A/N: Sorry about the long wait reviewers and readers alike, my computer had a major melt down and I only just got it working again. Please accept my humble appologies!I LOVED last chapter and I warn you this one is a little bit of a filler chapter. I do hope you enjoy it though, please R&R!

Chapter 12

The early morning light crept stealthily into the new room, which Erik was now sharing with Sampson and Greg. Erik was sitting up on his bed with his head in his hands trying to make sense of his nightmare. You're crazy, forget about it. You only had it because of the story that your friends told you. Pull yourself together. Erik's little voice scolded him. He raised his eyes and let them rest on the fire, which had long since died out, and only the sooty remains were left. After Erik's nightmare he hadn't really slept at all. He fell in and out of sleep very frequently, he was scared that if he fell asleep then someone else would get killed. On the other side, he desperately wanted to see the woman who had come at the beginning of his dream. She told him to call her his Angel. Erik shook his head and heaved a sigh while staring accusingly at the fireplace, as if it was the cause of his problems. Today was his first performer's practice under the very stern eye of Mme. Giry, he knew that not sleeping would cost him dearly today and he wished silently that the light now spilling into the room would go away so he wouldn't have to face the day.

DING! DING! DING!

That was the Paris clock striking 7:00am, which meant in was time for breakfast. Erik could hear the muffled speeches of the two men whom he shared a room with and knew that they were trying to get up as fast as they could. Erik, who had changed in the middle of the night since he had nothing else to do, managed to slip out of the room before the other two noticed he was gone. They were good guys, but Erik had only known them a day, not even, right now he wanted to talk to Steve.

Erik walked along the seemingly endless corridors, stopping every so often at a dead end when he found it. Groaning in annoyance, Erik now thought he should have waited until Sampson and Greg had got up so that he wouldn't be lost now. Erik glanced around and managed to spot a large group of ballet girls who had just disappeared through a door. He dashed quickly and followed them down the stairs and then towards the sweet aromas, which were filling the hallways from the front hall. They all arrived together, even though Erik had gone unnoticed the whole way and managed to grab a plate of food and begin his search for his friends. He didn't find them however, late sleepers, he thought quickly and noted that the performers started earlier then the orchestra and so he found a nice little corner and sat himself down in it. He began shovelling the food in by the mouthful and managed to only spit out food when others walked by and said hello. His stomach started to churn uncomfortably, telling him he ate too much and too quickly, which Erik had thought to be impossible. He placed his plate down and scurried off to find a washroom where he could try and make himself more comfortable.

He hurried past the stream of people who were just starting to enter the hall in search of food. The many lamps had already been lit, although Erik was not sure why since the sun provided enough light for the entire room and hallways. Erik realised that he much preferred walking the corridors by sunshine rather then moonlight. There were no shadows or dark shapes ready to claim you into their dark domain. Erik glanced warily around for a sign or something that pointed in the direction of the washrooms when he felt a heavy hand on his shoulders.

"Where are you off to?" Erik spun around and came face to face with Steve, the one person he wanted to see.

"Steve!" Erik said almost as a yelp of relief. "Come quickly, I need to go to the washroom, where is it?" Steve laughed and shook his head in disbelief at Erik.

"I'll take you after breakfast alright? You must be hungry." He said placing a warm hand on Erik's shoulder. Erik shook it off and Steve gave him an odd stare.

"No listen, I need to talk to you as well." Erik whispered, although it was quite unnecessary because the noise in the hallways was increasing steadily as more and more people were gathering together near the breakfast hall. Steve groaned and looked longingly towards the breakfast table where people were milling around it, chatting and laughing as the new day began. Erik grabbed Steve's arm frantically and pulled at it to get his attention back. "Steve please, as a friend. You'll have time after, the performers start earlier, and I promise it won't take long." Steve heaved another sigh and slowly his face changed into a small smile.

"Okay then. Follow me." Steve led Erik back the way he came and towards the two, large, front entrance doors that were still very impressive to Erik three days later. Steve looked like he was about to open the door but he turned left on the front red carpet and went down a lavishly adorned small hallway. It matched perfectly with the front hall and Erik was astounded.

"I've never seen this part before." Erik thought aloud. Steve laughed again and Erik smiled in spite of the situation that he found himself in. Erik had to tell someone about his dream and Steve seemed like the perfect choice. Everyone around here seemed to be pretty superstitious about the Opera Ghostess and Erik knew that Steve would give him some good advice about what he saw.

