"Did you get to see her," Rachel asked as she saw her husband enter the motel room. The place they were staying in wasn't the fanciest place they have ever stayed at, but it wasn't the worst. Ever since they lost a good chunk of their fortune, they have had to live like middle-class, much to Rachel's dismay, but Christopher had no complaint. He loved this lifestyle when his father was alive.

"No, I didn't. She is impossible to find, but I did talk to her daughter," Christopher said as he closed the door.

"Her daughter? Who's that?"

"It turns out that Diana is her daughter. Meg told me herself."

"Wait, Meg is here too? Well, I guess that would make sense since her mother is here. Did you get her to make an appointment for her to meet you, at least?"

"I left a note and told Diana to make sure she read it, but I haven't been able to see her personally. It's almost as if she doesn't want to be found."

"I'm sure you'll be able to see her soon. Besides, I heard that there is this fantastic amusement park called Phantasma that has a lot of rides, shows, and shopping centers! Why don't we go there tonight? I'm sure we'll have a great time!"

"I thought you wanted me to speak to Fantôme as soon as I can."

"I do, but since she is almost impossible to find, I don't want you to search forever. You need a break once in a while."

"I suppose you're right. Let's go right now," he said with a smile.

After a while, they arrived to the marvelous Phantasma and they were surprised to see all the colors and sights that surrounded them. There were happy faces everywhere and the smell of popcorn and sweets quickly filled their noses. Music soon filled their ears and they wondered where it was coming from. Rachel and Christopher listened closely and soon found the source of the music: a huge concert hall in the middle of Phantasma. Apparently, it was time for a show to start and they quickly found two seats in the back. After some time, the lights dimmed and the curtains drew back to reveal three performers on stage. "Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready for one of the greatest shows of your life," a skinny man announced. The crowd cheered with delight and the man smiled. "Well, I'm glad to hear! Mr Y welcomes you to Phantasma! However I'm afraid we have a little problem. The singers and dancers refuse to come out!"

"But why, Gangle," the burly man asked the other with a deep voice.

"I'll tell you, Squelch! They are too nervous to come out!"

"Aw, then we should cheer real loud so we can show our excitement for them," a little woman said.

"Good idea, Ms. Fleck! Now, put your hands together and the performers will come out! C'mon, everybody! Clap your hands," Squelch said. Everyone clapped their hands and sure enough, all the dancers came out and did a little number for the audience.

"But wait; we're missing someone! The most important person of our show isn't here," Gangle said.

"She's still a little too shy to come out. Who is it, you may ask? Why, it is Phantasma's oo-la-la girl, Meg Giry," Ms. Fleck said. "On the count of three, we all have to say, 'Come on out Meg Giry'! One, two, three!"

"Come on out, Meg Giry," the crowd cheered and sure enough, Meg Giry came out of hiding. The performed a little routine with the dancers and the rest of the show was absolutely marvelous. The dancing was on point, the singing was great and in pitch, and the set designs were gorgeous. Everything was perfect!

"Well, that's the end of our little show," Meg said, which caused some people to awe in disappointment. "I know, but I do have some exciting news for you. Our amazing Mr. Y has just told me that a little friend of his is going to perform here tomorrow night. Who is it? Well, my friends, it's the one and only Fantôme of the Fantôme Theater!" The crowd cheered loudly and Christopher and Rachel's eared perked up by the news. "Yes, you heard it here first! You might have heard her play the violin at the Fantôme a Theater, but for tomorrow night, for the first time, everyone in attendance will be able to hear her sing! Well, she'll be singing in the shadows, but she'll sing, nonetheless. Fantôme will sing for our beloved audience and it's only happening tomorrow night. Don't miss such an exciting opportunity!" Meg then took a bow and she and the other dancers rushed off the stage just before the curtains pulled forward.

"Was it more than a coincidence that I wanted to come here today," Rachel asked as the couple patiently waited for the rest of the audience to leave the concert hall.

