The teaser began to consume Miss Lazerth. The night before it opened, she could be seen ordering around random groups of chorus girls with an unusual cruelty, and upon hearing that my costume was not yet ready, she practically ate Annie Chang's head off. Despite all of Annie's harshness, she cowered underneath the stare of Miss Lazerth.

"Elizabeth, come up here," Lazerth finally snapped after venting her spleen on Annie.

"Yes?" I asked earnestly. I smiled brightly—maybe a little too brightly; I didn't want to look fake.

"I'm sorry, but I am going to have to pull your two solo lines and give them back to Jessica," she said, not looking sorry at all. "If your costume isn't ready yet, you won't be allowed onstage. I can't stand the uncertainty at rehearsal tonight, so you'll just have to give up the two lines for now."

"But… Miss Lazerth." My heart was pounding. I was not used to confronting adults. However, this time, I felt as if I had to at least try to make a stand. "I don't see how difficult it is to make a missionary costume. It's just a skirt and a blouse. I don't see why it can't be finished by tomorrow."

"You wouldn't see, would you?" Annie piped up harshly. "We have about twenty thousand things to do in the next hour, and as a missionary, you are the least possible—"

"Annie. That's enough." Miss Lazerth silenced her with a wave of her wrinkled hand. "You're not going to sing the lines. I'm sorry, Elizabeth. I know it must be disappointing. Jessica always felt bad about not having her own song to herself, anyway. Hopefully your costume will be ready, but I can't guarantee anything." She turned away, apparently already disinterested in me. "Annie! The hotbox dancers are supposed to have gloves during 'Take Back Your Mink.' Did Mrs.Mias buy them yet?"

I turned away, my face hot with disappointment. I almost felt like arguing more, but I knew the attempt would be futile. Jessica Klein had once again gotten to the seemingly impenetrable Miss Lazerth. How did she do it? Why did Lazerth look upon me like a cretin and yet gave Jessica Klein every little thing she wanted? Was it because Jessica was a senior? Or did my mother not participate in the Parent Teacher Organization enough? I scowled inwardly upon thinking about my mother. My mother probably hadn't even been a meeting since I was in junior high school. I didn't like to think of her often, because when I did, I thought of her in bed with that man. I had met him once or twice, but I eventually refused to see him—or her—on a regular basis. Sometimes I felt very sorry for my father and was grateful that he at least loved me enough to act like a real parent. At other times I feared him too much to really love him.

"You look stressed," Amy commented as I sulked in a passageway leading from the stage to the backstage area. She pulled back the velvety blue curtain to better see me. "What are you doing back here?"

"Lazerth took away my solo lines." No need for beating around the bush. No need for explanation as to why. The facts were harsher when set alone.

"What?" She crept inside and sat next to me, her legs short yet lean underneath her tiny skirt. The costume really did make her look a little bit like a streetwalker.

"She said I can't sing it because I have no costume and if I have no costume by tomorrow I can't go onstage." I stared at the wooden wall in front of me. I wonder how much it had seen its days. Perhaps it had seen a stolen kiss between two lesbian dancers. Maybe it had seen an opera singer faint in a fit of stage fright. Maybe it had seen a teenage girl sulk over losing her solo. "It sucks."

"Aw, I'm sorry, Liz," Amy said sympathetically, leaning over to stroke my arm.

"Elizabeth," I corrected in a hoarse voice.

"Yes, of course, Elizabeth." Amy sounded surprisingly wise beyond her years. "Well, you just have to take a stand."

"What?" I turned to her, surprised by this novel idea.

"Tell her that you won't perform unless she lets you sing what was rightfully given to you!" exclaimed Amy righteously. "Fitz gave you those lines because he thinks you are talented and because he has a pedophilic desire for you."

"You're right, he—What?"

"Minor detail," Amy reassured me hastily. "The point is, he gave you those lines. You have the right to sing them!"

"Won't Jessica throw a hissy fit?" I asked doubtfully.

"Screw her!" cried Amy in an uncharacteristically harsh tone. "I am so sick and tired of listening to people bend to that girl's will! She is a 17-year-old girl, not a thirty-freaking-five-year-old Metropolitan Opera veteran!" Her face was red with anger. I had a funny feeling that her fit had less to do with my bad luck and more with the fact that Jessica had a larger fan club than Amy did.

