in the office all morning long." Stacey glanced down and gasped. "Christine you have your cast off! How does your ankle feel?"

"Good as new," the brunette answered, a large grin on her face. "So did you stick around to see what they had to say?"

Stacey wiggled her eyebrows and hackled wickedly. "Of course! No note has shown up indicating Cat was kidnapped or she picked up and left."

"Why would they even suggest kidnapping? No one would want to and if someone was stupid enough to do it then they would turn themselves in!" snickered Meg.

Stacey nodded. "Totally but Detective Kanye and M. de Chagny aren't dismissing the message on her wall. There has to be a connection, it's too convenient for it to be coincidental. I think Cat fled as the chickenshit she is. And good ridden for that matter."

Christine frowned at her declaration. "Stacey don't even say that. What if something horrible happened to her?"

She gave her a skeptical look. "Don't tell me you're not even glad? Damn Christine she treated you like shit to be honest and you're worried? I'll be doing snoopy dances in your shoes by now."

"So?" she protested. "Yeah Cat isn't the greatest example of anything meaning humanity, but she still is a living person. And I wouldn't want anyone to get hurt, no matter how badly they treated me." Guiltily, Christine was screaming for joy on the inside. It could possibly mean she would get the lead back, where it belonged. And she felt ashamed. What would Mom and Daddy think? Their daughter pleased that someone is missing for what? A role? They would be mortified!

Stacey was right. There had to be a connection to the message on the wall and Cat's disappearance. Perhaps whoever wrote it must have taken the singer. It seemed probable and it made it inevitable that Christine would snag the part again. After all, Raoul told her that if anything should happen to Cat then she had Marguerite.

The notion of someone doing this for her sent tremors down her spine. Not only that but what of her ankle? She knew it had to be no accident and what if someone thought so too? Would they have scared Cat off for her? Did she have some psycho stalker that she wasn't aware of?

Christine felt ill to her stomach. What if that person turned out not pleased with her? Would she be the next eliminated?

"I don't care what you say Christine, but I'm certainly glad that someone just made the world one less Cat."

"Stacey, Christine's right. I don't like her either but I wouldn't want this to happen to her. What if she were…?" Meg trailed off.

Stacey snorted. "Don't tell me Megara you're feeling glum about this! Whatever you saints, go ahead and feel sorry. I for one am relieved that I wouldn't have to hear her complaints anymore. This should be a happy occasion guys!"

"But who would do this?" Christine spoke quietly. "It doesn't make sense—"

"Yeah it does!" Stacey cut in. "Christine, think about it. You had the part and everything was going well. Cat shows up, you become detained, and Cat gets the part. Then everything gets shot down to Hell. Clearly this is the work of the Phantom! He's upset and he's getting his revenge!"

"Pish posh," Meg chided her. "Stacey you're as bad as Jamie. There is no Phantom. If someone was doing this then it was a person of flesh and blood."

"Brolin's too fried to come up with this," Stacey pointed out.

"Who even said I was considering Brolin?" Meg shot back. "I'm saying it was someone not something."

"Ahem."

The three heads snapped up to a very irritated Adele Garrison. "Ladies, I believe rehearsals have started. Now go!" she barked.

Meg and Stacey scrambled off, neither wanting to be disciplined. A light smile flickered over her features as she looked at Christine. "I trust your ankle is fine?"

"Yes it is Adele. Thank you."

"Good. We need you as Marguerite. Hurry up my dear."

Excitement replaced her somber countenance and she wordlessly hugged Adele before running off. Who says I can't be a little overjoyed?

xxXXxx

How could this have happened? How could Cat leave without a word to anyone?

The first day Raoul then thought it was her way to get back at him for not allowing Christine Dawson to leave indefinitely. It was pure jealousy on the Italian woman's part to think that her understudy would go to extreme measures and threaten her with special effects.

It was hysterical to see the dominating and pampered beauty being snubbed by a quiet, sensitive singer from New York.

