A/N: Hi hi everyone! Here is my next chapter... a nice long one at that too :P took me alllll day.
As for reviews, I just have but one comment to make: when reading said stories, don't be so quick to judge and shoot me down because of what you 'may think'. Sometimes it seems there is no hope and I've done wrong... but I know what I am doing. Just because you think I 'may have done something', is no reason to call my work crap. Even if I did do that wrong thing, keep in consideration my point of view on everything. Perhaps I'm taking an approach of irony or equalizing, or even... divine providence... or something along those lines. This is no way intended to show what I may write in the future, it's just something to keep in mind when you read my work. I know how this story will end, as I had it already all written out well in advance, but have been changing a lot to the first copy. But the main idea is still the same. So please, trust me.
Besides that moment of darkness... my first brigade party was a smash :D
Ok, so anyways, wish me luck with my failing math mark... (I somehow got a B in French though :O) and please read and review!
-EFH
xoxo
Chapter 37: Ascent into Hell.
"I said," she said with a snarl, "drop him, or so help me God, I will kill you all!" Her voice hissed throughout the silent room.
Everyone turned to look at the woman in complete shock, the race of the adrenaline coursing through, the pounding of their hearts in the dead of the silence and the cold uncertain horror caressing them as blind fear in the form of sweat rolled down their backs.
Christine felt her body stumble slightly backwards as she let her weak body fall onto the bed, trying to gain control of her mind as everything blurred and the room began spinning. Was she dreaming this madness?
The woman took a step closer to the two, the pistol held straight at his head. "Do you honestly want to test me? I will blow your brains out with but a single bullet and send you straight into the depths of Hell, and then I will take your wench and slice her throat till she sees nothing but red, and will be confined to the same Hell." The woman whispered, white flashing through her eyes.
"Erik…" Christine whimpered. "Let him go." She said softly, tears silently falling as she lay on the bed looking up through her curls that graced her perfect face. "It's… It's not worth it."
"Finally, something worthy of words from you," Elizabeth replied back sarcastically, the pistol hovering about in her hand as it still held up, pointing at Erik whom had Raoul at the end of a noose, his hands seemingly clutching at the ends, trying to claw the confines off.
Erik's breathing was stertorous as his chest heaved and he looked back from Raoul to the woman he loved more than anything. He felt the weight of the world on his shoulders at that one moment.
Her eyes looked deeply into his beseechingly, pleading with him to make the right decision. She knew that it didn't matter what they did anymore, they were both going to lose one way or another… but she still didn't want his soul anymore condemned for her sake.
Erik looked at the Punjab lasso that was in his hand which was twitching, yearning to continue pulling tighter as Raoul's face turned bluer and bluer, begging mercy for his pathetic existence; the euphoria that would encase him when the man sunk down to his knees, his eyes rolling about in their dire state… yes, a Heaven indeed.
His green panther like orbs moved about the room precariously, looking at each person in the room, feeling like he was finally seeing them for the first time.
Marguerite stood with her back pressed against the wall, her palms flat down on it, her chest heaving as if she had run a million miles. The trauma in her eyes… well it was a first for Erik, whom had never seen the stern Marguerite afraid like a little child. In fact, it was oddly comforting.
Her daughter Megan, lay still on the ground, her breathing just as laboured, if not more so. Yet, she had a lot more reason though. Had it not been for the pretty little blonde, Erik knew he'd be a dead man. She had been the one to finally speak up and move from her rooted spot and push against Raoul as the bullet went off. It had been her cry followed by Christine's, which had burned Erik's ears, a loud shriek that was his Hell.
Christine was a wreck; she lay there sobbing uncontrollably. She could barely utter a coherent word, she was so flabbergasted and fear consumed. She had felt life end the second that bullet had gone off. A million questions had run through her mind, all in context with her living and her baby's... which she knew he still did not know of. That concerned her perhaps even more; seeing as she knew this child needed to live and carry on Erik's name… but also needed a father. She didn't want it to suffer the same fate she had; having only one parent.
She clutched the sheets underneath her till her knuckles went white, just relieved that Erik was not dead. She knew she had to rush over to Meg and make sure her best friend was not injured. But oh, how she prayed God would give her the strength and courage to move her legs! Or let alone, let her lips move…
Slowly by slowly, Erik let the rope slip from his hands.
"No Erik, no!" Ana cried from the floor where she sat over her brother Derik.
