A/N: Thanks for all of the reviews. Took longer than I wanted to get this chapter up but hey it is way longer than any chapter I have ever written.
Disclaimer: Do not own any of the characters, except the crazy mad man and the meek girl.
Courage
Corbin touched his face to assess the damage done. It hurt but he did not let the pain show on his face, just his irritation. Christine Daae would pay for this.
He had thought about killing the child the minute she started being difficult but he concluded, it would ruin the fun later on. Corbin was a patient man and no one would deny him any part of his pleasure, even if that meant putting up with annoying brats for an extended period of time.
"Since Christine has decided to step forward and interfere with my time, I think it is her turn to participate more. " Corbin said folding his arms across his chest. He glanced at Christine and noted her chin held up high. He chuckled to himself, such a pretentious show of bravery that meant nothing. He knew that she thought he would continue the torture with her and therefore prevent the monster from any physical pain but Corbin did not work that way, most of the time.
"Claude," he said slowly, "go and get my whip."
"Yes, sir" Corbin smirked as Claude left the room quickly. There was no hesitation and Corbin preferred it that way. He prided himself on loyalty. He trusted each of his men, not explicitly but he knew that they would never betray him. He always chose men with little or no morals. Some had escaped prison, others he was blackmailing. He found that he could get anyone to do anything for him if he had the right leverage. Of course, he paid his men as well and provided for them. He was brutal some of the time but mostly it was the threats and the knowledge of what he was capable of that kept his men in check.
Corbin turned to Erik, pleased to see he had slumped in his chains. He had expected the monster before him to be more cold hearted and tough. It seems he had grown soft and even more revolting over the years. He never would have expected the Phantom of the Opera to be married with a child. It was sickening. That thing trying to pretend it was normal. He never would have guessed that someone would willingly be bound to that thing! And to top it all off the blasted woman actually seemed to have feelings for the demon, it was repulsive.
Things like it deserved to die. Corbin wouldn't be surprised if someone had attempted to kill him at birth, he would have. He figured he was doing the world a favor by ridding this filth from its surface and whatever it had contaminated.
"Just let Christine and Amanda go McClendon" Erik spoke up.
Corbin laughed, "Still pleading? I thought you would have given up by now and just accept your fate."
Claude returned cutting their conversation short. He handed Corbin the whip and flashed him a toothless smile before standing back to watch. Corbin gripped the whip firmly; he could already imagine the damage he could do with this weapon.
It was his favorite whip, though not the longest one he possessed. It was a cat o'nine tails with a few modifications. Corbin had fashioned the leather to hold glass particles throughout the ends. It had taken some time to get the glass to stay in for long periods of time. Usually they would end up in the victims back or chest. Now most of the glass just shredded the skin instead of sticking in it, of course it wasn't perfect so who knew what would stay imbedded in the skin now.
"Would you like to give this a little try Erik?" Corbin sneered walking over to where he was chained, "I hear that you had a fondness of Punjab lassos. I, however, do not. I find myself more of a whip person myself. Lets see if I can convert you, shall I?"
Corbin smile grew wider as he heard the pleading of Christine now; it seems she finally figured out what he was referring to earlier.
With practiced grace, Corbin flicked the whip and relished in the feel of it coming in contact with human flesh. Erik hissed in pain as some of his skin was ripped from his chest. Corbin frowned.
"What? No cries this time Phantom? Perhaps I didn't use enough force!"
Corbin brought the whip down again, this time using his whole arm. Once again it only produced a hiss. Erik glared at Corbin, defiant. He was pleased to note that Erik had started to sweat and was panting a little.
Corbin gritted his teeth and began to whip Erik furiously till he was out of breath himself, but not once did the bloody monster scream. He moaned and grunted but no pleading had escaped from his lips. Erik's head had drooped but Corbin knew that he was not unconscious. He stood there for a moment catching his breath as blood dripped from the whip and onto the floor.
"You are being most uncooperative. Your wife has more courtesy than you. She screams and pleads when I want her to." He dropped the whip and walked to where Russell and Joseph were holding a sobbing Christine. The minute he got closer she lifted her chin once more and tried to cease her incessant sobbing.
"Tell me Erik, has your wife ever been with another man?" The reaction was almost instantaneous. Erik's head shot up and he turned a few shades paler. Corbin laughed and turned back Christine.
"She is a beauty—so delicate," he said running his finger down her cheek. Christine turned her head sharply causing Corbin to laugh. His men were chuckling as well. Without warning Corbin grabbed both sides of her faced and forced his lips upon her own.
