Dominic's tour around the opera house replaced all of my feelings of hatred with feelings of awe for the renovated building. My words here and now could not do justice the breathtaking artistry and architecture. It was a dream-come true for anyone who adored the arts. I was (figuratively) speechless. Dominic took great pride in his Opera house, and told me all about every detail, down to the makers of the floorboards on the great stage. Later in the afternoon he escorted me to a small bistro down the street, where he treated me to a light lunch. Luckily I brought my pencil and paper, and Dominic and I began to talk.

How long have you lived in Paris? I wrote.

"Oh, not long. I lived in Denmark for most of my life, and then moved here only a few years ago. My brother was in Paris, so he leant me the money to move here. With his help, I re-opened the opera house." He answered passively.

You have a brother? Is he as kind as you are?

He laughed. "Well, the truth is I don't see him that often. The last time I saw him was five years ago, and after that, only letters asking for favors and thing of that nature. I try to keep in touch with him, though. He may come back to Paris one day. The Opera was his life.

He doesn't live in Paris anymore?

"Actually, I don't know. He hasn't told me in any of his letters." He sighed, and leaned back into his chair. "It's getting rather late. Shall we return home?"

Absolutely. We concluded our luncheon, and returned back to my new home.

Home.

That evening, Dominic showed me to where I would be living. He bade me goodnight, and told me where I could find his quarters if I needed anything.

My room wasn't much, a room like the one I woke in this morning, but a lot better than living on the streets. There was a single bed, a dresser, and a mirror. I eyes the mirror suspiciously. I haven't seen a reflection of myself in years. Still concealed in the dress and sash, I aprehensivley cross over to the mirror.

I didn't look too bad. My face and body substantionaly thinned out, and my once sleek chestnut hair had grown long and curled. The only things that didn't change over the years were my eyes. Still the questioning, bottomless pits, as my father used to say. My eyes were still a dark brown, almost black unless seen in direct sunlight. Oh, well. At least my face wasn't scarred, too. Like Dominic's poor friend. I sighed when I thought of the poor man my new friend told me about. If only someone could reach out to him...

I changed out of the dress and switched into a nightgown I found in the dresser. Funny enough, It covered most of my scarring, arms included. Dominic must have had someone stock the room with clothes like that while we were gone. What a gentleman... I thought to myself as I started to drift into sleep.

What must have been a few hours later, I awoke to soft music. It intruiged me, because I couldn't think of why anyone would be up at this time of night. I got out of bed, slipped on my slippers, lit a candle, and followed he source of the music. It was coming down the long hallway. Taking my candle, I crept through the hall, and kept my ears open. I was terrifyed that I would fall and break my neck in the dark, but the hypnotic music kept me from returning to the safety of my room. The bittersweet tones came from...inside a wall? I pressed my ear to the wall, and suddenly the wall gave way. It was a secret passage! I glanced over my shoulder, and descended into the gloomy stairwell. The wall closed behind me on it's own. Well, it's too late to turn back now, I thought, and continued my descent.

After a few minuets of following the music, I came to a door. The music was coming from behind the door! I eased the door open, and looked in from behind. I saw a figure perched at a grand piano. He was the one creating the music. Soon, his melody came to an end, and he began to sing. His song was melancholy, and tore at my heart.

"The day starts, the day ends
Time crawls by
Night steals in, pacing the floor."

He began. His voice was so familiar...yet so distant, like a dream long forgotten.

"The moments creep,
Yet I can't bear to sleep
Till I hear you sing.

And weeks pass, and months pass
Seasons fly.
Still you don't walk through the door.
And in a haze,
I count the silent days
Till I hear you sing once more.

And sometimes at night time
I dream that you are there.
But wake holding nothing but the empty air.

And years come, and years go
Time runs dry
Still I ache down to the core.
My broken soul
Can't be alive and whole
Till I hear you sing once more.

And music, your music
It teases at my ear.
I turn and it fades away and you're not here!

Let hopes pass, let dreams pass
Let them die!
Without you, what are they for?
I'll always feel
No more than halfway real
Till I hear you sing once more!"

The song ended, and I found myself in tears. His ballad told of a lonley, unloved man. The tears flowed freely down my face, and then, I made my big mistake.

I sniffled.

I froze. The man's head snapped towards my hiding place, and in the light of the candle, half of his face shone a sickly white, like it was nothing but a skull. But it was only a mask, obscuring half of his face. The other half was just as obscured by darkness. For what seemed like an eternity, the strange man stared into my eyes, and finally, he spoke.

"Christine?" He began to stumble towards me, eyes glazed over with madness...or possibly...desire? Suddenly, he stopped, and I bolted away from the door and fled back up the stairs.

"CHRISTINE!!!" He bellowed, and began to persue me. I could hear his heavy breathing behind me as he tried to capture who he thought was a girl named Christine. If my voice worked, I would have screamed bloody murder. But they didn't. In my flight, my candle slipped from my trembling hands, and I was plunged into darkness. I crashed into walls, tripped twice, but finally, I came to the secret door.

"MY LOVE!" The madman cried, desperate for me to turn around. "COME BACK TO ME! I'VE PAID FOR MY SINS! PLEASE!!!" He was so close. I had to get out of there, or God only knew what would happen.

Finally, the door budged, and I stumbled into the familiar hallway. Where would I go? Dominic!

With the man in tow, I dashed to Dominic's room. God, I hoped he was still awake.