Elizabeth smiled, but took one step closer to the mess of people. "Good," she purred, "very good indeed." She still held the pistol up as a threat, but moved in towards Erik and Raoul till she stood over Raoul, who lay on the ground just gasping, as the colour slowly returned to his face.
Raoul's eyes blinked a few times as he looked upon Elizabeth who stood above him, a smirk upon her older face, the gun clutched tightly within her hands, her eyes burning with an unspoken determination. He wouldn't deny the shock he was feeling at this moment; of all the people to show up…
"Hello Monsieur." She spoke in a sadistic manner, a gleam a lit in her two orbs. "It's ever so pleasant to see you again Raoul…" Elizabeth spoke more softly now. "Did you miss me?"
As he breathed deeply, never more relieved to feel the beautiful feeling of air entering his passage… (He would not take that for granted again) He looked upon Elizabeth in horror and confusion. "What game are you playing at Madame Aldridge?" he demanded, still lying on his back on the floor.
She smiled slightly with a twist of her lips. "A game?" she asked moving closer and leaning over his still rapidly raising chest. "How dare you speak to me of games!" she screeched, anger boiling through her as one of her hands clenched into a fist.
"Eliza -" he tried to interject.
"No!" she screamed, throwing her pistol down to the ground in one hard fluid and blind moment, watching it clatter slightly away. "How can you say that, you insignificant bastard?" she demanded. "How dare you in signify that I play these games! How dare you! How dare you!" she screamed over, sobs wracking her until she fell to her knees, her face in her palms.
Everything seemed to go quiet as the older woman broke down.
Marguerite, that had been frozen this whole time, felt she came out of her reverie. She moved along the wall, her back still placed firmly on it, as if confirming no one will come up behind her, which would not shock her if it did somehow happen.
She paused at the door, her options wracking her. She could leave now and go find the police… and tell them what? That a mad deformed man and his lover were secretly in love and making love and her evil and jealous fiancé was forcing her into a marriage and about to kill everyone, condemning everyone else in his task? Or she could stay and be of no help… and watch the scene unfold like some book… where the only way she'd know what is happening is if she read it.
"Mama," Meg whispered, looking at her mother from her perch on the ground, wondering what she was thinking.
Marguerite looked at her only daughter and felt overwhelmed. Pools of tears were beginning to caress her like some form of a lover… silent cruel tears.
Ignoring everything and knowing what her priority should be, she ignored all conflict and forced her legs to carry her to her daughter. She made sure to be silent as she collapsed on the ground and pulled her daughter into a tight embrace. "Oh I'm so sorry!" she whispered furiously. "Are you hurt? Are you ok? How many fingers am I holding up? I promise I will never abandon you like that again!" Marguerite cried into her daughter's perfect blonde hair with her hushed, hushed whispers to her daughter.
Meg smiled despite the circumstances not technically permitting it. "I'm fine Mama, I truly am. He never hit me… It's more the shock… honestly."
"Goodbye Erik." Raoul whispered. "You were quite the opponent… but sometimes life is better left the way it was intended to be; the beautiful can never love the ugly… I'll see you in Hell."
Raoul looked at him for one final time, his heart raging with a million feelings. He ignored all but one; revenge. Revenge was something he had yearned for his whole life. When he had been younger… he had always been the shadow of his brother, whom could do nothing wrong in his parent's eyes.
"Oh, why can't you be more like your brother Philippe?" his father had asked him when he was but the tender age of four.
"Your brother is a blessing we should all praise." His mother insisted. "He has the ability to take control of his calling in life when he is older; Viscount."
It had started as something minuscule as the being the Vicomte and just overpowering his younger brother… Raoul had managed to forgive him for that. As he grew up though, time had come and gone like a mistress in the eve. He had fallen for a young girl before Christine had paraded into his life… and if it weren't bad enough that his brother had everything from devastatingly good lucks, amazing charisma, his parent's undying devotion and the simple fact that he was about to become the Vicomte, he had to go for the one thing Raoul had come to cherish in his life; a girl named Lynn.
Oh it started slow… he noticed Lynn appearing for him less and less. Her kisses were unresponsive and her body language had disappeared into unwelcoming… she had stopped coming shortly after that.
He one day walked past his older brother's room, hearing the agonizing cries from inside. Fear evoked him and he opened the door. The horror that wracked him as he in took the sight! There lying on the bed naked in each other's embrace were Lynn and Philippe! He should have said something that night. He should have done something that night. But he couldn't, he ran away like the sheep he was and let the world keep going.
