A/N: Hey guys, thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed my story. I hope you all like the last chapter, it was one of my favourites to write, as is my next chapter. So stayed tuned!

Chapter 6

It has been said that many people do crazy things and sometimes, surprising things when they are face with a dangerous or even life threatening situation. The rich give away all their money, murderers confess, but everyone reacts in a different way to the same situation. It's what makes life interesting, never really knowing how someone will react when put in a certain situation, with certain variables. People have even dedicated their lives to studying why people do what they do when put in a stressful situation.

Erik was definitely going through a stressful situation as Mme. Giry peered down at him from just in front of the managers' office. Cloaked all in black, her stance was commanding and he could tell that she was used to running things her way.

"Erik I presume." Mme. Giry said with her lips pursed angrily. Erik gulped, how did she know? She knows everything you fool, a tiny voice said in the back of his head, She'll know that you've been out of bed and listening to them. Her eyes seemed to narrow as if she had heard what Erik had been thinking, but he tried to keep his face completely blank of any kind of emotion. She threw a quick glance behind her towards the managers who were already snoring away in their chairs. She lowered her voice as she heard movements from inside the ballet girls' dormitories just behind them. "How much did you hear Erik?" Erik struggled to not act surprised.

"I don't know what you're talking about Mme." He was careful not to use her name, then she would know that he had overheard. She merely nodded, looking thoroughly unconvinced, as a few ballet girls started to emerge from their room, yawning and stretching. They smiled at Mme. Giry and Erik as they walked along and Erik tried to keep avoiding their glances.

"Morning Mme. Giry." They curtsied quickly.

"Morning girls, hurry to breakfast now. Warm up will begin in half an hour, be sure you're ready." They ran off quickly giggling to each other, their faces bright with the hope of youth, hope, which had long since vanished from Erik until yesterday. Today however was turning into not such a good day, although secretly Erik knew he deserved it. He had always been caught doing everything wrong. Stealing cookies from the kitchen jar, sneaking out to the garden to sing, minor things, which the nuns didn't allow in the orphanage unless it was for the good of the church. You should have known better, you've never got away with anything in your life. Why expect it now? Scolded the little voice. His head began to pound again painfully and he reached up his hand to try and stop it from ringing. "Erik." Said Mme. Giry quite close to him, "if you'll tell me what I need to know, I'll take the pain away from you." Erik frowned. He couldn't tell Mme. Giry anything, unless he wished to be chucked out of the Opera House with nothing. The again, the pain in his head was increasing exponentially. It was as if Mme. Giry was making it harder, increasing the pain on him just so he would tell the truth. That's impossible, no one could do that, thought Erik, knowing he was being very stupid at the moment. But then, the pain wasn't helping him be any smarter now was it? No, Erik finally decided, his dream wasn't worth giving up just because of a little pain. At this point in time more and more ballerinas were flocking through the hallways and Mme. Giry was getting more and more agitated and she greeted them all. Besides the ballerinas, some of the orchestra was making their way along the crowded corridors towards breakfast, grumbling slightly due to the fact that they had just woken up. Mme. Giry still stared down at him pensively, as if calculating something about him. As the crowd thickened Erik felt a hand pass by his back and he turned around. Steve stood there in his orchestra suit, white tie and top hat, looking rather funny compared to all the rest of the people who were dressed rather plainly. He cleared his throat loudly and Mme. Giry's eye shot up.

"Mme. please excuse me, it is breakfast time, Erik here must be hungry." Mme. Giry surveyed him carefully and then shook her head to herself.

"Yes. Mme. that's where I was going when you…when the door opened and hit me." Mme. Giry shot Erik a steely glare that quickly shut him up. I know how Andre and Firmin must feel, Erik thought as he managed a shallow gulp.

"Very well, get to breakfast. Maestro expects you at 8:00am for warm up in the orchestra pit. I trust Steve can show you where it is." Mme. Giry snapped a bit too loudly and turned quickly to disappear into the managers' office where she slammed the door. Erik chuckled as he could hear the faint shouts of the managers who were quite upset that Mme. Giry had woken them up twice abruptly in the past hour. Steve picked up and Erik and they walked together into the main hall where many tables had been set up and were groaning in protest as much food had been laid on them. As soon as they were sure that Mme. Giry was safely out of earshot they turned to face one another.

"Hey Steve, thanks back there." He waved his hand, much like Andre did and chuckled softly.

"We've all been there. Mme. Giry's a stern woman. Try to stay on her good side. I'm just happy she doesn't conduct the orchestra." Steve shivered visibly as he reached out for a plate and handed it to Erik. "I hate to think about the ballerinas who put just one toe out of line." Erik nodded and thanked Steve for the plate. Erik had never seen so much food in his life. At the orphanage they didn't starve him, but he couldn't really call the food they served good tasting or in good quantity. He helped himself to a bit of everything, most things, which had now littered his plate Erik wasn't used to. At the orphanage the nuns thought the best way to serve the Lord was through a steady diet of oatmeal. Morning, afternoon and night, occasionally with a glass of wine. Steve led him over towards a side door and pushed it open with body, as his hands were full. This room was big as well, but very crowded with people hunched over their dishes trying to eat everything in a short space of time. As they sat down in the middle of a group of people, Erik could spot Ernie, Pete and Richard who were sitting with two ballerinas each, as they caught sight of the two, they waved and then turned back to the girls that they were entertaining. Steve laughed at the sight and Erik joined in. Without much time to spare, Erik and Steve wolfed down their meals and watched in amusement as the ballet girls were called away, leaving the men in the orchestra alone. The rest of the group stood and came over to where Steve and Erik sat.

"We better get going as well, you know how Maestro gets when someone is late." Said Pete with a glint of joy in his eyes. They all nodded and moved off towards the great hall again, this time headed for the orchestra pit, which was just beyond the auditorium doors. They entered and half of the orchestra was already there tuning up, brass trumpets hooted, the violinists plucked their strings, the pair of the oboes squeaked as they tried to match pitches and the piano hummed softly playing chords. The four violinists seated themselves: Erik in the back and Pete, Steve and Ernie in the middle and Richard in the Second Chair. First Chair was empty and it was getting stares and whispers from the whole violin section. Quickly the orchestra filled up their seats, Erik guessed that what Pete had said about Maestro was true. Maestro entered himself soon after and took his place at the podium and placed down the conductor's score as well as his baton. He was very thin, with grey hair that was quite thin. Erik guessed that his age might be somewhere in the 60's and the black tuxedo, which hung off his tiny frame loosely, gave him a sick appearance. He passed out dozen of scores, the violinist scores he handed to Richard who accepted them quickly and exchanged a few words with him. As soon as the orchestra all had their scores, Maestro cleared his throat and tapped his baton, and then flipped open his own score.

"Now then Gentlemen, first page. We'll begin with a few light pieces and then dive right into the Opera. Any questions?" He glanced around not really expecting anyone to raise their hands, and when no one did he nodded curtly. "Very well, on my count then."