Bit of a gap between chapters again, i know. Hope you enjoy this one though!

Many thanks to all the new subscribers and readers :):)

Phanty belongs to Gaston Leroux and Andrew Lloyd Weber

Raoul felt terribly out of place. He had known why she had jumped out of that boat but he did not expect her to be speaking so decidedly so soon... Perhaps part of him truly believed that she was just going to see him, to see if he was alright... or to settle her mind, to get closure. Perhaps he did not want to consult the other part of his mind; the part that told him it was over there and then. He was engaged to Christine but now, seeing her with Erik... it almost seemed like another time and place; as if this was the reality, Christine and this Erik, and his engagement was merely a dream that he was allowed to live for a small while.

"This way." They took a small turn shortly after exiting the room. Erik glanced at Raoul to see if he was still following. Part of him had hoped that he wasn't...

Erik was still uncomfortable with the situation. He didn't care for human interactions at the best of times and he was feeling quite irritable given the circumstances. He looked a mess... he knew that, and he still wasn't wearing his mask. Previous to this it had been only Christine and himself, and he had been shrouded in darkness. For a small while he had almost forgotten to worry about his appearance but now, with Raoul shining that flame in his face every second moment he got less and less inclined to hide his disdain. He didn't like light, he didn't like people and he didn't like the boy but he had to make an effort to be civil.

Christine began to notice Erik slowing down.

"Erik, are you alright? You're walking slower..."

"My dear, I am far from alright but I shall manage. Don't let it trouble you."

"Raoul..."Christine began, ignoring Erik. He was clearly struggling. "Won't you help him walk?"

She ignored the disconcerted expression on his face and frowned at him.

Without so much as a glance at Raoul, Erik responded. "Christine. I am alright." He didn't like the idea any more than the Vicomte. Changing the subject so that Christine would not be able to force this on him, he addressed Raoul. "That torch is actually impairing my vision, Vicomte."

"That simply isn't possible."

"Yes, it is."

"Erik." Christine warned.

"I am able to see better in the darkness, and since I am the only one who knows the way out of these cellars, I suggest we extinguish that flame."

"You know the way out yes, but you would not be leaving these cellars if it were not for me. So, I say that it stays lit."

"Don't test me, Vicomte." Erik stopped walking and faced Raoul. "Do not think that I am indebted to you because of what happened. I have spoken of my gratitude, therefore my debt is paid." Raoul rolled his eyes. "Please do not expect friendship out of this and please do not assume that you can say what you wish to me with no reprisals."

"I would not be so foolish as to expect either from you, but I do expect common decency... which apparently you do not possess to give." He turned to Christine. "Christine, is this really what you want?"

"Do not address her!"

Christine looked between Raoul and Erik.

I knew that it would only be a matter of time.

"What of common decency? " Erik boomed. "And what of decency is common, pray tell? I will show you decency, a small amount; the amount that you have earned here tonight but not a fraction more. Do not speak of decency to me, Vicomte, I have spent enough time in this world to learn its' interpretation of decency and how common it really is. I pride myself on the fact that I do not conform to such a shallow, prejudiced world."

Raoul screwed his face up at what he was hearing. Erik seemed to have lost what he was actually arguing about.

Christine looked up at Erik, a little frightened at who he was becoming.

"I owe you nothing."He added.

"You're correct, you owe me nothing. Nothing is what I expected from you, after all. And you will be pleased to know that what I did, I did for Christine and Christine alone. I am completely oblivious as to why but she cares for you... much to my disdain."

"Oh I am aware, Vicomte, I did not expect an act of kindness purely for the sake of it... not from one of you. Did you honestly think that I would be so ignorant?"

"One of me? Why do you talk like that? Like you are so far removed from everyone? As if our laws do not apply to you? Whether you like it or not Monsieur you are part of the human race and..."

"I AM NOT PART OF YOUR HUMAN RACE!" Erik bellowed, his own face now inches from Raoul's. "Your laws do not apply to me! Why should I follow the rules of your precious little world when it has made such a point of ostracizing me from it?! I feel no need to follow your customs or live up to your standards because I am not one of you. I never have been. And I am sated with the fact that I never will be! Contented, you might say." He stepped backward and took a deep, shaky breath.

