-1Note: Thanks for all the reviews. Please keep them coming.

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As the Phantom watches the girl clean the ballroom, an emotion stirs within him, one that he as never really felt before, one that is hard to identify.
Could it be that he feels pity for her?

The head mistress, Madame Bourg, treats the girl with deliberate cruelness and harshness.

Perhaps that is why he pities her; because she is sad and lonely, because she as experienced how cruel people can be. Like me.

Day after day, she would do her assignments without complaints, but sometimes with tears streaming down her face.
Maybe there is someway he could help her, make her load lighter.

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About half way through with my task, Madame Bourg bursts into the room.
She is breathing hard, as if she has been running.

"Come with me and hurry!" she pants.

I just stand there staring at her, speechless. Have I done anything wrong? Perhaps she expected me to me done by now, maybe it is not cleaned up to her standards. Oh God, I don not want to lose my job!
My heart feels as if it will leap out of my chest.

"Do not stand gawking at me like some idiot. Come on!" Madame Bourg shouts.

I come out of my abstraction in enough time to follow her out into the entrance hall, then into the auditorium, I then follow her up onto the stage.

The whole stage is a mess. There are several props that appear to have fallen; pieces of glass, masks, and other various items are strewn across the stage. A few of the dancers are rubbing their legs, as if they were hurt.
The Prima Donna is complaining in a loud, whiny voice; her managers look as if they are trying to calm her down, to no avail.

"These "accidents" occur far too often. I will not stay here a moment more. You had better start looking for a new Prima Donna". She complains

"What happened?" I ask the frightened conductor.

I…uh… the props fell down…then…

"One of the stagehands fell asleep, instead of watching the props as he was suppose to do. He fell against a lever, and the props came falling down." Madame Giry, the ballet teachers, interrupts.

"Were any injured?" I ask.

"No, not seriously. They are just frightened." Madame Giry points to a few of the dancers who are being comforted by her daughter, Meg.

"You do not have time to stand there talking. Now, help clean up this mess." Madame Bourg orders.
I obey, picking up the broken glass and masks, and putting them in a large trash bin, that has been brought up on stage.

My mind wonders back to what the Prima Donna said, about the accidents occurring often. I assume she was referring to "accidents" that are caused by The Phantom.

I have not really heard much about him; except that he caused the fire that nearly destroyed the Opera Populaire and various accidents when his orders are disobeyed. There seems to be a reluctance to mention him, and those who do speak of him, do so fearfully, looking over their shoulders as if they expect to see his shadow creep up behind them.

Suddenly a sharp pain in my hand causes me to cry out.
I look down, a large sharp piece of glass is protruding from my right hand; it is bleeding heavily.

"Why have you stopped working?" Madame Bourg demands, "You really are the laziest and most exasperating girl."

I show her my hand" I have cut it on some glass", I explain.

"Really, you should be more careful and pay attention to your work. Go to Dora and let her treat it. Then after that, I want you to finish the assignment I gave you." Madame Bourg waves a dismissal.

I go off in search of Dora, the nurse who treats the wounds of those at the Opera Populaire.

By the time, I find her, my apron, which I wrapped around my hand, is stained with blood.

"Good heavens child, what happened?" Dora asks, looking over her spectacles.

"I cut my hand on a piece of glass".

"Come here, and let me take a look."

I walk over to her; she unwraps the apron and examines my hand. "It is very bad, and your right hand too. Well it will need some stitches."
I close my eyes in pain, as she removes the glass and stitches the wound closed.

I thank her and leave to complete my job, which will now be more difficult to finish.

I let out a loud sigh as I enter into the ballroom, dreading what lay ahead.

I stop short and glance around in surprise.
The ballroom is sparkling clean and the cleaning supplies are propped neatly in the corner!

"Who has done this?" I ask aloud and walk further into the room, "Who has shown such kindness?

I feel my eyes welling up with tears. I want so desperately to thank the kind, considerate person who did this for me.
But there is no one in the room. I am alone.

Perhaps they are still in here, maybe they are hiding. "Thank you, whoever you are, thank you".

My voice echoes around the empty room. I look around again, and then notice that there is something on the steps, something red.

I walk over to the stairs. There on the third step, is a Beautiful, solitary red rose, with a black ribbon tied to it.
Whoever preformed this kind act for me must have left it.

I gently pick it up and hold it against me, crying my thanks to that kind soul.

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The Phantom watches the girl as she walks in, wondering how she will respond to finding her work completed, by some mysterious stranger.
He is both pleased and surprised by her reaction, her tears and whispers of thanks.
I made the right decision to help her.

A shiver of pleasure course through is soul, as she picks up the rose and presses gently it against her breast.
Her appreciation moves him, as none has before.

He turns away, a smile upon his lips.

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I hope you like this chapter. Please review and let me know what you think.

I followed your advice and made the phantom help her. I know that some of you wanted him to get a little closer to her, but he is still a little nervous about going close to someone.

Maybe in the next chaper, they will meet. Please read and review