I'm very sorry for the long wait. This campground has an internet cafe and I've been going kayaking and all that jazz along with meeting a few French people. I happen to speak a little French and I was speaking with a dude... and his name was something like Raoul. Haha. It was awesome. Anyways, here's another chapter, of course, and I'm thinking of ways to make this story longer for I really don't want to stop. The updates will become much slower because I'll be going to band camp all day after I get back from this vacation, but I'll try to make sure that I update at least twice a week. I'm sorry for those who adore the quick updates, but I actually will have a life soon!

Tell me what you think, as usual.
With love,
~The Phantom's Flutist~

Chapter 28:

Disbelief

He was an addict. Well... that's what he told me plainly and sincerely. Honestly, it's not surprising, and he was thrilled to know that I could have already guessed if something more lead to it. Morphine... not something to smoke or something impeccably disgusting as that... well, he did that before I was around, anyway. The man has so many issues and went through so many things that I could have easily spotted that he would want to forget with some kind of drug like that. Not only was he addicted... the shameful part of it was that it was the very cause of these attacks that might very well kill him if he wasn't so strong. At least he wasn't smiling when he said these words, as I stood dumbfounded, he was on the verge of crying, I'm sure.

I didn't know what to say, honestly. What do you say in a time like this, anyway? I blinked at him a few times, my arms still crossed across my chest and I was breathing unevenly.

"You wanted the answer," He accused dryly. I nodded, and huffed, feeling drastically upset.

"Then you have to stop it then," I burst out angrily. "You can't leave me! You can't... just... kill yourself! No..." I took him in my arms, and let it out into his white shirt, and he was seemed quite surprised by my upset.

"Christine-" He began quietly, rubbing his hand in circles on my back, "There's a reason why it's an addiction, dear.."

"But... Erik..." I moaned into his shoulder.

"I can't stop... it will only make matters worse..." he answered breathlessly and I almost forgot that he was so fragile right now, I lightened my grip around his neck.

"Then... then there's something I can do, something..."

"There's nothing," He replied shamefully. "You... you want to be with your boy... You don't need Erik any longer..."

I looked up to him in disbelief... that's what he really thought? After all of this?

"No... I want you... I want to be with you... I don't want to say goodbye! Don't you see?" I cried, feeling my cheeks hot from the tears. "I hate saying goodbye... I hate leaving people I love... I won't let you slip away from me as well... not if I can help prevent it!"

"You..." He began breathlessly. "You... mean it... you mean what you say... then? After all I've done to you... And..." He shook his head.

"Of course I mean it... I don't want you to go..." I said, furrowing my brow.

"I meant-" He added.

"What?" I interrupted tensely.

"The other thing-" What other thing...? What was he getting at? I looked into his golden eyes that were glistening filled with hope and longing... another one of these prying things, but this obviously meant a lot. I looked back through what I said and then blinked at him, knowing the one single word that he was listening for. I made my mouth in an "o" shape, feeling stupid.

"You meant it?" He pressed further dully, seeing my realization.

Did I love Erik? Not the same way as Raoul, though, right? I mean... if anything I probably just fell in love... when I was deprived of him for such a long time... And here I am begging him not to leave me. This was obviously an awkward position, but what else did I feel for him? He's been waiting for this for such a long time... and his excitement for human contact... well, for mine in particular. I looked at him with my eyes wide, and nodded my head in the positive. Didn't I think this before, anyway? I thought he lulled me into it with his voice, but... he denied it... was it real the entire time, then? What he's given to me, what he's offered, who he is... Music incarnate. I love music, Erik is music... Then I love Erik. It made perfect logic!

Before I said anything more, I was pulled into an even tighter embrace. Uncomfortable to begin with, for he wasn't the most comfortable thing to be pulled up against for he was rather bony. He was crying, I knew it for I felt warm tears that weren't my own roll down my cheek and down my neck from his mask. It felt right, for once, it felt extraordinary. He didn't have more to say, and neither did I. Has anyone ever even loved Erik the way I did? Possibly not. Poor Erik...

"My mother never loved me..." He whispered into my hair just soft enough that I could hear his cry in my ear. "Oh, Christine... I've... never... ever been happier then I am right now... do you know that? I could go to Hell and smile..." That torn my heart into shreds, as I felt it melt through my chest and into the floor, like glass shattering. I felt needed for once... needed completely and intimately.

