The entire opera house had gone into a tizzy upon the realization that Kurt had not returned by the time all residents of the opera house were supposed to be in bed, everyone who did not reside at the opera house ready to go home. They looked for hours, but found him nowhere.

This morning, however, Sue had a slightly different outlook. Sure, they'd lost two leads since she and William had bought the opera house, but this could lead to wonderful publicity, she was certain. Still, she wished they'd find Mr. Hummel soon. They had no one else to replace him, at this point.

She walked through the doors of the opera house, and went into her office, where she found a letter. There was no return address. Just her name, written in blood red ink.

She decided to go find William before opening the letter, maybe see if he had any idea who it might be from.

She walked out of her office, down a long hall, and found William at the top of the steps, right by the entrance to the opera house. He must have just arrived.

"What are we supposed to do with no cast, Sue?" Will shouted, upon seeing her.

"William, calm down." Sue said calmly. "The papers are all talking about Mr. Hummel's mysterious disappearance. Everyone's still buying tickets, and the whole city's buzzing about it. It's publicity."

"But we can't put on any of our operas with no female lead." Will protested.

"He'll be back. In the mean time, we're selling out performances. He'll show up. Just you wait." Sue tried to reason with him. "Now, I was looking for you for a reason. Did you get one of these letters?" Sue asked, holding her letter up for William to see.

"I did." He said, pulling the letter out of its envelope to read it aloud:

"Dear William,
What a lovely opera you held last night. Kurt Hummel was exceedingly talented. Letting him take Miss Berry's place was a wise decision. She's never been able to hit those high notes the way Kurt can, so beautifully. It stumps me why she continues to be cast.

OG."

Sue shook her head silently. Who was sending them these letters? She opened hers to read to William.

"Dear Sue,
You have failed to pay me my monthly salary. Since you're new at this, I'll let you go with a warning. But just know, if you fail to pay me on time again, there will be consequences.

OG."

"Who would have the nerve to send us these?" Will asked.

Sue thought to herself. Who would they owe a salary to? Someone with the initials OG...

"The opera ghost!" She exclaimed.

"Do you really believe there's an opera ghost?"

"I at least believe there's someone somewhere who thinks they're the opera ghost. And he expects us to pay him. He's clearly insane."

Will nodded.

Just then, David Karofsky walked through the front doors, "Where is he?" He demanded.

"Where is who?" William asked.

"Mr. Hummel." Karofsky elaborated. "Where is he?"

"How should we know?" Sue asked. "He's been missing since yesterday evening after the opera. No one's seen him."

"I assume you sent me this?" Karofsky asked, holding up a letter with the same blood red ink and hand writing as the letters Sue and William had received.

"We did no such thing." Sue argued.

"You're sure Kurt isn't with you?"

"No, sir, we're just as curious as you are as to where he's gotten off to." William said.

"I received this note just moments ago. I had assumed it was from you." Karofsky said, holding his letter out for William to take, and read aloud.

"Dear David Karofsky,
Do not fear for the safety of your precious Kurt Hummel. The angel of music has him now, and he'll be perfectly safe with him. Do not expect to see him again.

OG."

"Who would have sent me this, if not for you?" David asked.

Sue gave William a knowing look, and was just about to tell David exactly who she thought had sent it, when Rachel Berry stormed through the front doors.

"Where is he?" She bellowed.

"Where is who?" William asked.

"Your patron. Mr. David Karofsky. Where is he?"

"Right here, Miss." David said, stepping towards her just slightly. "What did you want?"

"I have the letter you sent me. I am not too pleased." She huffed.

"I haven't sent you any letter, Miss Berry. In fact, I just received one myself."

"You didn't send it?" Rachel asked in disbelief.

"Absolutely not." Karofsky nearly shouted.

"What's going on here?" William asked.

"Read it!" Rachel shouted. "Read the letter you supposedly didn't send me." She thrust the envelope in to David's hands, and he opened it, pulling the letter out and reading it.

