-1

Note: Thanks for all the Reviews.

I hope everyone enjoys this chapter.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Claudette had done something I never expected. During the rehearsal for an upcoming opera, Claudette announced that she wanted everyone to know that I had not stolen the locket, it was indeed mine, she had lied about my taking it. She also said she would no longer be employed for the Opera Populaire.

Afterwards she had pulled me aside, and in so many words, hinted that the Phantom had forced her to confess the truth.Claudette had not revealed that fact for my benefit. Her purpose, she said, was to let me know that she new the Phantom and I planned this together.

I was completely taken back by that. I wondered what had so frightened Claudette into meeting me in the carriage to apologize, to tell Madame Bourg the truth, and then to admit in front of everyone that she lied. Now I knew, it was the Opera Ghost.I realized, then, that I owed him a great deal. He had saved me, not only from losing my job, but from being destitute and homeless. I really had no placed to go, no one I could turn to. I wondered if he even knew how much he saved me from.
I shivered to think of what my fate would have been.
After that day, I started to think of the Phantom more often.

But more disturbing, and even more strange, was that I had started to dream of him.
He would sing to me in my dreams. He had a beautiful, deep voice, almost angelic, that I found lulling and comforting. I would reach out in the darkness, my hands would find his face. A face with a mask, that I had come to know so well, even though I never saw him.

For the first few nights, my dreams terrified me. I woke up feeling scared and disturbed, then I started questioning my own sanity.
Had he really been in my room? Or was it all in my over-active imagination? But the voice seemed so real, as did the face in the darkness.

I thoroughly questioned Anna , to see if she heard anything unusual, if she felt a presence in the room, as I did.
I was both dismayed and relieved when she said she had not.
"You know Darcy", she had reminded me, " I do sleep like a stone".

But after a while, I actually looked forward to dreaming of him, because, then I didn't feel alone, he was there with me, beside me. And even odder, I felt safe and secure, as if I had a guardian angel watching over me while I slept, singing to me in his seraphic voice. Of course it was nothing more than dreams, but a part of me wanted it to be real.

---

The bell tower clock chimed loudly, bringing me out of my musing.
With a sigh I rose out of the chair I was sitting in at the library. I looked down at the little golden watch pinned to my dress, my gift from Monsieur E. It was three o'clock.
Anna and I hadn't eaten anything since breakfast, and my stomach was giving loud reminders of that.

I had to search almost the entire library before I found Anna towards the back, between the long rows of books. She was deeply engaged in conversation with a little girl of her own age.

"Anna, we really should be leaving now", I whispered.

Anna threw me a irritated look, but complied none the less.

We checked out our books and headed out in search of a good place to eat.
I chose a neat little restaurant not far from the Opera Populaire.

We sat at a small wooden table near the window, where we had a nice view of the busy streets of Paris.
Since today was my day off, I would treat myself to something appetizing. I ordered Coq au vin and Anna ordered Bouillabaisse.

The waiter served us our meal.

"The food looks delicious", I said, smiling across the table at Anna, "I have never tried Coq au vin".

"Oh, you'll like it. I've had it lots of times. My family and I ate it often."

That was the first time Anna had mentioned her family; and it only made me more curious about them. I decided I would try to see if I could get anything about them out of Anna.
I would have to be careful, though, because Anna had a way of withdrawing into herself.

"Where is your family? Do they live here, in Paris?" I asked causally.

Anna stared into her soup for a moment before answering.

"They live right outside Paris, in Montreuil."

"And they let you come to work in the Opera Populaire?" I asked in surprise.

"Why, they don't …know I am here." Anna stammered, fiddling with her napkin, her eyes darting back and forth wildly.
"I ran away from home because I hated it. I hated my stepmother. She was cruel and evil. I tried to tell father, but he wouldn't believe me! He wouldn't! She let that man…she let him…" Anna buried her face in her hands, crying hysterically.

I was by her side in an instant, gathering the little crying girl in my arms.

"It's okay, it will be alright." I murmured, stroking her dark hair.

It took a few minutes for her to calm down, then she was herself again.
I decided it was best if we left the restaurant now, and returned to the Opera Populaire so Anna could rest.

I made sure Anna was sound alseep before I headed upstairs to the large attic in the Opera House, with my novel Pride and Prejudice in hand.
It was the only place I could find peace and solitude without being bothered.
Not many were interested in undertaking the long flight of stairs, just to come up to some crowded, cobwebbed old attic.

I pushed open the heavy wooden door and walked into the dusty, clustered room.

The attic was full of every sort of prop imaginable and several large trunks full of costumes lined the walls.
Most of these things would never be used, but they were kept just in case.
Two large oval windows at the end, provided enough light for everything to be seen clearly.

I sat my book down on a empty crate and walked over to an old cedar trunk. I had been through most of them. But this one I hadn't peeked in yet.

I opened it slowly, so as not to cause dust to cloud the air.

I took out a beautiful, white shimmering dress. It was the one that lovely young singer, Christine Daae, the Phantom's young lover, wore during her first lead performance on stage. I recognized it from a picture I saw of her in the dress.
I held it up to me, rubbing my hands down the soft material, admiring the way it sparkled in the sunlight. It had been up here for a few years, but it was still a briliant white.

In my mind's eye, I saw Christine standing on stage, in all her shining glory, singing her heart out to an appreciative audience. I felt the thrill that must have ran through her body, as she finally got the chance to show others who she really was, what she could really do. I heard that her voice was one of the most beautiful singing you could hear.

Just I tucked the dress back into the trunk, the attic door creaked open.
I didn't bother to turn around, thinking that it was only Anna.

"Well, well. Who do we have here, and all alone."

That familiar voice made my blood run cold, and I spun around to face the one person I hoped never to be alone with.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I know it's a cliffhanger, but don't be angry. They are fun. Sometimes?

Anyway, I hope everyone liked the chapter. Please review, please. Don't forget.