I apologize for the LONG gap. Crazy to think I started this when I was 17, and am now 20. A lot has happened, and my view of the story has changed. I am eager to complete it, and expect it to take no more than five chapters. Thank you all for reading, its been a joy to write for you :)

Raoul answered the door, much to Erik's surprise. However, Raoul was more surprised and slammed the door with a gasp.

"Chagny! I need to speak to you and Christine!" Erik called from outside. "It's serious!"

"I'll call the police if you dont get the hell out of here!" Raoul shouted back.

Christine appeared in the hall, wide eyed.

"W-who is that...?" She said, leaning against the wall.

"Her life is in danger. I have a brother- ugh, just let me in so I can explain."

Christine gasped.

"Erik!"

"What he says is true." Rahim spoke up. "Mr. De Chagny, I assure you that we come in concern of Miss Daae's safety."

Raoul opened the door, stepped out and closed it behind him. Christine reached up- "Wait!" He had a pocket knife open in his hand.

Erik and Rahim stepped back. Raoul seemed taken aback by Erik's perfectly human-looking face.

"Alright- what's this business about Christine being in danger? Get it out quick."

Erik stared at him. Raoul really did love Christine.

"Its my brother. He broke out of the hospital where he was being kept." Erik said, he handed Raoul the newspaper.

"Theyve reported a long string of murders, and they're all people that Ive mentioned to my brother when I wrote to him. I know he will target Christine and perhaps you as well."

Raoul gave him an incredulous look, but read through the article. His face turned grim.

"So, what are you proposing we do about it?" Raoul said. He noticed Rahim. "Arent you the stranger who ran into the house from the street? During..."

Rahim looked at the ground. Raoul glared at Erik, who sighed.

"Monsieur de Chagny, I was utterly beyond insane during that awful incident." Erik said. "No apology will ever be sufficient, but please trust that we have the common goal of Miss Daae's happiness and safety."

Raoul nodded.

"As for Rahim Sadegh," Erik gestured to Rahim. "He is a childhood friend, and came out in concern for me and happened upon my house with timing that perhaps was fortunate for all of us." Rahim nodded to Raoul, who returned the gesture. It wasnt company for shaking hands. "Firstly, I needed you and Christine to be aware of this danger. And if anything happens, if you even suspect anything is a-miss, please, I beg you to call me at once. If you must, my home is open, as much as you wish to never step foot there again, I imagine."

"How do I know youre not making up all of this story as some lure?"

"What kind of proof would it take? Whatever has passed between us, my goal was never to harm Christine. It is for her that I am here."

"I certainly hope you dont think youre going to get to see her."

Erik grimaced.

"Whether you believe me or not, I'll do whatever it takes to keep Lysander Drice away from her." Erik's voice became quiet. "And even you, since she loves you."

Erik handed him a slip of paper. Raoul took it and looked it over.

"I'll keep your number close by." Raoul said, stepping back to the door. "Is that all?"

"Do you plan on ever returning to Europe, Chagny?"

"Why?"

"It would ease my mind if you and Christine werent in the country. I know my brother's ability to find people does have a limit, and that he doesnt have the means to leave the states. I will stop him before he acquires such means."

"I'll think about it."

They stared at each other a moment. Raoul shivered.

"Goodnight, de Chagny. Please, be vigilant." Erik reluctantly stepped back.

"Indeed. Good-night." Raoul opened the door and slipped inside, muttering "Good riddance."

He heard Erik and Rahim walk off, and noticed Christine was sitting on the floor at the side of the door, head against the wall. She looked striken.

"Oh- it was him, it was really him..." She shook her head, tears on her face.

Raoul bent down and eased her to her feet. They embraced.

"He's gone now, ma cherie."

"Is it true, what he said about his brother? Are we in danger again?" Christine looked up at him.

He kissed her.

"No, darling." Raoul led her down the hall towards their room. "He's mad Christine, surely you cant doubt that. It seems to me he'll say and do anything to weasel his way to you. No shame, that fellow..." They crawled into the bed, and he held her against himself, stroking her hair. "Do not fear, lotte-dearest, even if what he says is so, I'll guard you, always."

"So what now?" Rahim said.

"I am certain he doesnt believe me. If I were him I would think I was full of shit too."

"Erik..." Rahim objected to his profanity.

"I am also certain Christine was listening through the door. She's too curious to not have been. At least she knows... but that wont be enough." Erik led them on a stroll around where Raoul and Christine lived, observing its characteristics. "Until Lysander actually shows up, it's hard to do anything concrete other than watch everywhere, and be prepared to strike before he does- if possible."

Rahim merely nodded.

"Are you going to contact the police?"

"I dont have much faith in them. They are already looking for him."

There were a lot of trees around the apartment complex, and the sunlight cut through the leaves.

"This is terrible."

"I know." Rahim said.

"I mean- look at all this." Erik gestured around them. "All this cover- even the parking lot only has a few light posts, it must be so dark in the night." He huffed. "Do the people who live here really think theyre safe?"

"They probably dont think about it." Rahim said.

They began to walk away and back to the car. Erik had fallen quiet, and Rahim couldnt think of a thing to say. The car was chilled inside, but comfortable. Nondescript but a far cry from a cheap junk-car. Rahim stared out the window as Erik drove, watching the buildings flash by them, and the occasional pedestrian on the sidewalk. Some tall, some not so much, with long, girlish hair- or a man's shag.

"Erik, your life seems very lonely. Even when you lived back in Montana." Rahim said it just to say it. Erik snapped out of his dark reverie.

"Is that so?" He sighed. "So what of it...?"

"Why is it that you've never gotten close to anyone? In school you were popular, yet I never saw you hang out with anyone other than me..."

