You follow the man with the white shirt to the left. You follow him down a corridor but once he turns a corner you lose sight of him. You look around, having a strange sensation that someone is watching you. Suddenly, a hand clamps over your mouth and pulls you out of the light. you struggle and your foot connects with something solid. The hand immediately lets go and familiar British voice asks, "What was that for?"
 You turn beet red when you realize that you just kicked Michael. Way to go.
 "I'm sorry," you say, then apologize profusely. Tataina appears to be smirking at you, but it could just be her light playing tricks with your eyes.
 You continue apologizing until Michael asks you stop. You become even more embarrassed.
 He takes your arm and leads you back into the hallway and towards the auditorium. You notice that he's moving sluggishly and looks exhausted.
 He starts to say something, but Tatiana touches his shoulder and says it for him, "The way out is somewhere on the stage," she says.
 "How do you know that?" you ask suspiciously.
 "Erik said so."
 "How do you know what he meant?"
 The fairy girl rolls her eyes in exasperation. "What does, ' The way out lies within the stage' sound like to you?"
 She has you there. "Where is everyone?" you ask. No one is here now. And there is no way that all those people could clear out in that short of time.
 "I'll explain once we get there," Tatiana says. She motions you to help her support Michael who is on the verge of falling asleep. Gently she changes your direction to head back into the corridors.
 You shiver. "Where are we going," you whisper.
 "To the dressing rooms," Tataina whispers back. "Can't you see that he's in no condition to continue with this?"
 You follow the fairy into a spacious dressing room equipped with a bed. Michael immediately falls asleep. Tatiana motions you to far side of the room where she has full view him and all the exits.
 "The entire performance of Faust was a hoax," she whispers.
 "But Christine," you say, "was she a ghost?"
 "No, dummy," She gives you a disgusted look. "She-everyone- was an illusion. Didn't you notice the mirrors all over the place?"
 You shake your head no.
 She lets out and agitated sigh. "Erik is a master of illusions. He manipulated light and mirrors to create the images we saw. I don't know details but there weren't any ghosts."
 "Okay," you say, "what do we do now?"
 "We wait. Michael has to get some sleep."
 You yawn. Come to think of it you're pretty tired too.
 Tatiana shakes her head. "Don't even think about. We have to make sure nothing happens to him. We keep watch."
 Eventually Tatiana allows you the do shift watches, so by the time Michael wakes up you've both had some rest.
 It's morning and you get a happy thought. "When they open the Opera we'll be rescued. We'll have beat Erik."
 The fairy girl shatters that thought. "Opera's closed on Sunday. It ain't over yet."
 Once Michael wakes up feeling much better, the three of you headed for the Opera stage. For you the stage's magnificentece is  overwhelming.
 "I wish I had my camera," you say to yourself. "No one would ever belivev this!"
 "Tourist," Tatiana sneers.
 You turn around to see the rude little bug. But she's busied herself with the search.
 You all search for two hours and come up empty handed. Michael is frustrated, Tatiana is in a spiteful mood, and you're irritable. Finally Michael says,
 "Didn't Erik say that the way out was within the stage?"
 Tatiana slaps her forehead with sudden realization. "Of course!" she exclaims excitedly. "He's a trapdoor lover! There must be a trapdoor somewhere on the stage!"
 Your search begins all over again with practically the same results. Michael sits down on the stage, a frown creasing his face. "If I remember correctly," he says thoughtfully, "the Persian took Raoul to Erik's lair by way of the third cellar trap door. Tatiana, do you know where that it is?"
 The fairy girl blinks at him and replies hesitently, "Yes, but I don't think that's the right way out."
 Irritated with the pixie, you butt in with, "Why don't you let us be the judge of that?"
 Her eyes flash daggers at you "Come with me," she grounds out.
 She leads you backstage and shows you the trap door in the floor. She even opens it.
 "There," you say excitedly. "There is our way out!" You smile triumphantly at Tatiana, who is sullen and quiet as though the door brings back bad memories.
 Michael is quiet as well, gazing at the door. Finally, he says in a barely audible voice. "Let's go back and try to find another way out."
 You don't understand. "Why? Here's the way out."
 Michael shakes his head. You look stupified at the fairy. "Don't you remember what happened to Raoul and the Persian when they went down there?" she asks.


If you remember, go to #13.
If you don't, go to #14.