"Why do you loathe me so greatly?" Raoul stared at the Phantom in front of him. "I have never wronged you. I should not be held accountable for this world which clearly has..."

"No, you shouldn't be held accountable for what you have not done. Crimes you have not committed. But that is what your world has done to me. I loathe you because you took from me all that I wanted and could never have."

"But you have it! You have her!" Raoul gestured to Christine who was silently watching them.

Erik looked at her and his eyes softened. "Yes..." He had almost forgotten.

Raoul was relieved to have distracted him.

"Now." Raoul began, taking advantage of this. "...if you are quite done... we ought to leave. I can see that you hold little value for your own future but Christine and I are on quite a different page."

"Alright. Douse the lamp." He looked at Raoul, a slight smirk on his lips.

Seeing that it was better to obey than get drawn into another argument, Raoul conceded.

"Take my hand." He said to Christine in the darkness. Again she put her hand in his along with her complete trust.

"I suppose that you shall want to hold my hand too, Vicomte?" He called behind him, struggling not to laugh at his own humor.

Christine scoffed audibly.

"Well I would much rather hold Christine's." Raoul responded and took Christine's hand.

Erik didn't find this funny at all.

After a few dark, silent minutes of walking they reached a ladder.

"Here."Erik gestured upwards. "This is it."

Raoul followed his gaze. A long wrought iron ladder met with a sewer grate about twenty feet above them. "Are you sure?" He asked hesitantly.

With a condescending smile Erik looked at Raoul, his face dappled with the small amount of moonlight that filtered in through the grate. "I'm sure." He said with a hint of arrogance in his voice.

To this, Christine could not help but smirk.

"You should go first. Christine will follow, and then myself."

Raoul was about to object when Erik continued.

"It simply makes more sense." He added, reading Raoul's skeptical mind. "If anyone spots you emerging from the sewers you can simply tell them that you escaped and that you don't know where I am." Raoul began nodding, the brilliance of the plan dawning on him. "If they happen to see Christine following, she can attest to the story. You can say that you both escaped the terrible Phantom and that you are unaware of his... of my whereabouts."

"Yes. Yes, Raoul this makes sense." Christine grabbed his arm in the hopes of convincing him, but Raoul did not need convincing. The sooner he was out of this man's company, the better.

"Besides... I would prefer someone to be up there before I send Christine up... even if that someone must be you."

Raoul scowled at Erik.

"Yes... it is a good plan. Considering that they would shoot you on sight." He grinned smugly.

Erik did not respond. He knew it to be the truth and he was tired of arguing with this buffoon of a man. He was tired. He was tired and sore and if putting up with the Vicomte meant a change of clothes and rest then he would accede.

"Alright. Here we go." Raoul began climbing the ladder before him with ease. When he was about ten feet up, Erik spoke.

"Christine... do we trust him?" Erik was blind to whatever was beyond that sewer grate and he did not have much of a plan, a very rare occurrence. He knew that they would be damned should Raoul betray them. He didn't think that he would purposefully put Christine in harm's way but he could not be sure; everyone was the enemy.

"Yes."Christine responded quietly. "I don't believe that Raoul is overly fond of you but he would never do anything to harm me... regardless of jealousy." She held his hand and almost reading his mind, added; "I trust him." Erik smiled, more at her action than her words.

Whatever you say.

At that moment he would have believed that the sky was green if she had spoken the words.

Soon, Raoul had reached the top of the ladder and holding on with one hand; he lifted the sewer grate with the other. He hoped against all hope that there would be no one waiting for him when he emerged... He knew that the mere mention of his name was all it would take should he find himself in trouble. More than likely he would be able to get Christine to safety too, but not even a de Chagny would be able to give sanctuary to the Phantom of the Opera... not after all he had done. He still loathed the man on almost every level but he was aware of the consequences should something happen to him. Christine would never recover. His presence (in whatever capacity that may be) had become part of her... without which she would never be whole.

Cautiously, Raoul emerged and peered out into the empty Parisian streets.

Empty.

They were empty save for a lone lamplighter in the distance who had no doubt just begun work. Other than that there was not a soul to be seen. He thought it a strange sight but soon reminded himself that it must have been early morning. It had been a long night...

He climbed out and sighed; his breath visible in the cold, January air.