It was up to this point in time as he had the upper hand; the pistol above Erik's chest. He finally would win in the end and seek revenge and marry the woman he loved. They could be together finally.
He gave one more nod and without anymore hesitancy, pulled the trigger.
"No!" Meg had cried before the trigger had been pulled, as she pulled from her mother's comforting embrace, and over to Raoul, shoving him away from her and Erik. She did not understand how everyone could just lay there and watch the horrid story unfold. This was no fairytale or corny romance where when the main character was shot in the heart or killed some cruel way, and still walked the Earth again. Did Christine not care that her baby could be fatherless?
Somehow, somewhere deep down, she had found the courage she had been seeking…
She fell to the ground in tumble nearby Erik, who was laying there with his eyes closed, almost like he was welcoming death's frosty touch or perhaps laying there, begging for it to come and be done with its tedious deed.
Her eyes shut against the room, expecting to be the next in line to die, as she had stopped Raoul from his task already. But all she heard were the screams and cries of Christine.
"No!" she sobbed. "No you killed him!" she buried her face in her hands, not daring to look, too afraid. She had not seen the heroic act Megan had performed, thus still being classified as in 'the dark'. Ana and Derik had not seen of it either, as he covered Ana's eyes and shut his.
Ana shoved away from him and fell to the ground at the body, clinging to him, her sobs echoing in beat with Christine's.
Derik had looked up in horror at the man he had once trusted and loved like an uncle, for the first time. He hadn't known what had driven his parents apart, but he had always had the strangest daunting feeling that it was linked to this man. Now he could finally see truth in gold writing.
"What have you done?" he asked coldly, not just asking about Erik, but everything that had happened. He was the soul reason for all the horrors.
"Why are you here?" Raoul sneered back. "Where is that father of yours? He was so measly; he dragged his two brats into all this?"
Derik moved closer to him, anger sizzling through him. Looking him straight on, he proclaimed, "You truly are corrupt."
"It took you this long to figure that out?" he snarled. "How slow can your family possibly be? Or are you just too pious and oh so forgiving? Will God accept you into his kingdom now?" he taunted.
Derik heard the quiver of words from the brunette lying on the bed. He glanced at her, but her face was still covered by her hands.
"Oh for Christ's sakes, do shut up Christine! No one asked your opinion. You are here to be seen and not heard, like a petulant woman." He laughed. He turned to Derik at that moment. "Perhaps I should show Gabriel real horror." And he drew forth his pistol.
"You wouldn't." Derik breathed.
"I wouldn't would I?" he growled. "When has your family ever done anything for me besides condemn my life as they most assuredly always do? Now is the opportunity I have waited for… an opportunity, in which I can make your father make amends for his sins." He raised the pistol, not sure what was overcoming him anymore.
"You're going to Hell." Derik stated softly but dangerously.
"I'm already in Hell." Raoul retorted.
He pulled the trigger, condemning the second life that night. He felt no pain, nothing. No remorse and no redemption.
"How could you?!" Ana sobbed, immediately hurdling her tiny body from Erik's over to her bigger brother's. "Derik, don't leave me Derik!" she sobbed.
He gave a slight guttural cough, blood appearing from an unknown source. "Ana," he said weakly. "I'm sorry."
"Don't go Derik!" she cried harder, hitting him with her tiny fist.
Marguerite looked upon the room with her two stony eyes, as if she were one of the villagers witnessing the crucifying of Christ. She felt very much like she was standing to the side, crying for mercy but no one was listening, and all she was hearing was the sick twisted sounds of the nails being pounded in, the sharp intakes of breath, the slow dripping of sweat and the cries of agony.
Meg just sat there, praying this was some truly corrupted nightmare they were all living. Everything seemed so unreal; Samuel leaving her, them all being in one tiny run down dingy inn room where two lives were condemned all in one night… she didn't even know some of the people in the room.
Her eyes snagged for a second as she saw a twitch coming from Erik's corpse, causing her to feel nauseated. Even in death his body tried.
"Don't go please…" Ana murmured so softly and despairingly. "I love you Derik. I love you and I forgive you for making me blind."
"How touchy," Raoul sneered, moving closer to Ana. "Well your brother is no longer here to protect you anymore little Ana. And I don't see your father exactly running to your defense here…"
Ana looked up at him wide eyed, her bottom lip quivering, he was right; no one was here for her. Her parents had abandoned her and Derik was gone now.
