Author's Note- Sorry about the long wait…swamped with homework plus slight writers block and a new video game don't help…lol. This chapter was rather difficult to write…it's kinda a transition chapter, as the story will change from what was to what might be very soon…enjoy.

Kirsten Rose- lol, yes I can! Lol…Dracula! Well…er…I'll have Erik fight him! Lol

Kristine- …haha, yes I do! Lol, not really…and, if you die, well, you won't find out what happens, will you?

Tallacus- hehe, yeah, I do actually…and your review was hilarious! I was dying laughing while I read it…and yes, Don Juan actually has a marimba solo…I find it interesting when I listen to the music that there is a percussion solo, since it kinda doesn't fit what happened around it, yet it does…

Rinny Leonhart Rikku- Hehe, you and everyone else it seems, lol…and, glad that you want more.

Cold-Blooded-Angel- Erik- chocolate! Yes…

Jen…rolls eyes and thanks for reviewing!

Phantomlover22- hehe, thanks. Marimba's are awesome, though I have come to like vibraphone a great deal. And, yes it was…since I usually suck at cliffys…

Araiona Dubois- Hehe, thank you…awe is a strong work, and I liked it

Uru- hehe, find out…thanks for reviewing.

Pulsebeat Crow- thank you for that compliment…sometimes it seems that the humor and seriousness aren't coping right to me, and I will try to fix the thing with the dialogue.

Chapter 29

Fools and Flames

Christine pulled away, and Erik looked at her, slightly confused. He smiled, then laughed happily. She HAD chosen. But, his smile soon faded. He glanced at a horror-stricken Raoul, then back at Christine. Her eyes were pleading, yet there was a hint of something else. She kissed him again, and he realized something. There was no love in that kiss. It was begging. Begging for the boy's life. He realized that Jen's kisses had held actual love. He wished, for a short moment, that he was kissing the percussionist.

Erik pulled away, almost disgusted. She was no longer his angel, she was Raoul's. It was just then he heard the sounds of the mob. "Go." He said coldly, letting go of Christine and turning to walk away. She watched, dumbfounded. Erik looked back. "Go now! Go now, and leave me!" he shouted. The mob's noise grew closer. As he entered the Louis-Philippe room, where he had his packed bag stored, he chuckled. Mobs made so much noise. They were rather pointless, as by the time they reached their quarry, it had heard them and fled long before. The Phantom grabbed his jacket that was lying on the bed and put it on, his eyes resting on the music box before him. With a sigh, he shook his head. How could he have ever thought she loved him? He was a fool.

Time seemed to stop as he watched the box though. He smiled and listened to the musical tinkling noise it made. "Masquerade…paper faces on parade…" his voice choked. The box, the song, so many memories. "Hide…your face so the…world will…never…find you…" Erik's voice trailed off as tears began to flow freely. He looked away, and saw Christine. She walked to him silently, and smiled sadly as she handed him the ring. He looked at it, then her. Wordlessly she walked away, leaving Erik alone. He sighed, then stood. When he left the room, Raoul and Christine were sailing away in his Gondola. "You alone could make my song take flight…" he said softly, tears still flowing. He loved her yet. Turning away, he grabbed the first thing he could find- a candelabra- and began smashing the mirrors. One of them lead out of his cage. Glass splinters flew through the air, but he didn't care. One sliced his arm as it soared past. Erik ignored the pain. The final mirror gave way, unlike the others, revealing a dark passage behind it. With one last look, the Phantom hefted his pack and entered.

"WAIT! Erik, wait!" A familiar voice shouted. He turned, and saw Jen standing there, soaking wet with lake water, a bag in hands. "Why are you here?"

"You know why. I'm coming with you." Jen said, moving closer. She tossed her head to get her dripping brownish-blond hair out of her face. Erik smiled, he did not know what to say. So, he simply pulled her close and kissed her. When he stepped back, Jen looked at him, wide eyed but smiling. "What…why?"

"I'm giving you a chance." He said softly. "But time grows short. We must run." Jen nodded, and the pair disappeared into the darkness of the tunnel.

XxXxXxXxX

Gabby dragged Joseph through the corridors of the Opera House, carefully avoiding the flames. They had to make it to the dorm before the fire reached it. The two flew down the halls, the fire only minutes behind. Had to make it. Waffle was there, Gabby though, and she had to save Waffle. Time seemed to stop when they finally reached the room. Gabby could see that Jen had been there and gone, the percussionist's bag and jacket were missing. "Waffle?"

