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I could not believe this was happening. As strange at it seemed, I had fallen in love with the man to whom I exchanged letters. Therefore, to now find my letter in Erik's possession was truly shocking.

I stared at the letter in confusion. "What does this mean?" I wondered aloud, trying to derive some explanation from my madly spiraling thoughts and questions.

What was this dark dweller doing with this letter? Perhaps they were friends. I seriously doubted that would be a possibility. Erik had taken him captive. I shivered at the idea, taking nervous glances around the room. Then rose the sickening thought, the one I had desperately tried to bury in the deepest darkest part of mind. It left me feeling like I were hit by a tidal wave. My beloved Monsieur E and this Opera Ghost were the same! This seemed to be most logical solution, but my heart firmly rejected it.

"What are you doing?" Erik's deep accusing voice echoed loudly around the room. It startled me out of my musing, causing me to jump. I spun around to face him, unobtrusively placed my left hand holding the letter behind my back.

Erik was sitting up on the swan bed, his face set in a frown.

"Oh, nothing. I was just straightening things up a bit." I replied in the most innocent tone I could manage, though my heart was pounding madly.

'Liar' those golden eyes seem to say as they searched my face before dropping down to my left side.

"Then what have you got in your hand?" he asked rising slowly from the bed, holding onto the swan's graceful neck for support.

"I said I did not have anything." I held out my empty right hand for his examination.

"Not that hand!" he roared, nostrils flaring in obvious anger, "The left hand-what have you got in the left hand?"

Now my own temper rose. I decided I would have none of it. "Oh, you mean this?" I asked vehemently, waving the letter wildly in the air. "This letter I wrote to a dear friend."

The sudden production of a letter he obviously meant to keep secret, had taken Erik back, his face turned ashen and his eyes darted wildly from me to the letter. Then he recovered himself. "What are you doing with that?" he demanded in a higher pitch than normal, his finger pointing at the letter.

"I do believe I should be asking you that! Perhaps you want to explain." I stood, hands on hips, waiting for him to speak.

Erik's face became distorted at my words. He reminded me of a sinister-looking gargoyle I had once seen in a book. The look he sent me made me cringe. At that moment, I was truly afraid. This was the menacing phantom I heard about so often. I was forcibly aware of his tall size, of how easily he could choke the life out of me with that lasso he was fingering beneath his shirt. However, I stood my ground. He must not know I am afraid. He must not!

Then to my astonishment, he sat abruptly in a chair and buried his face in his hands. A faint sound that seemed to be sobbing reached my ears. Was he crying? I could not believe it!

"Sir?" I called out uncertain. No answer. "Erik?" I ventured a second time.

Erik rose as abruptly as he had sat. His tear-stained face once again twisted into a cruel sneer.

"You little prying Pandora!" he screamed. "You went through Erik's clothes-did you not? Curious Devil! Could you not just leave things be? Curse you! Curse you for all of eternity, you inquisitive wench!

I shook my head in frightened confusion. "I do not understand".

"Why Darcy? Why? Why did you go through Erik's clothes? It is over now. Everything…is…ruined." he choked out, crying again, cradling his head in his hand. "Ruined! Oh God, why?" he whimpered softly to his self.

"What is ruined? What have you to do with my Monsieur E?" I cried out, desperate for this mystery to be solved and done with.

"You're a great fool!" Erik whispered, sounding hurt. "Obvisouly you want the plain truth so I shall give it to you. Your precious Monsier E and the dreaded opera ghost, this" He gestured to himself "this loathsome beast is the same! Is that what you wanted to hear? Come now, do not look so pale. What is the matter? Are you not pleased?" He spun around slowly with arms outstretched. "You must admit I am a fine specimen of a man! A very fine specimen indeed!

He laughed like a lunatic and I covered my ears to block out the horrible sound, my heart and mind still reeling from this terrible shock. What have I gotten myself into? This cannot be happening! It just can't!

"I need time to think." I replied weakly settling myself into a chair.

"But of course! Take all the time you need, my dear girl. I do not think you will be going anywhere for awhile!" He laughed again. "Who did think had brought you all those gifts? Some handsome count? A duke perhaps?" he spat. "Look at yourself. Who would notice a simple plain maid like you? Answer me!"