"This is why you can't die..." I mentioned into his shoulder, not able to move necessarily. He coughed dryly, and sounded like he was laughing almost.

"Never," He chuckled happily, sounding very giddy.

"Um..." I began, seeing that my air was almost being cut off by his arm around my neck, "Um... Erik... Could... you possibly let go, actually... it's not the most comfortable position ever... Just wondering." I chided into his shoulder.

"I'll never let go," He hinted once more, but lightly this time.

"Well, no... but right now... you see-" I began, and he laughed again, how I always loved his laugh, and loosened his grip so I could slip out of his arms and face him entirely. Well, face the mask at least.

"What would you like to do today, Christine? Anything? Everything? I could sign that contract and give you the world today, if you want..." He meant it comically, of course, but I couldn't let his glee down right now so I smiled to him, and shrugged.

"Shouldn't you be resting?"

"I don't give a damn," He cited briskly. "At the moment, I'm sure I could live through a thousand deaths for I have a reason to live."

"But-"

"You shouldn't worry so much," He laughed and I pressed my lips firmly together. He coughed and then shook his head, "Never mind, love..." He sighed, and coughed again.

"Do you need a drink?" I implored, and he shook his head in the negative while I stayed ready to do whatever.

"In truth, we should stay here... but you could sing if you want... go out for a walk... anything here..."

"Singing would be nice," I answered quietly, nodding.

"Very well," He answered, and got up unsteadily. I grabbed his hand to help him get out of the couch, and he took it firmly and led me to the familiar music room and to the piano bench and I stood near it as usual, waiting. It took him a second to speak again, looking at the keys serenely.

"This might sound strange... but you were humming something earlier." He noted, "I happened to listen in... Could you enlighten me, possibly, on how it played out?" He asked timidly, signaling to the ivory keys

I furrowed my brow, "It was just something my dad... composed once. I think it was the only thing he ever composed really... It's nothing..."

"But it is something..." He pressed speculatively. "Could you possibly play it for me, then? I'm sure you remember it after all this time. You once said you played the piano, did you not?"

"I taught myself," I added nervously.

"Oh, come... no need to be nervous, I'm not going to push you or anything, and I won't criticize." He begged now, of course, because it was always his second resort. I looked at him, then to the beautiful grand piano that was being offered for me to play. I nodded slowly, and he scooted aside, leaving me room to sit.

I ran a scale over my fingers with both hands, before looking to him wonderingly, watching me intently. I straightened my back, and pushed the right pedal and began to start the tune, but end on the wrong note. I felt myself redden from embarrassment, for he was the best musician I've ever known, and I felt so stupid and small trying to play for him.

"You can try again," He pressed not noticing my blaring red face. I nodded and spread my hand over the chord and the beginning note. I started playing the tune, remembering every detail with strange recollection. Thank God it was simply short, for I think I'd have messed up even more of it in the great musician's eyes. I usually had to skip the chords my fingers couldn't stretch out to with their unusual shortness.

I finished it after what seemed like an eternity, and looked back to him, still sitting there, thinking to himself.

"I'm guessing you can't reach all the necessary chords." He noted blankly, and I nodded again.

"I don't... really have long fingers and I never have..." I said awkwardly.

"It was good, Christine, you shouldn't criticize yourself so harshly..."

I looked to my hands, taking them off of his piano and into my lap. "But... if you'd like to know, you don't have to rearrange your father's work, but for learning purposes, for your fingers to fit, you could play this chord," He leaned over, and played a similar chord on the piano, and lightly touched my hand to bring it over the selected ivory keys, his touch bringing chills through my arm once more for some odd reason. It's like every time he touches me in the most lightest way, my body becomes a live wire, becomes so applicable to my walls tearing down... how could he make me so vulnerable?

He obviously saw my stiffness and took his hand away for me to take in where the keys were. "Are you alright?" He asked tenderly, and I found him speaking through my hair again.

I nodded reluctantly, shaking it out and looked back to him, waiting purposefully. "I'm fine," I confided quietly.

"You look faint again. Are you sure you're fine?" He asked, sounding worried.

"Erik," I started, smiling at his worry taking on all of a sudden. "All you need to be worrying about is yourself." I hinted furrowing my brow. "And I'll be perfectly fine as long as you are. Get it?" I asked impatiently.