"Well, there's the issue with my face." Erik shrugged. "But then again- you dont mind...surely youre not the only one who wouldnt mind. But then perhaps you are."

"There must be something besides that. There are people who can look past that. At school, after that awful event- no one laughed about your face. They were sorry you were gone. They were confused and I didnt have anything to tell them. One girl told me a one of her cousins had a deformity, but didnt have a way to hide it. She said that it was really horrible what happened, but that you were still lucky."

"I dont appreciate pity."

"They liked you there! Even after you threw paint on them."

Erik let out a chuckle in spite of himself, then frowned right after.

"My face is more acceptable than being homosexual. Sad, sad. When there are such greater evils than an unconventional choice of partner..."

"What about in college- why not make friends?"

"Just developed a habit of hermit-ism, I suppose."

Rahim put his hand on Erik's shoulder.

"My friend, life is too short. Being without friends or family is no way to live."

Erik pulled up in front of his house.

"I know."

They walked up to the door and Erik paused in front of the door, and on a hunch he turned the knob without using his keys. The door opened.

"Rahim, what was the date on that newspaper?"

"It shouldve been today's paper...Erik?"

"You cant be serious." Erik pushed the door open, stepping back. "It's much too soon. Or is it?" He went down the steps, taking Rahim's arm to make him follow. They stared into the open door. "I gave Chagny the paper... Stay here." Erik ran over looking at the doors of several neighbors, and opening their mailboxes, if they had one, rather than a door flap. He walked back after checking three houses. "I cant even call Chagny for the dates...the phone is, obviously, in the house. Well- maybe the police just released the story to the press, or theyve reported it before, just not on the front page. And somehow I didnt notice..."

Erik had his hands on his hips and was staring in the ground, as if it was supposed to give him answers.

"We've got to go inside eventually." Rahim said. "We'll go back-to-back."

"Alright. Stay very close. If anything happens, let me jump into it."

They ran up the few stairs, and looked into the foyer. Standing back-to-back they entered walking somewhat sideways. They paused for Erik to shut the door. He cursed under his breath. Of all the times to not have a weapon.
Erik felt the shiver go up Rahim's back. The house was silent, and they could hear the occasional car passing outside. Rahim looked up at the ceiling and the second floor, as they moved toward the living room.

"Maybe I should check upstairs, so he cant slip out while we're both down here." Rahim said.

"Absolutely not." Erik said, in a hushed tone. "No way in hell are you leaving my sight... I left someone alone once with him in the house." He paused, shaking his head. "Never again."

They reached the first threshold, Erik quickly look beyond to see if there was anyone hiding beyond the door way. Nothing. They enter the living room. Rahim stoops to view under the furniture, Erik shook the curtains, eager to get to the kitchen so he could grab a knife.

Into the kitchen, its the first thing he goes for. They both start to ease up.

"Maybe it's nothing." Rahim said.

"We'll see."

Throughout the rest of the house, upstairs, roof, closets, even the basement, they searched meticulously. Nothing. Later when evening fell, they looked again, still nothing.

"I insist we stay in the living room tonight."

"We cant live on guard constantly, Erik." Rahim said. "I know its serious... but... we searched the house twice. Everything is locked up. I'd like to sleep in my bed."

"Then Im going to be in your room too."

"Dont tell me youre going to stay up all night?"

"How can you sleep? Knowing?" Erik fell into one of the chairs at the kitchen table, putting his head into his hands. "I dont want to sleep until he's dead."

Rahim stood beside him, patting his arm.

"Why dont you leave the country sooner? You were planning to anyway. You said yourself he's not likely to follow."
"You mean, leave tonight? Dont talk crazy."

Rahim pulled the other chair up next to Erik and sat.

"If it'll put you at peace, maybe."

"Then who will look after Christine? She'll still be within reach."

"Monsieur de Chagny will look after her. He loves her, after all. He is the one she chose. You've got to let her go."
"I dont want her to die because of me."

"Your brother is responsible for his own actions, and Monsieur de Chagny, and Christine are responsible for theirs. You warned them, that is enough. Place responsibility where it belongs."

"But I said I would do whatever it takes to keep him away from Christine. My word, Daroga."

Rahim winced. He looked into Erik's yellow eyes. One corner of Rahim's mouth pulled down and he looked at the table. His eyes were watery, yet he was far from weeping. Erik sat up.

"All there is to do is wait then." Rahim said.

Erik stood and made them both tea before retiring to Rahim's room.

"If you wont sleep I wont either."

Erik raised a brow.

"I have spent days not sleeping before. I doubt you could stick out the night."

"I'll stand and pace the room all night if I must."

"Please, Daroga. Enough."

"No. Go to bed. Youre going to die early from all this paranoia."

"Well warranted paranoia."

Erik was sitting in a wooden chair beside Rahim's bed, Rahim was sitting at the end of his bed, arms and legs crossed.

"I can be stubborn too."

Erik rolled his eyes. He stood and locked the door, and placed the chair against the door underneath the knob. Then he turned to the window and locked that, pulling the curtains shut.

"Alright. Move over." He stood by the bed, expectant.

"Ah, just like when we were schoolmates." Rahim moved to the far side of the bed.

Erik picked up the knife from the nightstand.

"I'll lie in bed, but I hope you understand that I literally cannot bear to sleep." He took a pillow and made himself comfortable on the other half, his head on the opposite end from Rahim's.

"If you say so."

Rahim turned out the light. Somehow Erik fell asleep soon after the lights went out. He mustve been more tired than he thought.

Erik's eyes snapped open. It was the kind of waking up that happens because instinctively one senses something is wrong, or is about to be. He was so cautious that he looked around with his eyes first before moving so much as his head. Something was indeed wrong. He was in the basement.