A/N: A big thank you goes out to all of you who read and reviewed! I hope you enjoy this next one - please let me know what you thought of it (Ok, so this one might not be as exciting, but I assure you the next one will be an improvement) ;) See you next time!

Chapter Eleven – Looming and Lurking

"That young lady is insufferable!" the Indian muttered, grumbling all the while as he kept his hand over the handle of his gun. Trekking into the sewers, he didn't expect to find much. The Phantom was most likely long gone after that little display he put on, and Erik would be furious when he found out. Still, it didn't hurt to check, and he was not afraid of the dark…

"Good God!" he cried, jumping back as the light of a flashlight stunned him when he turned the corner. "Monsieur Pierce, for the love of God-!"

"Oy, doncha start bossin' me 'round, Indy!" the rat-catcher scowled, lowering his light source. "I mind me own business and go where I'm needed. I don't go snoopin' 'round like you 'n the little lady who came before. I sees a lot o' strange things but ya don't see me pokin' 'round like you-!"

"Yes, yes, I understand," the Indian waved him off, shaking his head and rolling his eyes. "The Phantom was above in the auditorium, that's why I'm here."

"Phantom? Bah," the old man spat in disgust. "That fraud taints the boss's name. Just you wait 'til the OG gets 'im! I's seen him sneakin' around here, that phony. But I'm always on me guard, mind you." He reached for his patched cap, tugging it over his brow before muttering, "Gotta keep your hand at the level o' your eyes…"

"Monsieur, if this job is so dangerous and odd, why do you keep at it?" the foreigner asked, crossing his hands over his chest before cocking his head at an angle at the old man.

"Ah, there's always rats here, sir, all kinds o' rats, if ya catch me drift," he nodded, tossing his sack over his shoulder before tipping his hat to him as he showed that he planned to continue on his merry way. "I knows where to find 'em. And besides, a man's got to eat, and this job pays quite a pretty Euro." Trudging past the man, he paused only for a moment, glancing over his shoulder at the Indian. "You tell that little lady to mind her own business, hear me?"

"Believe me, it's all I ever do," the brown-skinned male sighed, shaking his head as he walked in the opposite direction, his mind wandering for a moment as he recalled the unusually stubborn girl. "If she's not careful, she'll be the death of herself…and possibly Erik."

~OG~

"Of all the insufferable men I've ever met, that nosy, bossy, mysterious jerk takes the cake!" Melody fumed, slamming the door after her once she and Riley were inside the old dressing room. Releasing a furious growl, she stomped over to the uncovered lounge and plopped down, crossing her arms over her chest while still clutching the lasso in her hand.

"Why do you think he keeps telling you to stay away?" Riley asked, taking his place at her feet, his legs crossed.

"Obviously, he knows stuff. He doesn't know that I know, though," she concluded, holding the coarse rope before her in contemplation. "The question is, who is the Phantom, and why is he at odds with Erik and his family?"

The boy's brows furrowed as he pondered a moment, his eyes straying to the mirror. "…hey! Why don't we find out?" he suggested, nodding his head at the unique structure placed into the wall. "You said that mirror leads to the old catacombs below the Opera, and I've been wanting to check it out for ages! C'mon, Aunt Mel! This would be so cool-!"

"Hold up," she warned him, holding one hand aloft in a sign to freeze. "The last time I went in there alone, I met up with a creepy old man who caught and killed rats, I got hopelessly lost, it was dark, cold, and disgusting in there, and there's the matter of the…um, 'OG'." Her eyes drifted to the mirror, a sense of uncertainty filling her. The last thing she needed now was for Erik to be hiding there and eavesdropping on her. "It's dangerous, Riles. Much more dangerous than I thought it would be. There are trapdoors and God knows there could be traps set up, just like in the book-"

"But that sounds awesome!" Riley insisted, his face lighting up.

Shaking her head, she smacked her forehead in frustration. "You're just as bad as your father." Grabbing her bag, she walked over to the large changing screen that had been cast aside, tugging it open before stepping behind it. Taking one last look at the rope, she set it aside before spilling out her bag's contents. Placing her camera beside the rope, she stuffed her wallet into her bag before pulling out her dark-washed skinny jeans and soft, sparkling mint sweater. "We're not going in there, Riley. We need to plan before we do anything-"

"'We'?" he asked, his eyes lighting up as he listened to his aunt. "You mean I'm part of Team OG?"

