A/N- So sorry it took so long for me to get this up…SAT preps and all that junk. Fun stuff, really. deep sigh But this story will go on! And people that haven't reviewed yet, I know you're out there…Review, please! It makes me want to keep going with this. This chappy is a bit dark, but oh well. Sort of angsty-fluff. This chapter definitely didn't want to come out…

Disclaimer: Don't. Own. It.

Ch 4: Jump

Christine stayed in a state of mental exhaustion for quite a while before she drifted off to a restless sleep. Images flitted across her subconscious mind, fleeting thoughts that she couldn't grab hold of. She felt as if she was at the edge of a cliff, teetering, and her grasp slipping. The voices urged her on…

Just jump…Jump…You can do it…

And she woke up confused and anxious, in a worse state than before. Hadn't she already jumped? Wasn't she staying with the Phantom of the Opera, instead of having an easy life with Raoul?

What more did she have to do?

Shaking her head, Christine swung her legs over the bed, noting that the underground house was completely silent. Not even the soft murmur of voices, perhaps Monsieur Khan and Erik arguing. Nothing.

A bit disturbed, she dressed quickly into a modest gown that hung in the wardrobe and took care of necessities, not paying much attention to her appearance. Had Nadir told Erik that she was staying, or did he leave that trying task to herself?

Barefoot, Christine slipped out of the room, wild curls falling messily off of one shoulder. She padded to her old room, where Erik was staying, and put her head near the door to listen. The steady sound of breathing reassured her, and she shifted her feet on the cold stone floor. Tentatively, she opened the door, finding the daroga in a chair near the bed, fast asleep.

The bed where Erik had slept, however, was empty. The bedspread was neatly folded and showed no sign that the masked man had been there. Frightened, Christine gently shook Nadir awake, and he stirred sleepily.

"What is it?" The Persian opened his eyes to find the girl staring fearfully at him, and he rubbed out the rest of his sleepiness. Christine wordlessly pointed to the vacated bed, and Nadir swore in Persian.

"Where could he have gone?" she whispered, afraid that he had left. No matter how much she would like to be with another, she would never forgive herself if Erik died alone.

Nadir looked grim, then purposefully stood up. "Have you checked his room yet? He could be in there."

"No, I haven't." With that, she rushed out into the hallway and towards Erik's room. At his doorway, she paused at first, then gathered up her courage and opened the door.

Erik sitting silently at the organ in the dark, head in his hands, with that dratted cat twined around his ankles. The white mask lay discarded on the floor, and it almost seemed to glow in the darkness. Christine took a step back, afraid of disturbing him, since he was obviously in a black mood. She must have made some small noise, however, because his head snapped up in instinct, mismatched eyes staring out from the deep hollows of his face.

It took a moment for him to realize who was standing there, while shock and disbelief ran across his twisted features. His gaze hardened, and his hand started clutching at the black robe draped over his lean figure.

"You foolish girl, why are you still here?" His voice was so cold that Christine feared one of his rages would be not long.

In two strides, Erik reached his mask and quickly placed it over his horrible face, coughing as he did so. Christine reached forward to try to help him, as he doubled over in pain. "Erik, let me…"

"No. Don't come any closer." He straightened up again, breathing heavily, eyes glinting. "Do you think I can't take care of myself? How touching, to be sure. I don't want you here. Erik is getting quite sick of your pity and charity, dear Christine."

The Phantom broke off, panting, as Christine cowered under his piercing gaze and harsh words. He took a step closer, his voice growing deceptively soft.

"Where is your lover, my dear? Rejected you, has he? Or perhaps he's waiting for the opportunity to finish me off, to be rid of me earlier than expected. Well, let him come! I won't be much of a challenge, right now. I insist!" He looked every inch a vengeful demon, and Christine collapsed on the floor, her resolve quickly diminishing.

"Erik, stop. How could you say that? I'm staying here, with you! You don't mean this, I know you don't…"

He continued with his ranting, ignoring the terrified girl at his feet. "He's dying, you say to yourself. He couldn't possibly do anything horrible. Why not wait until now to stay, to offer the monster a taste of what could have been….Christine! I tell you, leave now, before…"

She realized he was beyond being comforted at the moment. Oh, why hadn't she gone with safe, predictable Raoul…?

