Erik wasn't asleep, he was playing at his organ.
"Good morning, Erik," I said.
Erik jumped when he heard me. "Oh yes!" He said. "I was so wrapped up in my music I forgot about you."
"Well thanks," I said sarcastically. I changed the subject. "How was the singing lesson last night?"
"Great," Erik said, scribbling down some music notes. "Chrsitine sang like an angel as always. And when I returned her to her room, she gave me another kiss, and I promised to pick her up for the New Year's Eve ball tonight."
"The masquerade is tonight!?" I asked. "Already? What am I going to do? I haven't anything to wear but Carlotta's old dress!"
"It's a ball for adults only," Erik said.
"I have to keep an eye on that rat, Raoul, won't I?" I said. "I won't bother you and Christine."
"Fine," Erik said. "Once there's no one in one of the unlocked dressing room, go in and take one of the costumes and a mask... they're scattered every where," Erik added, angrily.
"You know it's not really your fault you were born like that," I said. "Just because you're deformed doesn't mean your not a nice person."
"Well, misunderstandings have turned me into NOT a nice person," Erik said, frowning.
"Well, you've shown Chrisitne a side of you that's nice," I said. "And I'm not a material girl. I could be friends with the ugliest kid in my class as long as he or she is nice."
"Well..." Erik hesitated. "You're a... very kind person..."
"Aw, thank you, Erik!" I said.
"Go back to the surface of the earth now," Erik told me. "Get dressed, and I'll find you an unlocked dressing room, wait for me in your dorm."
I ran back intot he bedroom, went through the trap door, and ran into my room. I got dressed, and tied my hair back. I sat on the bed. Erik would have some time before he came to get me, so I decided to sing again, but I sang quieter, and for less of a time.
"In a crooked little town,
They were lost and never found, Fallen leaves, fallen leaves, fallen leaves, on the ground.
Run away before you drown, or the streets will beat you down,
Fallen leaves, fallen leaves, fallen leaves on the ground..."
"You sing of such odd things," Erik said, suddenly. I gasped and spun around.
"Why do you always come in on me while I'm singing!?" I asked.
"Why do you always make a big deal out of it?" Erik shot back. "Come, I'll lead you to the room I found.
Erik led me up some flights of stair, until we came to this dressing room labeled 114. I opened the door and stepped in. The room was small, and cramped, but there was a wardrobe in the corner. It was full of costumes that were just a tad to big for me, but it would do. I chose a long flowing green dress that reached the ground. But their were no masks about.
"We'll figure something out," Erik said.
We went back to Erik's house taking the long route through the laybrinth. I managed to only trip twice.
"Now," Erik said, "I'll be in the bedroom doing something, you stay here, and... do whatever, but do not touch my score!"
"Is that your Don Juan Triumphant?" I asked.
"Yes," Erik sighed. "I've been working on it for a long time, and tonight, I will give it to Andre and Firmin, and they will put on the show, whether they like it or not."
"They'll think it's crazy," I said.
"As if I have not gone insane already," Erik said, ruthfully, walking into the bedroom.
I sighed. I looked around at the organ. Erik had said not to touch his opera, but he never said to not touch teh organ. I sat on the hard piano stool and played a few notes. After a couple of hours, Erik finally came out of the room, holding his hand behind his back.
"What took you?" I asked.
Erik said nothing. He smiled and handed me something.
It was a mask. It was almost identical to his, but it fit my face perfectly. I was lost for words. Erik had been never so kind to me. I ran to him and hugged him.
"Ok, that's enough," Erik said, pushing me off. "Now, is there anything I need to know before we got to the masked ball?"
"Well," I said, thinking. "Unless you don't give the managers your Don Juan play, you won't have to leave so early."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, in the book and movie you were alone, so that was a little less dificulty to deal with. You make a dramatic entrance and ask everyone why they're so silent. Then you throw the score at the managers, and you give a few instructions to the people. You say Carlotta needs acting lessons, Piangi needs to lose weight, the managers belong in an office, and you would say Chrisitne needs to return to you to get to be a better singer. But I suggest you just go to the ball as a mysterious masked man, with Christine Daae."
"I'll corner those dimwitted idiots at the end of the party," Erik decided.
"Don't go to extreme though," I said.
----
Hours later, it was time for the ball. Erik left me near the grand staircase. I was a bit worried because there was no other adult I knew around here, and I couldn't find Andre, Firmin, or Raoul, but I stood off to the side and waited for Erik and Chrisitne. No one was singing the 'Masquerade' song like in the movie. I didn't expect anyone to. So I decided to sing it quietly to my self.
"Masquerade, paper faces on parade,
Masquerade. Hide your face so the world will never find you..."
I stopped. It was a little sad, for if I wasn't careful, that would be Erik's fate. I was looking around. I had been waiting for some minutes now, and I couldn't find them. I ran about the ball, asking people If they had seen a man in a crimson suit, probably with someone from the opera. No one had, but they all asked me why I was in here. I told them I was just waiting for my parents.
As I was running, I bumped into Raoul. I looked up. He wasn't wearing a mask. Idiot, I thought. It's a masked ball!
"Madameoiselle Devoir?" he asked.
"Y-yes," I said.
"Come with me for minute."
Uh-oh, I thought. What does he want with me? I'm just innocent little Antoinette.
Raoul and I came away from the crowd and the noise. "Now," he said. "I've seen you around here a lot, Antoinette, I thought you said you wouldn't be around much this year."
"I- My- p-papa got the money for my baby brother's medicene earlier, so I was a-able to come back," I lied. Darn! I thought. It was baby sister!
"I thought you said you had a baby sister," Raoul said.
"Oops," I giggled. "Silly me."
"Antoinette," Raoul pressed on. "Do you know anything about the opera ghost?"
Oh my God! I thought. He knows I'm helping Erik!
"Of course," I said. "I think it's just a legend, though."
"Oh really?" Raoul said. "Then who was it I saw climbing down from the statue that night up in the roof?" He held up my digital watch.
"ERIK!!!!!!" I yelled, running away from Raoul, and pushing through people. I didn't know where he was. Suddenly, I slammed into him, almost knocking him over. Chrisitne wasn't there.
"What is wrong with you!?" He hissed at me. "Don't you know how to walk? You almost knocked me over!"
"Raoul! Raoul knows! He found out that I'm helping you!"
"What!?" Erik cried.
"He saw me on Apollo's Lyre, he must of seen me talking to you... oh my god... we are in such a mess!"
Erik said nothing. He sighed. "Go back to my house," he instructed me. "Wait for me there. You can go to sleep if you like, for you look vey pale, but just stay there!"
I nodded, and ran into the auditorium, behind the stage, and flew through the trap door. I landed on Erik's bed and I immdetely fell asleep.