"There are many places here in the Opera House that you haven't seen. I'm sure that no one has seen them all." He thought a moment, "except perhaps Mme. Giry of course. Anyway, were not really supposed to be here. These are the audience lavatories, strictly off limits to performers and orchestra members." Erik nodded and peered behind him in case Mme. Giry was standing at the end following them, and he half expected her to be. When he glanced behind however, she was nowhere to be seen. Off to prepare for this morning's lesson and practice. It's a dress rehearsal, second important to the actual performance, you had better do well. The voice in Erik's said almost too calmly. She shoved those thoughts out of the way and saw that they were both standing in front of a beautiful door with the words: Gentlemen, carved into the middle of the door. Steve turned the brass knob and they both crept into the washroom, silently closing the door behind them.

The soft low flicker from the washroom lamps fell across the tiled floor and the marble sinks, all cleaned meticulously. The glow was soothing to Erik's eyes and he glanced around the rest of the small room with a relaxed gaze. The stalls were wooden with simple iron locks and doorknobs. There was a comfy purple couch, which Steve sat regarding Erik quietly. Erik turned to face his friend after finishing his examination of the room, he could admire it later when there was time, Steve was hungry for breakfast and Erik was hungry to share his dream with him.

"Steve…" Erik began, but faltered quickly after. Was it really such a good idea to tell Steve about his dream? The Ghostess, or who he thought was the Ghostess, had not forbid him to tell anyone. Then again, was she really the Ghostess? She told him to call her his Angel. Maybe Erik was wrong about everything, he usually was after all. He looked at Steve's inquisitive face again and decided finally that he shouldn't tell him. Steve would probably just tell him that he was being stupid. He would say that he had just been having a nightmare about the terrible story that Greg and Sampson had put into his head. Erik thought back to his father who had died when he was 7 years old. He had played the violin and taught Erik everything he knew about music, and in time Erik learned to appreciate music in all it's forms, singing or playing. His father also told him that artists, who honoured music with their time or talent, would be visited by the Angel of Music. Erik had certainly gave music his time.

Could she be his Angel of Music?

If so, Erik did not want to scare her away or make her angry so that she never came again. He was sure that he had made the right decision not to tell Steve. However, there was still one problem, Steve was sitting here and Erik needed something to tell him. Erik made his way over towards the purple couch where he could tell Steve was getting a bit impatient.

"Erik you can tell me anything." He put a comforting hand on Erik's shoulder and looked genuinely concerned for the young man. "What's wrong?" Erik looked into Steve's face and at once felt terribly guilty for lying to his good friend.

"I…I'm terrified for the dress rehearsal today. What happens if I forget a line and mess up?" Steve rolled his eyes in a friendly manner and stood up before him and put his hands on his hips. He began to make weird sounds from his throat, very high pitched and off tune notes, which sounded terrible and Erik had to cover his ears. Steve then began to sway his hips from side to side and prance around in a circle of the gentlemen's washroom and Erik burst into a fit of giggles considering how silly Steve looked. Eventually Steve stopped and gave a stern look at Erik who stopped laughing at once because of the serious look in Steve's eye.

"Why were you laughing?" He questioned with a hint of anger in his voice. Erik became a bit frightened, he had never seen Steve like this before he always seemed very easy going. "Be honest!" He barked loudly, which caused Erik to jump slightly in his seat.

"You sounded terrible and looked ridiculous." Said Erik truthfully, then fearing what the consequences would be closed his eyes and cowered on the couch. When no sound or any movement came, Erik opened his eye a tiny bit and saw Steve collapsed in a heap on the floor, laughing. Erik sprang up in surprise. "Steve! He called loudly, rushing over to his side. "Are you alright?" Steve was whipping tears from his eyes and with Erik's help he managed to stand up. When he caught his breath and after he managed to stop laughing at Erik's concerned look Steve grinned broadly.

"That was Carlotta in all her glory. Can you sing and dance better then that?" Erik gave a puzzled look and nodded slowly. Steve chuckled, "I'm sure most people could, anyhow, since you can, there is nothing to be worried about. She's the one in the limelight, not you." Erik silently thanked his father who was watching over him that he wasn't. "Good, now that that's settled, how about some breakfast?" Erik smiled slightly at Steve.

"You go on, I probably need to be getting to the auditorium. I've had my breakfast anyway." Steve nodded and gave him a small salute.

"I'll see you there then. Hope to see you on stage Erik." Both men smiled and waved as Steve made his way out of the washroom quicker then intended towards the food and Erik turned back to look at himself in the mirror. You can do this, Steve had faith in you, plus you're just in the chorus, no one will notice you. Erik's voice told him. Erik nodded and turned to follow Steve when a white spot caught Erik's eye. He looked over and sticking out from behind one of the mirrors was a white sheet of paper. He moved closer debating weather or not he should take it, but curiosity won out and he snatched the letter from its place. He glanced down at it and his eyes widened in surprise.

It was from the Opera Ghostess.

A/N: Tee-hee! Cliffhanger! Whee! I'm soo evil! I guess you're all just going to have to review and wait for the next chapter! –laughs evilly-