During their meeting, Detective Kanye even made a remark of how he couldn't believe Christine capable of doing the crime Cat accused her of. She wasn't that type of person to intentionally go the limits.

But the second day was unusual. Before Cat would walk away for a day and the next she was little Miss Sunshine, returning to her usual complaining antics. There had been no phone call, letter, or even e-mail from her! Raoul became worried and called the only person he knew who might know of her whereabouts. Maria Giovanni.

His call had been unexpected and out-of-the-blue, but Raoul needed to know where his Marguerite was.

Maria, on the other hand, was upset. One, Raoul hired a new girl. Two, her cousin was threatened like she was and he didn't "take the assertive action against the American". And three, he had no idea where his singer was.

For 45 minutes, Raoul sat there having his ear chewed off as the former Prima Donna gave her piece of mind. When she was out of breath she finally admitted she had no call from her cousin and nor did she know where she was. And that was the end of the conversation. After she cursed him to Hell.

So he did the next thing he could think of. He sent a runner to Cat's apartment, demanding she should come to rehearsals. There had been no response or any signs of life behind her door.

And the last resort was calling the detective. He dealt with Detective Kanye before with Maria's threats and he was also around during the mysterious kidnappings and deaths of the dancers back in '82. So if anyone could understand Raoul's concern it would be him.

And it was.

The Iranian assured him he would find what happened to the soprano. It could be a case of someone needed money by someone desperate and thinking a famous opera singer could get it for him. In which case, hopefully, she wouldn't be harmed. Then again, if someone were to be hurt, it wouldn't be Cat.

Sighing, Raoul got up from his desk and wandered down the halls. Everything was going wrong. Horribly wrong. He lost his leading lady and if anything were to happen to her then Raoul would have no choice but to face the Devil himself. And he wanted to save himself from going tête-à-tête with her family.

Like it would matter, he mused. If not them, surely Cat would do the honors.

It was one of those rare moods he'll get when Raoul wondered if buying the Garnier was honestly worth it. In his heart, he knew it was. He had good intentions to do this in the name of his beloved great-great grandmother, and none of this was for his own selfish reasons. Well, maybe a little.

But, he told himself he had fared well. Ticket sales skyrocketed as soon as he took over. The audience loved the Giovanni's and a scandal. And his buying certainly was a juicy one.

At least it drew a crowd, one that lasted every season. And he did prove his parents wrong that participating in the arts wasn't a dreaded omen like they believed to be. Even if they didn't want to admit this to themselves or to Philip. Though, I wish they would. At least I could rub it in their faces with a free box.

Walking past the open doors to the wings, he heard Christine's voice ringing out. Raoul stopped and peered inside.

Maybe buying was the best decision I ever made. Then I wouldn't have ever met… Raoul ended the thought, not wanting to go that path. Christine was a sweet pretty girl, he couldn't deny that, but Raoul was positive he couldn't survive another heartache. Christine didn't seem the kind to play with a man's heart and leave him cold, but he was more worried about himself hurting her.

He only needed her for this show until he could find a suitable permanent singer. He couldn't ask her to stay for his account, not when she had a life already back in America. She had friends, a promising career, maybe some family awaiting her return. No. It wouldn't be fair for him or for her if they were to go out.

Then again, what makes you so sure she would be interested? She may like you as a friend and you're fretting over nothing, he berated himself. But as he continued to watch her, he couldn't shake away the pleasant sensations coursing through him. He liked her that was far as he would admit his feelings. Who couldn't?

She had a good sense of humor; smart, funny, talented, shy… the list went on. They liked many of the same things, which was surprisingly to a guy like Raoul. She was also easy to get along with and talk to. There was this carefree attitude she carried and it appeared she would keep any secret anyone told her. Christine knew her place and acted on order without complaints. If she felt there something weak somewhere, she wasn't afraid to put her two-sense in. Christine was the perfect woman.

But was Raoul the perfect man?

xxXXxx

A day had passed and still no word on Cat was known. Christine could literally feel the tenseness in the air.