Joseph quickly left the room, and went to grab some things from his own dorm down the next hallway. Gabby scrambled about, searching desperately for her cat. He was no-where to be found. Then a tiny mew came from the closet. "Waffle!" The kitten appeared, eyes glowing in the dark closet and the cellist scooped him up into her hands. "Come on, we have to go." The cat just gave her a curious look and meowed again. When she was sure she had everything, Gabby left the room and shut the door, then went to find Joseph. He was waiting at the end of the hall. "This way." Gabby nodded and followed. Soon they were back in the main entrance of the burning Opera House, the flames already beginning to consume the walls. A mob passed, and the cellists struggled to get out of it's path, but were unsuccessful. The angry crowd forced them in, and soon they found themselves heading into the darkness of the depth of the Opera House. Gabby only hoped that her friends had escaped.

XxXxXxXxX

Erik led Jen down countless corridor and passages, each darker and more mazelike than the last. The percussionist had given up on trying to figure out where they were going, it seemed like they were walking in circles to her. Erik knew the way though, she could tell. His eyes gleamed even in the darkness around them. Not glowing, like in the novel, but still visible. They ran on in silence, listening to the mob. At first, the sound of angry people had been loud, getting louder, but as they continued downwards it softened, and now it was just barely audible. It was a good thing, Jen hoped, that they could no longer be heard. She only hoped it wasn't a trick, or a trap.

"We are almost there." Erik said softly, stopping abruptly. Jen kept walking, running into him and knocking them both down. "Ouch." She muttered, her voice muffled by his chest. Erik pushed her off him gently then stood up. Jen brushed the dirt off her clothing and smiled sheepishly, though she doubted he could see it. "Sorry 'bout that…"

"Don't worry about it. This way." And with that, they were off again. Jen blinked as she thought she saw light in the distance, not believing it. Then, when it was still there, and growing closer, she smiled. They were home free- almost. The percussionist's smile faded however, as the smell of smoke filled the tunnel. Moments later, she found her self in the small chapel. It was still untouched by the relentless flames, for now, but she could smell rather than see the fire creeping closer. Erik was at the window in a flash, working at the lock so they could escape. He seemed to be having trouble. Jen glanced around the room nervously, knowing that in minutes the flames would reach them. Just as she glanced past the doorway that lead to the stairs, she saw them. "Erik!" The Phantom turned long enough to see the fire, then quickly went back to work. "It's stuck!"

"Fix it!" Jen shouted, not caring who heard. "Fix it, damn it, or we're gonna die!"

"I'm aware of that!" Erik roared back, not needing her to panic. He fumbled with the lock again, and glanced at the flames, already halfway to the chapel. With snarl he simply kicked the window, and the lock broke. Erik climbed out, then yelled to Jen. "Come on, get out here!" The percussionist turned and took a running leap, trying desperately to get away from the flames, which had already reached the room. Just as she landed in a pile of snow, outside, the window was shattered and the fire roared, sending flames and shatters of glass raining down on them.

"That….was close…" Jen panted. She crawled to Erik and they sat there for a short while, long enough only to catch their breath. "We have to move on." He said at last. Jen nodded, and stood. With that, they ran further into the night.

The percussionist didn't even notice the cold while they fled, despite the snow that fluttered about them. Erik grabbed her hand and lead her onward. She could only hope he had a plan. Hours seemed to pass, and eventually Jen felt she could run no longer. Her legs and chest burned from the sprinting, and she collapsed, limbs like jello, and couldn't bring her self to get up. Erik noticed and scooped her up, holding her close while running onward. He had to find somewhere safe for now. A dark alleyway came into view, and he ran toward it. It would do for now. Panting and exhausted, Erik slowed and halted. Jen groaned and he set her down, then sat beside her.

"It's cold." Jen muttered tiredly. He noticed that she only had a jacket on over her outfit. "Come here." She did as told, and curled up beside him. "Sleep while you can." He murmured, wrapping an arm and his cape around her. Jen nodded weakly and closed her eyes. It was cold, but she felt warm and safe in Erik's arms. He would get them out of this, he would keep them alive. Slowly she fell into a restless sleep.

Author's Note- Alright, here we go…hopefully I will get another update up soon…