Nadir suddenly appeared in the doorway, looking hardly surprised at Erik's anger, but fearful.

"Erik! What are you doing?"

Erik switched his attention to the Persian, tearing his gaze away from Christine. "It would be in your best interest to not interfere, daroga. I'm sure you remember the last time you attempted to stop me…It didn't turn out very well, did it?"

Nadir faltered, but took a step forward. "Erik, be reasonable. The girl is here. She sent her man away, to stay down here with you. Can't you see that?"

Erik waved Nadir's accusations away with one hand. "I see nothing. I told her to go. The only thing that's keeping her here is her own damned conscience, which is sadly misleading. I can't allow her to stay. She doesn't want to stay. Can't you see that?"

Christine slowly stood up, wishing she could somehow cover her ears and shut her eyes tight, and pretend all the bad things went poof, like they did when she was younger. No one could find her in the dark, after all. But she wasn't a child anymore. There wasn't any quick solution, no Raoul to go fetch her scarf out of the sea. She was on her own now.

Christine was much smaller than both men, but she got between them, and they both fell silent. She stood on tiptoes, and put her hands on Erik's chest, to steady herself. She heard his harsh breathing, and her own heartbeat.

She only had herself. She could try to give the dying ghost some semblance of peace. No matter how angry he got, she would not flinch…

"Erik, listen to me. I will stay." Christine took a deep breath. "I want to stay. Do whatever you like to me, but I will not leave."

There. She said it. No matter that he was a different man right now. This man was unpredictable, fast and cunning even in pain. Erik, she knew, would never intentionally harm her, and yet... she had only seen his dangerous side a couple of times. Somehow, she had to find the courage to face the consequences of her decision…

Erik stared at her, still tense. He reached up to his face and took the mask off himself, then searched her face for signs of disgust. She remained perfectly calm, keeping a neutral expression.

He spoke haltingly, voice rough. "You would stay? You would willingly stay here, with the very man you despise? And you won't leave?"

"I promise I won't leave. Erik…" She chose her words carefully, knowing a little thing could set him off again.

Now he was like a child after a tantrum, demanding, repeating. "I do so hate broken promises, Christine." Erik suddenly clutched her closer, not being able to stop himself. What a cruel joke this was! He suddenly needed to be alone…he needed to think. How could he chain her down here until his death? With no one except him for company?

Now Christine watched Erik's face closely, sensing the inner turmoil he was going through. If only she could stop comparing Raoul's handsome features with the utter mockery of a face Erik was cursed with. She could hear Nadir shifting behind her; it seemed the poor man was always left in these uncomfortable positions.

"Erik. If you have quite calmed down by now, I think I will go make us some tea." The daroga eyed Erik as his breathing calmed, though he was still on edge, wound up like some fierce jungle predator. Christine was still frightened…the Erik she knew hadn't come back yet. The kind, gentle demeanor he had, that she had grown to trust and perhaps…even…No. Not right now.

Erik had released his tight grip on her, and now stood a couple paces away, still staring at her. Nadir had gone out and told them to come have some tea before it got cold. Christine cleared her throat uncomfortably, unconsciously winding a lock of hair around her finger.

"I won't break my promise, Erik." She was whispering now. "Just trust me."

"Trust you, Christine? I trusted you once." He came forward again, unable to stay away.

"I came back, didn't I? I came back, and now…and now you don't want me." She swallowed back sudden tears, remembering the last time he had said that to her.

The Phantom's voice suddenly grew possessive, a low hiss. "Don't say that." He calmed himself again, breathing deeply. "I want you to be happy. You can't be happy down here, and….I can't...

"You can't what?" Christine looked up at his face, the face that had caused so many to turn from him forever…

As an answer, he pressed his lips to hers with frightening intensity, in a fine line between passion and hate. Unlike any kiss she had ever gotten from Raoul, it took her breath away, and she stood stunned, too bewildered to respond.