"Let's team up and remove her vocal cords," I suggested evilly. "I always thought I had a knack for medicine. Despite my obvious failings in the life sciences," I added as an afterthought.

"No," replied Amy thoughtfully, fingering a brownish-blonde curl. "This has to stop right here, right now. Promise me you won't perform unless you have that solo back. Promise me." She stared me straight in the eye. It was unnervingly gutsy for someone who had once practically fainted at the sight of a squirrel nibbling at her peanut butter sandwich at summer camp.

"Well… okay, I guess so." I shrugged. "Maybe you're right."

"Of course I'm right!" she yelled vivaciously. "This calls for a revolution!"

"It's a high school musical, not a country," I reminded her.

The freedom fighter shrugged her shoulders, still looking determined. She was still looking determined five minutes later when the hotbox dancers were called onstage to do their scene. All of a sudden, her facial expression flitted from hard to terrified in a matter of seconds. She too was vulnerable to Lazerth's spell.

"Good luck," she exclaimed breathlessly, scampering off to join her fellow hotbox dancers onstage.

My turn would come soon enough. I wouldn't actually listen to Amy—After all, I wasn't as gutsy as all that. Then again, why shouldn't I be? I deserved just as much as anyone to be possessive of what little of a part I was given. I wanted to sing my solo. I did earn that solo, damnit. And if it meant risking my director's wrath… Well, then, so be it.

I watched from backstage as the missionary scene went on. No one even bothered to ask, "Aren't you supposed to be up there?" I watched and scrutinized. I realized that, with the help of the Opera Ghost, I was way beyond Jessica Klein now, even in acting. I could speak those words without the fake grin… I could almost feel Sarah Brown's agony as no one listened to her preach. I could be twenty times as god-fearing and a hundred times as convincing as Jessica was being right then. I felt then that I truly was better than her. It was a strange feeling. I wasn't used to admitting that my talent sufficed. There was always one flaw I could find that would explain why I didn't win the position, get the award, play the part. Not right now, though. Right now, I would gladly throw Jessica Klein offstage and feel confident that I could do a better job.

The scene ended boringly, as it always did. I turned to make my way back to my nook between the stage and backstage when I heard my name being called.

"Elizabeth? Elizabeth?"

A chill ran down my spine. It was Lazerth. She had noticed. I could have sworn no one would be able to tell that one large-hipped blonde missionary had gone missing. But there she was in the third row, calling my name. She must have noticed, then. Why else could she want me?

"Yes?" I meekly peeked my head out from behind the curtain.

"Please tell me if there's a reason why you feel as if you are above rehearsing with the rest of us." Her eyes were cold; her stare was colder.

I was shaking slightly, but my lips were firm. I imagined that Erik was speaking these words through me; Erik would never have let anyone do this to him. Erik would never let anyone do this to me. I felt stupidly brave and my words reflected it. "Well, Miss Lazerth… I thought that as long as I wasn't going to be in the scene tomorrow, you wouldn't want me in the scene tonight, either."

"I hope to God you aren't being cheeky, Elizabeth Mayers," snarled Miss Lazerth, her eyes wide with shocked anger.

"Hardly, ma'am," I replied calmly, though my hands were cold with sweat. A soft murmur ran through the audience. "It's just that, you don't want me to sing my solo because it might…mess tomorrow up. So, if I'd better not rehearse tonight, either, since if I'm not in it tomorrow, it might throw Jessica off or something." I nodded in her direction. "I wouldn't want to disrupt the delicate balance."

The backstage erupted in a roar of laughter. Miss Lazerth looked as if she could hardly believe her ears. This was her quietest, most socially awkward student in the whole cast and suddenly I was speaking as if I had the devil inside me. I felt my heart slamming into my sternum in both excitement and fear. It was beginning to be too much for me. I had never really been rude to any adult besides my parents in my life, and I was terrified of what events might follow this sudden outburst of mine. I decided I didn't want to know.

"I feel… sick," I said weakly, and then fled the room. Giggles and cries of, "Hey, where ya off to?" followed me as I used my soccer thighs to make my speedy exit.

I went downstairs to the girl's bathroom, where I turned on the water as cold as it would go and then splashed my face with it. God, what had I been thinking? Lazerth was likely to kill me, if not throw me out of the show. She might call my father. I shuddered involuntarily. If she called my father, the whole thing would not have been worth it. I would rather have been cast as a tree than have my father called.