Melody laughed as she listened, heaving a sigh as she smiled. "Yes, Riles. We're in this together. I can't imagine doing any of this without you. You're the only one in the family who I can talk to about this without making me feel like I'm some lunatic. I need you."

"Duh," he grinned, earning a laugh from the young woman as she stepped out, tugging her hair out of her sweater and letting it settle upon her shoulders.

"Come on, kiddo. I'm starving. How about lunch?" she asked, slinging her backpack over her shoulder before wrapping an arm around the boy and guiding him towards the door.

"McDonalds!" he exclaimed at once, making her grin and giggle. "They've gotta have one close by!"

"You know, I've been craving pizza for ages since we got here-" she mentioned, turning the handle and pulling the door open as she looked down at the boy, instantly bumping against another figure who blocked her path. "Oh! Sorry, I-…" Her eyes widened at the sight of Erik, his crooked smile reappearing on his face as he looked down into her bewildered eyes. "Erik!"

"Melody," he nodded politely to her. "Riley," he winked, winning back a grin from the boy. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude-"

"I'm gonna go ask Auntie Rose if she wants to eat, too," Riley smirked, casting Melody a knowing look before laughing and running away.

"Riley-!" she called out, desperate to have him close. Her heart began to beat rapidly as she realized she was left alone with Erik in the corridor, merely a foot away from one another…mere minutes before, they had almost kissed…

"Are you all right, Melody?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as he noticed she began to blush.

"Huh? Oh, I'm…fine," she stammered, her hand moving to her cheek in embarrassment. "Um…about earlier…I…I'm sorry. I couldn't stop crying and I was a mess, I don't know what was wrong with m-" Her words died as he placed his forefinger upon her lips, a tender smile on his own mouth as he gazed on her face. She felt her neck flare up instantly, making her entire body go on fire.

"There is no need to apologize," he insisted softly, making goose bumps rise on her skin. "I thought we had agreed there was no need to be so formal when it was just the two of us…" His head bowed towards her, and for a moment, she thought that he might actually finish the job and kiss her…He paused in time, however, a look of concern flashing in his eyes. "…forgive me," he whispered, pulling away as he removed his hand from her face. Looking away, Melody sensed that he felt shameful as he ran his fingers through his dark hair, a lock of it insisting on falling back into his sea-hued eyes. "I'm being presumptuous and taking advantage of you."

"What?" she asked, stunned by his response. "Erik, I-"

"Oh, there you are, Erik!" Anna's excited voice made the pair jump in surprise. The two turned to see the red-headed woman running to them with a beaming smile. "I've got the final preparations ready to go for the Masquerade. And the judges have already given me their votes for today's first troops! Isn't that exciting?!"

"Wait, a masquerade?" Melody asked, both excited and curious all at once.

"Oh yes! We're going to have a Masquerade Ball tomorrow night to promote the Showcase, and we'll announce the contestants who were selected today!" Anna grinned, though her look turned to one of confusion. "I thought your brother would have told you."

"I…guess he forgot," she shrugged. Lately, she had been too busy thinking about others things to have been concerned about any Balls or parties.

"Well, now you know. Maybe you can go with Lili and Joelle – they're planning on shopping today for gowns," Anna suggested. She kissed her son before giving Melody's shoulder a squeeze, hurrying off as she muttered to herself things that had to be done before tomorrow.

"A Masquerade Ball here at the Garnier Opera House…I'll bet the two 'ghosts' will definitely make an appearance," she noted, planning on tracking them down no matter what. "Why a masked ball?" she asked aloud, waiting to see how Erik would react.

"It's always been a tradition here…and what better way to get attention for such an intricate and large event than a Masked Ball on Valentine's Day?" Erik shrugged casually.

"Wait, Valentine's Day?!" she gasped, her hand moved to her forehead as her jaw dropped. "Already?!"

He chuckled, nodding his head to her. "Yes, I'm afraid so. I don't suppose you have an outfit ready?"

"No," she shook her head in defeat. Sighing, she shrugged it off. "Doesn't matter. I'm not one for dancing."

"On the contrary, you danced beautifully on stage," he said, his voice deepening as his eyes glazed over, recalling how she performed mere moments ago.

This did nothing to help her blush. She looked away from him, her eyes shyly averting from his face. "Why do you keep doing this?" she asked quietly, her hand curling into a fist over her heart.

