I did not sleep that night. Although I did lay down in my bed to rest, I could not fall asleep – but what was now reality to me, was better than any dream in my whole life. Because I was really convinced I had just met an angel. A true guardian who would lead me through the world of music I loved so much.

Because although to many I had been old when I had started my musical education, I truly loved music. I had, since I had remembered. However, before I had not been able to learn anything and it was Madame Giry who had opened the door to this world for me. But she could not show me much more than what she had until now. I needed more... and I understood that it was a chance for me. That God Himself had sent an angel to me.

To be honest, I had done nothing to be rewarded like this. I had not deserved an angel... but I could not say no to such an offer. I needed my angel. I needed someone who would understand me... because I no longer knew if I could trust Meg or Madame, although I loved them so much. Because of all that had happened, I felt truly disappointed and deceived. As I thought of it, guilt began biting my heart and mind, but I did my best to hush this feeling – and the fact that my dreams were now coming true helped a lot.

It was already early in the morning when I at last managed to have some sleep. However, Meg soon barged in and I could not rest much longer.

"Come, come, Arlette!" she said, and I could recognise that tone of her voice: she was for some reason excited. And to be honest, whenever she was excited, I could feel the same way, for I knew it would be something interesting.

It was not too difficult to make Meg elated but the way she let me know about different things, even if they were rather plain, was so sweet I could not help but find interesting aspects in the most boring of all things.

Slowly, I got up and with Meg's help I dressed up. Despite my being this tired, I felt happiness that had nothing to do with what my friend said or how she behaved. At first, I was not quite sure whether it was not just a dream. However, I could remember that sweet voice that caressed my ears, that voice that made me shiver and breathe heavily.

It could be called obsession, but it was not quite like that. It was more like... falling in love at first sight – but in this case there was no sight. I had no idea what my angel looked like – and I wondered whether he had seen me back then. For if he was an angel, he could not have a real body; he must have been more like a ghost or something like that, or at least that was what an angel was to me. Therefore I was not quite sure whether something not truly material could see anything the way we, mortals, do.

When Meg saw me trying to brush my hair properly, she sighed and took care of me the way it should be done. I was quite certain that she had already noticed I had not slept well that night, but she did not ask.

Well, it was not something strange to me, after all – I had left her in such a situation the previous evening that I felt it was enough of an explanation to her; she would not have to ask about anything else. Or at least I guess that was what she thought. No matter what the reason was, though, I could not complain. Somehow I did not feel in the right mood to explain her anything – besides, I could not tell her anything. I had given my word no-one would ever get to know... and Meg could not be an exception.

"You look terrible," she commented, looking at me with worry as she finished her job. Despite the fact I was now properly dressed and had my hair brushed, apparently, I did not look too well. And I was not even surprised: there was no way I could look well after an hour or two of sleep while I should have had a night full of rest.

On the other hand, though, I was happy. If I had a choice – to be well rested or to be sure that I had met my angel, I would never choose the first one. The events from the previous night filled me with joy I had never known before. But it was not only happiness; it was also hope and serenity I needed most.

"But I feel wonderful," I responded and there was no lie in what I had said. Although I had slept better as of late than the previous night, I had been feeling terrible. Now, I had to admit I was actually better than well.

"You don't have to pretend, Arlette," she answered, taking my hand and leading me out of my room. "I am sure what happened yesterday was a great shock to you... and I can't even be surprised. I would be just as anxious if it was all about me."

Suddenly, the happenings of the previous days seemed to have been something so unimportant... as if it had all happened not several days ago, but at least ten years ago. Now, I felt I had a chance to start anew.

"I still don't know too much," I replied after a while, frowning, as a deep sigh left my lips. "What I know is that the director wanted me to take part in that audition... because if I didn't, he would be in danger. And if I do, Madame thinks I could be in danger, yes? And they know it all because of some letters that were sent to them from a certain someone, apparently one and the same person..."

Meg bit her bottom lip and nodded. It was obvious she was fighting with herself – it looked like she wanted to tell me but was afraid of what her mother would say. Because Madame's suspicions were often true. No wonder she trusted her so much.

"Listen, Arlette, I don't quite know how much I could tell you," she confessed at last. It seemed she was now hesitant whether she should lead me on or just stop right there, in the middle of the corridor. "You already know much more than my mother wanted you to learn. But at first it was just a bedstory for you. Neither of us could expect that it would turn out to be true once more. Not now..."

"You keep getting that story involved in the whole situation," I noticed, feeling a blush creeping all over my face. "I do want to know why."

At last she came to a halt and let out a deep sigh. Looking around, she checked that we were completely alone before she started talking.

"Because it's happening again," she whispered. "It's come full circle now... just..."

