So I enjoyed the reviews I got. Half of them were filled with bad things to do with Raoul, and the other half were about how Christine really did need to control her curiosity, HAHA! Well this chapter may not be the happiest (I think yall could have guessed that though) but the future does hold happy chapters, I promise. Ya just gotta stick with me through some of these troubles that may or may not be coming up in order to get there. Besides, a story needs to have some kinda problem happen, otherwise it's no good! Anyways, I hope that you like this chapter; it was kinda hard for me to write and get myself into Eriks mind and what he would say for this one…I'm not disfigured like we know our little darling to be soooooo I can only guess what he would be thinking.

Also real quick, I would like to thank Erin for reviewing since I can't thank them personally, It was really sweet of you to say that and I would love for you to get an account so I can send you snippets of the next chapter like everyone else, Its free :)

*Don't own Phantom of the Opera or anything else recognizable*

Meg POV

"Meg" I heard someone call me while me while I was walking with Christine away from the roof where Raoul was.

I turned around and saw Sorelli and her friends huddled around her.

"We need to talk to you." She said while moving her finger in a gesturing way for me to go over there. I felt hesitant about leaving Christine for them, especially since they set Christine up and had her 'steal' Carlotta's dress; but when Christine nodded her head in approval for me to leave, I knew she was fine with it.

I left with Sorelli and the girls, curiously awaiting what they had to say. I always enjoyed some gossip but lately since I've been with Christine all hours of the day, my mouth and ears have been put in hibernation.

"What is it?" I asked as we began to walk.

"Yesterday after rehearsal, we ran into Carlotta outside of the opera house, still trying to find a carriage to bring her home. She was very angry that Christine took her role so she whined to us about it." Sorelli looked up at the ceiling as if something was watching her then stopped walking and got closer to my ear.

"Carlotta says she thinks the opera ghost had something to do with Christine replacing her, how else would the managers just decide to make such a crazy decision?"

"Oh, that's silly." I said with a hint of a giggle. She was just trying to pull some kind of prank, after all, Sorelli and her friends aren't people to be trusted.

"The opera ghost has better things to do with his time than make sure some ballet rat he's never heard sing before, gets the lead." I said with a bit of pride for finding the fault in their joke. But their faces went white and once more they looked around to see if anyone was listening.

"Ssshhh! Don't speak so loudly, he might hear you!" Sorelli scolded me.

"If you don't think that the ghost has heard her sing, then you know the managers haven't. Why on earth would they even have the faintest clue that she was even able to sing? I'm telling you, Meg, we believe that the ghost sent the managers a letter with threats and everything, like he's known for, stating that Christine should be the lead!" She said flustered.

I thought about everything for a minute, but wasn't sure if I believed what I was told or not. It seemed pretty unrealistic if you ask me.

"You don't know that, it's possible the managers heard her sing." I protested.

"Well, I'll tell you what I do know; have you seen Christine's dresses lately? They've been very elaborate and must be expensive. More than what she would be able to afford on a dancers salary. The opera ghost must be giving them to her somehow! He's very rich with the money he extorts from the managers!

"Bu-" I started but was stopped when Sorelli interrupted me to say more.

"And she disappears a lot, don't you think?! She is always gone after rehearsals, and she's never in bed in the middle of the night!"

"You know just as well as I that she is still getting over her father's death, she's probably just trying to have some alone time while she gathers her thoughts." I argued.

"But how do explain yesterday when she was 'sick'? She wasn't anywhere to be seen then either."

"She was in my mother's care."

"No she wasn't. Your mother was working with James yesterday for hours on the dance." I didn't know what to say to that, but I refused to believe what I was being told…even though it made sense. The opera ghost was heartless, he didn't have time for Christine's singing career. I decided to just leave.

"Well girls, it was nice talking to you all, but I think I have had enough talk about Phantoms. So if you will excuse me, I am going to go practice the dance for Faust." I said wanted to be away from such thoughts that maybe…were perhaps true.

Raoul POV

After Christine and Meg left me on the roof, I decided to go for a walk around the opera house and clear my head. Christine was speaking madness and it slightly disturbed me. The thought of her even in the presence of this deranged madman made my heart beat fast with anger. No one was going to even lay a finger on the girl I had claimed. She was mine and I would protect her.

After walking down a few long hallways, I noticed some dancers in the lobby whispering to one another, and they looked petrified. I thought that maybe though, they'd have an idea where Christine went, so I could follow her and perhaps figure out a little more about her angel of music.

"Excuse me, Mademoiselle?" I got the attention of a little red haired ballerina, still in her dance clothes, and she turned around to face me while her friends just stared at me oddly.

"Have you seen Miss Daae?" I asked. I looked with confusion at how a small gasp escaped her lips and she turned around to whisper more to her friends.

"Why would you want to look for her? You might be killed!" I felt my eyes go wide for a moment. Killed?! What the hell was she talking about?!

"Killed?"

"Yes monsieur! Killed!"

"Why on earth would I be killed for something as innocent as looking for someone?" I questioned in bewildered.

The young girl looked at her friends and they gestured for her to share more information.