"It won't be so hard to say good bye, I promise." Raoul whispered.
"Please don't!" she sobbed, holding her tiny hands in front of her face as a form of defense, knowing it was fruitless.
He smiled, but his smile quickly faded as something suddenly tightened around his neck… a noose! Oh my God, a noose was around his neck and he could feel the oxygen dispersing quickly and the light of day fading! But who? What?
He was spun much too fast for quick adjustment and was met face to face with a white porcelain mask.
"Did that moment mean nothing to you?" Elizabeth sobbed, perched over him. "I mean… I… I honestly did not expect that from you… but at least you could let me be satisfied… what is the answer?"
Raoul stared at her, recalling the feel of her velvety lips upon his that eve. He had let his hands run down her satiny skin and through her wavy locks of hair, each finger running through their own blade.
"We paraded in that holy palmer's kiss without our hands but our lips… and then you act like I am no one!" she cried.
Christine finally raised her face and stared at Raoul in horror. She forgot the immense relief that had flooded through her knowing Erik was alive, and just focused on the outrage that encased her. It wasn't so much the fact that he had cheated on her on the eve of their wedding, but more so the fact that he took everything precious to her and did that even then.
A whole list of obscenities ran through her mind, a dire need to scream them at him and make him feel her wrath and pain.
"You are no one!" Raoul yelled suddenly, his chest heaving up and down at the shock of how loudly that came out. He saw her face blanch and pale immediately. "Elizabeth," he started.
She shoved him from her like she had been burned. "No one?" she hissed. She stared into his eyes for a moment, and he could see flames and embers twisting about in them.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, for once actually meaning those two words. "I didn't want to cause you any pain truly… It was a moment of weakness… but you are nothing to me."
The room came to one complete halt. The silence in there hung like one too many deaths on a cold winter's eve. The tension was apprehensive and everyone felt disconcerted from it. No one knew what to do, fear lingering in their every move.
Elizabeth was the first to make a movement though; she edged herself closer to Raoul and ever so softly, she leaned forwards and placed a tender kiss on his lips, signifying the end. Despite everything, he let himself kiss her back, feeling he owed her that much.
Erik took this moment and moved himself over to Christine who sat there huddled, shaking like a leaf.
"Everything will be alright." He whispered, opening her up from herself and pulling her into his warm and comforting arms, just embracing her as tightly as possible, fearing that if he let go, she'd disappear from his life forever.
She began crying once more, not understanding how she could possibly cry anymore; hadn't she shed all possible tears? How could there be anymore left for her to cry?
"I will love and take care of you Christine… forever." He promised.
Meg joined in on the tears as she the moment that passed between the two. Despite all the circumstances and life going against them, they somehow made it… and it made their love only stronger. This was all she longed for with Samuel.
Christine whispered softly, "but what does the winter bring?"
Erik looked at her and whispered into her ear; "if not another spring…" he moved his lips till they were on hers.
Elizabeth slowly pulled back from Raoul and immediately clutched the pistol she had dropped previously. She watched as his eyes widened. "Parting is such sweet sorrow…"
"No Elizabeth!" he yelled, shoving himself from her onto wobbly feet.
She followed suit, and raised herself to her feet as well, only with more grace. She raised the pistol and prepared it. "That I shall say goodnight till it be morrow… one must never play with the affairs of the heart Monsieur." She stated.
"Erik," Christine whispered, watching Elizabeth from the corner of her eye.
Elizabeth gave a cry as Erik was quick on cat feet, grabbing her from behind, trying to take the pistol from her, or at least make her drop it. She screamed in the process and took the butt of the pistol and jabbed it into his stomach.
With a cry, Erik doubled backwards holding his stomach, letting himself sink down to his knees.
"It will not end like this!" Elizabeth yelled, raising the pistol once more. "It's time you felt the wrath every person must feel!" she screamed.
Raoul quickly yelled back, "you are one twisted lady!" he grabbed the pistol end, trying to point it away from him, wrestling with her to let go.
She pulled the trigger and it fired, but hit the wall. Christine screamed in the process as Elizabeth kept pulling the trigger a few more times, hitting nothing.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Raoul demanded.
"I could ask you that!" she screamed back, tugging at it harder, trying to make him let go. "Let go you son of a bitch!" she fired once more.
Christine cried out as she felt a sudden pain encase her, causing everyone to stop in the room, a sickening silence falling upon everyone but Christine.