"Doing what?"

"This…saying things that-" "That make me feel stupid and girly and make me want to kiss you." "…things that I don't deserve to hear."

His crooked smile returned as he clasped his hands behind his back and took a step closer to her, causing her to step away into the room once more. "You have a very unusual sense of self-worth, Melody." His eyes would not seem to leave her face as she remained still, forcing herself to look back up at him again. "I'm sorry if I've made you uncomfortable with my actions."

"I…" Melody wanted to smack herself. Why was it that when she was around this guy, she couldn't seem to talk at all?! As she fought to answer back, a sinister chill made her shiver, suspicion rising in the back of her mind. "Erik, this is going to sound weird, but is it just me or does it feel like there's someone-?"

Erik's eyes widened as he looked past her, his arms moving quickly as he pulled her towards him before pushing her off to the side. "Run!" he ordered her, tackling the dark figure that seemed to lunge from the mirror.

Melody tumbled to the floor, scrambling back to her feet as she peered over her shoulder and gasped at the intruder. "The Phantom!"

Wielding a wicked knife blade in his gloved hands, the Phantom swiped at Erik, who dodged and leapt away nimbly as though he were a squirrel. Spinning around, he took hold of the Phantom's cape and covered his head, twisting the cloth around his neck as he snarled angrily. "Get out!" he demanded as the Phantom fought and twisted in his grasp. He was prepared to pull out his Punjab lasso when he noticed that the perpetrator twisted his arm back in an effort to stab him. He jumped away, thus releasing the man. The Phantom threw his cape off of his head, swerving around to sneer at Erik.

"You cannot tell me what to do, Erik. I shall always be the dominant one here," he growled, making a face of disgust as Erik reached for his jacket pocket and began to withdraw a familiar braided rope. "I'll kill you before you even attempt to Punjab me."

"We'll see about that," Erik retorted, poised for action when he noticed a figure sneak up from behind his enemy.

"What's the matter, Erik?" the Phantom smirked, his face changing into one of pain and confusion as something hard came down on the back of his head at full force. "Gah!" he cried out, falling to his knees. Reaching up, he touched his head tenderly before raising his eyes and seeing a familiar face. "You?"

"Get away from him!" Melody demanded furiously, wielding a small footstool in her hands as she raised it above her head in defense once more.

Both men gawked at her in disbelief, frozen for a moment until the sound of voices and footsteps down the hall became closer and more prominent.

"Aunt Mel? Is that you?" Riley called to them.

The Phantom glanced from one person to the next before reaching into his coat pocket. "Until next time." Tossing a pellet to the floor, the room filled with smoke, sending both Erik and Melody into a coughing fit, the two of them temporarily blinded.

"Aunt Mel! Erik!" Riley exclaimed as he entered the room, wincing as he waved the smoke away. "Did you guys have a barbeque in here or something?"

"Riley, you need to get out," Melody insisted, gasping for breath as the smoke settled. "It's not safe here-!"

"Why? Were you two making a campfire?" he asked, giving them a quizzical look. "Was there someone else in here with you? And why are you holding a stool?"

Melody took this moment to look about as the smoke settled, seeing how the room was devoid of any Phantom. Only she, Riley, and Erik remained. "Uh-"

"Just a little experiment of mine, Riley," Erik said smoothly, brushing the dust from his shoulders. "I'm planning on making a rather extravagant entrance for the Masquerade tomorrow, and wanted to get your aunt's opinion of it."

"Cool," the boy nodded. "Well, the girls wanted me to tell you they're going for lunch, too, and we're invited. Will you come, too, Erik?"

"I'm afraid I must decline," Erik shook his head. "I still have some work to do here. Maybe next time, Riley."

"Ok," he shrugged. "You coming, Aunt Mel?"

"Um, in a little," she said quickly, motioning for him to go. "I'll catch up, you go on."

"Ok," he grinned mischievously, glancing to Erik and back at her. Winking at her, he walked off and began to whistle.

Erik watched the boy, waiting in silence until he was gone before checking the dressing room and tugging Melody back inside.

"Hey!" she exclaimed, staring at him as he quickly shut the door after them, his eyes seeming as though they were on fire. "What-?"

"Melody, I have to ask that you don't tell your family what just happened," Erik insisted, his voice low as he spoke to her. "Nor that you tell the police."

