A/N: Merry Holidays! I would like to point out that this chapter is two days early! I'm terribly sorry about this, it will not happen again, but I felt the need to give you guys a holiday gift. Please don't hate me, but after today, the Thursday rule will resume; my sincerest apologies. Today's disclaimer with be recited by the lovely and wonderful Meg Giry.

Meg: The Incredible Nameless wonder does not own The Phantom of the Opera or any and all references made to specific movies that may or may not be included in this chapter.

Me: Thanks very much, Meggie. Enjoy!

Chapter Ten: According to Plan

I heard a key in the lock of the door and five seconds later, it was pushed open by none other than the Opera Ghost. In his hands was a tray and the sight of food made me realize just how hungry I was.

He entered the room and set the tray down on the edge of the bed as I hastily stuffed the note I had written earlier under the pillow without him noticing. I peered over at the food and noticed that it was in a box similar to the ones that the pastries came in from the bakery down the street.

I was suddenly fascinated as I realised the fork and knife sitting beside the box on a napkin, and at the very same time, I realized that Erik had not left.

"I'm not going to kill myself." I said out loud and the man looked to me in shock. "And I won't attack you." He said nothing when I was finished, but his silence told me that he didn't believe it, and so I simply just shrugged and set about to opening the box.

I smiled when I freed my supper from its cardboard prison and found it to be a very delicious-looking meat pie. I readied my fork and knife, taking a small bite and chewing slowly. I looked up to see Erik watching me intently, as if gaging my reaction.

I let a grin curl up on my lips as I took another bite; it really was very, very good. The O.G. seemed to be pleased, but he hid it quite well under his stony demeanor, and said nothing while I ate.

"Did you eat?" I asked casually when I was done and I saw his gaze shift from far-off and glassy to me with a surprised expression.

"I don't eat." He replied and I lifted an eyebrow, taking another bite.

"Keep that up and you really will be a ghost." As soon as I said that, I wanted to take it back for his expression turned from surprised to maliciously amused in seconds.

"How do you know I am not?" He asked in a dangerous voice, a sickening gleam of rage in his eyes that made me quite scared.

"Because" I began, picking my words carefully, "Ghosts go to Heaven, or if they're Cats; the Heaviside Layer." I said in a quiet voice. He ignored the reference to Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats that I'd read when I was four, and seemed very angry at what I had to say.

"Not all ghosts go to Heaven you stupid girl. Some linger on and are unfit even for Hell." My gaze dropped from his to my food when he said that. I knew my original comment was less than smart to say, but right then, I doubted anything I said would make him like me very much.

"Ghost's like you?"

Me and my big mouth.

Surprisingly, Erik didn't lash out or try to kill me as I suspected he would. In fact, he simply stood up and walked briskly to the door with the tray. Just as I thought he would leave without another word, he paused before exiting and turned his head to look at me with sadness instead of anger in his eyes.

"Yes, ghost's like me." I shuddered from imagined cold as I so often did as he closed the door, locking it and I was left alone again.

I wasn't stupid. I knew that he wasn't going to tell me that he was going to Il Muto, although I knew he was. That was when I would make my great escape, with no chances of being caught. The question was; how would I know if he wasn't going to tell me? I sat back down on the bed, breathing heavily when Goblin decided to grace me with his presence.

"Oh my dear, you really have gotten yourself into quite the little muddle, haven't you?" He asked and I nodded, covering my eyes.

"You guessed it, dude." I replied and he scoffed.

"And just how do you expect to get yourself out of it, wise one?" He asked and I shrugged, shaking my head.

"I have no clue. Do you have any bright ideas?" The large barn owl ruffled his feathers nervously and shook his head, making me sigh and sit up again folding my hands.

"Well, I suppose there is always-" He began, but I cut him off.

"Wait, shut up for a second!" I cried, standing up on the bed and running over to the corner of the room where a tiny vent was placed. I found this odd, as there already was a large and impressive vent in the Phantom's bedroom for air flow, why did he need another one?

Goblin looked miffed at my cutting him off, but I waved a dismissive hand at him when he attempted to speak and he grew silent. I leaned in closer to the vent, pressing my ear against the extremely frigid metal, and my eyes widened when I was able to hear the soft music from what I remembered to be his Persian monkey music box float in from outside.

It was so faint that when I pulled back, I couldn't hear it anymore and that was when I fully realized that what I had just pressed my face up against was not a vent at all, but a sort of hearing tunnel that projected in noise from outside! I got why Erik would need one of these, as if he slept with the door closed and someone found his lair he'd never be able to hear them, but I guessed that he forgot about that when it came to my stay here.