"It's fine." He knelt down beside the hole. "Quickly, come up."

Down below, Erik was still smiling at Christine when Raoul's voice reminded him of where he was.

"Alright. Your turn." He said, gently guiding her over to the ladder.

"No... you are the injured one, you should go first!" She tried to persuade him.

"Christine, we have already discussed this... it makes sense that you should go."

"But..."

"Christine... I do not mean to sound abrupt but I am exhausted... please just obey me."

"Alright." She said softly. "I'm just worried about leaving you again." She hugged him. He winced and hissed at the pain as her hands made contact with his back.

"I'm sorry..."

"No you aren't." He teased.

"I am! I keep forgetting..."

He tilted his head knowingly and she blushed. No, she wasn't sorry for hugging him. Not at all.

"It's alright. Go now." He said, shakily stroking her hair.

She smiled and began to climb up.

"Don't look!" She shot down playfully.

"I... won't." He chuckled, slightly surprised that she would think of such a thing in a situation as serious as this.

Soon she was at the top and Raoul helped her out. She stood up and looked around.

"No one." She said to Raoul who nodded. "Thank goodness."

She looked down. "Come up, hurry." She said to Erik who had been looking up, but only to make sure that she would not fall.

Slowly Erik began to climb up towards Raoul and Christine. Beginning to feel the presence of his injuries, he paused after about ten feet of climbing.

"What is it?"Christine called down to him.

"Nothing. I'm fine." He hadn't meant to sound abrupt but the pain was intensifying with every step he took.

After a slow, painstaking climb, he made it to the top and much to the chagrin of both men Raoul was forced to help him out. As soon as he reached street level, his shaking began to intensify. It was the middle of Winter and he still wasn't wearing much.

Christine looked at Erik.

"Will you at least admit that you are cold?" she asked, becoming annoyed at his pride.

"Yes... Although cold... may be an understatement." He responded through chattering teeth.

She walked over to him and rubbed his arms, hoping for the friction to create warmth. He smiled and once again could not conceive that this was happening to him.

"What's the plan?" Raoul asked sternly.

"Plan...Yes..." Erik was quite distracted. "Well I had... planned for us to... w-walk and hail a...c-carriage once out of P-Paris but ...I can't like this of course... We may need... t-to go back. We need a horse."

"Go back!?"Christine could not believe what she had heard. "Go back? Back there? We couldn't possibly. Where are we?"

"It isn't as f-far as you... might think... only a f-few streets... away" He answered. "I... c-cannot conceive any other way... And I am slightly... under-dressed for a c-carriage ride... w-wouldn't you say?"

Christine smiled at his attempted humor.

And you're covered in blood.

Raoul looked at him.

And you're still deformed...

"I shall go. I shall get you a horse." He said.

This shocked Erik. He would do this for her when he knew that his horse would see the end of their engagement?

"Raoul... you would do that for us?" Christine looked at him, a look of sincerity and pure innocence. His breath caught in his throat. She looked so beautiful.

I would do anything for you.

This Erik did have good taste, at least they could agree on that.

"For you, remember. I would do it for you, Christine." He shot a look at Erik who did nothing but stare back at him. He was quite surprised at Raoul's expression of honor and loyalty.

"I would do anything for you, Christine. Surely you know that by now. I always will."

She smiled awkwardly. She hated the fact that she had to hurt him. As the night had progressed her feelings for Erik had grown stronger. She suspected that Raoul had foreseen this and that he was now staring at the outcome. Yet he loved her still...

"It will be safe for me. There is little risk." He added. To his astonishment, Erik spoke up.

"Thank you, Monsieur." Raoul stared at him in utter disbelief.

"I... may have underestimated you a-after all..." Deciding to be the better person, Raoul did not rebuke this extreme act of uncharacteristic humility. With the smallest hint of a smile, he nodded. Erik's face did not change, but Christine saw something in his eyes which told her that they had temporarily reached a truce.

Raoul looked to Christine and held her shoulders gently. "Stay hidden until my return." They stared into each other's eyes for a brief moment. Only when his began to well up with tears did he look away. He turned around, overcome with emotion and promptly left.

Christine stared after him for a second or two, then slowly turning around she looked up at Erik. He met her gaze.

Alone once more.