Hm, I think I edited all of this... Thank you for the reviews! I'm going camping for about eight days, so the story will be on vacation with me. Sorry.

Raoul left the opera house without meeting anyone difficult. Once he was home again, in his own room, he relaxed. He ordered a bath, and then food. While Raoul soaked in his bath, he considered what to do. He couldn't go along with the orders of this mad man, that was quite plain. After he had bathed and eaten, Raoul retired to his study. He touched the chair where Christine had sat only a few hours before she had been kidnapped. He idly picked up the letter from the police. Of course, why hadn't he seen it before?

Raoul hurried out the door. Once he arrived at the police station, he ran inside. "Monsieur Felix, I must speak to Monsieur Felix!" He cried. Felix came forward.

"Here, Vicomte de Chagny, what a pleasure!" He cried. "I trust you received my letter?" Raoul nodded. Felix led him to his private office. "Now, please tell me why you have come," he said, pouring Raoul a drink. Raoul ignored it.

"Please, I would like the police's assistance in a matter. I have heard that the phantom will be at the train station around twelve thirty to catch the one 'o'clock train to Eppienne. Please, don't ask me how, but I'm sure of it. I would like to borrow one of your men. I would go, and engage the phantom in... Er, conversation. He would not run away if he saw me, given that he, well, still wants me dead. So, while your man covers me, I lure the phantom out, and there you have him." Raoul looked hopefully at Felix. Felix shook his head.

"That's all very well, Monsieur de Chagny, but what about your safety? This man, this phantom, we have seen that he doesn't mind killing, you might well be dead before we get him." Raoul nodded,

"It's a risk, but I'll risk it." He said gravely.

"How about you take more of my men," Felix suggested, "about half a dozen, or so?" Raoul shook his head.

"No," he said, "one will be unnoticed, especially if he is in regular clothes, not a policeman's uniform. Two or more and the phantom will suspect something." Felix sighed and nodded.

"Very well," he said, "you'll have Gaston, my best marksman. But be careful, Monsieur," Raoul thanked him and left the office. Felix looked at the drink on the table for a moment before drinking it himself. He shook his head. "Boy's going to get himself killed," he muttered, before striding out and sending for Gaston.

Raoul was happy that soon the phantom would be caught and that he could tell the police of Christine's kidnap and also enlist their help in that. He went to the station and purchased the tickets, a private coach, one way to Eppienne. After that he went back to his house. He went to the safe that was hidden in his bedroom, and took out 240,000 francs plus some extra that he could use for food and lodging.

He held the money in his hands before putting it safely in a wooden box, which he then put with his other luggage. Raoul looked at what he had, spare clothes, soap, shoes, and revolver. He fit the box snugly inside of his suitcase. He intended to leave with the police to Eppienne right after the phantom was caught, so it was a good thing to have it all packed. He glanced at the clock. Eleven thirty. He sighed. Time seemed to be flying these days.

Soon there came a knock. Gaston had come to see him. Raoul met him and described what he had in mind. Gaston was already dressed in casual clothes, and his gun was hidden. He followed along the plan, though it was clear he didn't like it.

"All of this preparation, Monsieur, and then you tell me to shoot him in the foot?" He complained. Raoul shook his head.

"I said, don't shoot to kill unless you have to. I just said that you might shoot him in the foot as an example, so he can't run away." Gaston looked at him skeptically.

"So you will lure him out and then I'll shoot him, but not to kill him, and then what?" Raoul shrugged. "We'll take him to the station," he said, "you'd better leave now to be there before me. I'll leave in a few minutes." Gaston nodded and left. Raoul waited for about eight minutes before heading out.

Erik had been near the station for about half an hour when he saw the man arrive. The man looked around before slipping in between two buildings. Erik smirked as he moved silently across the roof where he was hiding. He glanced down into the alley. The man was readying his gun. Erik leapt silently down on him.

