Chapter Thirteen

DISCLAIMER: OK; I don't own phantom of the opera. Plain and simple

Another nightmare; but this time; Erik held her in his arms. He caressed her; and he loved her. But out of the blue; Raphael came; crazyness in his eyes.

"Don't touch her!" He yelled at Erik. But he seemed so slide right through Karen's arms and approch Raphael with a sword. Raphael pulled out his own sword; and fought with Erik. Their metel swords clashed; and Erik was badly hurt.

"Stop! Erik please!" Karen pleaded; falling to her knees and begging them to stop.

"I'll stop." Raphael told her. "if you tell me you love me!"

"Never!" Karen yelled. "Never!"

"Fine! It looks like your lover is going to die!" But just as he held up his sword to kill Erik; Iris appeared in the middle of Erik and Raphael.

"Iris! No!" Karen cried; but it was too late. Raphael's sword went through her like a toothpick through tissue paper. Iris fell to her knees in a pool of blood. Karen cried hystarically; and Erik scooped her up in his arms.

"Don't touch my woman." Raphael boomed; Taking his sword and stabbing Erik. After that; Meg camed out of no where and tried to help; but soon, Raphael made her white ballet dress into a red one. Soon; Karen was the only one left.


Erik was shaking her awake.When her eyes finally opened; she saw him sitting over her. His mask over his face; and his hand beside her head on the pillow.

"Oh Thank god!" She sprang up and held onto him; crying hystarically. He held onto her tightly.

"Calm down..." he cooed. "It was only a dream." She clung onto his white shirt and soon; collected herself. "Please. Calm down. It was nothing more but a nightmare."

"But it seemed so real! Raphael was mad, and he killed you. He killed Iris too."He held onto her; not letting her go.

"Like I said. It was a dream and nothing more." He moved so her eyes met his. "Meg and Iris are here. Come." He gave her a quick kiss; and then helped her off his bed. "now; it was nothing but a dream.I assure you." She nodded and followed him out of the room to see Meg and Iris standing near the organ.

"Aw Erik!" Meg smirked. "Do you enjoy making girls cry?" He smirked and Karen smiled. When she saw Iris she hugged her tightly.

"Karen, Can't breath." Karen let her go; and when she asked why she held on so tightly; Erik answered.

"She had a nightmare that you, Meg, and I died. It scared her alot."

"Well we can see that." Meg teased. She stood by Karen, and Iris asked him if he can get her something to drink. "Ok. Whatever Iris wants for her; and tea for the rest of us right?" They all nodded and Iris followed him into the kitchen to help wtih the tea. "Karen. You and Erik-?" She nodded smiling.

"Meg, he's so sweet. I've never met anyone like him."

"You two are perfect for eachother." She told her smiling. "I wanted to tell Christine that Erik was a better person than Raoul; but she wouldn't lison to me. Karen, I congradulate you. You've got yourself one hell of a good guy."

"Thank you." Karen told her. "I really love him. He said that if he had me like Raphael did; he wouldn't have left."

"Surely." Meg replied smiling. "Raphael won't like this; but that doesn't matter. Karen, I've never seen you like this. You look like you've gone to heaven."

"I have." She replied smiling. Erik came back to them and told them tea was waiting in the den. They stopped talking and followed him into the den where Iris sat on one of the chairs, drinking a glass of milk. Karen and Meg picked up glasses of tea, sat, and drank them.

"My mother asked about you again Karen." Meg brought up. "I told her you were with Raphael. How long until they realize the truth?"

"I don't know. Until you get drunk again and slip up." Karen joked.

"What do I say if Raphael askes?" Meg continued; Karen paused; and continued to drink her tea.

"Tell him that I'm two towns over with a man." She replied. Meg nodded and kept drinking. Iris remained quiet; until she spoke up.

"Erik, can you show me how to paint? It looks like fun."

"Alright." There was silence before she spoke again.

"Meg says you and Karen are going to do it. What's "It"?" The awkward silence was back; until Karen hit Meg on the side of the arm.

"Don't poison her mind like that!" Karen scolded. "She is a child for god's sake!"

"Sorry! But you weren't there and it was either I tell her; or I blurt it out to everyone."

"Have you ever considered keeping your mouth shut?" Karen asked a bit cross with her; Meg apoligized; and soon Iris asked what "It" was again.

"It" is nothing Iris." Erik answered. "Nothing but what Ballet girls like Meg make up to spark gossip amoung them." Meg rolled her eyes and drank her tea. She swollowed a mouth full and set the cup back down on the table.

"I just remembered. We can't stay long. Karen, Iris, they want us in the theater to practice." Karen and Iris nodded; placing their cups back on the table. Meg and Iris went ahead of Karen and Erik. Karen kissed Erik; but he stopped her.

"Karen, if something happends; and you can sing; can you sing the song you sang to me last night?" Karen found that strange; but nodded. After that; He took them all back to the mirror. Karen pulled it open; and before she could kiss Erik goodbye; Meg told her they had to hurry if she wanted to get changed and make it to the theater on time. Karen nodded and told him she'd see him later. Meg and Karen ran out of Christine's room; and she told Meg to go on ahead.

"I'll catch up. Stall if you can." Meg and Iris went ahead to the theater; while Karen ran to the dormitories and changed into her ballet dress.


"Where is Karen?" the instructor asked. Meg started lying through her teeth.

"She's-" Raphael wasn't anywhere around; so she went on. "with Raphael. She should be here soon." But Iris saw Raphael coming without Karen, so she helped Meg lie.

"No she's not Meg." Iris directed her eyes to Raphael. "Remember? She's with that man! that one two towns over."

"Oh thats right!" Meg pretended to have remembered. "Thank you Iris. She's with that man." But just as she finished lying; Karen came running in.

"I'm sorry I'm late." Karen tried to catch her breath.

"Don't make a habit of it." and they began. Halfway into their dance; Carlotta came out to sing; but her voice was hoarse.

"La Carlotta what happened?" Andre' asked. Carlotta let out a hard cough; and replied.

"I don't know. I woke up this way!"

"Will you be better by show time?"

"I don't know. I went to a doctor and he said not to hold my breath." She let out another cough.

"We will have to find a replacement." Andre' sighed irritatedly. Meg pushed Karen infrount of everyone else; and Andre' asked her to sing. She was heistant; but she saw Erik in the hallway in Box Five. So; she knew she could; and began to sing.

"Child of the wilderness
Born into emptiness
Learn to be lonely
Learn to find your way in darkness

Who will be there for you
Comfort and care for you
Learn to be lonely
Learn to be your one companion

Never dreamed out in the world
There are arms to hold you
You've always known your heart was on its own

So laugh in your loneliness
Child of the wilderness
Learn to Be lonely
Learn how to love life that is lived alone

Learn to be lonely
Life can lived life can be loved alone" They were all left speachless. Even Karen didn't know her voice had talent. She sang to Erik the previous night; knowing that he would believe in her voice no matter what it sounded like. If it came to a screeching hault; he would still call her an angel of music. That was when Andre' gave her the part of the singer.


I know what your thinking. "OMG SHE'S A SINGER AND SHE'LL BE A CHRISTINE KNOCK-OFF!" but she won't. Remember? Setting it up! this will all make sence later. It will erupt in a firey explosion of fluff. Trust me. And here we go again with Learn to Be Lonely.