The strangest feeling entered Erik as he watched his love fall down screaming mercilessly. He knew right then and there, he would never know a more terrible feeling.
"Christine!" his voice screamed, pushing him from the ground, ignoring the horrid feeling in his stomach.
Elizabeth ignored Christine though and turned once more to Raoul, knowing she could catch him unguarded. She tried to fire the pistol again, but someone had come up behind her and tried to grab a hold of her. Not even knowing whom, she took the pistol and swinging it around till she felt the connection between it and the person's face.
"Gabriel!" Raoul cried shocked when he saw the man crumple to the ground much like Erik had prior.
Elizabeth turned to look and saw Gabriel lying on the ground unconscious, a stream of blood flowing right front and centre from his face. She felt no remorse.
"Mr. Thomason." Gabriel had whispered when his hand had connected with the teddy bear his daughter always carried with her. It felt ragged and part of its arm was hanging by only a few threads… but it was still Mr. Thomason.
He looked up at the pitch black skies, feeling nothing but the raindrops.
With a grunt and a heave, he forced himself to his feet. His children were nearby, he just knew it. This sign must be divine providence… for what other explanation could there possibly be?
"I will find you Ana." He whispered. "I promise that no one will ever part you and I and Derik ever again… not even God himself." He swore under his breath.
He hobbled about crying out loud for any sign of life, not being able to see where he was going. All he felt was the branches and wet leaves hitting his stone cold face. But what was keeping him going? Every second he forced himself to go forward into the dark unknowing path he knew he could be turned back into the light.
'My children are all that matters'. He thought.
He could always recall Raoul asking him one particular thing when Coreena was only two months along with Derik. "How do you know if you're ready to be a parent?"
"No one's ever ready to be a parent Raoul, you just are. There's never a perfect time." He had answered, knowing that was what kept him going for his unborn baby and Coreena. If he paused and truly thought about it, he knew he might flee in fear.
But the day Derik had been born he knew that was one ultimate happiness he would never have felt before. He wanted to thank Coreena everyday of his life for the single blessing that never ceased to amaze him.
"Help!" Gabriel cried. "Someone please help me!" but his cries fell on deaf ears… for who would be around in this? "Oh please Lord, guide me to them…" he made a hesitant sign of the cross. "I beg of you. I will never ask of anything of you again." He cried. "I just want my children."
He paused for a brief second, just letting the rain hitting him, listening to it. It was always one thing everyone took for granted; one thing that was always used to set a sad or distressing scene. And for once, that actually applied to him.
"I give up." He mumbled, seeing nothing but trees, leaves and branches. "There is no way out of this mess."
He pushed forwards anyways, knowing this was so totally and completely fruitless. But as he moved forwards, he saw a flickering distant light. Feeling like he was trying to catch death and look upon its bony face, he kept pushing forwards growing closer and closer…
It grew bigger and bigger every second he drew forth and eventually he realized it was not death, but a light flickering from a building.
"Divine providence," He whispered once more.
xoxo
The clock struck 6 o'clock and it rung.
The clicking of fingernails against a glass table top and the tapping of the foot resonated throughout the room. Coreena was biting her lip and absentmindedly twisting a strand of hair with one of her fingers.
Janine cringed, looking up from her knitting. This was all Coreena had done all day. Why today of all days? She knew her daughter wanted to see her children and tell Gabriel the news, but she had never seen her so antsy before…
Coreena hummed a tiny bit, just staring at the grandfather clock that boomed its presence in the corner of the room. She couldn't even explain it… but she felt something big was happening at this moment. Guts? A premonition?
"Stop it Coreena." Janine finally snapped.
Coreena looked up at her mother and ceased her annoying movements. "Sorry Mama." She whispered apologetically. "I guess I'm on edge… nervous perhaps."
Janine set her knitting down besides her and looked up at her daughter in comfort. "Why are you so nervous?" she asked. "I know you want to tell Gabriel everything, but nothing is going to change in the next few hours… you can always wait till he returns and then tell him."
"I know…"
"Are you afraid of rejection?" Janine asked softly. "That he won't love you…? Because I don't think that is possible…"
"No, not that," Coreena said quickly. She took a deep breath. "At least I don't think so… I just feel that something bad is happening Mama, and I can't explain why."
"You just need some rest…"
"I couldn't possibly rest at a moment like this." Coreena interjected, standing up and walking over to the floor to ceiling window that looked out across the many acres of land her Mother owned.