He sighed, and then asked me what I'd like to sing and I picked a duet from Faust, which, I think, was Erik's favorite opera. It was usually a trio when performed but easily transposed into a love-stricken duet between Faust and Marguerite, one trying in vain for the affections of the other.

I sang the duet with him, almost perfectly matched, and almost always in tune, and I was in utmost peace until the piano stopped playing and he stopped singing. That triggered the same effect as I, and I cocked my head around to hear a door being banged on loudly. My heart dropped into the pit of my stomach when I looked to the scornfully angered Erik, the piano bench falling from behind and I quickly got out of the way before it fell on my foot. He launched for my arm, and dragged me out of the room to the living room and told me scornfully to go to my room. I was in no position as to rebel, so I did so, and ran up the stairs, my feet almost giving way from underneath.

I heard two voices, one very familiar and obviously very much so angered, and I heard Erik's, not speaking in another language. I heard my name several times, but I couldn't make out the brutal argument between the stranger and Erik.

My heart beat against my chest, hoping he wouldn't go into another attack from being overworked like so. The two voices were suddenly calmer after what seemed like hours, as I leaned up against the door to my room, pressing my ear hopelessly to the door.

I heard my name now being called fetchingly, and I shakily came to my feet, brushing myself off, taking on a sweatshirt before heading downstairs to the two men who were just fighting.

The Persian man was there again, and looked very tired and exhausted, and Erik was looking to me with unreadable eyes, half filled with hope and some other thing that I couldn't entirely make out through that mask.

I pressed my lips tightly together looking at the both of them back and forth, embarrassingly nervous. What did he want?

"Christine, come here." Said Erik imploringly, and gently grabbed both of my hands and entwined them with his own, taking them firmly as if the Persian man might take me out of his hold.

"What is it?" I asked impatiently, feeling the stress take the better of me.

"You are here out of your own wishes, correct?" Erik asked me, looking down, dreadfully worried.

"Yes," I replied shortly.

"I told you that you could leave me whenever you wanted, correct?" Well, no... but now that you put it this way... With the brooding man looked to me with curious eyes, and I felt like I was being examined once more under an x-ray.

"Yes," I replied once more.

"You love your Erik, do you not?"

"Yes, Erik... why are we going through this again?" I asked, looking to him annoyed that he wouldn't tell me what was going on.

"See, Daroga? Is it so inevitable that I would not be loved? She's here of her own accord..." He spoke like I wasn't there, like I was a pet. I grimaced at him and it seemed to give off the wrong idea to the other man.

"What makes me think you're not forcing her to say these things? She looks pained, Erik." He demanded coldly.

"She saved your skin! Both of your skins because she loves me! She came to me!" He hissed at the other man, letting my hands go.

He brooded for a second, indifferent to Erik's fierce range, and simply looked to me with his dark, deep-set eyes. "Back off, Erik," He demanded for a change. I think those words were the coldest I've ever heard. "Let me speak to her alone, where you cannot influence her." He pressed briskly, and looked away from me and to Erik who was very much so taller than him. It was a strange "partnership".

I looked to Erik who lightened his expression to something vague and unnameable. He didn't trust me...he thought I would leave him after all this time. Erik, without any other word, swiftly pivoted simply on his foot and walked out as if he was utterly sure of himself, yet betrayed by his eyes that we could no longer see. As soon as Erik was completely away I looked to the Persian and blinked a few times waiting for him to say something.

"Is it true what he says, miss?" He asked conversationally and very quietly. "I can get you out of this if you would like."

I considered it for the slightest second. I would give anything to be relieved from this horrible pain that I had from having Erik leave me again, to see someone that could make me forget, but even Raoul wasn't capable of that healing.

"I need to stay here... You see, Erik's very sick and I need to help him as much as I can... it would be very wrong for me to leave him now." I said in a business-like fashion, feeling like I was dealing out a few things.

"You don't need to... Miss Daae, if you ever need to leave I will be here. Mr. Chagny would very much like to see you."

"Raoul...?" I breathed, keeping the same whisper as he mentioned his name. I stiffened my back, my eyes were becoming wider, "Is he alright?"

"He's not doing so well, I'm very sorry to say." He shook his head, "He's been asking for you ever since he woke up last night. I've been trying very hard to keep the press away, and it seems to be working for a while, but I cannot keep them off long. They're like sharks, you see..." He sighed.

