This chapter was a bit draining, but I hope it comes out well. I know the scene with Meg might seem a little irrelevant, but I wanted the two friends to see each other again. It's a bit of a break from the angst. The last third of this chapter is...not a happy one. Please continue to review, though. You wouldn't want me to get discouraged and leave the story as it is, would you? ;) Just kidding.

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Christine hung up the telephone and heavily sat down on the couch, blinking as the afternoon sunlight streamed through the dusty living room window. A musty smell still hung in the air, the result of the apartment remaining unused for over a month. The stain on the ceiling had nearly doubled in size from the growing leak. Momentarily escaping the dismal surroundings, she stared into space for several seconds, only to be brought back to reality when Raoul stood beside her. "How's it going?" he gently asked, hair still slightly damp from the shower. "Did you get any more information?"

She bit her lip and looked up. "The funeral is the day after tomorrow, but no one will tell me much more than that. Some of her relations might come by and pick up what they wanted. I don't know. I'm going to go to the funeral, check out with the landlord, and leave with my things. They can sort the rest of it out. Most of them never even visited."

"Yeah. Sounds like a good idea." He took a seat next to her. "Where do you think you're going to go afterward?" He asked the question hesitantly, unable to hide the worry in his eyes.

Christine was quiet for several moments. "I don't know right now. I'll think about it later."

Raoul frowned and looked as though he were going to say something. Maybe sensing her discomfort, he nodded and leaned back. "All right, then."

Truthfully, she had thought of nothing else all that morning and afternoon. Thoughts and questions flooded her mind while she packed boxes and organized what she could. The revelation of the night before continued to remain true, no matter how she attempted to pick it apart. Several times, Christine had started to tell Raoul that she would be returning to New York when this was all over. Running away wasn't an option. His calm blue eyes kept her silent, though. It occurred to her several times that she would likely never see her friend again. Erik would become her sole companion.

It was funny. Even after years of not seeing each other, she and Raoul had already fallen into a sort of domestic pattern. They took turns with the shower, ate breakfast at the table, and made idle comments about things like the weather or the news. She attempted to picture their lives if they were to remain together, smiling as images of children and dogs came to mind, normal things. There was a quiet and calm attraction between them that stemmed from their youth. Months ago, she would have been nothing short of thrilled to have a handsome and kind young man romantically interested in her. It was the kind of happiness that every girl wanted. Her heart had even fluttered upon first seeing him again.

And still...a reluctance to permanently part with her childhood friend lingered. Raoul would never chase her in a rage or scream at her. Raoul didn't have dark secrets behind hidden doors, and he didn't stay up late making strange phone calls. She understood him, and there was immense comfort within that fact.

Yet, her thoughts and longings remained with Erik. She couldn't pull her mind away from him, and the idea of never seeing him again was very painful. The development of her feelings had been slow, perhaps even starting when he was nothing but an ethereal voice. Of course, there had been times when she had almost despised him as well...had looked upon him in pure terror. The music had drawn them together, though. Their hours at the piano had been surreal. She had begun to feel nothing short of enthralled when they were together, particularly on the night they had attended the opera. It was a warm, dizzying sensation.

Christine even found herself missing him these last few days. True, Erik could be overbearing with his desire to please her, and she felt somewhat more relaxed without the constant gaze of the golden eyes. But she missed their voice lessons and conversations. She missed his subtle gestures, graceful stride, and almost timid touches. It felt as though a part of her were missing, as though there were a hole inside of her heart. If she were to leave Erik, would the feelings grow stronger or completely disappear?

Still, the darker facts remained. Even if she didn't want to admit it to him, Raoul had been right when he stated that she was still a prisoner. She wasn't free in every sense of the word. If she were free, Erik would have given her a choice. If she were free, she could spend time with her friend without fear. If only there wasn't fear...Of Erik's temper...Of what lay behind the mask...

"Christine?" Raoul's voice dragged her out of her confusing thoughts.

"Huh?" She looked up and gave him an apologetic smiled. "Oh. I'm sorry. I have a lot on my mind right now."

"It's fine," he gently replied. "I asked when you were meeting with Meg."

"Tomorrow." Christine fingered the white lace on the throw pillow. "She sounded kind of strange when I called. I think she's mad at me for disappearing without a word. Can't say that I blame her."