Before Gaston even had time to draw breath after he realized he was under attack, Erik had his lasso around his neck. Gaston choked, felt something hit the back of his head, and passed out. Erik let him fall to he ground, and then he stooped and unwound his lasso. He stored it back in his pocket before he pulled the large hood he was wearing over his face. Erik stepped out of the alley and glanced around.

He walked quickly across the open area to another shadowy corner where he waited. A few minutes later Raoul came clattering up. He had barely gotten out of the coach before it pulled away. He looked around after it and then he hefted his luggage and proceeded toward the train, glancing around. Erik stepped out of the shadows slightly and motioned Raoul over. Raoul walked warily over to him.

"I'm glad you came," Erik said. Raoul nodded.

"Of course I came," he said, his eyes flicking momentarily to where he had told Gaston to hide.

"Ah, you are no doubt wondering why your marksman hasn't shot me yet." Erik said. Raoul blanched.

"how-" he began but Erik cut him off.

"He won't be shooting anyone for a while. Guns are noisy things aren't they?" Without waiting for an answer he continued. "Much too noisy. A rope, on the other hand, is silent." Raoul swallowed. "Shall we?" Asked Erik, motioning toward the train.

Raoul went ahead and gave the tickets to the conductor. The conductor had another man take them to their coach. Raoul noticed the strange look the man was giving Erik and he hastened to give him a very generous tip. Money could cloud the brain, he knew well, but it could also clear it. He prayed that the man would remember the two gentlemen, one of whom had been so generous, and mention them if the police ever asked him. Once they were at the coach Erik spoke.

"Do not disturb us," he said. The man nodded, still fingering Raoul's money. Raoul turned from surveying the coach and watched Erik close the door. As fast as lightning, Erik spun and struck Raoul across the face. Raoul stumbled back.

"Never," Erik struck him again, and Raoul fell against the wall, "disobey me." He continued.

Erik raised his hand for the third time, and Raoul flinched away. Erik grabbed him by his hair and pulled his head back so that Raoul was looking up into his eyes. "Do you understand me?" Erik hissed. Tears of pain came to Raoul's eyes. He tried to speak but nothing came out except a small whimper. Erik hit him again.

"Do you understand?" He asked. Raoul managed to choke out an affirmative answer. Erik released him, and Raoul sank down into a seat, trembling. He wiped at his eyes with his sleeve. He hated this situation. He hated being below someone he knew he should be above. Raoul blinked back more tears. Erik was watching him, and he was determined not to show how much he was hurt.

His marksman had failed, and now he was at the mercy of a masked madman. Raoul gingerly touched his face, wincing. He quickly lowered his hand when he remembered that Erik was watching.

Time had flown before, but now it seemed to creep by. After what felt like an eternity the train started and they were on their way. Raoul looked out the small window. He fidgeted and stifled a yawn. After almost an hour of sitting and staring Raoul stood.

"I'm going to walk around." he announced.

Erik didn't move but he uttered one word. "No,"

Raoul considered arguing, but his face still hurt and he thought better of it. He sighed and sat back down. Erik stared at him. Raoul squirmed. He almost commented that it was rude to stare, but he managed to hold his tongue.

After almost another hour of sitting in silence Raoul started to drift off into sleep. His eyes closed and he was lulled by the gentle swaying of the train. He had only gotten about four hours of sleep the night before, and he was soon only half awake. After ten more minutes, Raoul was sleeping peacefully.

Erik allowed himself to relax slightly after he saw that Raoul was asleep. He stared idly out the window, his mind reviewing all the plans he had made of what to do when they reached Eppienne. He glared at Raoul. It was all his fault anyway. If the idiot boy couldn't even keep track of his own fiancee...

Erik looked out the window again. It would be just as well if the boy perished in the rescue attempt. He imagined Christine's face if she knew he had died. He could see the tears running down it. Erik sighed. She didn't love him. She loved this idiot. His fingers curled around his lasso. It would be so easy, one jerk and Christine would be free to go with him. He forced his mind to remember Christine's face wet with tears. He couldn't cause her that much grief.

