Hey there everybody! Sorry I didn't update in a while, I was very busy. Ya know, with life and all. Cause life likes to take up ALL YOUR FREAKING TIME.

XD

So, here's the next chapter. Hope you enjoy it! And remember, review! Cause reviews are fuel for my urge to write more!

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my characters, Lulu and Wenda. Oh, how I wish I owned POTO! My inner phangirl would go crazy... XD

Chapter Five: My Quest For Gerik Begins... And Ends.

Of course, the first thing I did when I went inside was to bump into every object my body managed to find.

"Ow! Ugh. Wenda, you got a light?" I asked, rubbing my butt.

"No I do not, and even if I did, I would certainly not give it to you! Smoking is bad for your lungs," Wenda replied defiantly.

"I didn't mean for smoking, I meant for seeing my way around here! You know, a lantern?"

"Ooh. Yes. Here," And Wenda managed to procure an old-fashioned lantern out of thin air. Because anything else just wouldn't be as awesome.

"Thanks Wenda." I took the lantern, now able to see where I was going.

I walked down hallway, after hallway, after hallway... And then staircase, after staircase, after staircase...

"This building isn't that big, it shouldn't have a gagillion hallways and staircases!" I yelled, frustrated.

"Don't yell! What if someone here's you?" Wenda warned.

"I think you forgot Wenda, no one's here!" I said, rolling my eyes.

"What about the opera ghost?" Wenda whispered, looking all around her as if looking for someone.

"Oh, who cares? If he's not moping, then he's probably already spying on us. Gerik or no, he still is good at stalking, but apparently not good at detecting eavesdroppers, seeing as how he didn't notice me earlier."

"And what if he heard what you just said?" Wenda replied.

"I don't give a crap what he hears from me. It's not like I'm reading aloud my diary."

FINALLY, after what seemed like forever, I made it to the entryway of the building.

"Okay, now I know where to go, if I remember correctly from the movie. Let's see..." I trailed off, trying to think of where to go next.

"What if you go to the stage? You never know, you might figure out what to do there," Wenda suggested.

"Hey, not bad! Alright, I will," I replied. It could work, after all, what else could I do?

I headed over to the big doors that led to the auditorium. I pushed open the big doors and closed them after me.

I turned around and examined the auditorium. It was dark, so I couldn't get a very good look around, but thanks to the lantern, I saw a lot of velvet chairs everywhere, and the stage was completely empty, save for a few stools and a broom.

I walked onto the stage, and stood in the very center spot of it. Looking toward Wenda, I said, "Alright, now what?"

"I don't know, maybe do something to get the Phantom's attention. He might be watching us," Wenda replied.

"Alright. I suppose you ought to go now. Can I call you when I need you?"

"Anytime," Wenda replied, disappearing.

"Alright, let's see, now what?" I asked myself.

Maybe I should just call for him... I'm gonna feel stupid if nothing happens, but whatever, I thought to myself.

Clearing my throat, I said, "Hello there."

No answer. Of course.

I sighed. "Look, I'm pretty sure you're already watching me, so could you just do the polite thing and reply back?"

No answer.

"Boy, are you rude."

Suddenly, I felt eyes on me.

"Oh, so you are watching me, hmm? Well, then could you come down here?"

All of a sudden, I felt air behind me whoosh and I heard someone's feet stomp down, but before I could react, someone put a hand on my mouth and I was pressed against a warm body, holding me still with its arms.

"Who are you?" A familiar voice asked.

"Mhph!" Was all I could manage behind the leather-clad hands.

He took his hand off my mouth so I could speak.

"Did you really expect an answer behind your hands Mr. Phantom?" I asked tauntingly.

"How do you know who I am?"

"Because I know everything about you." Oh, I just loved answering questions with answers that sparked even more questions that were just so annoyingly mind-bogling.

"Oh, hey Gerik, there's this new thing called, personal space. Ever heard of it?"

Gerik took the hint, and let me go.

"Why did you call me... Gerik?"

"Because that's who you are. Deal with it. Now, let's see, what should I do now?" I said. Now that I was with Gerik, I needed to figure out what to do next.

Brainstorm time! Now let's see, something to get me out of here... I must be here for a reason... Maybe there's something wrong that I need to fix here, maybe I need to help someone... Maybe I should have a heart-to-heart with someone... Oh crap, I'm gonna have to have a heart-to-heart, aren't I? Argh...

Ooh, maybe I need to be friends with Gerik? Oh, that might be hard, but whatever, I'll try... Wait a minute, becoming friends requires bonding with someone, and how am I supposed to bond with Mr. Emo here? I should try where he's the most comfortable to make friends with him... Which would be his home... Under the opera house... Doggone it, why does this have to be so hard?

I stopped brainstorming to look over at Gerik, who was just looking at me as if pondering what species I was.

How would I get him to take me to his home? Hmm... Maybe I should play up the damsel in distress thing, maybe that'll work. Except said damsel isn't in distress. Hmm... I think I should faint. But how? I can't just randomly faint for no reason... Oh, I know! I'll pretend my corset is too tight! That's a liable reason!

I started breathing fast, then gasping, sucking in as much air as I could, trying to look like I couldn't breathe.

"I can't... Breathe..." I gasped, and fell to the floor in what I hoped what was a realistic way. With my eyes closed I couldn't see what was going on, but I did hear him call me in a concerned way. Oh Gerik. You are just a sucker for the girls, aren't you?

Come on dude, take me down to your lair! ... That sounded so weird... But seriously! Come on, come on, come on, come on... Oh there you go, I thought to myself, feeling arms lift me up.

Now that the the plan was working, I just had to hope Gerik would open up to me. If he didn't, I would be stuck in the movie forever.

And that would just SUCK.