The rain still continued its steady beat. And in the distance she saw a flicker of lightning, only adding to the dark allure of everything. The wind blew across everything, rattling the trees, making them look like frightening figures only told in horror stories… it caused Coreena to shudder and be glad she wasn't out there, but in the security of her mother's home.
But at the same time, she knew she should be out there searching for her family, fighting to make it right. Wasn't that what God would want her to do? No, instead she was cowering away from everything in hiding… only adding to her misery.
"I'm such a horrid person." She whispered to herself as she looked outside, a tear catching in the corner of her eye.
"No you're not Coreena." Janine replied back just as softly, laying her hand on Coreena's back in a soothing manner. "You're a woman who knows her limits, and going out there is one of them… especially in these weather conditions and at night no less."
"But if I'm supposed to be the perfect wife and mother, I should be out there searching for them." She retorted, not letting up. She kept her back to her mother, not wanting her to see any more of the tears she was shedding.
"Oh Coreena… My Coreena," Janine said in a pained voice. "No one is perfect, I thought you knew that. I was no perfect wife… nor am I the perfect mom. We're all human and we all make mistakes. You shouldn't compare yourself to others either."
Coreena smiled slightly. "I know, I know." She looked at her mother and then back out the window. "But I know what I have to do."
Janine turned Coreena till she faced her and held her shoulder's at arms length, staring at her sternly. "You are not going out there… not in this and not at this time of day. I will not allow it."
Coreena opened her mouth to protest.
"You truly need to rest. Tomorrow is another day. We can both go out there and search for them ourselves."
Coreena didn't want to say it, but she felt the odd creeping sensation that tomorrow would be perhaps… too late.
"Go to bed." Janine stated firmly. "I want you to promise me that you won't put your life in danger. What if your children come home and you are not here? And would you jeopardize your baby's future like that? Traipsing about in that?"
Coreena knew she was right, but did not want to admit it. She nodded meekly and embraced her mother, who kissed the side of her head and rubbed her back like she had done when she was younger in attempts to comfort her.
"Good night sweetie, please do and try and get some rest… not for me, but yourself and your family." She smiled slightly. "I promise everything is going to get better. I will stay up and watch for Derik and Ana."
Coreena nodded and quietly left the room. When she was finally out of the room, she bolted up the staircase, ignoring the questioning looks from the servants, and into her bedroom. Closing the door, she pushed her back to the door and let her body slide downwards till she was sitting on the ground sobbing.
She knew she had royally screwed up. But how did you ask forgiveness of someone you truly loved when all you had done was pushed them away?
xoxo
"Daddy!" Ana cried, watching yet another close person to her, fall for the umpteenth time that night. "Daddy?" she questioned, crawling towards him and placing her ear on his chest and hugging him tightly. She could feel his still body breathing and knew he wasn't dead.
She grew angry, feeling her world crumble down around her. "I hate you!" she screamed at both Raoul and Elizabeth. "I hate you all!"
Raoul stared in shock at Gabriel's unconscious body so confused. He wasn't sure who knew who anymore, and how they were finding this remote little room that felt like Hell right now.
Erik, whom still held Christine tightly to himself, looked at the body and then Ana. So this was their father. He still couldn't believe the two kids had bothered to return at all. He had been so sure that they were like any others…
But how had their father found them? He looked about the room; they had quite the party growing here.
"Oh, quit your sniveling; the fool isn't dead!" Elizabeth snapped at Ana. She didn't understand why these two brats were here to begin with.
Marguerite longed to go and hug the little sobbing girl, but she kept herself and Meg back, making sure to hold onto her daughter tightly.
"But Mama, shouldn't we somehow help…?" Meg questioned her mother.
"Shush Megan." Marguerite hissed. "After all the people that have fallen, do you sincerely want to be yet another corpse?" she demanded. "We must stay back."
"That's selfish!" Meg exclaimed. "We should at least get the police!" she yelled.
Raoul turned at the sound of Meg's voice and he glared at the young blond. "No one is bringing in the police." He barked. "This can go either two ways; Christine will come with me and you can all continue your lives in peace, or she can die along with every other person in this God damn room!" he was practically screaming by the end.
Marguerite pulled her daughter closer, tears burrowing more and more. She honestly and truly did want to help, but what could she possibly do? For either way she chose, she would lose and perhaps condemn everyone else's lives in the room at that too.
