I am sorry I have not updated in a very long time but here it is now. I might be able to update one more chapter before I go to the land of no inter-net (unless we can get the dial-up to work) but then I go to summer camp for three and a half weeks where I have no phone/I-pod, computer, T.V., or video game access. So, I hope you enjoy what is to come.

Chapter 3

An icy chill ran threw the four children as they stepped into the dark passageway.

"I do not believe this is one of our better ideas," Annabelle whispered, clutching her arms tightly to her chest in an attempt to stay warm.

"Nonsense, when has Lucy ever steered us wrong when it came to adventure," Danielle replied, sounding more as if she was trying to convince herself rather than the others.

"Will you girls, please, have a little faith in Lucy?" Charlie interjected. "Besides, if there is any trouble we know all the ways to escape, or at least most." The four children nodded in agreement. For the past three years, they would explore the hidden catacombs of the opera house. Their search originally started when Lucy bumped into a wall, trying to walk, revealing a secret passage behind sliding wall panels. From the on they would play in the catacombs when they could. They thought it was their secret. That is until a couple of months ago when Lucy had been claiming that she was dreaming music and seeing eyes in the wall.

The companions crept down the seemingly, never-ending tunnel. It smelled of musty earth and stale towels. Charlie was in the lead guiding the team with his lantern. Lucy followed right at his heels, which amused the other girls as they walked holding each other's hands for comfort. The music grew louder, loud enough so that the older three could make it out as a faint whisper. This made them walk only so much faster, being caught between the thrill of adventure and utter terror.

They approached a long spiraling staircase leading into what looked like nowhere. Not even Lucy could see. Charlie was about to take a step when Lucy shouted, "Stop!"

"Wait, what, why?" Charlie sputtered in shock.

"Because," Lucy said as she poked the stone Charlie was about to step on with her cane. It swung open leading to what looked like a deeper pit of darkness. Lucy crossed in front of Charlie tapping every stone before she stepped on it. It was a slow process but they believed their lives were more valuable than speed.

"We have never been this direction before," Lucy stated, shocking everyone out of the silence.

"Yes, you are right" Annabelle replied, her voice quavering with an unusual nervousness.

"It seems that we are going in the opposite direction of our…what should we call it?" Charlie asked.

"Our, our, our escape, or, or, or maybe, our hideout, oh I have it! It will be our 'Common Space' because that is one of the things we share, you know, in common! I am brilliant!" Danielle cried out, causing everyone to shush her.

"And collected,"

"And modest,"

"And quiet," the others chimed in, one after another, from oldest to youngest.

"Speak for yourself, Lucy. You, quiet ha-"

"Shhhhh"

"Wai-"

"Shhhhhh"

"Hold o-"

"Shhhhhh"

"Can you lis-"

"LOOK!" Lucy's tone, by now, was full of anxiety.

Lucy never liked water. She cannot swim. So, when she realized that to find the music they must go through a lake, she was not pleased. In fact, she stared at the lake in utter disbelief thinking, "What am I doing…" Charlie could see the horror the child's eyes, so he picked her up and put her on his shoulders. She clung to his neck as he took a step into the lake.

It seemed as if the walk through the lake took longer than down the stairs. Despite the longevity of this mission they kept pushing through. The music was much louder now so Lucy could relax but, she was to tense from fear. None of the children were ever scared when it came to these missions. Annabelle assumed it was the circumstances at fault. Firstly, it is night. Though it wouldn't usually create that much of a difference, day was much more comforting. Secondly, it was nowhere near the 'Common Place,' where we hide many of the resources we collected. It has blankets, medicine, goods, clothing, and even food. Thirdly, we have found out that someone else lives down here. That is not very pleasing when you store some decently valuable items down here. I know that what we are doing is very dangerous. Annabelle awoke out of her mind when she saw the flickering light of candles ahead.

"Is that-" Annabelle was about to ask, but Charlie clamped his hand over her mouth after he had set Lucy down on the fairly thin, stone walkway. They all sat mesmerized at first staring at the scene in front of them, picturing it like a fairy-tale. That did not last, for slowly it started to sink in. They saw the innocent Christine Daae being hypnotized by a masked man's voice that not even Lucy could recognize. Then, it all hit them as they simultaneously whispered

"The Phantom, The Phantom of The Opera."