She struggled against the two men but to no avail. Corbin released her and turned to Erik who was fighting against his chains.
"McClendon, you bastard! You touch her again and I'll—"
"You'll what?" Corbin mocked interrupting him. "Haunt me all of my life," he laughed at his own joke. "Your threats are meaningless."
Erik growled and gave up struggling. Corbin smirked and turned back to Christine.
"Would you like to watch Erik, while I take possession of your wife?" Corbin listened as Erik began to fight again. Within seconds the fighting stopped and a new sound was heard, crying. Corbin turned, pleased to find the monster sobbing.
"P-please, you want me to scream? Just don't…just let her go and I promise I will be the perfect torture victim. I will scream and plead, just leave her alone. Please, please."
Corbin shook his head, thoroughly enjoying himself. "Why should I stop now? You are already screaming and pleading." Erik's crying was joined by Christine. "You really are pathetic. Do you think I would stoop that low?" Corbin glared at Erik "I would never touch anything that your filthy hands have touched."
Erik looked up at Corbin and a flicker of hope crossed his face. Corbin's smile grew wider, "However, that doesn't mean my men care about such things."
Corbin turned away from Erik just as he heard him struggling against his chains. He expected more shouts and pleading but it was a woman's voice he heard instead.
"You are a monster!" Corbin turned to Christine and made a mock bow. His men continued to laugh, eyeing Christine more carefully now that Corbin practically offered her to them.
"I hear that so often my dear. But really I should be thanked. I am doing the world a favor by ridding it of this thing and its family. I am a savior." Corbin started laughing again and walked over to his discarded whip. "Now that we have that cleared up, why don't you be more cooperative Erik."
-o-
Bedelia crept quickly down the darkened hallway. It was past midnight and almost everyone was asleep. Bedelia had sat in her room hours after they had brought the little girl back thinking about what she should do. She knew that it was up to her to change the outcome of this family, only she could help now.
However, now that she had actually left her room she felt like throwing up. Her hands were shaking and she could swear that her heart was pounding loud enough to wake everyone in a ten block radius. She was crazy, perhaps suicidal for trying anything. She should have turned her back and shut herself in her room like always.
Unfortunately, unlike all the other times there was a small child in her room. A little girl who needed her help. She would most likely still be huddled in her room thinking about how she should be out of it helping if it hadn't been for the sweet girl.
When they had brought her back to the room she was hysterical, screaming to be brought back to her parents. Bedelia had finally managed to stop her screaming but not the crying until she gave her a doll.
"Please won't you stop crying," Bedelia whispered kneeling on the floor beside the girl.
"What for? My mommy and papa need my help. They can't get out by themselves."
Bedelia smiled faintly, thinking that this girl could do no better than adults. "Just don't cry anymore. Here, take this." Bedelia reached under her pillow and pulled out her old doll. She didn't know why she had kept it. She just couldn't part with something that had once belonged to her in the past. The girl took the doll and wiped her eyes clutching it to her chest.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"What is your name?"
"Amanda"
"That is a lovely name. My name is Bedelia."
Amanda gave her a small smile. "Could you help my parents, Bedelia?"
Bedelia's eyes widened, "Oh…well I don't know. I mean, I just don't think I can."
"Why not? You are bigger than me and you are nice and not mean like those other men. And the evil men trust you too so that is a good advantage."
"It is not that simple," she said softly playing with her apron. "I am afraid of them."
Amanda reached over and took her hand in her own small one. "It's alright. You can be scared. My papa says that everyone gets scared, you just have to be strong and not let it show then you can beat your enemy."
Bedelia smiled and blinked back the on coming tears. She was the one that was supposed to be comforting the child not the other way around. "I was never very strong either."
Amanda nodded her head and laid down on the bed still holding her hand. "Me neither, I'm just so frightened. I've got to do something."
Tears started to spring to her eyes again and Bedelia joined her on the bed wrapping her arms around the girl.
"It's ok. Everything will turn out alright." Bedelia said softly. She closed her eyes and wanted to disappear. Why was she filling this girl's head with lies? How would everything be ok? She held Amanda until she knew for certain that she was asleep. She marveled how very manipulative the child could be.
After that Bedelia decided that she needed to be strong. If not for herself then for the daughter of the opera singer she once admired. She had promised Christine that she would help but hadn't really expected to get so involved.
After talking to Amanda it had taken a while to build up that strength she did not possess. Now that she was in the hallway she could feel what little courage she had quickly dwindling. She rounded the corner and stopped, keeping to the shadows.