"Dear Rachel Berry,
Your days at this opera house are quickly drawing to a close. Mr. Kurt Hummel will be singing for you this evening. His performance in last night's opera was far too good for him not to get the recognition he deserves. I suggest you do not attempt to take his place, lest you wish for a great misfortune to befall you.

OG."

Rachel closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, and letting it out slowly. Sue knew she was about to have a fit. She looked to William, who looked back at her and nodded. Time to grovel.

They each took one of her arms, leading her away from David Karofsky.

"We've all received letters today, Miss Berry. I assure you, none of them were from Mr. Karofsky. However, they were all about Mr. Hummel." Sue informed her. "We've been hearing far too much about him recently. You're the real star."

"Mr. Hummel is back." Sue turned around quickly, seeing Carole standing there.

"Is he alright?" Sue asked.

"Where is he now?" asked William.

"He's alone in his room, sir." Carole answered.

"He needed to sleep." Brittany chimed in sadly from behind her mother.

"I need to see him. May I?" Karofsky asked.

"No, sir. He doesn't want to see anyone just now."

"Is he going to sing tonight?" Rachel demanded.

Carole sighed, "I have a letter." She held the letter out, for whoever wanted to read it.

Sue rushed over to her, taking the letter out of her hands before anyone else could, knowing she was in the best mindset for all of this nonsense at the moment.

"I trust you have received all of my previous letters, instructing you as to how I expect you to run my opera house, and yet you have not done as I have instructed. I shall give you one last chance to do as I say.
I have returned Kurt Hummel to you, safe and sound. I believe his talent is no less than fantastic, and I wish for his career to continue to move forward. In your newest opera, I insist you cast Mr. Hummel as the countess, the female lead, leaving Miss Berry to play no other role than the pageboy.
The role Mr. Hummel will be playing calls for charm, and beauty. The pageboy is silent, and therefore, Miss Berry is perfect for the role.
I will be watching from box five, which you will keep empty for me as has always been done in my opera house. If you do not heed to my wishes, expect a great tragedy to occur.
OG."

"This is an outrage!" Rachel shouted, storming away. "I've always been the lead, and always will be! I refuse to play the pageboy!"

"Miss Berry!" Sue called, chasing after her, with William close behind. They ran until they found Rachel, slumped down in a cushioned chair in one of the many dressing rooms of the opera house, holding her head in her hands as if it were in pain. "Mr. Hummel will be playing the pageboy." Sue said.

"You will be playing the lead." William assured Rachel, resting a hand on her shoulder.

"You're only saying what I want to hear." Rachel spat at them. "I know you would much prefer to have Kurt sing for you this evening."

"Miss Berry, you're the one we want. I promise you." William told her, as they got up and walked towards the stage.

Carole caught up with them, "You must follow the Phantom's orders. Please. He'll know if you don't. He will not be pleased with you."

"You have never appreciated me!" Rachel bellowed at Sue and William, walking away again, through the opera house.

Sue nearly scoffed at that. They had only just bought the opera house, they'd had no time to appreciate her or not appreciate her. Still, she followed Rachel on her rampage, not sure where she was going, half of the opera house following behind them, no doubt waiting to watch and laugh at the diva's outburst.

"Miss Berry, sing for us, please." William begged her.

Rachel ignored him, walking straight for the front doors, completely prepared to leave. Upon opening them, she was blinded by flashing lights from cameras, and people with pens and pads of paper, everyone tossing flowers.

Sue noticed a wide smile grow on Rachel's face, until a man handed her a rose, asking her to give it to Mr. Hummel.

Rachel slammed the doors in the man's face, pouting, and looking as if she might faint, she was so upset.

"We need you, Miss Berry." Sue told her.

"We all need you." William nodded.

"Wouldn't you rather have Mr. Hummel? He's the one they're asking for." Rachel said, gesturing angrily to the door.

"No, Miss Berry." Sue said.

"The world wants you." William added, trying to grovel as best as he could.

They led her to her dressing room, and watched as she fixed her hair and make up, offering her fancy candies and jewelery all the while.

They helped her to tie her corset, as she fawned over herself in the mirror.

They then took her shoe, popping open a bottle of wine and pouring it in, before Sue and William each took a drink. An old theatre tradition.