"Like I said, it wasn't your fault. You've been through a lot. I'm sure she'll understand."

"I hope so. I'm not going to be able to tell her very much." She reclined back onto the couch with a sigh. "Since when did you become so reasonable?" Christine asked with a smile. "I was always the reasonable one when we were kids."

Raoul chuckled and made a face. "I don't know. Maybe some of Phillip rubbed off on me."

She laughed. "Maybe so." He started to reach for her hand in the lightheartedness of the moment, but Christine quickly stood up from the couch. To let them go anything beyond friends right now would be bordering on cruel. "I guess we should finish packing before any of the relatives arrive. I'd like to get it done by today."

Raoul nodded. If he was disappointed by her reaction, he showed no sign "All right. Let's get to it."

"Let's."

"Are you sure you don't want to come in?" asked Christine, staring up at the two-story brick home with slight anxiety. As always, the front yard was neatly trimmed and swept of any fallen leaves. Had the weather been warmer, colorful flowers and shrubs would have decked the front yard. Meg's house always had an ideal look to it, the perfect picture of suburbia.

"Nah," he replied, putting the car into park. "You two need some time to catch up. I'll take a look around the town. There's got to be something to do around here."

"All right," she replied, knowing it was probably for the better. She looked up at the house and bit her lip, before finally opening the car door. "Here goes nothing."

"Have a good time! I'll be back in a couple of hours."

She nodded and shut the door behind her, momentarily watching as the car drove away. Pushing her hair out of her face, she began her way up the cobblestone walkway. Taking a slightly trembling hand, she rang the doorbell and heard the chime play a familiar classical melody. Hadn't Erik played that once...?

Within a couple of seconds, the door swung open, and Christine was face to face with Meg Giry. Her brunette hair was clipped shorter, with her bangs feathered around the side of her face. Other than that, she looked like the same old Meg. They stared at each other for a moment. Christine finally stepped forward and embraced her friend's shoulders. "I'm so sorry," she said, softly.

Meg slowly hugged her back. "God, Christine. At first, I thought you were mad at me over something. Then, I wondered if you'd been kidnaped! I nearly called the police!"

She drew back and shook her head. "I wanted to call you, but it was very difficult. Everything kept happening."

"But where have you been?" Meg asked, brushing away a tear and leading them into the spotless living room. "I tried calling. I looked for you at school..."

"I've been in New York," she replied, slowing forming a believable story in her mind. "In the city. I've been singing."

Meg gaped. "Really? That's great, Christine! But why didn't you at least call? Have you been with Raoul the whole time? Didn't he have a phone?"

"I couldn't call from where I was. And no. I wasn't with Raoul." She looked away from Meg's curious gaze. "I'm sorry. I can't explain everything."

"But have you been down there by yourself?" Meg asked, eyes widening.

"No. Of course not," she replied with a laugh. "Me? In the city by myself? I wouldn't survive for a day." She paused. "I stayed with my vocal instructor."

"Oh. Did she let you stay at her house, or..."

"He did," interrupted Christine, wincing as she revealed more than she had intended to.

"You're blushing," her friend stated, leaning forward excitedly. "Oh my gosh. Are you seeing someone else, then? You have a ring!"

Christine almost laughed at how simple Meg made it sound. She sighed, realizing how much she had missed her carefree friend. "No. Not really. Well...it's...complicated."

"Complicated? And you're stuttering. After you left me without a word, you better give me the details, Christine Daae."

"No. He's really helped my voice improve. I might start singing professionally. It's been amazing in some ways."

Meg rolled her eyes. "Is that really it? I mean you suddenly leave with this strange guy into the city. I've never even heard of him until now. What's his name? How old is he?"

"It's really complicated, Meg. But he...he is...older." She didn't want to give the name away. Had she not accidentally spoke Erik's name aloud weeks earlier, she wouldn't have told Raoul either.

"So..." Meg began again, getting frustrated with the lack of information. "Is he really your instructor or is there more?"

Christine stared down at the ring for several moments. "There is more," she quietly replied, more to herself than to Meg. "I think there is."

Meg smiled and hugged her. "That's great, Christine! I still wish you had let me know you were alive, but I'm happy for you. Is he here right now? Can I meet the guy who stole my best friend for a month?"