I felt my heart become hurt drastically, torn in the most horrible ways. "I need to see him again," I whispered softly, feeling tears come to my eyes. "I love him as well, you see... I don't want to hurt Erik more than I already have."

"Miss Daae-"

"You can call me Christine, please," I interrupted.

"Very well, Christine, it should not matter right now. If you wish to see Mr. Chagny then I might be able to get you to him while holding Erik off." He explained nonchalantly.

"He would be very angry..." I whispered, feeling myself go blank. "I don't know..."

"He must see reason, then." The Persian pressed even further.

"When could I go?" I asked, looking to him, remembering my statement about always making Erik very mad... I never cared until his rage

"Within the week." He promised sincerely and I nodded and smiled a little.

"Thank you-"

"You can call me Nadir," He nodded.

"Nadir, then... thank you very much."

"Very well, Erik," Nadir said loudly probably already knowing that he was listening intently, therefore we spoke very softly in hope he doesn't overhear. I don't know if he did or not, for he didn't show it when he walked back into the room, looking at me directly I shrunk away, clasping my arms across my chest.

"I will still be keeping an eye on you, Erik..." Nadir hinted coldly, looking to him who didn't even care to look back, though he glared while looking at me, I think. I held onto the cushion of the couch tensely, but gave the appearance that I wasn't tense at all. It was like he could see right through me... read me like a book.

"Erik?" Nadir asked again. I had to pull my hair over my shoulder to block his direct gaze.

"Yes, Nadir, now leave." He demanded.

"You can't keep her here all this time, Erik, she has a school to attend and people who miss her," Nadir went on despite Erik's murderous words.

"I will keep what is mine..." He hissed, "For she loves me and would not leave even after I gave her away," He replied hotly, but even more full-heartedly. I clearly had no say in this debate, so sat back once Erik tore his gaze off of me. "Now leave before I kick you out of my home personally."

He looked to Erik in disbelief and pivoted on his foot and left, still not losing his dignity in the slightest. He was the only person I ever seen act to Erik so indifferently along with the threats and angry words that seemed to always plague the poor man who is acclaimed "friends" with him. I guess there was more of an explanation at hand, but I didn't bother to ask.

"You won't leave your Erik... right?" He wasn't sure, of course. I had to lie, though, I had to be sure that I can persuade him personally before betraying him. He can't be all worked up in his condition.

"No, I told you this." I replied begrudgingly, lying was always something I could easily do with Erik for he almost believed every word I ever said for it was I who said it. "I'm not going to leave." This was a horrible lie, for when he finds out... he'll be so angry and then he could have an attack... which is much worse than right now. I changed my mind directly, and looked down to my hands.

"Very well," He replied, for it seemed he wasn't exactly buying at the same time, either. It was silence between us both, and seeming like a kicked puppy, he stalked to the chair across from where I sat, and looked at me with something once more unreadable in his eyes. I opened my mouth several times before actually speaking.

"I.. I was lying..." I whispered so softly I was surprised that he reacted. "I don't want to hurt you again and again... He said that Raoul has been calling for me ever since he woke up and isn't doing so well and told me he could take me to him if I wanted..." I whispered, and leaned my head further down feeling like I was about to be slapped

He was silent, and I looked up, expecting a harsh outburst instantly, but it was a cross between disbelief and restraint.

"Please say something," I replied, furrowing my brow, looking up.

"You wish to see him, do you not?" He questioned shortly. I nodded slowly. "I trust you this time, Christine, to return to me."

I nodded again, "I will," I said sincerely.

"Do not lie to me again." He stated coming closer to me, and kneeling down, taking my hands into his once more. "Will you promise to be truthful to me?"

"As long as you will be the same to me, Erik."

It took him a second before he answered, "To some extent, Christine, you shouldn't want to hear it."

"But if it's the truth then it might as well be heard. You hide your face... that's dishonest enough." I said slowly. "Besides, you wouldn't want to hear my truth, either."

He took it in, still clasping onto my hands. "I will try," He promised, nodding, taking his mask up to reveal his lips, and pressed them against both of my hands and pulled away, leaving the plain golden ring that I had before on my left hand.

"Don't think much upon it, Christine, but this is just a promise... That you will return..."

I looked to the ring and then to him again, "Yes, Erik."