I hurried through the streets, my hood hiding my scar. I could already see the Opera Populaire, just a few more blocks away... When I got to the entrance, there was a sign that said:

Closed due to dangerous equipment and extensive damage

I can still remember that night... his face was so... heartbroken. My heart swelled with the thought of him, but quickly deflated when the thought of him gone came. Or worse, he could be dead. With that fresh in my mind, I quickly tore the boards sealing the door. It wasn't that hard, the wood was rotten from all the rain and wind of the last few storms. I quickly walked towards the main, and grandest feature of the Opera. The stage. Oh, what memories! My first big performance... Carlotta sounding like a frog, which I had to try my best not to laugh... but with those glad memories, came bad ones. Buquet's murder... and Don Juan Triumphant... no, mustn't think that now! I had arrived at the stage, and wasted no time climbing on top. Careful to avoid all the shards of glass from the chandelier, I stepped into a spot where I could see box 5. Maybe... maybe the Phantom was there? One way to find out... My throat felt dry now that I was finally here. I quickly cleared my voice and began singing a song that I know the Phantom would recognize:

Angel of Music,

Guide and Guardian!

Grant to me your glory!

Angel of Music,

Hide no longer,

Come to me strange Angel!

I stopped and listen, but there was only silence. Silence... Wait, the dressing room! It has a passageway to the lair! With that, I quickly ran to La Carlotta's, and mine, dressing room. My hood still miraculously stayed on, but I was in too much a rush to bother with it now. Finally, I came to my destination, the dressing room. And within, the mirror to my Phantom, hopefully. Silently, I came in, not knowing the reason why, and tip-toed to the mirror. To my surprise there was a crack in it, and from the crack, came some light. I had to use my fingernails to finally wrench it open. The passageway was dusty, and there were cobwebs, but that didn't bother me. I grabbed the only source of light, a torch from the wall. Another memory crossed my mind, that of the Phantom's and mine duet together, and I couldn't help but sing it:

In sleep he sang to me, in dreams he came,

That voice which calls to me, and speaks my name,

And do I dream again? For now I find...

The Phantom of the Opera is there... inside my mind...

A lone tear streaked my face, it crossed my deformity and fell to oblivion. Sighing, I finally reached the boat, which, again, to my surprise was still there. But I realized that we had to use this passage to get out of the Opera, and felt immediately stupid for not realizing it. Reminiscing about the scene at the lair wasn't going to help me with my mission. I quickly grabbed the stick and got in the boat. The same black boat that the Phantom used to cross the lake with. Another song busted into my mind, the song he sang while he was kidnapping me. But that quickly went from my mind when I saw that the gate was lowered into the water. No way in... Unless... If I tried once more:

Angel of Music!

I came to you,

Trying to find true beauty!

Angel of Music!

Friend and Phantom,

Come to me strange Angel!

Minutes of silence went by. Hearing nothing, not even my own breathe, I lost what little hope I held. My song filled with my despair.

Angel... oh speak...

what endless longing, echo in this whisper.

Angel of Music,

Please help me...

Come to me my Phantom!

My knuckles were white from my grip on the bars, trying not to drift away from the one I used to fear, but now have realized I loved. My heart, having been filled with hope, finally shattered, and I fell on my knees and wept. I haven't cried like this since my father's funeral, and now my tears ran freely down my face. I thought that perhaps he wasn't there anymore, that perhaps he ran away like I did, and that my journey had been in vain. But, a voice sounded, a voice that I had thought I would never hear again... and it was coming from the other side of the gate:

Wandering Child, so lost, so helpless,

Yearning for my guidance...

Angel of Music!

You came to me, seeking true beauty!

Angel of Music!

You used to shun me,

Why return to your Angel?

It was him... no one had his voice, a voice filled with sadness, and love. An angelic voice, that none could compare too! In answer, I put one finger under my hood that hid my scar, my disfigurement. The price I had to pay to find what I should have known all along. And simply, flipped it off my head, showing my red scar to the night. And perhaps the Phantom saw it, for the gate lifted up, and I rowed inside. It closed behind me, but I didn't care. I felt... safe. At last, no more faces distorted with disgust. But I couldn't see him, of course, there was only one candle lit and it was dim, but still... The boat hit the little island and I stepped onto the stone steps, taking in what is the Phantom's lair. It... was the same, a few more cobwebs but still... I walked to the organ, but he wasn't there, nor at the wedding mannequin, which still creeped me out truth be told. I peeked in the bedroom, but he wasn't there either. The night was old, and dawn was coming, from what I could tell of the clock by the bed, if it was right. I was tired, after all, I spent the entire night searching for my Phantom, and laid down in the bed. And just before I dropped off to sleep, I could have sworn I heard the Phantom sing:

Let me be your shelter,

Let me be your light;

You're safe, no one can find you,

You're fears are far behind you

And with that final note in my head, I slept, and dreamed of masks and roses with black lace tied around them.