"My ingénue… My ingénue…"

I bolted straight up, reaching for a paper towel with which to wipe my face. He was here, the darling; he was here to comfort me in my time of need. I felt better about my rudeness all of a sudden; Erik would always support me, even if I were stupidly bold in my actions. Somehow I felt as if Erik was not the type to ever disdain a person who had done something considered outrageous.

"Erik… I'm here," I replied, my beating heart calming to a more normal rate.

"What happened?" he asked, still not showing himself.

I felt a little annoyed then. We had been seeing each other for how long, and he still had to shroud himself in shadow and wear that stupid mask? It was just a scare tactic, I was sure. He could be the hottest man alive underneath it. Or, even if he wasn't terribly attractive, he might think the mask made him more so. Whatever it was, I wanted the mask off, and now.

"Lazerth took my solo, so I didn't go onstage. Then I was sort of rude. I think I'm in trouble." I leaned against the sink, staring myself in the eyes in the mirror.

"Fools," Erik suddenly hissed in a surprisingly angry voice. It was high-pitched and psychotic sounding, very much like the voice had first sounded when I heard it inside Miss Lazerth's office. I felt afraid suddenly. This was not the Erik I knew. This was the Erik who spoke into vents and laughed about stagehand's deaths.

"Are you okay?" I asked nervously.

"Don't worry, my ingénue," he said, his voice still high-pitched and chilling. "Everything will turn out for you the way it should."

"What do you mean?" My heart rate began to quicken again.

"Will you come to me in the rafters after rehearsal?" he asked, ignoring my question. His voice had lowered again and he sounded much like his former self.

"What?" I stopped staring at myself and looked around, almost as if I expected him to be there.

"Come to me in the rafters. Go up the winding staircase on the left of the stage and climb through the second door. That will take you where I wish you to be," he murmured warmly.

"Why the rafters?" I asked naively. "Don't we usually stay onstage? It's going to be late once rehearsal ends, anyway."

"After rehearsal ends, they'll lock us in," he said softly, practically cooing. "Then, darkness will fall and the only light will be between you and me."

I was completely silent. Was he suggesting what I thought? I could hardly believe it. The bastard! Just when I thought I'd escaped men interested in only one thing, I had actually willingly walked right into one's trap! He was just as bad as Sean, if not worse! Sean at least was honest about what he wanted! He didn't befriend me and then kiss me with his lips of death and then ask if I'd visit him in the rafters, like some opera whore! I couldn't believe it! I just couldn't believe it!

"Erik… That's… I'm not that type of… I don't think so," I laughed, sweat beginning to bead on my forehead. Between this and the Lazerth incident, the night was not going smoothly at all.

There was a quiet pause, and then his voice again. "So sweet, so innocent. Such a child. I should have known. Children don't make good opera singers."

"What?" I cried in disbelief. "You can't possibly suggest that just because I won't go to the rafters and… do things, things that only you want me to do... that I'm any less talented than I was before!"

"Of course, of course, my ingénue, forgive me. It's just that… young girls do not usually kiss men of my age if they don't mean…" He fell silent again.

"How old are you, then?" I snapped back.

"Twenty-three," he responded without hesitation.

"It's illegal for you to even touch me," I responded angrily.

"It wouldn't be the first time I ever did something forbidden by the law," he laughed in response. "The law is not perfect. Certain circumstances call for certain behaviors."

I began to sob tearlessly. It was as if my eyes had run dry over the course of time. "God, Erik! You're… you're scaring me…"

"My sweet ingénue!" His voice rushed with warmth, but I was unconvinced. "Do not be afraid… I am your angel, your angel of music. I would never harm you."

"Then stop acting like it," I exploded suddenly.