"Regardless, we finally have a chance to meet Fantôme! Can you believe it," Christopher asked with excitement. "I can meet her after the show, maybe compliment her about her performance, and hopefully, she'll let me work in her theater."

"I really hope you do."

"Rachel, is that you," a familiar voice said. They both looked and saw Annabel looked toward them amongst the crowd of people. She quickly and rather forcefully ran toward them and continued saying, "I didn't expect to see you two here? Tell me, how are you enjoying Phantasma?"

"It's quite lovely! I mean, I haven't seen so much amusement in one place," Rachel said with glee.

"Oh, I know. They have all these shows, rides, and my personal favorite, shopping centers. Would you like me to escort you around the area?"

"I would love to-," Rachel said before she was interrupted.

"I'm sorry, but we've had a long day today and I'm sure she would like to go home and rest. Wouldn't you, dear," he said in a very gentle manner. He knew how easily Rachel would accept a shopping binge and had to stop her before anything got out of hand.

"Oh, you're not going to let your husband control you, will you? It's almost the twentieth century! You are allowed to be independent," Annabel said in a teasing tone.

"No, he's right. We should be going home," Rachel said.

"Oh, phooey. Well, I guess it can't be helped," she said as she grabbed Rachel's hand and quickly dragged her out the concert hall.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing," Christopher asked as he quickly chased them. He went outside and saw a maze of people, but not the two women he was looking for. Where could they have gone? Why the hell did she take her? So many questions were racing his head, but one thing was for sure: he needed to find his wife as soon as possible. After a while, he saw a blonde woman get pulled behind tents and he quickly followed. However, as he got closer, he heard feminine moans and was afraid to get any closer. Still, curiosity took over him and he walked toward the noise. He did find the blonde woman, but it wasn't Rachel. She did, however, look familiar. Another woman with raven hair was with her and they were kissing quite passionately. They would have gotten really into it if Christopher didn't loudly clear his throat to get their attention. The raven-haired girl turned around and he soon recognized who they were.

"Well, this is awkward," Lilliana said with a slightly crimson face as she pushed herself off the young woman.

"Why can we never find privacy anymore," Katia said.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your . . . moment, but have you seen a blonde woman and a brunette woman come by here," Christopher asked, slightly embarrassed by what he witnessed.

"The only blonde woman that has my eye is the one right in front of me," Lilliana said as she kissed her again.

"Aw, you're so sweet."

"So, you two haven't seen them?"

"No, we haven't, sorry, but would you mind settling a disagreement for us," Katia said.

"You know I don't want their kind to interfere with something they can't understand," Lilliana said with anger, but Katia pointed at her lover's eyes and Lilliana soon turned away as she quickly grabbed a small mirror out of her pocket, back facing Christopher.

"I don't have much time-," he said.

"It'll only take a few minutes. What is your idea of love? Is it just sleeping with someone or is it something more?"

"Just sleeping with someone? I'm pretty sure I've done more for you that just that," Lilliana said still facing away from him.

"Well, you don't really know what love is. In fact, neither of us does. Let's ask someone who probably knows about love best. So, Mister Daaé, what do you think?"

"Well, I'm not sure I'm the best person to answer that, but-,"

"He admitted it, let's go," Lilliana said abruptly, trying to grab Katia and take her away, but Katia shook her hand off of her.

"But he knows better than us! We have to hear what he says. Don't you want to know something that we don't?" She sighed, but she gestured him to continue.

"For me, love is complicated. It brings out the best in people and the worst." Katia smiled at the thought, but Lilliana's eyes filled with regret. "I've experienced it twice in my life, but true love is something that is undeniable. No matter how hard they try, the love between two soul mates can never be broken."

"Soul mates," Lilliana repeated. "What a cute term humans made up."

"But it is accurate. Two souls become one and lovers would do anything to please the other."

"See, Lily! Isn't it wonderful?"

"You cute little fool; don't you see the dark side of love? Yes, it's beautiful in your eyes since you've never felt heartbreak or regret," she said before quickly turning to Christopher. "And what about you? Have you felt the pain of possibly loving someone a little too much? Have you ever felt guilt for something you did out of love?"