"We have good reason to believe that Christine has had something to do with the phantom of the opera." She stated quietly.

"The phantom might kill you if you mess with her! Somehow you might anger him; and his temper is not one to mess with!" Her words immediately struck a bell in my mind; 'His temper is not one to mess with' I remembered Christine say as well. Was this psycho posing as the opera ghost as well?!

"The phantom of the opera? And what do you ladies know about this phantom?" I asked, probing for more information on Christine's possible angel.

"Well, he is practically a murderer! He kills you for so much as speaking his name." She said while looking around.

"He wears a mask on half of his face, and anyone who sees what is under it, never lives to speak of what they've seen!"

"Do you know anything else?" I wondered trying to pick up as much information as I could.

"Well, He watches every production form box five. Madam Giry is the box keeper and she gives him salary that he requests from the managers. She's like the go between for the ghost and the managers." The girl said in a hasty and scared tone.

"I see. But now, I should best be getting on my way. Thank you ladies for this discussion." I said as I bowed my head and walked off to find Madam Giry, I had to know more about this opera ghost.

I found the woman backstage, sizing some ballerinas for their costumes.

"Madam Giry, I believe that I have yet to make your acquaintance." I said as I walked up to her.

"Monsieur Vicomte" She said looking up from some measurements she was taking on a young dancer.

"Madam, please call me Raoul." I said with a smile as I kissed the back of her hand. She blushed as she then held up some fabric to the silent ballerina who looked awkward in the middle of our conversation. I thought about asking her name but I felt like I was short on time, I needed to get answers to my questions, then find Christine so watch over her. She could be with her so called teacher right now.

"I don't normally do this kind of work, but lately I haven't trusted the costume department to be exactly accurate with the ballet costumes. They don't seem to understand that the costumes have to move with the dancer and not constrict them." She said making small talk.

"I understand Madam. Now if it is alright with you, could I have a word alone with you?" I asked in a rushed voice. I could feel time escaping me as I spoke.

"Yes, of course" She agreed. Being done with the girl, she gestured for her to go about her way.

"If you don't mind, could we go to a place that is more private?" I wondered, not wanting anyone to hear our conversation.

"Sure. Follow me." She motioned, then took me to the room she stayed in at in the opera house.

"Can I get you some tea? She asked as I sat down in a chair.

"No thank you, I'm rather short on time."

"Very well." She said as she sat down in a chair next to mine.

"What is it you wanted to talk about?" her eyebrows curved up which showed she was curious.

"I was wondering what you knew of the opera ghost." Her eyes went wide and she looked as though she was very nervous.

"Why are you asking such a thing?!"

"A friend of mine seems to be involved somehow with the ghost and I wish to help her." I stated. Her eyes looked as though a thought came to her heard and that caused me trepidation. I probably said too much and wished to take it back immediately.

"Your friend…she doesn't happen to be Miss Daae, perhaps?" She asked in a whisper. How did she know?! Was I the last to find out about this?!

"Yes…" I looked at her skeptically

"Since you appear to already know about this then, what does this ghost want with Christine?" I asked flustered.

"You cannot repeat my words to anyone monsieur" She warned.

"I won't." I assured her.

She took a deep breath, then began to speak. "He is no ghost but a man." I was right! I thought, confirming my suspicions. "He is a very lonely soul, one who was tortured and filled with knowledge of only of hate. I imagine he has developed some kind of feelings for her, monsieur." She said as she looked down at the floor.

"Do you know where I might find him?" at that question, she bit her lip and started fidgeting with a ribbon from her dress.

"I will tell you, for Christine's sake where you may find him. Maybe you will be the one to get through to him instead of me, and be able to show him that it is not right for him to even be in her presence, it will lead to bad things for the both of them." She said.

"He lives under the opera house, by an underground lake. In the chapel, behind the alter there is a stone that is slightly smaller than the rest on the wall. Push it in, and the wall will open and reveal a cavern that will lead you down to his home. But be careful, there are many traps; and don't even try to hide; he'll know you are coming as soon as you go through the wall." She told me with a scared look on her face.

"Thank you Madam. Now I shall be going. I need to collect something real quick before I venture below to go and see him." I said with a smile. I knew for sure I would get the point across to him to leave Christine alone.

"Just one more thing, Monsieur." She said as I looked back at her from her door.

"He is a genius. He is a musician, an architect, and he has blood on his hands. No doubt he will hurt you if you do anything rash. Be careful."

I nodded at her then left. Rash? Wasn't this whole idea to go down and see this madman uninvited rash? It had to be done though, and it wasn't going to be him that would have the upper hand.

Christine POV

When the mask came free from his face, before I could see anything I was pushed down to the floor with a thud. I scooted back until I hit a cold wall of the cavern we were still in and leaned against it. I looked up to see my angel covering the right side of his face with his hand. Then I looked down on the ground in between us and saw a mask…and a wig.

My angel had thin light brown hair while his wig was a dark black. Parts of his scalp were bald and his hairline stopped short on the right side of his head where I could see the beginning of thin, pale flesh; practically transparent. I wanted to see more, for him to move his hand away. I wished to know what he looked like without a mask and if he was even really an angel.