"You want to tell me that the very same story you told me when I was little is happening to me right now?" I asked, hoping she did not hear that tone of fear in my voice. Besides, I was afraid I would hurt her with this question.

Meg lowered her sight and wrapped her arms around herself, wanting to comfort herself and calm down. At the same time, I felt like hugging her, but I could not bring myself to do it. And it was not her fault.

I was simply terrified. I could listen to certain stories, but I did not want to be a part of them. I was no heroine. The main character should be beautiful and wise... and I was just a simple eighteen year old girl who had grown up in the world of dreams, hoping they would come true one day.

Apparently, though, those wishes do come true... but it is not as wonderful as it would seem to be.

However, before Meg could answer, I felt a familiar touch on my shoulder.

"I told you something about scaring Arlette, Meg," Madame scolded her daughter as she pulled me with herself, away from my friend. I could catch a glimpse of her worried face before my guard led me down another corridor.

I knew this way perfectly – just the previous day I had used it with Meg when we had gone to listen to the girls at the audition.

"Ma'am," I started, but she hushed me with just one motion of her hand. I could not understand anything and her face told me nothing. She was sometimes so much unlike her daughter whom I could understand perfectly.

I was not quite sure whether she was wondering what to tell me or there was another reason of her silence, but at last, she opened her mouth.

"Meg shouldn't have told you anything," she said quietly, doing her best to sound calm, but I had a feeling I could recognise a worried note in her voice. "She does not know as much as I do, and her information is not quite full... however... I do know she's just worried about you, and I can understand it. I am just as worried."

We stopped right in front of the door leading to the rehearsal room, but I could not hear even one sound coming from there.

"I tried to protect you, but I see now the more I try, the worse it gets... and since it's about you now, you deserve to know what it means to you..."

"I've heard that if... if I do take part in this audition, I might get hurt. And if I don't, the director will get into trouble," I cut in, unable to bite my tongue. Now even the thought of my angel could not calm me down enough to keep me quiet.

Madame gently patted my cheek, as if trying to scold me and tell me everything would be alright at the same time.

"Do not panic. It's not as terrible as it would seem," she assured me, and the tone of her voice betrayed she was certain of it. "It might sound like a horror story, but it's not. We are still talking about a person. A human."

It sounded to me as if she had though I would have expected a supernatural power... and in a way I had. At least I was not quite sure whether I had expected it to be just a person. Or maybe just one person...

"It's a man, Arlette," she continued after a longer while. Her face was pale and she did not look directly into my eyes as she spoke. "But a very specific man. Everything about him is... extraordinary. He is an artist and a genius... and I respect him as such... but he has already proven that his... his feelings and behaviour are not human. What he feels and does could not be understood by anyone but him."

Still, there was not much of explanation in Madame's words, even though this story was a fascinating one. I was certain this man, whoever he was, had to be a very special person... and I had a feeling despite her words, Madame knew him very well. She might have just told me that no-one could understand him... but she was very close to that.

"Why is it so important for me to know what he is like?" I asked slowly.

"Because I am not sure what he will do now," she replied, shaking her head. "He is capable of... of amazing things. Wonderful as well as terrible. He will not hesitate... he has done awful things because of this. It is easy to hurt him – and he will act hastily if someone happens to hurt him... so it is very important to be careful while around him."

It sounded like I needed to get to know him if I was to continue my life there. I still could not grasp why it was so very important. For a moment I even thought that it would be him standing behind that door... but when she pushed it, there was no-one else but the director himself. He smiled at me softly and gestured at me to come in.

What would happen now? I had to admit, I was scared and nervous, besides, around the man I did not know well, I felt rather shy.

"Do not be afraid, my child," he spoke, trying to calm me down, but I heard a rather hysteric tone in his voice. No wonder, after what I had heard the previous evening – something bad could happen to him if something went wrong...

It turned out to be nothing but a simple audition – just the same the other girls had gone through the day before. I saw Madame's worried face as she looked at me and listened to me singing. My voice trembled and I could swear I could faint at any moment, but somehow that did not happen.

It did not last long; maybe a quarter of an hour. After that time, I approached Madame once more. I needed to know why she wanted me to know what this man she had been talking abou was like. After all, I did not even realise who he was, and why he was involved in this whole situation. From what I knew, this man and I had never met before.

"But you will certainly meet," she explained, and a strange shadow passed through her face. "I am sure of that, even though I would rather wish for that not to happen. He might hurt you if you are not careful enough."

"But why? Ma'am, I don't even think he's the one to say anything... is he not... just a random person? Isn't it the director to choose the cast..."

Madame smiled faintly as she shook her head.

"No, Arlette. This man... he believes he owns this place. And everyone inside."