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3

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The strange, sweet sound which had brought Jack to the lair in the first place dimly played in his ears. He awoke and lifted his head to look at his surroundings. He appeared to be lying in some sort of plush bed. Odd. Quite odd, indeed.

Perhaps Erik had killed him and this was simply his imagination. That would certainly make a whole lot more sense than the possibility that Erik had brought him to sleep in a comfortable bed within his home when he had been about to kill Jack for trespassing inside of it not that long ago.

Jack rubbed a hand along his neck, inspecting the damage that had been made with the tight ropes. The skin was red and throbbing under his fingers and he quickly pulled his hand away so he would not disturb his injury further. Raising so that he was sitting in the bed, he glanced around. Not too far away he saw the figure of Erik behind a large pipe organ, churning out the music in which Jack's ears were very particularly interested in. He watched as Erik's hands moved along the keys with ease and simplicity and what was placed into the organ made the pipes come alive with pieces which sounded as though they were much too complicated to be delivered through the simple playing which Erik demonstrated. Yet, they were.

This was his only chance to escape so he would be needing to act fast. He watched Erik for a moment more before slipping his sword out from its holder and gripping it tightly in his hand. Then he raised slowly from the soft bed and began tip-toeing his way to the area in which the exiting ladder stood. He was careful the whole way to be as quiet as he could even though the pipe organ's melodies bellowed so loudly that Erik would never be able to hear him. He didn't want to risk any chances, though. He wanted out of there.

As he was nearing the ladder, an oddity seemed to catch his attention in the corner of his eye. He paused a moment and turned his head to look at a table behind Erik's organ bench which upon its surface lay a strange musical box with a silly monkey atop. The monkey held a set of cymbals and there were adornments of gold in some areas. Jack did not like monkeys in the least, yet this musical box was special, there was just something about it that made him want it. Perhaps it was because of the golden adornments, steadily increasing its value to something highly profitable.

"I want it," Jack said softly to himself, staring at the tabletop not too far away with concentration. "I will have it."

He took in a deep breath and slowly tip-toed in the direction of the table. Reaching it, he kneeled down in front and observed it now from close up. He threw a glance over to Erik who was turned around in front of the organ only a foot away. Jack licked his lips, trying to focus on the task at hand. After replacing his sword in its holder, finally, he extended a hand slowly towards the music box. Jack held his breath as his hand fell upon the monkey's head. He was certain that Erik would catch him before he could touch it, but he had been wrong, Erik's full attention was on his music. He lifted the music box and placed it under his arm. He had it! Now all that remained was the matter of his escape.

Jack raised to his feet and turned around so that he could head back to the ladder and be rid of this dreadful place once and for all. Taking a step forward, Jack immediately stopped cold in his tracks as he heard the music abruptly stop and the all too familiar feeling of the point of a sword in his back. "If you don't mind, I'll be having that back now," Erik instructed, pushing the tip of the sword harder against Jack's back.

Jack sighed and turned back around to face the Phantom. With one quick motion, he kicked Erik's sword from his hand and sprinted towards the ladder.

Furious, Erik retrieved his sword from the ground and chased after Jack, caught him by the back of the belt just as he was climbing up the ladder. He tugged and Jack was brought to his feet on the floor, the music box falling from his hands and landing off to the side on the ground. Jack reached for his sword and brought it out. He hit its sleek metal against the side of the Phantom's sword, a clanging noise of their contact emitted.

"Why didn't you kill me before like you said you would? I was unconscious," Jack said, trying to stab at Erik.

Erik blocked Jack's stabbing attempt and their swords collided with another clang. "I was going to. I was just... waiting for the right moment," he explained, pushing against Jack's sword with his own and sending Jack's back into the wall.

"The opportune moment!" Jack exclaimed. "Sorry, mate. But you don't appear to be a man who waits for the opportune moment. You take action. So what was different this time that made you not? Hmm?" He asked, throwing his weight against Erik and causing him to stumble backwards.

Erik lashed his sword about violently in the air in Jack's direction, trying to hit him but Jack moved out of the way just in time, the sword falling only inches from his side. "You're right. I do take action. There was nothing different."

"Then why aren't I dead?" Jack asked again, offering Erik a serious look before bringing his sword down upon Erik's and causing it to drop from his hands. Erik bent to retrieve his sword and as he began to raise from the ground, he was met with the unfriendly point of Jack's sword in his face, stopping his movement.

Erik sighed and let his sword fall out his grip and back onto the floor. He slowly raised his hands to show that he was unarmed and stood from the ground, Jack's sword following his face as he did so.