Everyone was uptight about the singer's disappearance and stories were leaking out all over.

The Phantom must have kidnapped her…

M. de Chagny didn't listen and this was payback!

And in every one, the Phantom was the prime suspect.

Christine contemplated whether or not if this was the singer's sick way of making everyone worry or that the Phantom did exist.

Meg wouldn't hear any of it and believed Cat knowingly did this. However, there was a slight uneasy feeling in the blonde's eyes that showed otherwise. Christine had took over, no announcement was needed, and if Cat did run off on her own then she should have returned of by now so her rival couldn't replace her.

But she hasn't.

No one had dared to go into Cat's dressing room, except for the police but no evidence of foul play was found. If something had happened to her, then it either had to happen outside the theatre or she went on her own free will. But there wasn't anything to point out her fate.

It was all very strange.

And to make it worse, Maria Giovanni showed up demanding to see her cousin.

Raoul did his best to break the news to her carefully, but it hadn't help much. Maria went ballistic. She threatened to have him arrested for Cat's disappearance, but it was just meaningless words. Maria broke down and cried for Cat, cursing the person who did this to her family.

Raoul tried to comfort her but ended up being kicked in the shins before she left. The matter wasn't resolved.

Later he received a call from Cat's father requesting to see his daughter immediately. Again, Raoul told him what happened. It didn't matter that the police notified them about Cat, they wanted answers. And they wanted them fast.

Christine's heart went out to the owner. This was taking its toll on him and she did her best by working the hardest during rehearsals. But her mind was deeply troubled by the whole incident. It didn't help much when she was having nightmares about Cat.

She did voice her concern to Meg. It was the first time that they known each other that Christine opened up truthfully to her. She told Meg about Cat and how it was nagging her.

Meg assured her not to worry about it. It wasn't going to make her feel better if she continued to drive herself over the edge about it.

As hard as she tried, Christine couldn't get the image of Cat meeting an untimely misfortune with a chilling laughter ringing in her ears.

xxXXxx

She couldn't concentrate. It was a bad day from the moment she woke after another restless night of tossing and turning. And once more Cat crept into her mind.

Why can't I stop obsessing over this? She asked herself. None of this makes any sense and here I am constantly questioning it.

"Mlle Dawson!" snapped M. Roberts. "This isn't break time. Now once again from the top!"

Oops. This was the third time Roberts had to get her attention. She received a few odd glances from her co-stars but she shrugged it off. They might not be worried but she was.

Briefly, Christine stole a quick peek above the stage and relaxed. Since the moment Cat went missing, Christine was getting this eerie feeling she was being watched. Her mistakes were piling up and somehow she knew it was displeasing to him. But who was "he"?

God, you're turning into Jamie! Quit being so paranoid and do your job! Christine scolded herself. Everything's fine! No one's watching you save the rest of the cast and crew. That's all!

But the whispering of the Phantom was starting to get to her. Could it be true? Her rational mind screamed "yes!" but she doubted that half. Could there be a slight chance this wasn't some ordinary kidnapping or running away? The theatre had a history of instances similar to Cat's when the person would either show up barely alive or… dead.

Now you don't know if she's really dead, she chided. But it's been almost a week and the police still can't find anything.

She once more had to be questioned by Detective Kanye, but he was quit to dismiss her. Christine had an ironclad alibi and surprisingly so did anyone else that was questioned. Cat was alone in the theatre around the time she was thought to be gone missing. There were no cameras in the theatre in the halls by the dressing rooms that could show what had happened. And now Raoul was considering having them installed. Too bad it had to be his ex to be the incentive. Plus, Raoul wasn't going to risk another repeat of a missing performer.

"That's a wrap for the day!" Roberts announced to the relieved cast.

"God my throat pines for water," Meg declared as soon Christine walked over to her.

Christine grinned. "Please. Your notes aren't as bad as mine."

Meg blew a loose strand from her face and smirked. "That's because I'm not the star."

"I'm no star. I like to see myself as the girl with the character most involved in the story."