"This is it old friend, my railroad ticket out of here!" I whispered to Goblin who looked quite impressed with me at my discovery.

"Such a clever, clever girl you are, Annika." He said, making me beam. I didn't stand up or move away from the vent, I wouldn't dare. I didn't want to miss my chance to get back upstairs again, as he could have left at any time without my knowledge.

I stayed hunched over by the vent for several hours, my neck getting a cramp and my spine beginning to hurt quite a bit. Goblin stayed with me throughout the entire time, talking to me about this and that.

It felt like forever before I heard Erik stand up. His footsteps were so very soft as he descended down the slippery stone steps of his lair and into his boat. He picked up his oar, and I heard that splashing noises as he dipped it into the lake's surface.

I knew he was leaving and I finally stood up painfully slowly. My neck and back cracked, making me feel better as I carefully walked over to the large swan bed and reached under the mattress, pulling out the bar. I reached under the pillow as well, grabbing the note I'd written before and I tucked it into my pocket.

I wanted another half an hour to make sure he was fully gone before I finally approached the door. I was absolutely terrified of being caught, but there was nothing worse than staying down here forever, so I swallowed my fear, and raised the bar above my head.

I closed my eyes, and let my mind go blank as I swung the metal bar down and hit the door knob head-on. I heard a satisfying crunch as the door knob broke off the door and fell clattering to the ground. I opened my eyes and stayed very still, trying to see if I could hear any movement in case the Opera Ghost wasn't really gone.

I remained still for seven minutes before realizing that he was gone. I lifted a shaking hand and pushed on the wood of the door, gasping softly when it opened with ease. I crept out of the room to find the lair empty and quiet. I raced down the steps as fast as I could, not wanting to stay here another minute as I pulled out the note and set it on his organ.

I glanced around nervously, looking for some exit or escape route, growling when I saw nothing. I descended the steps down to the lake, being careful not to slip as I surveyed the glassy water. No doubt it was freezing, but Erik had taken the only boat! I knew I would have to swim. I took a deep breath, stepping back before jumping feet first into the water, making a splashing noise that echoed forever.

The water wasn't as cold as I thought it would be and I began to swim, kicking my feet and legs, propelling myself as fast as I could go. I grew tired, so very tired, but I had to keep going, I had to, stopping wasn't an option, I had to get out.

I was soaked to the bone and so very cold when I finally pulled myself onto dry land. That damn lake was quite deep indeed and swimming was never my strong suit. I wrung out my hair and listened to the music from Ill Muto echoing from above. It was beautiful and filled me with the urge to sing along.

"They say that his youth has set my ladies heart a flame!" I chirped out, sounding like a bird if it had been tape-recorded while it was committing suicide. I laughed at myself and continued on, the music growing louder as I reached the fork in the tunnel.

To the left, Christine's dressing room was waiting, but I knew that she would be there, as the role of Serafimo was a small part at the very best. I didn't want to answer questions, or be around her should the Phantom try to come back and talk to her.

Instead I veered left into unknown territory, reaching a spiral of metal steps and taking a breath before beginning to climb them with added haste. I hurried up the stairs, not even bothering to take a break as I sped away, almost tasting freedom.

I realized too late that these stairs did not lead to freedom, but to the rafters.

I nearly screamed and my heart quite literally stopped when I saw Joseph Buquet leaning against the sturdy wooden rail, grinning perversely as he got a good view down Carlotta's dress bodice. I gagged and attempted to back up towards the stairs when I accidentally stepped on a creaky beam.

He turned his head, almost sniffing the air like a dog as I ducked around a corner and darted off into the dark passageways above the stage of the Opera house. I knew I was making noise and lots of it; but I didn't know how much until I heard the sound of a larger, drunker form walking from just behind me and I knew that the stagehand was hot on my trail.

I hurried faster, looking for the stairs that would lead me backstage and away from any immediate harm, but I must've taken a wrong turn somewhere, for I found myself at a dead end of ropes and unused piles of twisted metal too quickly with nowhere else to run. My breathing was all too heavy as I looked over the rail, trying to see if it was too far to jump.

It was an impossible drop, but I knew I would be dead anyway if I didn't go for it. I put my hands on the banister, stepping on a box and pushing myself up to stand on the wooden plank. I didn't dare look behind me, but I snuck a painfully quick glance at the ground below and felt my stomach flip. I reached up a shaking hand to cover my eyes as I let go of the vertically hanging rope I was clutching onto tightly.