Christine buried her head into her hands, both disturbed and amused by the fact that Meg was treating Erik as though he were some older crush. But she decided to leave it at that. Why should she worry her best friend any more than she already had? Besides, she already felt better about things. What if it were that simple? She loved him. Maybe that was enough to be excited about. "He's not here right now. He's very private. But enough about that." She quickly changed the subject. "How are things here? How's school?"

Her friend looked a little peeved at the change of topic but gave in. "Things are about the same. We're doing another musical this spring. Um. I've been dating a couple of guys but nothing serious." She paused. "Oh! I know. After that one night at the theater, Charlotte changed majors. She said she never wants to act again." Meg giggled. "I think she's majoring in English."

"Poor Charlotte," replied Christine, feeling a little guilty. Everything that had happened in those months had been done in her name. Erik would truly do anything for her.

"Eh. She deserved it."

Christine smiled. "Maybe."

They chatted the rest of the afternoon over a bag of tortilla chips and a bowl of salsa. Topics ranged from school, to the death of her guardian, to the future. Meg was still considering going to Spain for a couple of months. Christine awkwardly said that she intended to continue singing, always attempting to keep the conversation away from her voice instructor. Although there was a slight tension between them, the overall mood was relaxed. For a couple of hours, Christine was partially able to forget her problems. Even if things hadn't become simpler, at least she was able to clear her mind.

"Raoul's going to be here soon," Christine stated several hours later, slowly standing up from the couch. "I guess I'd better get going."

"All right," replied Meg, with a smile. "I'll see you tomorrow at the church, then. Two o'clock?"

"Yeah. I don't know why they scheduled it so late."

"It's fine, Christine. As long as you get to say your goodbyes. I know you'll miss her."

"Yeah. I'll see you then."

"All right. Take care."

"Bye," she replied, almost wishing she didn't have to leave the comfort of her friend's home. She couldn't put this off much longer, though. It was time to face reality and to make a choice. Maybe love was enough. Maybe it was as simple as Meg made it sound even if Raoul wasn't able to understand.

Opening the door and stepping out into the afternoon sunlight, she was surprised to see Raoul standing outside next to his BMW. Even from a distance, Christine could see that his mouth was set in a grim expression. In his right hand, he held a thick, folded newspaper. "What's wrong?" she asked, jogging over. A nervous feeling settled in the pit of her stomach.

"I..." He sighed and held up the newspaper."I saw this at a gas station."

She looked down at the headlines in confusion, only seeing several articles on the economy and the Middle East. "What?"

"At the bottom."

Christine glanced down, her eyes widening in shock as they focused on the headline. "Oh my God," she whispered, reading the first few sentences. "No...It couldn't..."

"Do you think...?" Raoul began, before tapering off. "What if he...?"

"No!" she unintentionally snapped back. "I mean, I don't know. I don't know. Let's go home." Her eyes darted around the empty streets. "Let's not talk about it here."

He nodded and climbed into the car. Half in a daze, she got in on the other side, still gripping onto the newspaper. They drove back to the apartment in silence, Christine's face growing whiter by the moment. She attempted to keep her eyes away from the article, cringing each time the headline flashed into her mind.

Award-Winning Producer and Director Carl Piane Missing-Police Suspect Foul Play

Raoul finally spoke as he drove up next to the complex, keeping his voice calm. "That was the guy who came into the closet, wasn't it? The one who wanted you to audition for him. Did you know about this?"

"I..."A shiver ran through her body. The phone number! The sheet! "No," she whispered. "I didn't know anything."

"Do you think-" he again began, before Christine frantically interrupted him.

"No! We don't have any proof. Nothing! It's a coincidence. Maybe he went on vacation and didn't tell anyone or something. It could be anything!"

Raoul sighed and switched off the car, before turning around to face her. "Christine, let's think this through. A guy shows interest in your talent. You rehearse for him, and suddenly he ends up dead. And didn't you say you saw his phone number in the hidden room?"

"Well, of course Erik would have his phone number! He had to contact him. And we don't even know if Mr. Piane is dead! He's missing." She choked back a sob. "It wouldn't make any sense. Erik had no reason to..."

"Listen to me," he gently began, taking her shaking hand into his. "Please listen to me. This guy is dangerous. He doesn't need a reason to do what he does. He's a psychopath. Look at everything else he's done! Why is this any different?"

