AN: Hello readers. Here is the next chapter. Please review.

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The crowd had been enchanted by the Phantom's music. Even Raoul had found himself drawn into the show, forgetting for a moment that he was supposed to be saving the Opera Ghost. Was this odd pull what Christine had felt back at the Opera House? Back then, he had not been focusing on the musical talent of the Phantom, merely his crazed obsession with Christine.

The sudden reveal of the man's face upset the audience when the music was over. The stark contrast from something of such beauty to something of sheer horror was overwhelming. The women screamed in fright. The men jeered. Children hid behind their mother's skirts or began crying. But not Raoul. No, he was accustomed to this shock by now. He merely focused on the man in the cage. Odd, but he could almost see how badly the crowd's reactions impacted the Opera Ghost.

"No need to fear!" called Markus, delighting in the crowd's reaction and Erik's humiliation. He would put on the show they wanted now-torturing the Devil. "He cannot harm you." He began to circle the object of his hatred, eyes flicking from the withering body to the crowd. Perhaps tonight he would be able to break the Ghost's indomitable will. Perhaps tonight he could make the beast scream.

With that thought in mind, Markus brought the whip down hard upon the Phantom's back, drawing blood once again. "The Devil should be punished," Markus stated to the crowed, his voice much to calm for the situation. "Do you not agree?"

Raoul was surprised by the crowd's reactions. Nearly all agreed with the man. They were cheering him on to torture the Phantom. How could humanity behave like this? Raoul might dislike the Opera Ghost, but he did not wish to see him tortured.

And then he remembered Madame Giry's story. The Opera Ghost had grown up in a gypsy camp. He remembered Erik speaking on his past and the tortures he had gone through as a child. The situation was starting to become worse as Raoul realized how it must be impacting the Opera Ghost. The Phantom-no, the man-was reliving the pain of the past. And all for naught. There had to be something that he could do before things got any worse.

The show was only beginning, though. Markus stopped the whipping, allowing the weapon to drop at the Devil's feet. He came to stand to Erik's right, facing the crowd. "Now, you all may have noticed our friend here has a rather deformed face." There was jeering from the crowd. Markus continued, "Now, we can see that the rest of his body is relatively normal-on the outside. I wonder, hmmm, could there be more under the skin?" He pulled out a short knife, the sharp blade gleaming in the light. "What say you, crowd? Shall I begin slicing away the lies to expose the truth?"

Raoul stood for a moment in shock as the crowd vehemently agreed. He stood frozen as the knife was dragged from the exposed skull down to Erik's chin, taking with it flesh. The pain was clear on Erik's face, but the man still did not cry out in pain. This act was becoming more and more dangerous. Markus was causing serious damage now. It was time to act.

The noble looked about the tent. There had to be something of use-something that would distract Markus and send the crowd running. Nothing seemed to stand out, until his eyes landed on a large pile of hay sitting unused in the corner of the tent. It would be easy enough the set the material ablaze. A fire would certainly get the crowd to leave. Raoul just had to make it there, as the hay was currently opposite his position in the tent.

Pain was something that Erik was accustomed to, but the torture Markus was putting him through tonight was quite different. The exposed bone had always caused him pain, but it was something that he hardly noticed any longer. To have that area aggravated was something he could hardly stand. Markus was skinning him, like a beast to feed the feast. The blade continued its dance across his face, taking more flesh with it. Oddly, Markus only harmed the deformed side of his face.

He watched as Markus paused to glower at him. Erik knew what the man wanted-to hear screams of pure agony. Still, he would not allow the man this pleasure. Perhaps tonight would be over soon. All he need do was remain silent. Markus would wear himself out. He could survive the torture to his face for a while longer.

Markus growled in annoyance and brought the blade to the Phantom's exposed chest, scraping away more skin and flesh. There was pain clear in the Devil's eyes, but still the beast would not vocalize his ache. There had to be something he could do. And then, he came up with a brilliant idea. A smile spread across his face as he turned back to address the crowd. "It would appear that the Devil is unfeeling in these more exposed areas. I wonder if it will have feeling in more…private areas."