Soon there came a short knock. "Messieurs? Yours is the next stop." Came a voice through the door. Erik heard footsteps hurry away. He looked over at Raoul, who was still sleeping. He could fall asleep anywhere, it seemed.

"Wake up." Erik said. When Raoul merely rolled over, Erik stood and stepped across the coach. He kicked Raoul in the shin. Hard. Raoul awoke with a cry of pain. "We're here." Erik said shortly as he pulled his hood up again.

Once they were in Eppienne, there remained the problem of finding lodging. Raoul eyed the local inns with disgust. He wasn't expected to stay here, was he? Erik pointed down the street to a small inn with a white sign on which was painted a yellow lily.

"That one," he said. Raoul sighed and walked down the street to it. When he entered his impression changed. It was well lit and clean, if small. He wondered how Erik had known it would be good. He paid for three nights in advance, and then a maid showed them up to two rooms. There was one at the head of the stairs, and one a few feet farther down.

Erik immediately entered the room near the stairs and Raoul let the maid show him to his. She told him what he should order for dinner, and that if he needed anything, he should call her. She fluttered her eyelids quite obviously at him throughout this, and Raoul felt a bit uncomfortable. He thanked her politely and she blushed, moving closer to him. When he had gotten rid of her and shut his door shut he sighed with relief.

Then decided that dinner did sound appetizing, and he went over to the stairs. He walked up to Erik's door, but then decided that if he wanted dinner, he'd have to get it himself. Raoul hurried down and ordered what the maid had told him to. He was informed that it would be ready shortly, and that should he care to start with some bread, there was some freshly baked.

Raoul carried some bread up the stairs, almost drooling at the prospect of eating it. After he had finished it, he decided to unpack before his dinner arrived. Raoul opened his suit case, which he had left on the bed, and was unpleasantly surprised to find it almost empty. His clothes were no longer neatly stacked, but rumpled, and they appeared to have been stuffed into the case quite roughly. And there was no large wooden box or revolver.

Raoul stormed out into the hall and over to Erik's room. He pounded on the door and then opened it without waiting. He was brought up short by the sight of Erik calmly counting money. Raoul had known that it had been Erik who had stolen it, but he hadn't expected him to be quite so obvious about it.

"You took my money and revolver." he accused. Erik smirked.

"Obviously," he said. Raoul took a deep breath.

"I demand their return, they are my possessions and you have no right to them." Erik stood.

"Don't I?" He asked quietly. "It would seem that since I am the leader, I have rights to everything." Raoul's mouth opened of its own accord.

"Since when have you been the leader?" he heard himself ask. "Who died and made you king?"

Raoul was in shock. He hadn't just said that out loud, had he? That child's insult? Apparently he had. Erik came around the table toward him. "We established this fact a while ago," he said dangerously. "Though if you need reminding..." he trailed off, and Raoul shook his head.

"No, no," he stammered. "I - we - fine, you can keep the money." He turned, but was brought up short when he felt something wrap tightly around his neck. He tried to draw in breath, but he was unable to.

"Remember," Erik said in his ear, "to keep your hand at the level of your eyes." He released Raoul, and Raoul stumbled out into the hall, rubbing his neck. Erik's door closed sharply, and Raoul went sullenly back to his own room.

What had he meant, keep your hand at the level of your eyes? That was over, that was done. Raoul flopped down onto his bed. He had nothing to do but wait for his dinner.

For some reason, that ending sounded increadably slash to me... It's not supposed to... Sigh, I'm so mena to Rauol... sniff... poor Raoul... Yeah, that maid is pretty weird. I have no idea where she came from, but she managed to stick around...

Next chapter is... huh, I don't remember, it's been so long since I wrote it. Oh, yeah, it has the maid in it :D and Raoul gets beaten up some more. ...sigh...