Madeleine ran. She ran as fast as she could, but no matter how hard she tried, the Phantom was still far in front of her. Every so often, he would turn to peer behind him and check on his pursuer. The Monsieur grinned wickedly at the sight of Madeleine struggling to keep up. His eyes gleamed with excitement and hidden happiness. When he laughed, her jaw tensed and her eyes focused intently on her target.

"Watch your step, Mademoiselle," the Phantom warned as he turned quickly down a hidden corridor. Madeleine froze where he had vanished and stared into the darkness.

"Monsieur le Phantom, I would appreciate it if you stopped these vanishing games," Madeleine called into the shadows. His laughter echoed around her.

"I think you've ran enough for now," he replied, "Do you trust me?"

"Do I trust you?" she repeated, slightly confused. "Do I have a choice?" Silently, he reached his gloved hand out of the darkness.

"Like I said," the Phantom continued, "You can follow me, or you can return to the dormitories." Madeleine took a breath, swallowed her pride, and took his hand. His grip was gentle, yet guiding as he led her down the pitch black corridor. Her hand groped the wall as she followed him silently. A small click echoed around them and the Phantom paused.

"What was that?" she whispered, inching backwards. She lost her balance, however, as a small stone rose from the floor. Her foot slipped and she fell backwards, her hand slipping from his gloved form.

"No!" the Phantom gasped, realizing the fatality of his trap. He stepped on the button which portruded from the stone floor, causing the small bed of spikes below her to retreat back into the floor. Thankfully, she was saved, but as she fell, a sickening crack resounded around them. "Madeleine!"

"Monsieur…" she breathed in response. He knelt by her side, pressing a stone in the wall which illuminated multiple dim candles around them.

"Yes, are you alright?" he asked, helping her sit up.

"Yes," she said, laughing weakly in response.

"What?" he asked in panic, "What is so funny?"

"You've never called me by my name before…" she replied with a smile. He sighed, a slight smile appearing from behind his mask.

"Neither have you, Madamoiselle," he answered, taking her hand as she stood.

"I am perfectly aware of that, Erik…" she said. "Shall we continue on our journey?"

"Only if you are feeling well enough to do so," he answered, holding out his hand. She smiled and took his hand.

Quietly, they continued their journey down the dim corridor. The Phantom's heart was in his throat, but he refused to let his guest know. Beside him, Madeleine was trying to keep the butterflies in her stomach from bursting. Neither of them changed their calm facades.

From somewhere inside of her, Madeleine gathered the courage to break the immaculate silence.

"Monsieur," she asked quietly, "Why is it that you kept this corridor in darkness until now?"

"It was a challenge of sorts…" he replied with a bit of mystery in his voice.

"How so?" She asked, turning to look at his masked face.

"You seem to me like a very precarious young woman. The moment you entered my opera house, you were in some sort of trouble." He began. "I wanted to see exactly how brave you were. "

"And did I pass this test?" she asked challengingly.

"Yes," he replied reluctantly, "you are the first of three who have passed my test."

"Then it's an honor, Monsieur." He looked over at Madeleine's curious eyes and nodded. She smiled in return.

They continued their journey down the dim corridor in comfortable silence.

A few times, Madeleine's damp Pointe shoe slid across the wet stone, but the Phantom's faithful hand was there to catch her. He seemed to take pleasure in helping her, and reminding her quite frequently of her accident with his trapdoor.

When they arrived at the dock, The Phantom helped Madeleine into the boat, and continued their journey towards his lair. They continued in silence, but Madeleine's curoisity overtook her once more, and she gazed in awe at the sculptures and pillars which surrounded them. Slowly they came upon the shore of the Phantom's lair and Madeleine's eyes widened in amazement.

This was no lair; instead it looked like an old palace which was abandoned. An organ sat on a ledge a few feet from the shore, and vairous mirrors, tapestries, and fabrics covered entrances and hidden rooms. Monsieur le Phantom watched from the boat as Madeleine stepped off of the boat and onto the cold stone of his lair.

AN: Sorry it's so short. I'm having a bit of writer's block. Updates are coming soon!