"Other words: star."

Christine rolled her eyes. "My throat's fine."

"Whatever."

"Have you guys seen Jamie?" Stacey approached them, her lips set in a firm line. "She missed rehearsal and I can't seem to find her anywhere."

Meg took a swig from her water bottle and shook her head. "No. What did my mother say?"

"I, uh, told a couple lies."

"Why?"

Stacey shrugged. "The kid's growing on me. She reminds me of me when I was her age—full of spunk and an earful of good gossip."

"Sorry Stacey. We haven't seen her," Christine told her. "But we'll let you know when we do."

Just then a blood-curdling scream echoed throughout the theatre.

Alarmed, the three girls scrambled in the direction just as everyone followed. Panic was written all over Stacey's face. Christine glanced over to Meg who too was worried. By the time they rounded the corner, Brolin was holding onto a very white and shaken Jamie Jameson.

"What the Hell did you do to her?" Stacey shouted, grabbing the teen from his grasp. "Shh… it's okay."

Brolin shook his head, waving his hands. "I didn't do anything! I found her yelling her head off over there." He pointed in the direction of "Death Crossing".

Adele came from behind and took Jamie from Stacey's arms. "What happened?" she demanded, looking to the girls and Brolin for answers. "Is someone going to speak? Out with it!"

Brolin repeated the same thing he told Stacey and her friends before walking away, mumbling, "Crazy wench."

Adele glared at the oncoming gathering. "Everything is taken care of now go or I'll—"

No other words were needed. When Adele was upset, no one ever dared get in her way. The ballet mistress patted the sobbing teen on the back, whispering in her ear.

Jamie moaned and held Adele tighter. "Jamie what happened? What were you doing down there?" Stacey asked her gently.

She pulled back, her mouth opening but no sounds came out. She trembled all over, her eyes wide with fright before once more she erupted into tears. "S-s-s-s-s-she's," was all could be heard.

"Tell us, child," Adele cooed. "You're safe now. What did you see?"

Jamie fought off another sob and looked the older woman in the eye. "C-cat… s-s-she's…"

Adele's face paled and turned the teen over to Stacey's care. She crossed herself and murmured something inaudibly.

The action sent chills down Christine's spine and once more dread filled her. She had a very good idea what Jamie was trying to get at. Stacey started to take Jamie away as the girl hung on to her for dear life. Adele turned to her daughter and Christine, her fear plainly in view. "I-I'll inform M. de Chagny."

Meg nodded as her mother walked away. "Let's go!" She grabbed Christine's arm and tugged her towards the hall.

"Meg, I don't think that's a good idea—"

"C'mon Christine, don't go chicken on me. Something put Jamie in a terrible fright and the only way for us to know is to see for ourselves. Now, Brolin said she was hanging over 'Death Crossing' and that's where we'll look."

Reluctantly, Christine followed Meg as they went down the familiar path the former went on her first visit. Now, it didn't seem that spooky with Meg by her side.

Meg proceeded to go further down until she reached the last room. Christine gazed up to see a tarnished plaque, the name Daae visible. This is her dressing room, Christine thought in stunning realization.

Meg went inside with Christine at her heels. Right away a pungent stench greeted the unsuspecting girls. Meg covered her mouth to keep herself from gagging and turned over to Christine.

Christine did the same and bravely headed over to where the smell was coming from. She stopped in front of the large mirror, her eyes flicking towards the blonde who was busy wiping some dust off the vanity set.

Looking down, Christine saw a gape between the mirror and the wall at the right corner. Swallowing thickly, she bent down and with her free hand slipped her fingers inside and pushed the mirror to slide open.

It hardly moved. Taking a deep breath, she used both hands to yank it. The mirror slid open with force, which sent Christine landing on her butt.

Hearing the commotion, Meg moved over to where she was and froze, murmuring,

"Oh my God."

TBC…

I know there weren't any EC moments, but the next couple chapters will make EC shippers happy. Don't forget to review!