Crossing her arms over her chest, Melody pursed her lips at him. "I hadn't planned on it, but you really ought to consider getting some help. Though it seems you've got it under control…" She eyed the lasso in his hands, causing Erik to stuff it quickly into his jacket pocket once more. "Erik, you need to get back-up. That maniac could kill someone!"

"I've already got a plan," Erik stated, straightening his posture and fixing his tie. "All I ask is that you keep this a secret-"

"If you would just tell me what's going on, then maybe you wouldn't have to keep so many secrets!" she pleaded, taking a step forward towards him. Of course, she already knew, but he didn't know that…she hoped that he would decide to share it with here at last, but his eyes dimmed as he looked at her.

He took a step back, shaking his head. "I can't-"

"Can't or won't?" she frowned, recalling how he used those same words the first time they discussed singing.

"Both. I can't…" Hanging his head, his hands curled into fists as he closed his eyes tightly. "…I can't bear the thought of you getting hurt by this mess. Knowing the truth only makes it worse. So please…" Inhaling deeply, he forced himself to look back up at her, his eyes full of sorrow. "…please, Melody…stay away from that thing…and from me."

Her eyes became the size of saucers as she heard him, her heart feeling as though it had just been stabbed. "…you…want me to keep away?...from you?"

"If it's the only way to keep you safe, then yes," he answered reluctantly, regretting having ever said those words upon seeing her eyes water. "You must understand-!"

"Fine," she snapped, her hurt dissolving into anger. "Fine! If that's what you want, then I'll keep away from you, Monsieur Chevalier." Without another word, she turned and walked to the door, calmly opening and shutting it as she forced herself to move onward. "Deep breaths…deep breaths," she reminded herself, wiping her face clean of tears before inhaling deeply. "So he wants me to stay away from Erik Chevalier? Fine…but he never said I couldn't stay away from the Opera Ghost." A determined smile graced her lips as she thought of going back against Erik's wishes. "I'm going to help him stop that Phantom creep whether he likes it or not."

~OG~

He sunk into his chair, shaking his head as he remembered Melody's trembling voice, her watery eyes. It stung him to the core, seeing her hurt by his message, and it hurt him even more that he had to lie to her. But it was for the best, after all…he truly couldn't risk any harm befalling her, and she was already in deep enough with his affairs. Still…seeing her reaction, he was tempted to think that maybe, just maybe…she had deep affections for him, just as he had for her.

"Don't be stupid," he scowled mentally as he leaned back in his office chair. "She couldn't love me…not really. That's why she has to keep away…if she ever found out about my face…"

A knock at the door made him sigh. "Come in," he said, sitting up straight in his seat only to slouch again as he saw who it was. "Monique. You don't have to knock – this is technically your office, too."

"I saw you down the hall when you walked in…is everything ok?" she asked gently, going to his side.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he shook his head. "He tried to attack both Melody and myself when we were in the old dressing room…I told her to stay away from him and me, too."

"What?" Monique gaped, grimacing at the news. "Erik, that will only make her want to find out more, if she doesn't already know about us, that is. You really ought to just tell her-"

"No," he snarled, reaching up and touching his fleshy mask. "I can't let her get too close…and I don't want her to see me…not the real me, anyways. It would just drive her away in the end."

As Monique began to protest, Erik's phone buzzed, sparking their interest immediately. "Who is it?"

Grasping the electronic, he checked the number on the screen and made a face. "Monette. Should I even bother?" Monique scowled, her lips twisting into an unpleasant frown. Restraining a groan, Erik answered the call. "What do you want now?"

"Good afternoon to you, too, Erik," the slick, smooth voice of Michel Monette slithered into her ear, making him want to crush his phone. "I just heard marvelous news – you're holding a Masquerade Ball for the Showcase tomorrow. How quaint."

"This is something I'm quite familiar with. If you have nothing of important to say-"

"Oh, but I do. I wanted to send you a little notice in advance on my dear friend, you see."

Erik felt his heart stop. Monette never warned them about any of the Phantom's attacks – the only way Erik would find out was through notes that the Phantom himself would send to them, or even through the Rat-catcher and Indian's reports. "…what are you planning?"

"Oddly enough, Erik, I didn't order this one. The Phantom merely told me that someone had caught his eye and he wanted to get to know her better, so he's asked for permission to see her at the Masquerade, and I'm certain she'll be there, too."

"What's he saying?" Monique whispered, concern bubbling within her as she watched her brother's face.

