A Second Chance

By: CatWomen88

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Phantom of the Opera. I just like to use them in my stories.

Author's Note: Sorry it has taken me all year, but school has been crazy. I tried to work on it, but I was never able to finish another chapter. Thank you for your patience. I hope you can forgive me. I am also aware that I have used the name Alex twice and have not yet explained the death of the man in the beginning, whom I called Richard. I just want to say sorry and clarify. The brother will be Anthony, the pimp Alex and Richard will be explained later in the story. Sorry for the confusion.

Chapter 9: Who hit Colin?

There was some commotion outside of the Opera house, which caused Christine, Rauol, and Meg to run outside. They were followed behind by Jackie. What they saw stunned them. Erik was standing over Colin and a pipe was lying on the floor next to him. He looked at the four pairs of eyes and began to back away from Colin.

"What have you done?!" Jackie ran to Colin and turned him over. There was blood all over his head, "Colin? Can you hear me? Please say something?"

Erik looked down at Jackie. Rauol, Christine and Meg all ran over. Rauol looked at Erik, "You might want to get out of here."

Erik looked at Rauol, "It wasn't me. I did not hurt him."

Jackie turned her head, "Well what do you call this then. A pat on the head. He is bloody and you are the only other person out here."

"Please believe me. I came out here to talk with him, but there was someone else out here. Please. I have changed." Erik was pleading with her. He did not care if anyone else believed him just that she did and that realization startled him. Why did he care so much what she thought?

Jackie turned her head away, "Get out of here. Now and maybe I will convince him not to call the cops." Tears were forming at the edges of her eyes.

Erik took one last look at Jackie and ran to his lair. Once inside her slammed hiss fist down and tears came to his eyes. This was very unphantom like. What was this girl doing to him? He really had not hurt Colin, but his past action were no help in claiming his innocence. Yes he had followed Colin to confront him, but when he got outside there was another man already standing over Colin with the pipe in his hand. Erik and he had fought, but he got away. Erik admitted he looked very guilty, but for once he was not to blame.

Rauol had gotten some help and Colin was now safely inside being seen by a doctor. The doctor wrapped his head, "He will have to stay in bed for a fortnight. He seems alright for now. There seems to be no permanent damage from the looks of the wound, but I won't know more until he waked up. I will return in two days to check on him. If he happens to awaken before then please come and get me."

Once the doctor left Jackie was back at Colin's side, "I'm so sorry. Please don't leave me too."

Christine, Rauol and Meg left the room. Christine turned toward the other too, "Erik did not do this. He has changed right?" She was having doubts.

Rauol put his arm around her, "Yes he has. He might seem guilty, but I believe him when he says he did not hurt that man. I'm going to go talk to him." With that said Rauol kissed Christine's forehead and left.

Meanwhile outside the Opera house a man emerged from behind a building and smiled, "That worked out better then I planned." With that said he turned and walked away. Throwing out the gloves with Colin's blood on them.

In the room with Colin Jackie had finally stopped crying. She was dabbing his forehead with a washcloth, "I'm sorry Erik, no the phantom did this to you. If I had known I never would have slept with him. I never wanted to hurt you." Part of her did not believe Erik had done this, but the Phantom was another story. She really did not know what to believe.

In the lair Rauol had finally made his way down to see Erik, "What happened?"

"I followed Colin. I wanted him to apologize for what he had said, but some other man had hit him. I walked up to the man and asked what he was doing and then he attacked me. We struggled and eventually he just took off. Then the four of you ran outside. I know I look guilty, but I did not do this." Erik was not use to this feeling he had. It was despair. Sure he had felt betrayed, desperate and pain, but not despair. He felt as if his whole life revolved around how Jackie saw him. This was not the phantom of the opera, this was Erik and he did not like it, but no matter how hard he tried to turn back into the phantom he could not do it. Had he really found a woman to replace the love in his heart for Christine? No he thought it was lust not love. It had to be.

Raoul place a hand on Erik shoulder, "I believe you and I will help you prove it."

TO BE CONTINUED…

Authors Note: Yes I have finally updated. I know I always take forever, but I hope you like this new chapter. Please review.