She stared at the guard at the other end of the corridor. It was either now or never, she concluded. She clutched the bottle of brandy more firmly in her hands and stepped into the light feeling her heart start to beat wildly. She tried not to show how terrified she was but found that every part of her body was shaking. She wouldn't be surprised if her hair was shaking like the rest of her. The man turned to her and she thought she recognized him as Andrew but couldn't be certain, the faces ran together most of the time. She always tried to keep her distance from everyone and her eyes on the ground.
"What are you doing here?" he asked gruffly.
Bedelia made a little squeaking noise instead of speaking. Clearing her throat she tried again. "I, uh," she fumbled for the right words feeling her hands claming up. "Here," she said finally shoving the bottle forward. She didn't raise her eyes and held her breath. He took the offered bottle and stared at her, puzzled.
"What's this for?"
She chanced a quick glance at his face before looking to the floor again. "Corbin asked me to give everyone some for their good work." She closed her eyes hoping that her lie sounded believable enough even though her voice was shaking.
The man grunted seeming to accept this and immediately opened the bottle and began drinking it. Bedelia glanced at him quickly before rushing down the hall. Only until she was around the corner did she stop to peek around the wall and watch. She had found a bottle of poison a few years back and had saved it for herself. Often times she had felt like quitting her life early but could never stomach enough courage to kill herself.
It didn't take long for the man to groan and clutch his stomach. He gave one glance in the direction that Bedelia disappeared to before falling to the floor with a thud. Bedelia gasped and waited a few more seconds before returning to the fallen man.
She looked at the crumpled man for a few moments, shocked that he was dead. Of course that had been her plan she just didn't think it would work. A large part of her wished that it wouldn't work. She chided herself for wishing that, it just would have been the perfect excuse for not following through with this death plan.
She felt bile rise up in her throat. She looked away quickly. She had just killed a man. She closed her eyes and slowly counted to ten concentrating on her breathing. She willed herself not to think about it. He was just sleeping she told herself. Once her emotions were more under control she turned back to the fallen man.
Careful not to touch the man she found the keys on his body and took them slowly from his belt. She kept her eyes trained on his face, watching for any signs of movement. She feared that he would suddenly spring and grab her even though he was dead. Her heart was racing by the time she got the keys from him. She stood up and hurried to the door, hoping that most the men were either gone or sleeping. Her hands were shaking so badly that she couldn't get the key into the lock. Bedelia dropped her hands to her sides and took several shaky breaths.
"For Amanda, for Amanda," she repeated to herself, picturing the sweet child in her head. Finding a small grain of courage she tried the lock again. Her hands were still shaking but not enough to prevent her from opening the door. She smiled triumphantly as the door swung open. Step one complete.
She stepped into the dark room and waited for her eyes to adjust. The torches had either been removed or had just gone out. "Monsieur Raoul?" she called to the dark. She saw his sleeping form on the far right side of the wall, on top of the straw. She hurried to his side and knelt beside him. She tapped him on the shoulder and called his name again. "Monsieur Raoul, please wake up I need your help."
Raoul groaned and opened his eyes. "Bedelia?"
She smiled, "Yes, you remembered me."
"Of course I did."
Bedelia blushed slightly, grateful for the darkness. "You need to get up. I need your help."
"What?"
"We are going to save Christine and the Phantom." Bedelia said excitedly. She felt a little adrenaline rush and felt a little more confident now that she was no longer alone.
"I don't know how I will be of any help. I can barely stand Bedelia." He said groggily.
She frowned; she had almost forgotten that he had been beaten excessively. She cursed her stupidity, how could she forget that important factor. She was so certain that once she got Raoul out he would do all the rest but he was just as useless as her.
"But you have to," she whispered her voice cracking slightly. "I can't do this by myself."
She waited for him to respond but no sound came. She made motions to stand but was stopped by Raoul. He grabbed her wrist forcing her to stay.
"Wait." He said, his voice breathy, "I will help as best I can. What is the plan?"
"Uh, well, I hadn't really thought that far," she said sheepishly. She really was an idiot.
Raoul laughed faintly and then regretted it, since it sent spasms of pain coursing through his chest. "You are a peculiar woman, Bedelia. How many of McClendon's men are awake?"
"Uh," she groaned inwardly and closed her eyes. "I don't know."
"Hmm right. Well do you have any weapons handy?"
"Yes! Poison," she said excitedly glad that she had something. She reached into her dress to pull out the bottle. It was then that she remembered that there was no more left. She bowed her head and began to cry. "No, I'm s-so sorry. I am a horrible person. I used it all on Andrew. I wasn't sure how much to use so I used it all."