Raoul was not focusing on what the gypsy leader was saying. He had found his way to the hay and had even managed to take some matches. He oddly wondered if the Phantom would be proud of him for pick pocketing a victim from the crowd.

He had just opened the package of matches and was ready to set the hay ablaze when an unearthly scream of agony made him freeze. He looked back at the gypsy leader and Erik. The sight was gruesome, and the screams of pain only made it worse.

Markus had torn away the slacks, exposing Erik for all to see. No one looked away, not in the least bit embarrassed to be staring at the exposed man. The crowd stood, transfixed, as Markus brought the sharp blade across the private, tender flesh. And, when the screams of agony began, the crowd only began to cheer. The Devil was finally breaking.

"God help us," Raoul muttered, before turning back to the task at hand and setting the hay on fire. He waited a moment, watching the material grow in strength. When he believed the flame to be sufficient enough, he began screaming to the crowd of the fire.

Markus saw the panic the crowd quickly turned to before noticing the burning fire in the back of his tent. He cursed; his night ruined. He had finally made the beast scream. He would have to continue this on another night. For now, he had to deal with the fire and make sure that no one was harmed. It would not bode well for him were his customers to burn alive. That would not help business. So, without a word to the chained beast, he turned and left the cage but not before stabbing the blade into the beast's arm. He didn't bother locking the cage behind himself. Who would want to save a beast?

Erik barely registered what was going on. He felt sick from the pain throughout his body. He never thought Markus would go as far as to attack his manhood. What purpose would it serve? He should not have been so stubborn. He should have vocalized the pain Markus caused from skinning his face. Now, he felt as though he were dying. And there was nothing he could do. He could make out the sounds of people screaming, someone was shouting of a fire. He had been left here, perhaps to burn alive. It would not be his first choice in how he was to die, but anything would be better than the pain he was suffering through now.

He was therefore surprised when he heard someone enter the cage behind him. Who would be trying to get him out of here? The person didn't say anything as they fumbled with the clasps about his hands. Whoever it was, they did not know which key to use. Why would Markus send someone new to retrieve his "prized possession" from the cage?

Raoul had been able to get to the cage with no one noticing him. To everyone around, he merely looked like another gypsy doing his job to save an "attraction". When he had come to the door of the cage, he was surprised to find it open. He had been more surprised to find a large key ring hanging from a post near the opening of the cage. There were many, many keys, and Raoul had no way of knowing which key would release Erik.

"What are you doing?" Erik asked, his voice weak. He hated the sound of it.

"I'm trying to help you," Raoul grunted as he finally found the correct key. As the clasps came unlocked, he watched the once strong Phantom of the Opera crumple to the floor. Clearly, the torture had impacted the man more than he had believed. As he stared down on the form for a moment of shock, he could see old and new wounds scattered across Erik's back. Some were fresh and bleeding. Others had been reopened by the sudden movement.

Erik stayed there, crumpled on the floor for a long moment before slowly forcing himself to sit up and look at the man who had saved him. Looking up and seeing the face of Raoul, dressed as a gypsy, surprised him. "What are you doing here?"

"Trying to save you," Raoul answered. He looked about the cage. "I must say, your lair back at home is much more comforting than this." He saw the man scowl at him, a look made even worse from the blood and deformed face. "Sorry, that was-"

Erik shook his head. "Just help me up," he stated while offering his hand to the man. He was weak; he had to admit that to himself. He saw the look of shock pass over the noble's face. "Yes, Markus skinned my hands on another showing. That injury may heal eventually. Stop your gawking. I've had enough of that for the time being." Emotion was coloring his voice. He needed to be freed of this place.