Christine clung to Erik as if this was the last time she'd ever see him. She knew someone tonight was going to die, and deep down she knew who she wished it to be. But looking at everyone in the room and evaluating everything, she had a feeling just who it might be.
"It'll be ok." Erik whispered, rubbing her back consolingly, hoping to God that it was true. He didn't want to give false hope either… "How is your wound?" he asked gently, looking down at her arm where the bullet had hit.
"I'm fine." she whispered, pressing against the torn fabric from Meg's dress they had used as a bandage to apply pressure.
Erik wanted to strangle the woman alive for daring to even lay a finger on Christine, let along actually inflict pain on her. He wanted to do the same back to the bitch, sevenfold.
Raoul turned at the sound of the beast's voice and he felt thunderous as he watched his hands run over Christine. "Don't you dare touch her," He whispered his voice was dripping with venom and anger. "Get your nasty hands off of her!" he screamed. He couldn't understand why Christine let this poor excuse for a human being touch her while rebuking him.
He stalked over.
Everyone stared at him in alarm, even Elizabeth, feeling envious every passing second. Oh how she'd like to strangle the brunette! She had brought so many problems and emotions into her life the day she entered Raoul's home.
"How can you let him do this Christine?" he demanded, taking a hold of Christine's good arm and yanking her from Erik and shoving her to the side. "This filthy monster!" he spit in disgust.
Christine spoke in a voice barely audible; "Out of everyone in this room, you're the only filthy monster I see."
"Lies; filthy lies Christine! I don't believe you!" he screamed in outrage, after a second of considering the sincerity of her words. But it could not be possible… could it? No! "How can you pick this God damn devil over me? These are just games… the devil has corrupted your mind Christine!"
"Stop it!" she cried, "stop it!"
"If I kill him now, you'll love me again Christine! I know you will!" Raoul declared, holding the hated pistol up for the umpteenth time that night. "I only have a few more bullets, but I know one will do the job…"
"Stop it! I swear if you do this Raoul, I'll hate you forever and personally kill myself!" she threatened, stepping closer to Raoul and Erik.
"Christine, stay back!" Erik growled, angry and scared that she'd say such things. "You will do no such thing, especially over me!" he spoke a tad more calmly now.
Christine looked over at the man she knew she loved. She didn't say anything more, not wanting to upset him or Raoul further. But she knew if worst came to worst, she may not be able to contain herself and if Erik died, well what was the point in living?
Raoul looked back at Erik, narrowing his eyes. "She does love me. It is not possible for the beautiful to love the ugly." He growled, trying to convince himself.
Erik said nothing; feeling pity for this man for the first time ever. He had never thought the day would come when he actually pitied this fop of a man. "I'm sorry." Erik whispered for the first time to Raoul.
"What?" Raoul barked. "How could you possibly feel sorry for me? You're the filthy ugly hideous spawn from Hell! How dare you feel sorry for me!" he screamed, ignoring his dieing need to just break down.
"I'm sorry she can't love you! I'm sorry that you feel the need to kill everyone to earn her love!" Erik yelled just as loudly back, only to be hit by memories like a ton of bricks.
Both Raoul and Erik fell into silence, staring at the floor, recalling the same thing.
Was it not long ago that the three of them had been down below in the cellars of the Opera House, fighting over the same thing? Erik recalled that night where he had practically begged Christine to make love to him on stage in front of millions, and then kidnapping her and condemning her and her lover. Hadn't he been the one giving the ultimatum?
A sickening feeling overcame Erik, and he slightly back off Raoul, knowing he couldn't be the one to throw the stone at this pathetic man; not when he had committed the same sin.
Raoul looked back at Erik and moved closer. He didn't care that it had come to this. He didn't care anymore; plain and simple. He was going to walk out the victorious one, tonight, come Hell or hath.
He aimed the pistol. "We were once in this position; I, holding a pistol over your body. But for some reason, you didn't die then. I sometimes wonder if God sent you into my life on purpose; if you're my cross to bear in this life time." Raoul stated. He looked at Erik in anger. "I think it's time to set my cross down."
"It seems no matter how many times you try to kill me; I always reappear in your life. You can't just accept things the way they are, can you?" Erik spoke quickly when he saw Raoul moving towards him on lithe feet.
"Not such a smart question for a man in your position to be asking, now is it?" Raoul growled, whacking Erik with the butt of the gun, and pushing him down to the ground when Erik cried out in agony and covered his normal side of his face. He pointed the gun.