"Actually, I have," he said, surprising her. "But no one felt more pain than she did."

"She?"

Christopher was hesitant, but said, "Erika was an old flame of mine. We were both in love with each other, but we didn't tell the other how we felt."

"Then how did you know you two were in love," Katia asked.

"We eventually did, but it was too late. I was betrothed to another and though I did love my wife, I loved her more."

"See, they are not skilled in the art of love. No one is," Lilliana said sharply.

"Well, you've felt love three times in your life, correct," she asked with a smile, but it soon faded as she saw that her face didn't change its somber look.

"The only instance of love I ever had in my life was for my brother. Sebastian was nothing more than lust, but now, he hates me."

"And us?"

"Our 'love' is just attraction."

"I'm sorry, but I really do have to go. I must find my wife," Christopher said.

"Oh, of course. Thanks for giving us your input," Katia said, but Lilliana only scoffed. He quickly ran off from the couple and they walked away, making sure that they kept an eye on him.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?! My husband is going to be furious when he finds you," Rachel said. Annabel said she was taking her to a shopping center, but instead, she took her behind a food tent where they could be alone. "What is your deal?!"

"I had to speak to you alone. Did you hear the news about Fantôme," Annabel asked nervously.

"Of course and so did my husband," she said, confused by the question.

"I must warn you now: don't let your husband see Fantôme!"

"Why not? We desperately need the money-,"

"I will give you any amount you need to get you out of the country, but you cannot let them meet. Fantôme has been obsessed about your husband since the early years of his career."

"What are you talking about," Rachel asked in utter confusion.

"I mean that she has an unhealthy obsession with your husband and if the two ever meet, I'm afraid she'll never want to let him go."

"You're crazy! If she's so obsessed, why hasn't she come to him?"

"Because she's trying to control her desire, but if they meet, I'm betting that you'll never see him again."

"Why should I believe you? You two are enemies."

"This is the reason why we're enemies. When I was her friend, she said something about killing you so she could have Christopher to herself and I confronted her that. I tried to get her help, even convincing Nadir that she needed help, but she refuses any help. She hates me because I tried to help her." Rachel was silent. Is she lying? It would be one hell of a story to make up. "I couldn't tell you this in front of Christopher."

"Why? If you told him this, he would try to protect me."

"Don't be naïve. I mean, he's a good man, but the curiosity would be unbearable for some men. If you tell him that a woman is obsessed about him, he'll be curious how she would treat him. I bet she would try to do everything that you can't and then replace you entirely."

"But he wouldn't . . . he wouldn't cheat on me," Rachel said with shock.

"I trust he wouldn't, but I wouldn't give him the chance. He hasn't given you a reason to doubt him, has he?"

Rachel was about to say no, but a memory suddenly came into her mind. "Well, there was this one woman that he fell in love with many years ago. I wouldn't be surprised if she was the love of his life. She let him go, but I doubt she left his heart."

"See! If you give him a slight sense of hope, he'll take it. Don't let him see Fantôme tomorrow night," Annabel warned.

"There you are," Christopher yelled as he raced to them. He grabbed Rachel close to him and yelled in a frantic tone, "What the hell, Annabel?!"

"I'm sorry, but I really wanted to show her the shopping center, but since this place is so big, I got lost," she lied. Rachel was surprised how well she could lie right on the spot.

"You didn't need to kidnap her!"

"You had too much control over her, so I thought she needed some time away from you."

"I don't control her; I help her."

"Well, it sure didn't seem like it, but if this is love to, then I guess I should get going," she said as she left their side.

Christopher hugged his wife as he said, "I'm glad you're all right. I was afraid she was going to do something bad to you."

"I'm fine, but it was you I was worried about. I thought you were going to get hopelessly lost looking for me."

"Even if I did, I wouldn't give up my search for you. Do you still want to see the attractions here?"

