YAY! We have reviewers!

Thanks to:

enigmatic mystery

Lady Tolwen (And yes Lady Tolwen, we know what a pain it is; but we like being able to thank all of our readers)

Solecito

Vampire Stalker,

Venus 725 (OK, if it gets stupid you have my permission to hit me in the head with a frying pan).

Alright, dear readers, He's here, and he speaks…

The only problem is he's a little OOC (Thanks Solecito.) I'm gonna get him back to his normal moody self soon enough, but he's gotta be different enough to be a mix of Dracula and Erik; because I love 'em both!

And sorry it took so long. I had to have a meeting with my editor before posting this and my car wouldn't let me. ducks thrown fruits and veggies I'll try not to let it happen anymore. I never did get that interview… that's why this one sucks only a LOT! Sorry.

Chapter 3 - Hot Pockets and Cool Heads

Disclaimer: I don't own Hot Pockets (I just eat 'em.)

As Brandy and I stood contemplating what to do with Erik (Brandy, no doubt, picturing any number of ways to rape him) the phone rang.

"Shit," I said, grabbing for the phone. "Get him out of here." I hissed at Brandy, motioning to the man on the floor.

I flipped the phone on. "Sudsville. Oh, hey Ma… Yeah, dinner sounds great. 'K, don't forget Brandy's here. Yah, ok, sounds great. Thanks. See ya then." I flipped the phone closed.

"Shit, damn, damn, shit," I looked back at Brandy, who hadn't moved. "Dammit, Brandy. C'mon. Mom'll be here in five. We gotta get him outta here. Dammit, where should we put him? Shit, damn, damn, shit, shit damn, damn, shit."

"The back," Brandy said.

"No, she'll go back there." I said, chewing my thumb nail. (A/N: Give me a break. It's habit; concentration and nervousness bring it on.)

Suddenly, a light bulb lit up. Literally, the one above my head came on; it hadn't worked in a week.

"Brandy, you were half right. Out the back, in the alley. I only thank the Powers-that-Be that it's a clear, summer night. I grabbed Erik under the arms. "C'mon, help me, Brandy."

"Why do you get that end?"

"Cause I figured you'd like that end better."

"Well, yeah, I do."

"Alright, let's go."

We carried him out the back and dropped him as gently as possible in the alley.

"Hey, girls, where are you?"

"Comin', Ma." I looked at Brandy and mouthed, "Quiet." We walked out to the front and faced my mother.

"Hey, girls, I got some Hot Pockets and Ice Cream."

"Sweet," we said in unison.

"I just need some thread."

"Ok, I'll get it. Which one do you need?"

"No, no, hun, I got it. Just enjoy dinner."

"Ok, mom," I walked to the back where the fridge was. After putting the ice cream away and starting the Hot Pockets in the microwave, I looked at the back door and saw we had left it unlocked. I ran over to secure it before Mom could and realized The Phantom was no longer where we had left him. "Shit!"

"What's wrong?" Mom asked.

"Wh- Oh, nothing. We just forgot to lock the door back up." I said, locking the door; I turned to face Mom, "Cool now."

"Alright, well, got my thread. I'll let the party continue." Mom said, "Don't make too much trouble."

"We won't, Ma," Brandy said.

"You have no idea," I replied.

We ran to the front of the store as Mom pulled out and watched until we could no longer see her taillights.

When we could no longer see her truck, I ran to the back and started frantically trying to undo the locks (A/N: the door is like older than the pyramids. It has a deadbolt type lock on the outer door, and a rope tying the screen door closed.) Scrambling to untie the knot was giving my hands serious cramps.

"Brandy, come help me." I called.

"I'm not allowed back there, remember?"

"Christ, Brandy, it doesn't matter. Just come on."

"No."

"Oh. Now, who's being juvenile?"

"You," Brandy said, right behind me.

"Damn you," I mumbled, "help me. He's gone and I can't get this undone."

"Move, stupid," Brandy said elbowing me at the same time. She cut through the rope with a knife she produced from her pocket.

"Somebody trusted you with a knife!" I said, incredulous. "Why?"

"Hey… it worked, didn't it?"

"Point taken," I said as she threw the double doors open.

We walked out into the alley.

"Where?" Brandy asked.

"Gone," I said. I looked around the side of the building as Brandy walked a few feet farther down the alley.

I looked after her, then felt a tingling in the back of my neck. "Brandy! Up!" I screamed as the dark form fell.

A scuffle started. I stood back and smirked. However this was to end, Brandy was sure to enjoy both the fight and the outcome.

After a few moments, the scuffle slowed, then stilled. Another minute passed before I called, "Ok, Brandy, that's quite enough of that."

The two darkened forms broke apart and my friend said, "Huh? What are you talking about? What's enough? Enough of what?"

"Please," I called turning to the door. "Let's get inside."

I walked through the door and waited for the two to come in as well. As they passed, I noticed our dark visitor was looking very shocked… and I didn't think it was to do with him being in a new place. I chuckled softly to myself.

Quickly locking the door, I ran up to Brandy. I removed the Phantom from her "Evil-Phan-Death-Grip-of-Love" and gently led him to a stool.

When he was seated, Brandy attached herself to his side. When I saw this, I wondered, "What the hells is wrong with me? Here's the freakin' Phantom of the Opera; Erik himself, with the body of Gerard Butler; and I'm not even freaking out!"

After this internal monologue, I was half pinching myself and half doing a happy dance because the calling worked.

Brandy watched all of this play out in my mind. Her eyes bugged as she tried to figure out what was wrong with me.

"What the Hells is wrong with me?" I screamed, making Erik fall off his stool. I swept a cape and mask on and ran around, dodging Sharpies and singing The Music of the Night.

Erik turned to Brandy. "Is she always like this?"

"Pretty much," she said watching me. Her jaw dropped in realization. "I'm… talking… to… the… Ph-Ph-Phantom. AH!" She swooned.

Erik just rolled his eyes and shook his head.

A/N: If anyone could tell me how to get this site to let me put asterisks in the story that would be great. Thankees.

And if anyone's interested I will be posting a DracFic (based on Dracula 2000) as soon as it gets rolling; but I will in NO WAY ignore this Phic, in that you can trust.