The two lovers left as they said they would, and Sofia made her way back to her bedroom. As she did, she heard a soft noise...

Slow clapping came from the direction of the stage.

"Bravo."

That was odd... This was after the performance, and Sofia thought everyone went to find a drink after the stress of the 'Accident'.

She lit a lantern, - (As the stage-lights had been put out, and the auditorium was pitch black.) - and ventured onto the stage.

The stage was empty except for the stool that had been used to take down Bouquet's body. Sofia set her lamp down on the stool and searched the shadows of the auditorium.

She was almost alone in the huge gloomy house. And silence smothered the stage as a heavy velvet fabric.

There was nothing to see, until she looked up at box five, and gasped.

"Show yourself." Sofia whispered into the darkness. There was a thud as if somebody had dropped down from the box, and two golden eyes blinked at her from the shadows.

"Mademoiselle Sofia~"

Sofia resisted the urge to step back as Erik walked closer to her.

"You know far too much for a simple seamstress."

"Who are you calling simple?" Sofia asked in a voice more confident than she felt.

Erik ignored her.

"I must say I'm rather pleasantly surprised... It's a rare moment indeed when somebody outsmarts me..."

There was a weighty silence as the blood in Sofia's veins turned to ice.

"Especially a woman." Erik added.

"Was that supposed to be a complement?" Sofia snarked.

Erik merely chuckled as he stepped closer, his masked face now visible in the warm glow of the lantern.

"It is rare for me to be outsmarted, But believe me the game is far from over~" He smiled, stooping over her a hands-breadth from her face.

"I'm not playing any games." She retorted.

"No games miss Sofia? Then why did you send away the only thing I've loved in a very long time?!" Erik growled.

Sofia gulped.

"No games?!" He shouted.

Sofia jumped.

"I ought to kill you for your insolence."

"You could, but you're not going to do that."

"Oh, and how would you know?"

"Because... I know you. I know who you are. I know what you're capable of, and I'm not afraid of you."

Erik chuckled. "What makes you say that?"

"Because no matter what face you try to put forward, you still have your scars."

Erik froze.

"Is this Giry's doing?" Erik snarled. "I'll kill her for sharing my secrets."

"No Erik."

"Where did you learn that name?!" Erik panicked.

"I told you. I know you."

And with a sudden swell of confidence. Sofia walked forward and took off Erik's mask.

Erik gasped, and Froze in terror.

"And I'm not afraid... I understand loneliness Erik. Where I come from everyone has been forced to be isolated. Away from family and friends. I understand what that can do to somebody's mind." Sofia raised a gentle hand to the side of his face, brushing over his scars.

A single tear rolled down Erik's cheek.

"Please Erik. Stop this madness, stop the killing." She whispered.

When Erik finally spoke again his voice was strained, "I can't be alone again Sofia. The emptiness kills me."

"I understand. But what I don't get is why the murder Erik? How is killing people going to help your cause? Who would want to stay with a murderer? You should focus on healthy creative outlets, like your music." Sofia said gently.

Erik nodded, and took Sofia's hand in his.

His hands were cold and trembling.

"This isn't the last you'll see of me." Erik smiled softly. "Until we meet again Mademoiselle."

With that he kissed the top of her hand, and left. The swoosh of his cape extinguishing the lamp and leaving her in the darkness.

Once her heart stopped pounding, Sofia put one of her arms out to feel her way back to her room.

She opened the door. And stared blankly into the room.

Clara looked up at her pale, shaken friend and frowned.

"Are you okay you look like you've seen a ghost?"

Sofia giggled madly, holding up the mask she had forgotten to return to its owner.

"Oh no!"

Clara stood, and pulled Sofia into the room.

"Oh yes!" Sofia exclaimed, shaking from head to foot.

"Where was he?" Clara asked.

"On the main stage."

"...what did he want?"

"I thought revenge at first, but as we spoke he seemed... different."

"Revenge... why would he- Oh lord... what did you do?"

"Christine Daae and Raoul De Chagney... they're gone." Sofia whispered.

"WHAT!?"

"I couldn't let them go through what I know would happen if they stayed." Sofia exclaimed.

"Damnit.... Sofia. I've been researching and putting theorys to the test. You should not have changed what happened. As far as I can tell. The only way we'll ever be able to leave this place is if the musical ends like it does on Broadway... And now, you've changed the game... Lord only knows what could happen..."

"Damn..." Sofia sighed, then she muttered to herself. "It's not like we can replace Christine and Raoul."

Sofia sat down as Clara stood and paced the room.

She stopped suddenly as an idea started to form, "But what if we could... I could write a new ending... similar enough that it just might work..."

"Write a new ending?" Sofia frowned.

"Oh, right. I should explain myself." Clara sighed, "I'm your secret Santa! SURPRISE!"

"What?!" Sofia exclaimed.

"Your Tumblr secret Santa, and my real name is Belle." Belle admitted.

"Did you... bring us here?"

"I might have... but I swear it was an accident. I mean usually a writer wants her story to feel real... but never this real. I only arrived a few minutes before you and wasn't sure what I should tell you. I'm sorry for keeping this a secret."

"You're right. You should have told me!" Sofia shouted. Then she took a cleansing breath. "You got us into this mess, so you'd better get us out. We'll be stronger together, so whats your plan?"

"How would you like to wear the real Star Princess dress?"

~~~

Meanwhile in the depths of the opera, Erik was visited by a muse...

He had been experiencing a creative block with his Don Juan, but now he wrote feverishly. He needed to regain control of this situation... and of Sofia...

Though he was still upset about Christine, in almost complete denial of what had happened, his slipping mind had switched from one fantasy to another. Christine was gone. Erik had to accept that. But Sofia... she was here. And she didn't scream or flinch when she took off his mask. That had to be a good sign.

Erik felt like a man in the dessert, slowly going mad of thirst. Christine was a mirage. Too good to be true. So who was he to refuse, when he found real water?

For Erik that water was Sofia. Now only she could make his soul take flight.