"But we told Annabel that-,"

"I only said that so she would leave us alone, but it backfired. I wouldn't mind seeing the Ferris wheel or another show. What do you say?"

She smiled. "That sounds wonderful." Christopher took her all around Phantasma, but something about Annabel's warning distracted her from having fun.

"How are you feeling, Samara," Erika asked her in the infirmary of the theater. Apparently, her condition hadn't gotten any better. In fact, it's gotten worse.

The blonde woman sat up from the bed as she answered in a weak voice, "I don't know. Have you talked to the doctor?"

"He's supposed to show up today, but I haven't seen him."

"Well, I did go to the hospital to check out my condition, but he sent me back here. I hope he has some good news for me," she said before coughing. "I haven't performed in a while."

"I know, but your health is the more important than any performance I have scheduled for you."

She laughed, but coughed again, this time, with more intensity. "I bet Bianca is enjoying her rise to stardom. She always wanted to be a star, but she has been an understudy for so long."

"Well, she doesn't have the talent that you possess."

She smiled. "Thanks Fantôme, but none of this would have happened if you didn't send an offer to perform at your theater. When I was at the Opera Populaire, I was scared that things would end up like the Palais Garnier, but I was relieved to receive your letter. Thank you."

"You deserved it. After watching your performance at the last show at the Palais Garnier, I had to get you to perform in my theater."

"The last show? Do you mean Don Juan Triumphant? I mean, I did perform for the first half of the show, but I don't remember what happened in the middle of the show. The next thing I knew, I was in an abandoned dressing room. I heard that the Phantom of the Opera, or so they called her, took over the show and burned down the entire opera house! I feel so bad for everyone in attendance, but I guess she died in the fire since I have heard no news of her presence since."

Erika was silent, but said, "But that could also mean that she's still out there. There has been no news of her death either."

"You do have a point, but there has been no news of her existence since the Palais Garnier burned down. Maybe she was a ghost after all since the fear died when the building burned down," she said before she started coughing again, but this time, she started to cough up blood.

"Oh my god, are you okay," Erika asked with worry.

"I'm fine," she said as she grabbed a rag and continued coughing up some blood. "This happens only once in a while." They suddenly heard a knock on the door and the two women saw the doctor at the doorway.

"Hello, ladies," he said before noticing the blood on the rag. "Are you feeling all right, Ms. Ether?"

"I'm okay, but I would like to stop coughing soon," she said before coughing yet again. "Maybe I should lie down."

"I think that's best for you," he said as she lied on her side and drifted off to sleep. "Fantôme, may I speak to you privately?"

"Sure. Is everything all right?"

"Well, that's what I want to talk to you about," he said as he directed her outside the room. When they were certainly alone, he continued, "I'm sorry to say, but the poor girl has tuberculosis."

"Oh no, that's terrible! Is there any way to cure it," she asked in a very worried tone.

"I hope we can. We will do everything in our power to cure her of this disease, but for now, I suggest she rest and avoid strenuous breathing as much as possible."

"Please do everything you can. If you need any funding, I will happily pay for anything."

"We will try our best, but unfortunately, there is no sure way to cure this."

"Please try to save her," she asked, now with tears forming in her eyes.

"We will. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll perform my usual checkup," he said before entering the room. Erika could feel tears rolling down her cheek at the news. How could something so bad happen to someone so young? Samara barely started her career and it might soon be at an end. Even if she did live through this ordeal, her lungs would be scarred and she wouldn't be able to perform ever again.

"She's not going to make it," a voice said. Erika wiped her tears as she looked toward where the voice came from. It was Katia, this time all by herself.

"What do you mean? The doctors will do everything they can to save her," Erika said with a weak voice.

"Believe all you want, but the doctors don't have the medicine to cure such a terrible disease. She will die by the end of the week."

"No, she won't. She'll live," she argued.

"Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you," she said before leaving her side. Where the hell did she come from? How long has she been there? Why did she say those terrible things? Regardless, she hoped that Samara would survive this disease, even if she could never perform again. Life was better than death; she learned that lesson a long time ago.