"He wouldn't dare-" Erik started, Melody's face flashing before his mind.

"Oh, you know he would. Good day, Erik."

The call was cut, leaving Erik in turmoil as he set the phone down, his brows knitting together in anger.

"What happened?" Monique dared to ask, taking a step back as she saw her brother's reaction.

"The Phantom is going to attack during the Masquerade, and he may grab one of the girls, I know it," Erik answered, his hand snatching his phone once more off the table with a swift motion of his arm.

"What are you going to do?" she asked, watching as he scanned through his contacts list, selecting the number that he sought.

"Erik, you need to get back-up," Melody's voice echoed in his mind.

"Erik?" Monique asked again.

Placing the phone to his ear, he glanced up at his sister. "I'm calling for back-up. I've had enough of these little games."

~OG~

Anna tossed her towel carelessly into the hamper, letting her damp locks fall over her robe while she checked her reflection in the mirror. It had been a long day, what with rehearsals and last minute preparations for the Ball. Having gone home and taken a shower to relax, she felt much more at ease than she did that afternoon. Monique had told her of all the distressing news that had happened at the theater, and that something drove Erik to call some old friends in the hopes that they would come as soon as possible. Thankfully, the two old acquaintances he had called upon agreed at once, promising to arrive at their latest convenience.

Still, Anna couldn't help but worry for her children, especially since Erik confessed that he truly did care for Melody Bolton but wanted her away from danger. "I'm not good for her," he had insisted. Heaving a tired sigh, Anna walked out of her bathroom and entered her room, stretching her arms as she walked to the window. Her fingers caressed the thick curtains, their soft golden color reminding her of someone from her past.

"Oh, Julien," she murmured, tears forming in her eyes. "We lost you long ago, but you remain with us always…especially in our son." Wiping her tears from her cheeks, she let her eyes stray down below to the empty streets, the lamplight casting their eerie glow upon a shadow that slunk across the way…

"Martin?!" Anna pressed her hands to the window upon seeing the hooded outline of a masked man lurking about, vanishing just as quickly into the night. "Oh dear!"

"Anna? Are you all right?!"

Spinning around, Anna could see the Indian's form approaching her. Stretching out her arms, she accepted his embrace as he peered out the window. "Chetan…I saw him… he's out there-"

"The Phantom's probably heading back towards the theater," the brown-skinned male frowned, tugging the curtains closed before guiding her back to her bed. "Sit down, my dear…I'll call Erik immediately."

"Mom? What's going on?" Monique knocked on the doorway before poking her head in, her brows knitting together in concern as she saw how her mother clutched her heart, their family friend keeping one protective arm around her. "Chetan, what happened?"

"She saw him passing in the darkness," Chetan, the Indian, answered darkly. "We must call Erik now. I have a strong feeling he's headed for the Opera to sabotage or attack."

"I'll get right on it," she nodded, running towards her room as quickly as she could. "Stay with Mom!"

"Oh, Chetan," Anna whispered, burying her face in her hands. "I can't help but feel responsible, at least partly. I could have done something when he was a child to prevent this… I'm so afraid for Erik… what if Martin were to hurt him?"

"If there's one thing I'm certain of, my dearest Anna, it's that Erik won't let him best him." Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he let her rest her head upon his shoulder before adding, "Erik has resurrected his ancestor through 'the Opera Ghost', and I'm positively won't let anything harm any one of us."

"But what about himself?" Anna whispered, her fears finally coming through. "Erik is capable of doing anything for us… even if it means throwing away his life… and that's what scares me the most."

~OG~

"Oh no."

"What?" Riley asked, looking up from his comic book at his aunt.

"…I think I left my camera back at the Garnier," Melody concluded, her eyes quite large as she made the realization. Having frantically searched her room and torn apart her backpack, she had frozen still at the memory of having emptied her sack after the auditions, leaving it behind after sharing the hurtful exchange with Erik.

"Well, at least you know where it is now," the boys shrugged, lying on his belly upon the bed to face her. "It's too late to go back now, Aunt Mel. Even my Dad's gone to bed."

Frustrated, Melody pursed her lips and crossed her arms over her chest, her brows furrowing as she remembered how Erik had warned her to keep away. Defiant, she huffed and turned on her heel, digging through her closet to find a pair of black leggings and an oversized, rose-infested t-shirt.

"Whacha doin'?" Riley asked, cocking his head at her.