Raoul grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. "Shh, it is ok. You are trying. Just look at it this way, one man down, right?"
Bedelia laughed through her tears, "Perhaps we should give up. This was a stupid idea. I shouldn't have come."
"No, this was a great idea. Just not the best thought out idea," they both laughed, "but still your intentions were in the right place. What about the guard, does he have weapons?"
Bedelia's face lit up; of course, Corbin supplied all his men with weapons. She rushed out of the room and to the fallen body and quickly scanned him. She didn't really want to touch him but knew she had to. Taking a deep breath and felt his pockets and his boots. She was pleased to find a small gun and a knife. She returned to Raoul, pleased that something was going right.
"I have a gun and a knife."
"Good, those will help. How far away is Christine?"
"She is the next floor down. I am afraid it is rather far." Bedelia could sense his reluctance to even move but somehow he managed to roll on his side and on to his knees.
"Help me up." She nodded and put the weapons in her apron pockets before wrapping her arms around his chest. They struggled to stand and Bedelia knew that he was in a lot of pain. By the time they were standing Raoul was sweating and panting.
"Maybe we should just give up," Bedelia offered hoping that he would agree but then hoping he would not as well.
He chuckled again, "We've come this far. I'll either die here or I will die trying. I'd rather die trying. The question is do you want to do this? There is no turning back Bedelia."
She thought about that for a moment. It was one thing to say you were going to help and then actually helping. She could back out now; Andrew was dead and wouldn't give her away. She had tried to help, wasn't that enough? She shook her head; she would not be a coward. This is for Amanda.
"I'm ready,"
They made there way to the door slowly. Once they were in the hallway Bedelia could get a better look at Raoul's face. It was set and determined. It was also sweaty and very pale. She marveled at this brave man and wondered how he could still be standing, still be trying to escape after so much had happened to him. She was certain that she would never be as strong as him, couldn't be as strong as him.
They made it to the end of the hallway and had to rest. Bedelia checked the corridors for any roaming persons but was pleased to find no one. The opera house was silent like most nights. They made it to the stairs faster than Bedelia was expecting. She let Raoul rest for a moment while she headed down the steps to make sure it was clear.
She found no one. Her heart was not pounding as wildly as it use to be and she was feeling more confident. This was turning out to be easier than expected. Of course she didn't think that she would make it this far. She returned to Raoul's side and felt her heart wrench. He looked so weak and pale lying on the flooring, breathing deeply, eyes closed.
"Raoul?" she called softly. His eyes immediately sprung open and he struggled to stand. Bedelia went to his side but he waved her away.
"No, I am going to get down these stairs alone."
Bedelia gave him a skeptical look. "Are you sure that is wise? What if you fall? You are not strong enough."
"I am going to do it," his face was set into a hard look. He placed both hands on the wall beside him and started working his way down the stairs. Bedelia hovered close by him just in case he started to fall. Of course, she didn't really think that she would be much help. If he fell she would fall with him.
When they made it to the last step Bedelia sighed in relief. It was a miracle they made it this far.
"She is just a hallway away," she whispered and without asking Bedelia returned to his side and helped him down the hall. They stopped at the corner and sank to the floor. The halls were dimly lit; and a lot of them contained no light at all. Bedelia was grateful for that. She peeked around the corner like before and then sat down beside Raoul.
She swallowed, "There are two this time,"
"I suppose shooting them wouldn't work." Raoul said giving her a half smile, "It would just alert the others. Although it would be mighty satisfying."
"If I only didn't give all my poison away," she whispered feeling helpless and weak once again. Raoul reached for her hand again but this time he didn't pull away but kept his hand in hers. Bedelia blushed and started to feel uncomfortable.
"Did he drink the entire bottle?"
Bedelia's eyes widened. "I'm not sure. I don't think so. Raoul your brilliant!" Bedelia quickly jumped up, glad to have her hand to herself again and rushed back upstairs. She was glad that she got Raoul first.
She was cautious and made sure to listen for approaching foot steps but once again she only heard silence. She picked up the bottle and felt that it was indeed half empty. A smile spread across her face, she felt very happy and pleased. This was indeed the right thing to be doing and perhaps this crazy idea of hers would work after all.
A/N: Do not worry Christine was not raped, nor will anyone ever be in this story, in case you were worried or confused or anything
I have to finish up this story by the end of this week because I will be leaving for about a year an a half. It won't be as long as I had originally planned which is sad but I don't want to keep you guys waiting. I will try by best to finish it with as much of the original story that I had planned. Thanks for reading and give a little review.