So, here I am again with the next chapter! I felt the sudden urge to write, (which, BTW, was also partly from the positive reviews I got, thanks guys!) So, here is the next installment of the story! Please read and review! More reviews=quicker updates!

And now, ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce... The Disclaimer! (Polite Applause

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my original characters, Lulu and Wenda. If I did own POTO, well, I wouldn't be here, now would I?

Chapter 3: It's A Great Plan!... I Think.

Getting a job... That shouldn't be too hard... I thought to myself, trying to remain optimistic about the situation.

"Alright, first things first, I need a change of clothes," I said, scrutinizing my skinny jeans and t-shirt with a picture of Pac-Man on it.

"Hmm, yes, I think you're right. What you are currently wearing just won't do for nineteenth century Paris. Maybe..." Wenda trailed off, rubbing her chin. A moment later, her face lit up with an idea.

With a wave of her wand, I went from tomboy teenager to sophisticated young lady from the Victorian era. I was wearing a floral printed dress, with non-girly colors to my relief.

Her magic got to my blonde curls too, which I had just left down, to do its own thing. It was now in a bun with one or two strands falling on the sides of my face. I quite liked it. The bun wasn't painfully tight, just enough to hold it in place, and it felt relaxed.

I was beginning to enjoy myself, actually liking the dress that I wore, until I realized something.

I couldn't breathe comfortably.

Gasping, I leaned against the wall, a hand on my waist. "Am I... Wearing a... Corset?" I asked, gasping.

"Yes you are!" Wenda replied, cheerful as ever.

"Why do... I... Have to... Wear one?"

"Because if you want to fit in, you need a corset. Give it a few minutes, you'll catch your breath."

I followed her advice, trying to get used to the corset. Eventually, I could breathe again, but not as comfortably as I could without the corset. It was very restraining, but not unmanageable.

"Better?" Wenda asked when I stopped gasping.

I nodded.

"Good! Now that you look like everyone else, it's time to get into action!"

Wenda was way more excited about this than I was.

"One question. Won't I need to speak French?" I asked, my eyebrows raised. I knew a little French, enough to understand people, but it was hard for me to actually speak the language.

"Well, actually, I don't think you will need it here. You are in the movie after all, and the movie was filmed in English."

"Huh. That's convenient. But will I find people randomly breaking out into song?" I asked. Now, watching people sing on TV is fine. But if people started randomly singing out of nowhere, that would be weird.

"Maybe. I'm not sure."

"So, what's the plan?" Wenda asked, changing the subject.

"Well, I was thinking that it would be best for me to hang around here while I'm stuck here, so maybe I could get a job here," I suggested, scratching my head.

"That might work. But now might not be the best time," Wenda replied.

"Oh yeah, there's a show going on downstairs, Il Muto, I think. Maybe I can sneak downstairs and pretend to be a part of the audience so that I can get out without suspicion."

"I don't think that will work. There are stagehands everywhere, you probably don't want to try that." Wenda looked around, tapping her wand on her hand. "Oh! I know!" She said, looking at me. "What if you wait until the show finishes, and everyone leaves. When the building is closed, you can look around, familiarize yourselves with your surroundings, and in the morning you can go to the managers!"

"That's fine and all, but I think you're forgetting one major obstacle," I replied, raising a finger. "The Opera Ghost. He'd find me, and then we'd be in a spot of trouble."

"Hmm... Well, I think right now he would be brooding in his lair. After all, he just sang All I Ask Of You Reprise, so he's probably depressed. Besides, even if he was wandering around, don't you think you should try to get his attention? Maybe that will help you figure out what you need to do to leave."

"You know Wenda, that's not a bad idea. And I normally wouldn't go along with that, but seeing as how this is Gerik, he probably won't kill me on sight," I replied, getting excited.

"Why wouldn't he kill you?" Wenda asked, as if Gerik killing me would be the most normal thing in the world.

"Well, Andrew Lloyd Webber toned Erik's personality down a bit, so he isn't as terrifying like he was in the book," I explained.

So, we decided to just wait until the opera house was closed, then do a little bit of exploring, and if Gerik happened to be wandering the opera house too, well, I would figure something out.

"Oh, you'll be there with me too, right Wenda?" I asked. I didn't want to be caught without someone else there, Gerik or no Gerik.

"Don't worry. You won't see me, but you'll hear me, and I'll be able to help you if you need anything," Wenda replied, putting a reassuring hand on my shoulder and giving me a gentle smile.

I smiled back. "Thanks Wenda."

We waited outside for everyone to leave after the performance, and for the employees to leave. I was pretty sure all the performers who stayed in the dorms for the opera house would be asleep, and if anyone was sleepwalking, well, I knew I could handle it.

I had fallen asleep, my head on Wenda's shoulder waiting for everyone to leave. After all, if I was gonna be wandering around all night, I needed some sleep.

Some time later, she shook me, and said, "Everyone is gone. Let's go."

Rubbing my eyes and shaking the sleepiness off me, I stood up and walked to the door.

"Ready?" I asked, my hand on the door handle.

Wenda nodded, smiling.

I didn't want to admit it, but I was a little scared. I wasn't afraid of Gerik, I was just afraid that I would mess something up, and I would never make it back home. Wenda's presence was a big comfort though.

Taking a deep breath, I turned the door handle, and stepped into the darkness.