Chapter 2- Insolent Boy

A/N: thanks to those who reviewed chapter 1! Made me feel loved!

CloudxinxCrimson- i laughed sooooo hard when i read your review- seriously; i was like, on the floor laughing my head off. I love it! hope you like this chapter!

Fox of the Nova- you think its creepy now? just wait! .:insert evil grin here:. Muahahahahahaha!

Lost Schizophrenic- you think so? We'll see……

TheOneandOnlySkippy- blood makes me sick too… but for some reason, I have no problem writing it! thanks for your review!

M- here's your update!

Tiniwiel- ...:bows:... wow- that's the most compliments I've gotten in a while. I'm thrilled that you like my writing style! So you think it's Erik too? Hmmm…. We'll see. :wink: I think you should definitely write a phan fic! I will soooo read it!

AussieLass and Lioness-Rampant- welcome aboard… glad to hear you like it!

Umm.. sorry to have to do this, but this chappie introduces the fop. Go with me here, its all part of my master plan. .:more maniacal laughter:...


Bright sunlight streamed in through the window the next morning. The pale streaks of light shone on the bed in Christine's room, and on the night table, reflecting off of the brass of the clock, which was ticking as though it had never stopped. The room was silent, as is any room in the hours between waking and sleeping.

The French doors were closed, the curtains arranged primly, leaving no evidence of being blown open. Indeed, everything seemed as though it was as it should be. That was, until Raoul made his way to the room a short while later.

Unlike his fiancé, the Vicomte deChagny had had a peaceful night's rest. Now, having dressed quickly, he had his mind on looking in on Christine. He had wanted to stay with her last night, but she had assured him that she would be fine alone. Which was something he found unbelievable, considering the ordeal she had just been through, only two nights ago.

Thank God that was over, he thought as he turned down the hall that would take him to Christine's door. He would see to it that she never returned to the Opera again. The last thing he needed was to have Christine delude herself that she had any feelings whatsoever for that man... that bastard... that... that…. Erik.

Raoul knew that he was jealous of the Phantom. Christine had fallen for his voice- obviously, he thought, who could fall for his face? - She had obeyed his words, and from them had formed some strange attachment to him...

Raoul wanted to believe that Christine loved him and him alone, but he had always had the sinking feeling, even when they kissed, that Christine was often thinking of something else.

He pushed the thought from his mind.

In a few months, they would be married anyway, and if he could wrangle it, far away from Paris. Perhaps they'd go to London, or maybe even the Mediterranean. They could take a holiday... a very long holiday.

He knocked on her door. "Christine?" he called lightly.

There was no answer.

"Christine?"

He turned the doorknob and stepped in.

She was gone.

Her bed was empty, the sheets and covers still rumpled, as though she had just lie on them.

A cold, gripping sensation came over Raoul. Christine was not here. Where then, he asked himself. Where had she gone?

His heart sank down to the floor, and then further down, into hell.

Where else would she go?

Surely not out for a morning stroll.

She had returned to the Opera.

"Why?" he muttered under his breath. "Why the hell would she go back there?" He ran his fingers through his long, well-maintained hair (A/N: fop bashing, couldn't resist!) and inhaled deeply. "She didn't go herself," he mused. "The monster called her. He used his voice to call her to him. She'd want me to rescue her."

What if she doesn't? His inner conscience debated. What if she left because she wanted to?

Raoul ground his teeth together, seething at the thought. Christine wouldn't leave him, not after what had happened.

Would she?

Maybe he was being irrational, he thought. Paranoid. There was a logical explanation for all of this. Still, he knew that affairs concerning the Phantom of the Opera more often than not defied explanation.

Attempting to keep a calm temper, he awakened his servants, demanding to know precisely who had seen Christine that morning.

To his despair, no one had.

An hour later, he was back in her room, considering his options. She was gone. . . his Little Lotte had left. Should he go to the police? Report a kidnapping? He didn't even know if Christine had left of her own accord.

There was only one other solution he could think of, and it was one that didn't appeal to him in the slightest.

He would go back to the Opera house, and find Erik- the fiend who had nearly ruined his life.

And if the phantom had Christine, Raoul thought, this time, he would kill him.

A/N: all right- enter the fop! just a quick question: does anyone CARE if i bash Raoul? I mean, the guy means well I guess, but ERIK AND CHRISTINE ALL THE WAY! At least, in this story.

KEEP THE REVIEWS COMING, PEOPLE!

Next chapter: Raoul goes "down once more"... to meet you-know-who! But will Christine be there? Well if I told you, then it wouldn't be a surprise, would it?

Also: I will try to post soon, but I'm kind of pressed for time now, due to final exams (kill me now someone, please!) and the crapload of other final stuff that I have to deal with now. But I will do my best!