"We'll have our opera, then." William said offhandedly to Sue.

"And she'll get her spotlight." Sue said with a roll of her eyes.

A few women came in the room, helping Rachel to put on her dress, an awful pink thing that made Sue want to vomit.

Rachel then demanded she be carried to the stage on a small bed-like thing, carried by a few men, including William.

When they arrived on the stage, Rachel's wig was brought to her, and put on her head, fastened tight, so it would stay.

"You look lovely, Miss Berry." William told her.

"You'll be amazing tonight." Sue told her, before going off to get a drink.

When Kurt had arrived back in his room that morning, after having been brought up through the maze of staircases and lakes and secret passage ways, all he'd wanted to do was lie down and go to sleep. He was exhausted, physically and mentally. He was sure everyone must be worried sick about him. He had been gone for an entire night, after all.

He lay down on his bed and closed his eyes, but then heard a soft knock on his door.

"Come in." He called out.

Brittany stepped inside, "Oh, Kurt. You're back! I was worried sick!"

"Brit." Kurt smiled. "I'm sorry I worried you."

"Where have you been?" She asked.

Kurt really didn't think he could talk to her about this. The only person he felt might understand was Carole.

"I can't really say, Brit. Could you...Could you go get Carole for me?" He asked.

"Of course."

Brittany ran gracefully from the room.

Kurt closed his eyes, breathing deeply. He wanted to sleep, but he had so much on his mind. Like the Angel of Music, and Karofsky.

He'd always loved Karofsky as a child, and when he'd seen him again last night, his heart had nearly exploded in his chest. But then there was the Phantom, who knew him better than anyone else, even Brittany. The Phantom knew his weaknesses, his strengths, nearly everything about him. Because his music was his soul, and the Phantom knew Kurt's music like the back of his hand.

He'd shared a very special moment with the Phantom the evening before, and yet the Phantom wouldn't even let Kurt see his face.

Kurt understood that the Phantom was scared of being treated poorly because of his looks, but he had to know Kurt would never do that, didn't he? Kurt would never judge someone based soley upon their looks, especially after they'd proven to be so gifted musically, and such a wonderful teacher. The Phantom had been nothing but wonderful to him, and he would only be wonderful to the Phantom in return.

He wished the Phantom would trust him.

His door opened slowly, and Carole tiptoed her way inside. Kurt opened his eyes, looking at her.

"Carole. I'm so sorry I disappeared last night. I was-"

"Shh." Carole hushed him, walking over to his bed and brushing a few stray hairs out of his face as she sat down beside him. "I know where you were."

"You do?" Kurt asked.

"I do." Carole nodded. "The Phantom and I are very...close. I know him better than anyone else does."

"Oh." Kurt sighed.

"You look as if you need your rest, Kurt dear." Carole told him. "I'll leave you be. But I believe you're expected to perform in the opera tonight."

Kurt nodded, closing his eyes again. He heard Carole walk out his door, closing it behind her.

He tried to calm his thoughts. He could decide what to do about the Phantom and Karofsky and everything else later. For now, he needed to sleep to be ready for the opera that evening.

Kurt was shaken awake a few hours later by Carole and Brittany. Carole informed him solemnly that he would be playing the pageboy that evening. It was more than the chorus roles he was used to, but not up to par with the lead he'd played last night. It was a silent role, which he decided might be a good thing, because he was highly unprepared for much more than that.

Carole seemed highly displeased with his being cast in that role, however, and he wanted to ask why, but there was no time.

Brittany helped him change into his pageboy costume in silence, and then they headed to the stage.

Everyone was running around preparing for the opera, which would be starting within the hour.

Kurt looked at Rachel, who was standing there in a huge pink dress, and a wig that was nearly as high as she was tall. It was slightly ridiculous, if he was being honest, but somehow she pulled it off.

Kurt stood off to the side, not wanting to get in the way.

The time passed quickly, everyone running all over the place around him, adding final touches to costume pieces, and throwing props into place.

Finally, they were all told to get into place.

The curtain rose, and the opera began. Rachel as the countess, and Kurt as the pageboy.