"He's not!" she protested between tears. "Erik can't be like everyone else because of his face. But he didn't have anything to do with this. You don't have any proof."

"Let me get you out of here," he whispered, staring into her glossy eyes. "Let me free you from all this. Look...if you never want to see me again after that, then fine. You know I love you, but it's not about that. I don't want to see you in the newspaper, Christine. I don't want to see you hurt!"

She took a shuddery breath. "I couldn't leave, Raoul. I can't leave him. You have to understand that...I need him. I can't leave."

"What's going to happen if you go back? I'll never see you again, right? No one will ever see you again. You'll disappear off the face of the earth. You need to get away while you still can." He gestured to the newspaper. "Before this happens..."

She stared out the window with a dull look in her eyes and her face an unhealthy shade of grey. "It would destroy him," she murmured. "And we don't have any proof."

"You need proof that he killed someone after all you saw? You saw the body, Christine. You know what he's capable of!"

"I saw a sheet..."

"In a chemical lab!"

"It wasn't a..." She tapered off, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Why would he do this? Mr. Piane was trying to help me! It doesn't make any sense."

Raoul slowly embraced her. "This isn't your fault, Christine. The fact that you're still alive is nothing short of amazing."

"We can't," she whispered into his shoulder. "It would never work."

"I've got two plane tickets on reserve," he hesitantly began. "To Seattle. The other end of the country. We can get away at least for a little while. We'll still be close enough to Canada to even leave the country. When is he coming back to get you?"

"Three days after the funeral," she numbly stated. Her heart thundered painfully inside of her chest. She couldn't think. What if Erik had killed him? What if he had? But why? Why, Erik? Raoul continued to speak to her.

"You need to go to Mrs. Valerius' funeral tomorrow. I need to run back to the city and get what I need to leave. I was in such a hurry that I forgot my driver's license!" He sighed but clenched his jaw in determination. "Phillip's going to have a fit. I need to clear some things up with him. I should probably get my passport, too, in case we need to leave the country." Raoul paused. "I don't want to leave you here alone, but bringing you back to the city might be worse. Maybe you could stay with Meg."

She could barely comprehend what he was saying, only that he meant to take her away from Erik. A cloud of confusion enveloped her mind. Nothing seemed right, anymore. What if Raoul was right? What if he was nothing but a cold-blooded killer? But Erik loved her! He would never hurt her. Right? Right? "I don't know," she whispered. "I don't know."

"After I get back from the city, I'll pick you up and drive us to the airport. We'll be gone before he ever finds out."

Christine pulled out of his embrace and looked him directly in the eye. "He'll follow, Raoul. He'll search until he finds us. Then, he'll kill you."

"Then maybe we should call the police. Get a SWAT team surrounding the area."

"No!" she angrily exclaimed. "I don't want anything like that to happen to him."

"What do you want me to do?" he asked, desperately. "You're not making any sense."

"I know!" She released a sharp sob, her face flushed and soaked with her tears. "But I do care about him. He's done so much for me."

Raoul sighed and held her. "I'm sorry. I'm scared for you. What kind of life would you live with someone like that?"

"I know," she whispered as some of Raoul's words began to make sense. "I know. It's not right. Nothing about it is right. But I don't want anything terrible to happen to him." She swallowed. "I just wish everything would be okay. Why does he have to do these things? Why Mr. Piane?"

"I don't know, Christine. I really don't."

"I don't know what to do."

"Let me get you out of here. He won't find us. The world is too big. I promise that no police will be involved." She didn't reply for several moments. "Will you at least seriously think about it? Please?"

Christine slowly nodded, knowing that she would need time alone before any of this ever made sense. "I will." She wiped her eyes. "I'm so sorry I'm being like this. I don't know what to do. Every time I make a decision, I'm afraid it's the wrong one. Nothing seems right."

"I know it doesn't. But you'll figure it out soon. We'll figure it out."

She put her head back down against the seat, staring off into the distance. "I'm scared."

"I know."

A silence passed.

"What's going to happen?"

He paused. "I'm not completely sure."

She shuddered as a draft of cold air entered the car, leading Raoul to offer those several words of comfort.

"Everything will be fine, Christine. I promise."