When he didn't respond, I burst out of the girl's room into the hall. I wasn't going back to rehearsal tonight. I would be in trouble, but so be it. Lazerth would just have to deal. Maybe I could plead upset over grades or boys as an explanation for my behavior. Either way I would find my escape. I would find my escape, and it would be without a man who had tricked me into thinking I was in love!
The next morning, the entire cast and crew of Guys and Dolls gathered in the auditorium. My costume ended up being finished, and Miss Lazerth seemingly ignored the little outburst I'd had the night before. Overall things were moving along smoothly. I was still slightly bothered by Erik's behavior the night before, but I was immediately pacified when the auditorium buzzed that Sean and Jessica had broken up last night over the phone. The reasons ranged from his strange-smelling breath mints to Jessica's insistence that he call her "my goddess." Either way, neither of them looked terribly happy. Actually, Sean seemed to be doing okay—He looked uncomfortable, but he was already striking up conversation with a brunette freshman with an 18-inch waist. Jessica wasn't doing as well—She was tearstained and constantly surrounded by her posse, all of whom were carrying mini-packs of tissues and occasionally paused from comforting Jessica to glare at Sean.

Amy seemed pleased by all the drama. "Jessica's a real witch, isn't she? Even Sean couldn't handle her."

"What does that mean?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

"Sean is so desperate that he'd hump a lamp pole," snickered Amy. My face almost turned purple and immediately she began to murmur, "Oh, oh. Oh. I didn't mean… Oh, oh."

"Whatever," I snapped, surprised at my own anger. It wasn't that I was one to defend Sean, especially not lately, but for some reason her comment stung.

"I didn't mean it, Elizabeth," said Amy unhappily, worming her little hand into the crook of my arm.

"Stop with the touching… Thanks," I replied nastily.

Amy sighed ruefully. "Frigid cow."

That made me laugh, and I soon forgot my anger. I didn't let her cuddle up to me or anything, but I could at least deal with her. "Settle down! Settle down!" yelled Miss Lazerth, waving her shriveled hands wildly. "Annie will lead you in warm-ups while I see the following people backstage: Elizabeth, Sean, and Jessica."

A murmur rippled through the crowd. Even I had to admit that it was an interesting trio. If I weren't dreading the punishment that I expected to come for last night, then I would have found it interesting, too. As everyone began to sing his or her "Ahs" I crept backstage unhappily. I had a feeling she was going to really let me have it this time. I mean, she'd given me detention for having been backstage when I wasn't supposed to have been. What kind of punishment was doled out for those who were purposely naughty?

"Hey, Lizzy," said Sean warmly as he followed me up the stairs. "We haven't spoken in ages… How are you?" He reached his arms out as if to hug me. I dodged them expertly.

"It's Elizabeth, and I was better until you did that," I snapped pointedly, giving him the stare of death.

He laughed as if it were all a huge joke, though, in reality, I was dead serious. "Really though, how have you been? I miss you," he added in a syrupy voice.

"I've been okay," I replied. "No, better than okay. Great." I shrugged off the fact that the Opera Ghost had made sexual advances towards me the night before. Besides that little episode—oh, and Annie Chang now thinking I was a freak—everything was pretty good, really.

"How are things with Larry? Still together? Or do you have a new boyfriend now?" Sean asked, feigning concern for my life.

"We're still together… What would make you think I'd have a new boyfriend already?" I said irritably, still sore about the fact that he'd been ignoring me for months while he had a new girlfriend.

"Well, that guy Erik…" He looked at me knowingly.

"Oh. He's… He's not my boyfriend." I turned away, unable to meet his gaze. "He's uh, my tutor, kind of."

"Your tutor? Your tutor meets you in the girl's locker room?" He gave me an incredulous look.

"Look, it's really complicated; I can't explain," I said simply. I wouldn't have to, either, because just then Miss Lazerth appeared.

"All right. I suppose I should just give it to you straight. We've received some alarming letters concerning all three of you. Two were received by Jessica, and two by myself. One was found early this morning in my mailbox, and I just received the second several hours later." She sniffed self-importantly. "Jessica, when did you receive yours?"

"One last night at my house," she said shakily. She didn't look too good, even for someone with as much confidence as she. For a moment, I almost felt bad for her. But in the next she said something to make me quickly rescind my sympathy. "Another was in my box about ten minutes ago. All regarding this one," she added with a nod in my direction.

"Oh, I got a letter, too," Sean said suddenly. "I thought it was from Larry Minelli or something because he thought I'd been hanging around too much."

"What did it say?" demanded Miss Lazerth.

He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a yellowed piece of parchment. My heart sank into my bowels. Sean began to read it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Dear Mr. Winters:

Have no fear for the safety of Miss Elizabeth Mayers. The Angel of Music has taken her under His wing and I assure you she is both loved and safe. If you value your life, then make no attempt to see her again.

