Ghastly Familiar

By BeckyLynnetteCohen

Disclaimer: I own Anna Maria, Samantha, Jean Claude, Sydney, and Savannah. That is it.

Chapter 5: Phantom of the Opera and enter a jackass

'3 weeks of silence…. Erik's due for a visit any day now…' Anna Maria thought as she was lying in an upstairs bedroom painting the baseboards.

"Did you miss me?" said a voice.

Anna Maria looked up, hoping to see Erik for a bit of excitement, but only saw her best friend Ryan Cartwright. "It's just you."

"Oh, I missed you too, Anna Maria!" said Ryan.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Pick up a brush and help me paint, you loser."

"No can do. I'm here to help Sydney, not help his whiny brat of a daughter."

"Fine. Leave."

"I just wanted to come in and tell you about our date tonight that you mother arranged."

"Our WHAT?!"

"Date. I'll see you at 8."

Ryan walked out of the room and Anna Maria threw down her paintbrush.

"Trouble in paradise?"

"Erik…."

"You remembered."

"You haven't been around to harass/kill me and right now I reeeeeeeeally want to die."

"What you don't like Captain Wow over there?"

"He's my best friend. It would be weird to go on a date with him."

Erik was silent.

"Obviously, you can't sympathize, Mr. Phantom of the Opera."

"What?!"

"I did some research on you. Christine Daae was closely linked to the…."

"Don't mention her name."

"Hits a soft spot huh? She caused you to burn down what you had built. She's a total bitch."

"Heh. How can you say that about someone you haven't even met."

"Come on a field trip with me."

"Why should I?"

"Because I can tell you're trying to get information out of me and I know a better way for me to give it to you."

"I can't leave the Opera…I mean the house…."

"You won't have to… On second thought, just wait here."

Anna Maria ran into the next room picked up three books and laid them in front of Erik. "Go ahead and read these. They should give you all the information you need."

"Why are you doing this? I tried to kill you remember?"

"Yeah, but you at least talk to me."

Anna Maria picked up her paintbrush, turned her back to Erik and began painting the baseboards again. Erik turned to Anna Maria, a look of pity in his glowing eyes.

"You missed a section."

"Ok. I'll get it in a min… wait… aren't you going to try and kill me today?"

"No. I have some reading to do."

With that Erik, and Anna Maria's books vanished. Anna Maria smiled and continued painting the walls.