"I'm going back," she replied, entering the bathroom and shutting the door after her.

Riley blinked, staring at the door before slipping off of the bed and knocking lightly upon the wooden barrier. "Aunt Mel?" he called softly, not wanting to wake his father. "What if you get caught?"

"Who's going to catch me?" she sniffed, changing into her clothes as quickly as she could manage.

"I dunno…Dad…the Phantom… that weird Indian guy? Or Erik-"

The door swung open, startling the boy so much that he took a step back as she frowned. "Let them come and catch me if they can. I'm getting my camera and that's that. If I don't make it into the Showcase-"

"But you will!"

"No one can guarantee that, Riles," she shook her head stubbornly, stalking towards her closet to find a pair of short black boots. "I need that camera, and I'm going now."

"But-" he protested.

"Sorry, but I'm going. Promise you won't tell?" she asked, slipping her feet into her boots before grabbing her jacket and scarf. Hurrying over the boy, she kissed his forehead and looked into his blue eyes, waiting for a response.

"…fine," he grumbled. "But you owe me!"

"Deal," she smiled, missing his hair. "Go to bed…and say a prayer for me."

Slinking out the room, she received a thumbs-up from her nephew before he entered his own room, leaving her to walk in the darkness, her saddlebag purse strap slung across her chest, allowing her to cling to the item as she tiptoed through the house. At long last, she painstakingly took the keys, stepped out, and locked the door before trekking forth through the cold night air towards her destination. She didn't dare take her eyes off her goal, though her body was rigid with tension, wary of her surroundings as she pressed onward through the slushy streets. For several moments, all she could hear was the soft sound of the breeze drifting by, her heart pounding in anxiety, her breath coming in short spurts…

At last, the angelic guardians of the roof of the Opera House caught her eye as she turned a corner, the street nearly devoid of life, with the exception of a few strays passing through, laughing in drunken mirth. "It's now or never…" Holding her breath she jogged to the structure, her mind recalling a passage by the costume room that was usually open for workers who stayed late. "Please, please, please… be open!" she begged as she ignored the closed main entrance, forcing herself to move quicker, her back soon pressed against the wall. "Just a little more…" There stood the door, close to the back of the elusive old building, just a few paces away. "Please, please… yes!" A smile grew on her face as she felt the door give way under her hand, opening easily and quietly, enabling her to slip in, unnoticed. The backstage pathways were dimly lit, and all was still, save for the sound of a janitor's cart far off in the distance.

Inhaling deeply once more, she curled her hands into fists and made herself walk slowly, stepping as silently as she could through the opaque, suspicious halls. Not a person was in sight, and there was no signs of anyone being close by should anything occur. It felt like hours for Melody as she worked her way to the other side of the building, her eyes shining as she caught sight of the door that led to the old room. "Finally," she whispered.

Reaching out, she glanced over her shoulder to check her back before grasping the handle, turning it with great care ever so slowly…

The door gave way under her touch, sliding open without a sound. Quickly, she stepped inside and pressed the barrier back into place, heaving a sigh of relief as she leaned against it. She didn't dare to take too long to take a rest, however, stepping carefully through the room as she worked her way to the changing screen. Pulling out her phone, she turned the device on, the soft light sending a muted, blue-white flow on the floor, revealing both her camera and the noose that had been placed in Box Five. "Yes!" she grinned, grabbing her beloved camera and caressing its surface. "You're coming with me," she said softly, slipping the camera back into her bag. Her hand hovered a moment, however, as she stared at the rope, contemplating what to make of it. Kneeling down, she dared to grab the thick item once more, her thumb running over its coarse body. Rising to her feet wordlessly, she continued to use her phone as he lantern, walking back to the mirror to stare at her reflection.

Both Erik's face as well as the Opera Ghost's flashed through her mind, the sound of the Phantom's maniacal laughter ringing in her ears. Her brows furrowed as she recalled Erik's insistent warnings, the Indian's constantly berating, and the slowly ceasing flashbacks that had once tormented her upon her arrival.

"Angelique… just what is your connection to me?"

Reaching on her tiptoes, she felt the frame of the mirror and pursed the appropriate button, waiting as the mirror slide away to reveal the murky, hidden tunnels of the Garnier. Switching the flashlight on through her phone, she held it out before her, stuffing the noose into her bag as she stepped into the darkness once again. "Opera Ghost, here I come."