"You mean to off me, why should I be concerned?" Erik coughed. "At least when I die, I'll know that I angered my most hated enemy with a simple question. That I'll have angered you with the simple knowledge that the beautiful woman you loved, chose me. The question is can you accept that even once you've killed me?" Erik taunted. "Even after my death, the truth still is what it is."
Raoul stared at Erik in shock and anger. His words had hit home. He knew they were true, yet he wanted to believe otherwise. Christine loved Erik. Christine had given herself freely to Erik. She had even conceived a child with that beast, Raoul was positive. He knew the signs.
"Erik!" Christine cried his name at his statement. She couldn't believe Erik was saying this; he was basically offering to tango.
She gasped suddenly as she felt something long cold and hard pressed tightly under her chin. She was met with a warm breath hanging in her ear as soft words whispered; "as the boys play, I think we should play our own game too, don't you?" Elizabeth teased.
"Some pretty brave words you have there." Raoul stated to Erik's last words, not seeing Elizabeth and Christine.
"You have to be brave, when you're in love." Erik whispered. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Elizabeth holding Christine at knife point.
He felt annoyance bubble through him as Marguerite and Meg stood crouched by the side, Marguerite holding her daughter back. He couldn't believe they were so useless.
Ana said nothing, trying to stay as quiet as possible, fearing her death was next. She stayed with her daddy, trying to wake him up by patting his face quietly, and at the same time praying to God that everything would be alright.
Elizabeth said nothing as the tears fell down her cheeks, jealousy burning through her. But instead of letting Christine go, she held the knife more steadily and slowly ran it across Christine's cheek ever so slightly. Christine's eyes shut in horror at the scary feeling. It didn't feel like a real slice, but it was just soft enough to give her ideas of what was to come.
"Elizabeth I'm sorry…" Christine said softly.
"Don't give me your pity!" she whispered angrily. "I don't want it!" she hissed.
Christine cried silently as everyone in the room became deathly silent; she swore she could hear ever second ticking in the room, every laboured breath.
"You know you are a beautiful woman." Elizabeth said softly, causing Christine's eyes to open. "I was always jealous of you. You came into my life, nothing but a silly peasant with no nobility whatsoever, but you had your beautiful looks and the perfect man begging for your hand in marriage…"
"Elizabeth," Raoul had stopped paying attention to Erik and had turned to look at the two women.
"Please Elizabeth, don't do this." Christine whispered. "I don't love him."
"Oh do shut up!" she screamed. "Do I look like I give a damn if you love him or not?" Christine shook her head meekly. "You don't belong here… you never have and you never will! But the only solution is…" she sliced her gently.
Christine gave out a cry. Erik felt his heart stop at the cry, but saw his opportunity. Pushing forwards he grabbed the pistol from Raoul's hands and accidentally dropped it down on the ground.
Raoul turned to grab it, but Erik kicked it.
"Grab it Marguerite!" he yelled. "Kill Elizabeth!"
Marguerite looked at Erik in horror as to what he was asking her. "Mama!" Meg cried, pushing her mother forwards. "Do it! Do it before she kills Christine!"
Christine stood screaming as the woman continued to slice her, but felt her body collapse to the ground as Elizabeth's screams echoed through the room as Erik shoved her from Christine. Christine's eyes flickered open, seeing Elizabeth lay on the ground not to far from her, the knife lying on the ground beside her.
Marguerite for the first time that night, hurled her body forwards trying to grab the pistol from the ground. Her hands went out and snaked the gun up from the ground before Raoul could.
"Drop it!" he yelled, pushing her hard, causing Marguerite to fall to the ground and lose grip on the pistol.
"Erik!" she screamed. "Erik!"
Erik turned, only to find that Marguerite had fallen to the ground and Raoul was snaking the pistol up. He gasped as Raoul immediately fired the pistol, wasting no time.
Christine's eyes flickered open ever so faintly, seeing the body fall to the ground in death. This time there were no ploys as blood began to pool and run down the body's clothing, staining everything and everyone for life.
"I knew it." She whispered as she slipped into a wave of unconsciousness.
xoxo
Coreena looked out her bedroom window at the full moon that lingered in the air behind all the clouds and rain.
It was time.
Grabbing a bag she stuffed all the things she'd need in it; blankets, dry clothes and other necessities. She pushed herself through the bedroom door and quietly slunk about through her mother's household.
Janine's words, be damned; she had to find her family and fight for them.