CHAPTER 1 :

Modern-Day : Christine's House - Bedroom

Christine was lying in her canopy bed that her foster mother, Mama Valerius as she addressed her, had bought. It was a beautiful cream-white color and the blankets were thick and snugly. Christine wasn't enjoying the comfort of the material though, for her mind was troubled and wandering. She stared at the ceiling and memories of her first lesson with Erik found their way back into the world...

Modern-Day : Christine's Memories - Lessons

"Well, this is it..." she muttered to herself, lifting her head to stare at the modern three-storied house with grand decorations planted around. Meg's mother, Madam Giry, had offered to sign her up to a friend of hers for singing lessons. When Christine had accepted that offer gratefully, Mdm Giry gave her a slip of paper. Written neatly in black ink was her new teacher's address.

"Take a deep breath, just enter and be polite to whoever is in there..." as she spoke to herself in an attempt to calm herself down, she felt that she was going mental. It was abnormal to mutter and mumble to your own reflection. She swallowed. Even though she knew it was just a human inside waiting for her and not a demon, she was still nervous. She did not know who the man was and what were his methods of teaching music. Would he yell? Was he a friendly or impatient person? Christine definitely had no clues or hints about his personality. Although she had tried in vain to get Madam Giry to at least tell her a bit about him, the only sentence she had managed to decode was that he was a serious and calm man. Taking a deep breath, she placed her hand firmly onto the doorknob and pushed it.

"Mr..." she glanced down at the paper again and completed what she wanted to say, "Mr Stoker?"

"You must be Christine Daaé, my new...student." a quiet voice sounded from behind a black armchair. Christine blinked - looks like Madam Giry had already informed him of a new pupil he would be taking. All of a sudden, the chair swung and seated on it was a thin, slender man. He was all dressed in black and his hands were gloved. It wasn't surprising. Christine knew many people who loved the color but what really stirred her curiosity was his mask. A thin, white mask that shrouded away part of his face, leaving his thin lips at the bottom. His skin was unnaturally pale, that making him resemble some sort of mystical creature. Dead yet alive.

"Yes, I'm Christine," she replied back, her words coming out more confident than she expected. Mr Stoker gave her a small nod and his icy stare moved away to the chair beside. Knowing that he wished for her to take a seat, she sat.

"I would not go through the troubles of introducing so we shall start our lessons immediately without any delays," he said stonily, reaching for a stack of printed papers on the table in front. Christine ducked her head.

"I'll need to put my phone on silent mode then, Mr Stoker..." she explained. She thought that his forehead had creased and it definitely wasn't a good start for her. Without waiting for his reply, she dug into her bag and swiftly muted her phone before keeping it.

"We would go through the tune of-"

"I also have to text my boyfriend to not send me any messages as well, he often calls and texts me," Christine had unintentionally interrupted him and her cheeks flushed. She should come prepared for the future lessons. Mr Stoker's eyes narrowed into slits.

"Be quick, Miss Daaé! If you have come here just to shorten your learning time in my classes, you might as well not come here at all!" he snapped, an edge in his voice. Christine gulped and she stumbled while her thumbs rapidly moved over the smooth screen.

"Okay, I'm done," she announced, storing her piece of device away. Mr Stoker glared at her for a moment and Christine felt his eyes burning through her. After a few moments had past of awkward silence, he fingered the words on the papers.

"I will play this piece and-"

"Mr Stoker? I forgotten to inform my foster mother where I am."

Modern-Day : Christine's House - Bedroom

The memory made Christine want to laugh. After she had told him, Erik had burst into anger. But her amusement did not last long as the earlier events flashed once more. 'Why was he caressing my hand in such a manner?' the same thought ran through again and again. Christine blinked. The way that Erik held her hand seemed so...possessive. That he was afraid to let go in fear that she might leave him. She let out a troubled sigh. Everything had been fine until it had happened. Then, her mind drifted on a rotting piece of log towards the sea...she snapped out of it and horror consumed her.

Clasping her hands to her mouth from keeping her to scream like a banshee, her eyes grew larger and wider with shock and comprehension. 'No...don't tell me he's...' Christine shook her head wildly, she wouldn't believe it. She couldn't. She buried her head into the soft pillow - she needed time to be alone.

Modern-Day : Erik's House - Private Study

Erik sat at his computer, staring into the bright screen. On it was many different boxes of the areas around a mansion at the end of the street. A smirk played on his lips - how easy it was to hack into the house's security system and shut down all of it! Even the companies that claimed their protection was 'unbreakable', he had managed to get it with just a few simple clicks. Installing cameras around was an easy task as well for everyone around the district was too wrapped up in their own little worthless lives to notice.

However, only one place was the only location he was going to pay a little visit to. And that was the bench built onto pavement surrounding the park.

E/N : How short is this? Ouch, I can barely read this not-so-well-written page of computer letters myself! Still, hope this is enough for you guys. Free Stickys for everyone! Watermelon Rock seriously tastes good.