Hey there ya'll! I know I haven't updated in awhile, but it wasn't my fault. The big bad writer's block monster was haunting me. I eventually called in Scooby Doo's gang, and all is well! But, I had sat down and thought about this story for awhile. I now know what exactly I'm doing, so hopefully the new chapters shouldn't be as shaky as I felt they were before. I don't really know if it was completely obvious before, but I had started writing this fanfic in the style of a memoir, cause I thought that was just so cool. I feel like the last few chapters have lost that feeling, so I'm gonna try to bring more of that autobiography feel into it. Please do let me know if I succeed!

So, here's the latest chapter, and now I'll introduce my sponser, Mr. Disclaimer! (Applause)

Disclaimer: I own nothing except my characters, Lulu and Wenda. However, I keep wondering if this disclaimer is very necessary, because, seriously, how often do you think Gaston Leroux or Andrew Lloyd Webber read fanfiction? Now, onto the chapter!

Chapter Eight: Noose=Christine? WRONG!

Well, I had started training Gerik to be more manly, in order for him to win Christine's heart, and get myself out of this place. Now, when I think back on it, I don't remember if I really spent six months with Gerik or not, while waiting for the next major scene of the movie to happen. I don't think I did, because I probably would have gone mad if I did, but all I know is that, after an amount of time that was definitely not six months, I woke up to find that it was the day of the Masquerade. Probably some sort of plot device or something like that to help me along the way.

I didn't speak to Wenda a lot during this time, because only I was supposed to know about her, but she did pop in once in awhile to offer suggestions. And God knows I needed it! I don't remember all the time I spent with Gerik, but one day stands vividly in my brain, so I will tell you what happened on that day. Oh, that day!...

I had woken up that morning with a brilliant idea for Gerik's, 'lessons'. I didn't know what else to call them. But, anyways, my idea was simple.

I would narrate possible scenarios Gerik might get into with Christine, and teach him to know what the right thing to do in that situation would be. And, I started thinking how funny it would be if I had pictures of different things in ink, and had him tell me the first thing that came to his mind, like you see on TV sometimes.

I giggled at that.

"Oi! Gerik! Where are you hiding?" I yelled, walking around the lair.

"Here," He replied, rowing the boat on the lake up to where I stood. "What is it you want?"

"Do you happen to have bottles of ink and paper?" I asked him.

"Yes I do. What do you need them for?"

"For today's lesson on how to think and act like a normal human being!"

He groaned, putting a hand on his face. "I hate your 'lessons'. You make me do the strangest things."

"Well, you wanna win Christine over, don't you?"

"Yes, I do. So, so much. But you have the strangest methods I have ever known!"

"Ah, ah, ah! No complaining mister. Now, where's that ink and paper?"

He merely rolled his eyes, and went to get my requested items.

When he had them, he handed them to me. "Here. Take them. You can busy yourself with those while I go out. There is something I forgot to do..." He trailed off.

"And what is this thing that you speak of?" I inquired, getting suspicious.

"It's not important."

"When it concerns you, yes it is. Now, out with it! For all I know, you're gonna go strip down, smear yourself with paste, and start dancing around the fire while you yell praises to the moon."

His eye started twitching at that last thing I said. Well, I can't really blame him.

After his eye calmed down, he said, "I am merely going out to deliver a package to Madamoiselle Carlotta. Just a package, nothing wrong with that!" He started in his defense.

"And what's in this 'package'?" I asked.

He sighed, then went over to the boat and grabbed a small package. He brought it over to me, and I felt my eyebrows lift when I saw air holes on it.

He untied the ribbon on the box and lifted open its lid and showed its contents to me.

"Hmm... Well, I suppose there's nothing wrong with that... Knock yourself out!" I said, grinning.

He grinned mischievously back, and headed over to the boat, and rowed himself out of the lair.

Oh, stop looking at me like that! It's perfectly fine!

It's not like there's anything wrong with giving Carlotta a big fat rat with blood on its body that smelled worse than all the garbage in the world!

... Right?

Ah well. It's too late anyways.

I started busying myself with the materials for Gerik's next lesson, wanting to be done before he got back. This is gonna be hilarious! I thought to myself, grinning.

"What would you do if you found out Christine was an alcoholic?" I read off of one of the cards I had made earlier.

"Well, I would talk to her about it, tell her it isn't healthy, and try to convince her to stop. I would then try to keep her away from places with alcohol, and give her other activities to use her time with," Gerik replied.

"Good, good, that's a very smart and sensible way to go about it. Now, what would you do if you found out Christine was actually a man?"

"Wh-WHAT? How is that even possible? It's disgusting! Christine isn't a man, she is extremely feminine-"

"Ah, ah, ah. Just answer the question."

"Well, I suppose I would ask her about it, and ask her how she feels about it, and try to convince myself that what all happened was just a nightmare," He replied, sounding slightly scared now.

"Alright, I suppose that's enough of that. Now, onto the next thing!" I declared, putting down the cards with the scenarios, and picking up the ones with the ink pictures.

"Now, what I'm going to do, is show you a picture, and you are going to tell me what the first thing that comes to your mind because of that picture is. Alright?" He nodded, so I started.

I showed him a card of an ink picture that looked like a ring.

"Christine."

I then showed him an ink picture that looked like a rose.

"Christine."

Then, an ink picture that resembled a dress.

"Christine."

And then, an ink picture that looked like a noose.

"Christine."

I put down the cards and looked at him. "Dude, how on earth does a noose remind you of Christine? Are you planning on killing her?"

"No! It just made me think of Christine, because I killed for her. I disposed of many a person for her, and how she didn't know.

I could only stare. This man was not right in the mind. No.

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I said, "Dude, that's not healthy. You cannot think like that, or do stuff like that! That is a major no-no!"

"But, I did it for her!" He replied, trying to defend himself.

"Dude! She doesn't want people dead on her behalf! Any sane woman wouldn't! You have to promise me, you won't do that anymore."

He sighed. "Alright, I won't."

This is gonna be harder than I thought... But I know I can do this!

"That's enough for today, I'm tired." I closed my eyes, and rubbed my forehead.

"Alright then, I shall go fetch us some supper," Gerik said, getting up.

"Can you see if you could possibly get some desert? My sweet tooth is killing me. But, only if it's possible."

He merely smiled, and left the lair.

I got up, groaned, and stretched. My eye spotted the wedding bride manikin in the corner. I walked over to it, and fingered the wedding veil.

I know it's possible for Gerik to win Christine over, he just needs to get over some things. He's so insecure!

I kinda felt bad for the guy. But, all he needed was a push.

I promised I would help him, and I will!

This was now not only about getting out of the movie-It was about helping my friend out. And I would do whatever it took to help him.