Erik looked sad and I could see silent tears falling from his eyes. I had really upset him and now he looked as if he were almost in shock. He was staring at the mask on the floor and his breathing got harder and harder. He then looked down at me on the floor and his eyes began to fill with rage.

"You wanted to see my face did you?" He asked in a mocking tone. I felt tears clogging up in the back of my throat and tried to hold them in.

"Answer me Christine!" He shouted, causing his thunderous voice to bounce off the cavern walls and repeat itself. He quickly went up towards me, crouched down in front of me, and put his hands on my upper arms so fast that I barley saw it happen.

With both of his hands now griping harshly to my arms, his face was exposed and mere inches away from mine. I felt my jaw drop at the sight. His upper lip went from a smooth and perfect shape on the left side of his face to a bloated misshapen…thing on the right side of his face. His nose sunk into his flesh and blended with his skin leaving a small hole where the right part of his nose should be. His brown eye was pushed back into his skull while his blue eye on the left was perfect. His skin was filled with many textures of raised bumps in some places and skin so thin and tightly stretched over bones I thought it was going to rip if he made any sudden movements.

"Look what you brought upon yourself! Look in horror of your angel my dear, see that he is in fact the devils child and not holy at all!" He yelled while tightening his tenacious and shaking me back and forth. I could feel his breath hitting my face, it was hot and fast, making my head spin with regret for removing his mask.

"See the face that even a mother could not love, and soak in its every detail." He shouted getting even closer to my face causing me to curl up and turn my eyes away from him. His anger was causing the already distorted face to twist up in rage and it was too much to take.

"Do not turn your head from me! You wanted to see, now please, do not shy away by any means." He grabbed my head in his hands and jerked it to face him in a position to where my eyes were locked on the grotesque features.

"Please, do not hold back Christine, I know you wish to scream, throw insults at me, or even spit in my face!" His words felt like a stab in the gut. He was expecting such horrid behavior form me? I might have given him reason since I took the mask off, but he talked as if he had experienced those things before. I could only imagine the cruel life he must have lived, while being in the possession of such a face. Has he always held this disfigurement?

He starred at me in anticipation for me do one of those awful things, but after a few minutes of silence that was only filled with his harsh breaths, he stood up and grabbed one of my upper arms then pulled me to my feet with such force that I thought my arm was going to be pulled from its socket. Before I even got fully stood up, he began to walk at a fast pace to his home, once more dragging me behind him.

I didn't want to go. It was obvious now that he was only a man; flesh and blood, capable of committing sins like any other person. I didn't want to find out what he was planning on doing with me, now that I saw right through his lie. Was he planning on hurting me? There was pain, regret, sadness and rage all bundled up in his eyes. I had never seen such negative emotions that were that predominant in someone before and it filled me with trepidation that was unspeakable. What was going to happen when we got home?

"You are a self-seeking chit Christine, and you think you are actually entitled to beauty because you were lucky enough to be born with such a face? Well my child, as long as I have something to do with it, your destiny will hold nothing but ugliness! You might as well forget your Vicomte!" He roared causing tears to make their path down my cheeks. I wasn't sure what he meant by his words, but my once angel was now a nightmare that had come to life and showered me many reasons to be terrified of him. What did he mean about my future being filled with ugliness?

He pushed the door to his home open with a force that caused the walls to shake. He thrusted me down onto the sofa, then turned his back to me and ran his fingers through his sparse hair. He was visibly shaking and his fists were clinched with white knuckles.

"Oh Christine." He said softly, almost to himself. His words sent a shiver down my spine. To hear my name linger on his lips in such a melancholy tone was heart wrenching.

"Erik." I said causing him to turn around and look at me with a pitiful expression on his distorted face.

"I'm so sorry Christine." He spoke in soft tones, then walked away towards his room. I cuddled myself up in a ball and cried into my arms. I had caused him such sadness, I hurt Erik.

I heard glass shatter from down the hall and what sounded like things being knocked off of shelves and thrown around. I wanted to go make sure Erik was alright but fear held me back. Something told me to stay put and stay out of things for once. I was not scarred of his face but of his temper and the actions that might have come with it.

I felt betrayed for being lied to, but I felt more pity for Erik. I could only imagine what he's been through with his face, and now I ripped off his mask causing him humiliation when all he was really trying to do was help my voice take flight. He also had given me a dear friend of an angel…even if it was now fake, to help me while I mourned my papa. It just left a bitter taste in my mouth to realize the angel of music never really did come and visit me.

I balled so hard that I shook and my chest began to heave. "Oh papa; I'm so lost." I whispered wanting comfort. I eventually sobbed myself to sleep, with the lullaby of crashing objects and booming sounds from Erik's room.

Fffeeeeww! Welcome to the bottom of the page! I bet we are all truly thankful that we made it through that chapter; I know I am! It took me a while to bring myself to write about the unmasking which is why I started off with Meg and Raoul's POV instead. I hope you found everything realistic and can maybe see that the story will be picking up, I have big plans up my sleeve!

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to maybe…review? I will give you a snippet of the next chapter and it really is good to hear what good/bad things you have to say.

Thanks for yalls support!