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This will be the beginning of when Erik takes Christine so the next few chapters will be about why and how he took her and some back story!
Sorry for the wait! Hope you enjoy this chapter!
The day after the Opera I finally decided that enough was enough in regards to Renee. I hadn't spoken to her in weeks which was extremely unusual but she also hadn't stopped by or anything which made me worry. So I asked uncle Alexei to drive me over to her house to see if everything was okay, so that's where I am now; in the car with my uncle anxiously awaiting my arrival at Renee's. It's absurd that I'm anxious about meeting my best friend but I can't help but shake this feeling in the pit of my stomach that something's wrong.
A short while later my uncle pulled up outside Renee's house but he couldn't get to close because a van was parked outside.
A moving companies van to be exact.
I frowned and quickly thanked Alexei before getting out of the car and hurrying up the path to her house. The front door was open so I walked in to see if I could find anyone. A lot of the furniture was gone and what was left was in boxes. I couldn't see anyone I knew, just a lot of removal men.
I looked around the downstairs a bit before making my way upstairs. Renee's brother room was empty and the study was nearly empty. I made my way to Renee's room to see that it was also nearly empty. Her bed was the only major piece of furniture still there and most of her things were in boxes.
"What are you doing here?" A cold voice asked from the doorway.
I spun on my heel to see a Renee that I had never seen before. Gone was the happy light hearted girl I called a best friend, she was replaced by a glaring stone faced young girl who was staring me down.
"I couldn't get in contact with you so I came to see what was going on" I stated quickly, swallowing the lump in my throat.
"You should leave" Renee grounded out as she moved past me to move some more of her things into boxes.
"Renee what's wrong? Where are you going?" I pleaded with her, I couldn't think of what I did wrong.
"Away" Was all Renee said, her back still turned to me.
"Away where?" I questioned desperately.
"I don't know!" Renee all but screamed at me.
"What do you mean you don't know, how could you not know?"
"Because nobody told me! Nobody told me anything! I messed up and now were all in trouble!" Renee than burst into tears, sobs shaking her entire frame.
I didn't say anything else just scurried forward to hug Renee. We stood like that for a few minutes, Renee crying and me whispering in her ear that everything would be okay. Suddenly Renee pulled back and took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry" Renee uttered quietly whilst not meeting my eyes.
"It's okay Renee we all have our moments" I laughed, I wasn't going to hold a grudge just because my best friend was a little over emotional and took it out on me.
"No...I'm Sorry for everything"
"What do you mean?" I was completely confused at this point, what could Renee possibly be sorry for? Not telling me she was moving? Renee let out a shaky sigh before grabbing my hand and dragging me into the bathroom. She then locked the door and closed the window.
"They might hear something" Renee gave me a cryptic response when I once again asked her what was going on.
"It's all such a mess" Renee stated taking a deep breath.
"Do you remember the first day of school?" I nodded quickly "Well about a week before this a man who had just bought my father's company came into my father's office. He said that he knew I was going to the same school with someone he knew and that if my father wanted to keep his job that I should befriend this person. The person was you Christine. So the next week I went to school and I was in the same class as you and I worked so hard to be your friend 'cause that's what I was told to do…I know it was really odd and I didn't understand it at the time, still don't but I did what I had to…what I was told to do" Renee said, silent tears running down her cheeks.
"I don't understand, why would someone do that?" I honestly didn't know what to think; maybe Renee was lying?
"I don't know either, but sometimes my father would get messages. Sometimes it would be tickets to things that you would like to see or places you would enjoy visiting, on your birthdays it was gifts that you would love. Sometimes it would be notes advising against something…you remember last year when Julie was having that house party and we were gonna go? But then I changed my mind and told you that we shouldn't go? A note came the day before the party saying that if my father valued his job then we wouldn't be going to that party…It was always little things…little controlling things."
I just stood in silence trying to process everything that Renee was telling me.
"Then I messed it all up" Renee hissed "That day we went shopping a few weeks ago… everything was going fine until we met Raoul and his friend. I was so preoccupied with his friend that I wasn't paying much attention to you. By the time I got home my father was already fired and we were packing our things" Renee was then silent for a few long moments.
"I'm so so sorry for all this Christine. I was young and naïve when we started school and I didn't know what I was doing and by the time I did it was already too late. But I want you to know that I truly did and do consider you my friend, my best friend. All those times we laughed and even some when were cried were genuine, you were and are the greatest friend I ever had and I'm so sorry for what I've done" Renee said before bowing her head, as if she was afraid to look me in the eyes.
"I don't really understand everything at the moment but I forgive you Renee, I know you were too young to understand everything" I smiled gently at my best friend however my heart was racing and my head pounding; who was this man and what could he want with me?
Renee then proceeded to grab the sides of my face and make me look her dead in the eyes.
"Christine you need to run. I know it sounds odd and you are still taking this all in but you need to get out of here. Get as far away from Paris before it's too late because if you don't then…then it'll be too late and you'll be…stuck forever" Renee pleaded with me, begging me with her eyes.
"Calm down Renee, where would I go, I don't have any money, come on Renee calm down" I laughed slightly trying to defuse the situation.
"Don't laugh! This is serious! I know I haven't been a good honest friend but I'm trying my best to help you now! Please Christine just do yourself a favour and get out of here" Renee ordered desperately.
"Out of Where?!" I was beginning to lose my patience with Renee; she wasn't making any sense!
"Paris, France… go anywhere! You speak German go there" Renee pleaded holding onto my hands desperately.
"Renee Plea…" I was trying to calm her down but I was interrupted.
"Renee what's that noise?...Renee?" Renee's father called. His daughter gasped and looked desperately around for something.
"I'll distract him" Renee stated before moving around me and heading towards the door but before she reached it she turned back around and hugged me once more.
"I love you Christine, you the best friend I ever had and I'm so sorry for everything that I had part in…we probably won't see each other again so I want you to know how much you meant to me and that I'll always be your friend even though I'm not here… take care of yourself okay? Don't worry I'll be fine just take care of yourself okay?" Renee whispered hugging me tightly, by now we were both crying. Renee then gave me one last look before turning around and leaving the bathroom.
I heard her talking to her father, the voices gradually getting further away. When I was sure it was safe I snuck out of the bathroom and quickly made my way down the hall making sure I wasn't seen. I probably looked ridiculous peering around corners but I was just desperate to leave. As I was going out a side door I saw Renee and her father, they were packing up things in the kitchen looking miserable. I gave Renee one final look before departing, knowing that I would never see my best friend again…
I didn't want to phone my uncle Alexei because he would ask me why was there removal vans outside and I didn't want to talk about it so I decided to go and get the bus.
About five minutes later I was waiting at the bus stop thinking about what Renee had told me. I did believe her but I was still confused about what she had told me; Who was this man? What did he want with me? and how could I possibly know who he was?
As I was thinking the bus pulled up, I quickly got on and paid for my ticket. The bus was surprisingly empty with only about four people downstairs. I made my way upstairs where there was only a girl occupying the entire upper deck of the bus, she was a few years older than me, sitting near the front with her earphones in reading a book. I went towards the back of the bus and quietly sat down.
A man that had been standing at the bus stop with me also came up the stairs. He was wearing a black jacket with a grey sweatshirt and baseball cap with his head down. He made his way up the bus and sat down in the seat behind me.
As the bus drove off again I felt a hand on my shoulder and hot breath on my neck.
I froze.
"It's lovely to finally meet you Christine…I've been just dying to meet you" I then felt something sharp dig into my shoulder….
Hehe sorry for being so cruel… I promise to update really quickly.
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