This time I could not control the flow of tears that spilled freely down my face. I did not even have the strength to wipe them away. I just sat there trembling, scared and feeling utterly hopeless.

"Oh please do not cry!" Erik's voice was strangly soft, like that of an angel. "I can not stand to see you cry!"

"You have… frightened me." I whispered between chattering teeth.

Erik gave a deep low moan falling onto his knees. "I did not mean to frighten you. Erik is a bad man! He should be punished!"

Before I could speak a word, a loud gong echoed through the lair. Erik dragged himself up with a growl, muttering curses under his breath.

"Erik?" I questioned. "What is that?"

He turned toward me, his face the picture of calm. His voice once again steady and powerful. He was back in control.

"An alarm has sounded in the middle tunnel. It means someone is in there. I shall go check.'

"You are in no condition to go and-"

"Silence!" Erik's glare was cold. "And you are no condition to order me about, woman."

He walked clumsily toward a tunnel and vanished. I rose from my chair wringing my hands in distress still churning the day's events over in my mind. Erik returned after a few moments holding a large envelope in his hand, which he slapped onto his organ bench.

"Come" Erik bent his finger toward me. I did not move.

"I said come! Please mademoiselle."

I gingerly made my way toward him, still wary of his temper. I stood beside him, not daring to look at his face.

He removed a crisp sheet of paper and grabbing my wrist, pressed it into my hand.

"Read it".

It was written in an unfamiliar hand and very short.

O.G

There is an investigation into the claims made by Joseph Roux that the Opera Ghost attacked him. He is in critical condition and may never walk again. The police are searching for you. The stagehand is telling everyone that you have kidnapped Mademoiselle LeClerc and have possibly murdered her. I have tried my best to cover over this unfurtunate situation. I leave everything to your decision.

Madame. Giry

I re-read the letter to myself. So everyone believed me to be dead! I hoped Madame Giry could come up with a believable explanation for my disappearance. Mixed feelings arose as to Joseph still being alive. In a way, I was relieved and at the same time sorry that he was not dead for all the trouble, he caused.

"So he is alive." I said emotionlessly

"The bastard should have died!" Erik spat, "Don't worry dear child-I will finish him off.

Is that what I wanted? For Erik to kill Joseph?

"I don't know if that would be such a -"

"You want him to live?" Erik interrupted staring at me wide eyed.

"Well… yes I -"

"I can not believe this! After everything that has happen, after he attacked you and done who knows what and after this!" he pointed angrily to his side. "You still want the man to live? You are in love with him!" he accused-his voice echoing like thunder.

"No! Of course not, I-"

"Ah, so you do want him dead."

Now Erik was being stubborn. "No! I do not want Joseph dead and I especially don't want you to kill him." I cried in my growing frustration. Erik's darkened expression compelled me to continue.

"What I mean is I would not feel horrible if someone were to die because of me. Can you see it is not the right thing to do? You would be committing a murder. "

Erik shook his head sadly. "You forget girl, you are speaking to a man without a concience. I haved killed before and can do it again! I cannot be changed. I am darkness and death. We are one-joined togher forever."

"Do not say such a thing! Goodness can be found. Yes, even in you." I replied impulsively.

Erik leered at me. "You are young and naïve. But alas! I shall prove you wrong." He took a threatening step forward. I instinctively stepped back. "You shall see!"

"Erik, stop!"

"You shall see"!

"Please, you're scaring me!" I cried.

Footsteps sounded behind Erik. The child was awake. I could not let her see this so I had to stop him.

"You'll frighten the girl Erik." I whispered.

He stopped his advancement and turned. I peeped from around his shoulders and saw Anna standing in the doorway. In her hand, she held a dualing pistol, cocked and ready to fire.

"You leave her alone!" she cried. "Make a move monsieur and I shall shoot."

"Give me the weapon child."

"No!"

"I was not going to hurt Darcy. So put it down."

"No!

"Listen to me-"

"I said do not move. Stop!"

Erik continued toward her despite her warning.

Anna raised the gun, closed her eyes and fired.

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Ah ha! Cliffy is back! Boy, the Phantom sure does know how to get into trouble. I' m trying to get more into Erik's character. Tell me how you think I did in this chapter.

Think she hit him or missed. Review!

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