Signed, O.G."

"Oh my God," I moaned involuntarily.

"Guilty, are we?" snarled Jessica vindictively.

"Girls." Miss Lazerth silenced us both. "Jessica received one of an interesting nature as well. Jessica, if you would read it?"

Jessica glared at me briefly before opening her own letter and beginning to read.

"Dear Miss Klein,

You have a bad cold. Elizabeth Mayers will be singing on your behalf tomorrow. Surely you see what madness it would be to try to perform in your condition. I hope you take this advice to heart.

Signed, O.G."

"As you can see, it concerns you as well," said Miss Lazerth coldly. "The second, Jessica?"

"Dear Miss Klein,

You seem to be disregarding my warning. If you sing tonight, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur. It will be a fate worse than death. I hope you heed my warning. This is only for your own good.

Signed, O.G."

"Who is O.G.?" asked Sean naively.

"Opera Ghost." Lazerth gave me a significant look. I blushed in shame and lowered my head.

"As I said, I have received several letters, too. The first goes as following:

Dear Evelyn,

Again we speak. It has been a long time since our correspondences were so frequent, but these times call for these measures, I suppose.

I hope that you realize that Miss Elizabeth Mayers will be singing on Jessica's behalf tonight. Her talent has grown tremendously since the last time you have seen her. I expect she will be given the spotlight due to her, since I will not stand for it if even if she will.

I also expect Box Five to be ready for my use, as per usual. My salary has not yet been paid, but I will assume that this is a minor oversight and will expect it to be put in the usual place as soon as possible.

Please know that I expect these requests to be kept. I have asked you amiably; do not make me use other forms of force.

Signed, O.G."

"Who the hell is he?" Sean suddenly snapped. "He sounds like a real idiot."

"I think the question is, who is she," suggested Jessica, giving me a significant look.

"How dare you!" I exclaimed, stunned. "I would never threaten people like that!"

"Then why is everyone about you getting the part, about you singing 'on my behalf?'" Jessica cried in return. "It's obviously you who wrote them!"

"Girls, settle down," instructed Lazerth, sounding vaguely calm. "I will read the last letter."

"Dear Evelyn,

So, it is to be war between us?

Perhaps it has only been a few hours too short for you to have fulfilled my requests, but as far as I can tell, nothing has changed. I have overheard the principal excitedly exclaiming his good fortune to have been seated in the prime seats in the house, in Box Five—My box. Also, as far as I can tell, you have not yet instructed Miss Mayers on where she is to find her new costumes for the part of Sarah Brown. My salary has not been paid, but I will at least be forgiving on that point—Such a considerable sum of money is difficult to come by in a few hours.

Please obey these demands: Sarah Brown will be played by Elizabeth Mayers. Box Five will be for my use. My salary will be paid. These are simple commands, well within your reach, dear Evelyn.

I warn you: if these demands are not met, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur. Don't take these risks, especially not when you are responsible for the lives of so many young ones.

Signed, O.G."

"You!" spat Jessica. "It's you! I know you did it! You little self-centered, self-absorbed brat!"

"Shut up!" I yelled in response. "Just shut up! I didn't do anything! I'm not out of my mind, unlike some people!" I wanted very badly to hit her, but I realized that it might get me in too much trouble.

"Girls! Girls!" admonished Miss Lazerth. She still looked too calm for my liking. "Let's not jump to conclusions. I know for a fact that it is not Miss Mayers who wrote these letters. However—" She held up her hand to silence Jessica, who was opening her mouth to protest. "—these threats must be taken seriously, since there are hints of a death threat within them."

"Hints?" exclaimed Jessica. "They practically said they'd kill Sean if he got near precious Elizabeth!" She paused in her anger to give Sean a sugary look. Sean, to my amusement, rolled his eyes and looked away.

"Yes," responded Lazerth firmly. "That's why the administration of the school has been notified. Extra security will be in place for this event."

"But I still get to sing, right?" breathed Jessica, her brown eyes wide with anticipation."

"Of course," said Miss Lazerth, almost monotonically. "We don't give in to threats." She looked at her watch. "The audience will be coming in soon. Jessica, Sean, you are dismissed."

"What about—" I opened my mouth to speak.

"You will be spending some quality time with me, Miss Mayers," whispered Lazerth hotly. "Not a word more."