Jack smiled and replaced his sword back into its sheath. He bent to pick up the musical monkey box, held it and regarded its charm, then he placed it in Erik's hands and turned to the ladder. "You can keep your little music box. I'm leaving, however," he said and placed his hold upon the rungs of the ladder. He began his climb upwards, Erik watching him move as he clutched his music box.

Just as Jack was about to exit through the opening, Erik raised his arm in the air and shouted, "Wait!"

Jack turned his head and looked down at the masked man who appeared to be not as menacing as he had when Jack had first laid eyes upon him. "Yes?" Jack asked impatiently.

"Uhh... well... you don't have to go, you know."

Jack raised his eyebrow down at the man. "What?"

"You can... stay if you want."

"And why on earth would I do that? You nearly killed me!"

"Yes! It was only, as you put it, 'nearly'. See, I could have killed you but I didn't. So perhaps you should stay?"

"Mate, you're not making any sense at all. Besides, I have to return to me ship. My crew's probably waiting for me and I don't want them to think I've fallen behind and are not coming back. Because they'll sail off without me, I can count on that. So, let's just call this goodbye... whatever this is... and that's it."

Erik lowered his head sadly, staring at his shoes in disappointment. He mumbled something that Jack could not hear from where he was.

"What's that?" He asked curiously.

"I said... I'll let you touch my mask?" Erik repeated, disgusted that he would make such an unholy proposal, yet the words had come out of his mouth nonetheless. Twice even! But it was a forfeit he was willing to make. He was just so lonely.

"Really?" Jack asked, excited. "Blimey! I'll stay for that," he exclaimed, and began back down the ladder to the ground. When he had his feet back on the ground he turned around to face Erik and rubbed his hands together with anticipation. "Let me feel her," Jack said, advancing.

Erik backed away from Jack's prying fingers and winced. "Umm... come with me inside. I don't particularly like this light," he said, gesturing to the opening above the ladder. He turned and began away, into the depths of the lair, Jack following behind, very much eager to touch the strange mask.

"Oh, Erik. I just know we are going to have so much fun. Hey-- maybe you can tell me that story that you mentioned! Oh! Oh! Maybe you can teach me to play the pipe organ! Can I see what's under the mask? I won't tell anyone, I swear! Erik, do you sing? Because you strike me as a man who can sing. Teach me to sing, Erik. Please? I've always wanted to..."

Erik tuned Jack's drabble out of his mind as he led them to the table and chairs behind the pipe organ's bench. He placed the music box on the table's surface, where it had been before Jack had swiped it, and pulled out a chair. He sat down and gestured for Jack to sit in the chair across from him. Jack did as was requested and leaned on his elbows on the table. "... and then we could perform in shows together. Wouldn't that be remarkable? May I touch your mask now? I've never seen one like that. Where'd you get it? Did you buy it? Did you make it? How does it feel to wear it? Can I touch it now? Please, Erik. You promised!"

"Yes! Just go on and touch it already! Do you ever shut up?" Erik asked, crossing his arms over his chest and turning his head to the side so that the masked side of his face appeared before Jack. Erik was incredibly annoyed by Jack's never-ending flow of speech. He preferred the quiet of solitude and when quiet was not available, he liked his ears to be filled with soft melodies, fine instruments, the voice of a beautiful young woman...

A large grin came over Jack's face and he leaned over the table's length. He stared at the mask close up for several moments, studying its splendor. Impatient and wanting the whole experience just to be over with, Erik turned his head slightly to see what was taking so long. He saw Jack staring wide-eyed at him like a fool, sighed, and put his head back in its previous position. Finally, Jack extended a nervous hand to Erik's face. After a brief hesitation, he allowed his fingers to rub against the smooth surface of the mask. It was so soft under his fingertips, very delicate as well. Once false move, he assumed, and the mask would crack. With this thought in his mind, he was sure to be very careful when touching it. He examined it further with his hand, feeling its shape and the areas which protruded to mimic the face beneath it. Satisfied with his inspection, he pulled his hand back and looked at Erik once again, fascinated with the mask.

He wanted to lean forward on his elbows once again but this time was he would not be so successful with keeping his balance. As he was placing his elbows on the table, his arm bumped into the monkey music box and it sent him forward. His hand's flailing out, searching for some grip, his hand knocked against Erik's mask, splitting it into several pieces.

Erik's hand immediately went up to the crumbling mask, keeping his face still covered. "You imbecile!" Erik yelled, standing from the table and looking at Jack. He twirled his cape in his fury and marched off to a curtained area next to the pipe organ.

Jack sat, his mouth wide open, feeling very bad about what he had done. It was not his fault, though, it was only an accident! He looked at the monkey of the music box for reassurance, but the monkey did not provide any for him.