Erik pulled away with a snarl, turning his back to her, and clenched his long fingers into a fist. Christine slowly brought her fingers up to her lips, recalling the onslaught of emotions he had managed to put into that one kiss…

Misreading her silence for revulsion, he crossed his arms tightly across his chest, causing another round of coughing. Unable to hold himself up, Erik sat down at the bench, refusing to look at her.

"Leave me be."

His rough voice startled Christine out of her daze, and she approached him, a bit fearfully. "Erik, tell me what's wrong, please. I said I would stay. You can't just-"

"You want to know what's wrong, my dear?" The Opera Ghost turned around to look at her, his horrifying visage twisted with self-loathing and despair. He gave a reckless laugh which turned into a loud rasping wheeze, and Christine cringed at the sound. Was it truly only yesterday that he had been calling out for someone to love him? How quickly he became the horrifying Phantom of the Opera, whose every whim was obeyed!

Erik continued, though in a softer voice. "Always so curious, aren't you? Curiosity killed the cat you know, Christine. But I will tell you what is wrong. And you will run, and you will forget your promise. So you see, I don't put much stock into promises at my age. But you must know everything! So I will tell you."

He paused, and took a quavering breath. "You never answered my question."

"I don't understand…"

Turning, he took a small box out of the drawer, and wordlessly extended his hand to her.

A gold band, set with a small crystal, rested in the black velvet. Christine gasped, and then slowly raised her brimming eyes to his face. His eyes were centered on the ring, as if he was not quite sure of what he had just done. Sensing her gaze, he gave a sardonic smile, hiding his hurt behind a mask of feigned mocking.

"Scared, Christine? I daresay this is the opportune moment to start running. You still have his ring, do you not? Waiting for me to die, I suppose. You weren't expecting this, were you?"

Numbly, Christine picked up the ring from his hand, and laid it on her palm. It was so different from Raoul's ring…this was simple, yet elegant. Raoul had bought her the biggest ruby ring, surrounded by diamonds. Well-meant, but it didn't suither as well as Erik's tasteful ring. But how could she choose? And how could she break a dying man's heart? Her tears overflowed, about the third time in two days. Crying for Erik, for her childhood friend…

"Is it that bad, to be tied to me for a while? I assure you, it wouldn't be for too long…and you said you would stay…"

The dream came back to haunt her, and she found herself repeating the words over and over in her head.

Jump…

Christine smiled through her tears, and slowly slid the ring onto her finger. The least she could do for her fallen angel would be to make him happy, help him find some joy in the world, in his final days. Never mind about herself…if she refused him, then she would truly be haunted.

"Yes, Erik. I will."

Erik froze, then lifted his shaking hand to touch the golden ring around her small finger. "What did you say?"

"I said yes. I will marry you." She couldn't manage to keep the small shiver out of her voice at those words…but she couldn't let Erik see! He needed her, right now.

So tuned in was he to her emotions, that he caught it right away. "You are frightened. Christine…I promise you…" The Phantom faltered, and closed his eyes. "I am a fool. Here, give that to me. We won't speak of it again."

Christine snatched her hand away, keeping the ring from his grasp. "Erik, no. It's fine, really. I've just…"

Nadir's voice from the main room abruptly cut into their conversation. "Erik! Mademoiselle Daaé! Am I expected to sit and talk to myself?"

Erik raised one shoulder in helplessness. "Damned Persian…"

Christine smiled, despite all her efforts. Erik saw the small quirk of her lips, and his eyes glowed in happiness. Surely that was reward enough for promising to stay down here.

He stood with a small effort, and put his mask back on gracefully. She laid her hand on his proffered arm, and she felt a small shiver go through him. She glanced at him and frowned; she could no longer tell what he was thinking. The white mask blocked all his emotions from view.

"Shall I take the ring back?" Despite the forced casualness of his query, Christine could tell his anxiety.

"No, Erik."

And so they continued on to an extremely agitated Nadir.

Finally finished this chapter...Wasn't the best, sorry. So beat me. -ducks many flying objects aimed at my head- HEY! That was hypothetical! Erik, tell them to stop!

Kay Erik: By all means, please continue.

-sigh- Muses...