Raoul did as he was asked and was further surprised when Erik stumbled, being forced to latch onto him to prevent himself from falling. The once strong man had been reduced to this, a shadow of his former self. Oddly, the noble did not feel bad for the Phantom. He felt angry. He wanted to see Markus suffer for ruining this man.

Erik managed to regain his balance after a moment and stand on his own. He felt miserable. Never had he shown this sort of weakness. It likely came from being poorly fed and from all the blood loss he had suffered since coming to the gypsy camp. Worse still, he was still exposed for all to see. He made to retrieve the tattered remains of his slacks, only to nearly lose his balance again.

"I'll help you," Raoul offered, retrieving the item he had seen Erik going for. He saw the unhappy look on the man's face as he helped Erik back into the tattered remains of his clothing. A look of pain passed over the Phantom's face as the slacks were returned to their proper place. "Are you alright?" Raoul asked, watching Erik closely.

"Do I look 'alright' to you, boy?" Erik spat, turning away from the noble and trying to leave of his own accord. Once again, he lost his balance and down to the floor he went. He managed to catch himself with his hands, though that only caused the flesh to tear open and bleed anew. "Damn it!" he cursed, slamming his hand on the floor of the cage.

Raoul looked from the man, lying defeated on the floor, to the tent around him. The fire was growing worse. It appeared as though the gypsies were just going to let the fire burn itself out. Perhaps they thought letting the Opera Ghost burn alive would bring in more money. It certainly would be easier to show a burned corpse. They wouldn't have to feed it. That would be more cost effective.

God, what was he thinking? Raoul shook his head, trying to clear those thoughts from his mind. He came to Erik' side and pulled the man back to his feet. "It is time to go," he stated. He tried to keep Erik's arm over his shoulders to help with walking, but the man pulled away.

"Allow me this one dignity to walk on my own," Erik muttered, staring straight ahead at the cage's open door. He slowly made his way to it, ignoring the pain in his feet. Raoul had yet to notice the several small nails which had been impaled in his feet. The boy hadn't even seemed to notice the blade sticking in his arm. That would have to go.

Without a word, Raoul led Erik away from the burning tent and through the camp. No one noticed them, as many were distracted by the fire. The odd pair was able to slip into the near-by forest without conflict, something the noble was very grateful for.

The former Opera Ghost had continued walking for as long as he was able. He wanted to be rid of that Hell on Earth. He had no intension of going back. It was too much to bear. He finally fell to his knees as the emotional and physical turmoil of the recent time became too much for him. He ripped the blade from his arm and tossed it away. He doubled over on himself, holding himself. He allowed the torment to take hold of him finally, as cries of anguish escaped him.

Raoul didn't know what to do. They were well hidden in the forest, but it could be possible that someone would hear Erik. That was the last thing they needed. It would not be long until Markus would notice the Phantom missing. The leader would send out his men to find Erik. To be found now would spell doom. Markus would be enraged upon finding Erik had escaped. That rage could end up killing the former Opera Ghost.

The noble sat across from the man, knowing that he would need to do something to calm him. What could he do though? No words would take away what had happened to the man. He suspected that the torture only brought back memories of the other time at a gypsy camp.

He remembered back to the lair when Christine had been able to stop the Phantom's madness and anguish. She had shown him humanity, kindness. It was likely something Erik was unaccustomed to. It was all he would be able to offer the man.

Raoul pushed himself over so that he was sitting next to the tormented man. Slowly, he brought his arm around the former Opera Ghost. With a slight pull, he brought the tortured man closer to him so that he could hug him. It felt odd, hugging this man, but he was surprised at the reaction it elicited. Erik began to calm down and was soon silent.

The man had fallen asleep, Raoul realized. For now, he would have to let the Phantom sleep. It would do no good to wake the man. He would willingly wait until Erik was awake to begin setting about a plan to rescue Christine and Eloise. He could only hope that the Phantom would be willing to help and that they would be in time to save the women.

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AN: How was that? Looks like Raoul might not be such a fop after all.