(A/N: I'm sure most of you noticed by now that I wrote a modern-day phic, Illusions of the Heart. Don't worry, it will NOT interfere with this phic! I will continue to update this one as regularly as I ever had…which isn't regularly at all oh, btw, glad you all liked the nose comment in the last chapter. Would you believe that originally I wasn't going to put it in?

Lol, anyway… IMPORTANT! If you want the link to Gerry singing "No One Would Listen" the deleted scene from the movie, IM me at Zifnabiskewl. If I'm away, IM me still. It's in my away message.

Also, my last note, there was a tiny misconception at the end of my last chapter. I meant to say "Erik would never have known she was there" Not "Erik would never have known she had left" Whoops… I think I might have confused some of you there.

Okay, I lied… one more note. This is a somewhat fluffy chapter… so beware I'm sorry to those of you who don't like them, but if I make this E/C, I have to help them build their relationship first. The action comes later…)

Chapter Twenty-One: Why Did You Stay?

Christine finally reached her room, and curled back up on the bed, thinking. She cursed herself for not asking more questions about Erik when she'd had the chance—She barely knew anything about him, and she just knew that the Persian man would have the answers.

She burned his face into her memory so that if she ever saw him again, she'd be able to recognize him. She knew, at least, that Erik wouldn't answer any of her questions.

She winced as she thought back to the conversation between the two men. She had wondered why Erik's hands were bandaged… she just hadn't guessed that it was also she who had been the cause of it. Deep down, Christine knew it wasn't really her fault, but if she hadn't gotten him so upset…

Christine reached over and picked up her discarded book, determined to lose her thoughts inside of its covers.

She was so immersed in the story that she didn't even realize it when Erik slipped into her room. For a moment, he lingered in the shadows, not wanting to frighten her. Finally, he stepped out into the light and cleared his throat.

xxxxx

Christine jumped and looked up, then quickly cast the book aside. "Erik?"
For a moment he just looked at her, before saying, "I decided not to go anywhere for the time being. I ran into an old friend on the way out… but then, you already knew that, didn't you?" his eyes glinted.

Christine blinked, frowning. Slowly, however, she realized what he was implying… he had known she was there!

A blush crept across her cheeks, and she ducked her head so that he didn't see. Erik, however, crossed the room. After a moment of hesitation, he placed a hand under her chin and delicately lifted it up so they were eye to eye.

"I also know," Erik continued softly, "That he offered to take you back. He offered to take you away from this hell… and you refused. Why did you stay, Christine?"

Christine stared back at him for a moment, not sure how to answer. She was about to when he swiftly placed a finger to her lips.

"And tell me the truth," he warned, "I can see through your lies. Was it pity? Fear?"

"I-I don't know." Christine admitted shamefully. Was it because she was afraid he'd harm her? She wasn't sure. It was more probable that she pitied him, though. In his anger, he had never harmed her—at least, not badly—he had ended up hurting himself more. So perhaps it was fear…just not fear for her safety.

There was a moment of silence, and then Erik stepped away, turning to leave. "Very well, then, I will see you tomorrow when I come to return you. Until then."

"No…wait!" Christine quickly reached out and grabbed his wrist. He turned back to face her with a confused, and somewhat irritated, expression on his face.

"What is it?"

"Your hands…I feel responsible…"

He snatched them away. "Don't." he said shortly. "It was my fault, not yours—"

"But if I hadn't gotten you upset, you wouldn't have… have…Please, just let me see—"

"Haven't you already seen enough?"

The angry retort rang between them, and Erik almost instantly regretted it. Christine winced, hurt.

Erik sighed, "Christine, believe me, it is not your fault. Please, don't worry about it."

"Erik, I won't give up until you let me. If you leave, I'll wander around until I find you. By the way, there wouldn't happen to be any other murderous rooms that you left open for me? Because you might want to warn me this time before I accidentally walk into them and get trapped in there." her eyes flashed.

In turn, Erik grimaced. Finally, he gave in. He felt as if he owed her something for nearly killing her—though, of course, he didn't! The sooner this was over, the better. Tentatively, he held out his bandaged hands.

Christine couldn't help but smile slightly with triumph, which awarded her a glower from Erik. She carefully took a hold of his hands and began to remove the bandages from them, letting him sit down on the very edge of her bed as she did so.

Erik shifted uncomfortably, sitting as far away from her as possible.

Finally, Christine got the bandages off of his right hand, then his left, and gasped. His hands, which she remembered as being long, slender, and white, had angry red gashes on them. Some of them were rather deep, and bled freely as she held them. Her eyes widened as she noticed he hadn't even bothered to take out the glass that was embedded in them still. As a matter of fact, it would probably be difficult for him to manage that himself…

Erik began to pull his hands away, but Christine clung to them delicately, trying not to hurt him. "You didn't even take out the glass!" she exclaimed.

Erik shrugged dismissively, and attempted to move away again. Christine, however, wouldn't let him.

"Here, let me—"

"Christine, don't be foolish! Let me leave, and you will hear no more from me."

"But I—"

"Please, Christine." His eyes silently pleaded with her, and in them she saw his fear of being hurt for a second time. She flinched inwardly… would he never trust her again? If he didn't, she wouldn't blame him.

"Erik, I only want to help you, truthfully! Please just let me do this, and I will let you go. I won't ever forgive myself if you don't." She wouldn't ever forgive herself anyway…

After a moment, Erik gently pulled away. "You'll need water, and a damp cloth." he said at last. "Also a knife, unless you plan to pick the glass out with your fingernails."

Christine relaxed her grip and nodded. "Where can I find those things?"

Erik paused as he inwardly fought with himself one last time, then said, "Follow me."

(A/N: Yes, it's incredibly short. Sorry! The next chapter will also be a bit fluffy. After that, though, it's back to normal. :) But don't worry, for those of you who don't like fluff, there's also a chance of the next chapter being a bit gory… Anyway, Erik and Nadir are giving out free kisses to those who review! ((grins at Erik and Nadir, who are standing over to the side in chains, glaring at her))((blows them kisses))

And remember to IM me if you want "No One Would Listen" ! Thank you all for reading!)

—Hilary