Your reviews have encouraged me so much that this chapter came easily, and I didn't want to make any of you wait. It's a bit longer, just like I promised. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do because I've been looking forward to it since I first thought of this story. Let me know what you think!

Chapter Thirty-two: Lured

Meg managed to dodge Andre's blow, the knife just barely missing her side. He lost his balance and stumbled forward. She took the opportunity to dash from the room. She knew he would choose to pursue her. Raoul wasn't moving anytime soon; she was a much bigger liability. She hoped to use that knowledge to lure Andre away from Raoul. If she could only keep his focus on her until the police arrived, both she and Raoul might make it out alive.

She was only halfway down the stairs when she heard the sound of running footsteps behind her. Throwing caution to the wind, she ran through the dark house at break-neck speed. Her eyes could hardly discern anything in the darkness; she was practically blind.

As she ran, her ankle caught on something and she hit the ground with a loud thud. Quickly jumping up, she took off again, wincing as her ankle now throbbed painfully. It was a miracle Andre hadn't found her when she fell. He must be having as much trouble in the dark as she was, and she was beyond thankful.

Still, her ankle wasn't going to be able to endure much more running. She needed to find a place to hide. She limped into a room and found what seemed to be a closet. She moved to the back wall and crouched down, breathing as quietly as possible and listening for a sign of her pursuer. Please, don't let him find me! she begged. She didn't know how much time had passed. It could have been ten minutes since she called the police, or it could have been five minutes. All she could do is cower in the darkness and wait to be found, whether it be by those who wanted to save her or he who wanted to kill her.

Just as she believed she and Raoul were going to be safe after all, she heard footsteps. Her heart stopped as she heard Andre walk into the room and stop just a few feet from the closet. She bit her lip, and it took everything within her not to scream in terror, to jump up and run away. No! He doesn't know I'm here. He'll probably leave in a minute.

"Miss Giry!" Andre called, his voice filled with frustration and anger. "I know you're in here! Why don't you come out and save us both the trouble? If you come out, I might spare your friend upstairs since he doesn't seem to remember anything." He moved closer, and Meg felt tears running down her face. "I'm tired of playing, Miss Giry!" Suddenly, the closet light turned on, and there was Andre, filling the doorway, the knife gleaming menacingly in his hand. She screamed and grabbed the first thing her hand felt: an umbrella. As he moved to stab her with the knife, she managed to block him with the umbrella. A battle of strength began. Meg's knees were shaking and she was on the verge of collapse. She knew she wouldn't last for long. I have to hold him off so he can't hurt Raoul, she told herself. The knife slowly but steadily moved closer. She whimpered, and Andre smiled triumphantly.

Bang!

Andre went stiff. Meg watched with wide eyes as he crumpled to the ground. She stared for several long moments while a man in a police uniform entered the closet. "Are you alright?" he demanded.

She nodded. He moved towards her and gently escorted her out of the closet. Once she was in the room, she began threw her arms around him and sobbed. He allowed her to hug him for a while before asking, "Where the man you told us is injured?"

She pulled away and took a few deep breaths to compose herself. "He's upstairs. Here, I'll show you."

"Do you know why he was doing this, ma'am?"

She froze, dread filling her body. "Yes," she whispered. "Christine."

"Christine?" the officer asked. "Who is Christine?"

"She's at the old theater. She had to go meet the man behind all of this or Raoul was going to be killed." Meg looked at him, panic rising within her. "Please, you have to help her! Don't let him hurt her!"

"We'll send backup to the old theater immediately. Everything is going to be alright, ma'am."

Still, Meg couldn't ignore the feeling that the officer was wrong.

o0o

Christine woke with a groan. Her head was pounding, and her eyelids were so heavy. A fog clouded her mind, and it took her a few moments to remember everything. She tried to stretch, but her arms felt like lead. She couldn't lift them. She tried again, and then, she realized they were bound by her side. Her eyes flew open, and she saw two things. The first was that she was tied to a chair.

The second was the gloating face of Joseph Buquet.

"Honestly, Professor," she said sarcastically. "I really believed we were past all of this."

He chuckled appreciatively. "I'm glad to see your sense of humor is still intact, Christine. I think you will enjoy our time together almost as much as I will."

"And, what do you intend to do during that time?" she asked bitterly.

"Oh, I think you know what my intentions are, my dear. Don't play naïve."

She strained against her ropes, earning another laugh from him. "You're disgusting," she spat, "and you're delusional if you think I will ever enjoy being anywhere near you."

From out of nowhere, something struck her cheek. She cried aloud in pain and shock.

"Careful, Firmin," Buquet instructed smoothly. "We don't want too many bruises on her lovely face."

That was the first time she noticed the five large men behind her. "What's the matter?" she asked mockingly. "Did you really need backup for one girl?"

"Still playing the student, Christine? I didn't need backup for you. They are here in case we have company later."

Her heart sank and her blood ran cold. "He doesn't even know I'm gone," she said anxiously. "He doesn't need to be dragged into this."

"Unfortunately, I disagree. There happens to be a great deal of bad blood between myself and Erik. What better way to settle scores between us than through you?"

"He doesn't know where I am! Leave Erik out of this!" she shouted, panic rising within her again.

The evil man smiled. "He will know soon enough." He pulled out a cell phone and dialed Erik's number. Christine's eyes widened in horror. "Please, no!" she begged. He ignored her. "Ah, Erik! How are you, my old friend?" He paused a moment, then said, "I think it will interest you to know that I am enjoying the most pleasant company right now. She – no, I haven't hurt her." Christine could hear Erik's enraged voice through the phone, and her eyes filled with tears. This was exactly what she had hoped to avoid, but she knew without a doubt that Erik would come for her.

"You want to talk to her?" Buquet was now saying pleasantly. "Of course you may. Christine, say hello." He walked over and placed the phone to her ear. Christine shook her head violently. "Make her talk, Firmin."

The blow to her abdomen shook her to the core, but she managed to bite her lip and remain silent. "Again!" Buquet growled. When Firmin struck her again, she couldn't stop the cry of pain from escaping her lips.

"Christine!" she heard Erik shout. "Christine, where are you?"

"Erik, I'm fine," she managed to choke. "Please, Erik, don't come; I'm fine."

"Christine –"

"Tell him to come rescue you, Christine," Buquet told her menacingly. She glared at him defiantly. "Don't come, Erik," she repeated. "If you love me, you won't come!"

Buquet snatched the phone away, and she heard Erik crying her name frantically. The tears ran freely down her cheeks, and she looked away.

"As you can tell, I have taken excellent care of her. No, I will not hurt her as long as you come meet me. We're at the old theater. I'll call you every half hour to ensure that she's still in good health. You have three hours." Then, he ended the call.

"I hate you," Christine whispered.

Buquet's expression blackened. "Be careful who you're talking to," he hissed. Then, he turned to his companions. "Time to move, boys," he announced.

Christine's eyes widened. "Move?" she asked.

Buquet smiled. "Of course. Although, I'm sure you will hate to miss Erik's surprise." Then, he said to Firmin, "I want all of you to stay here. Call me once it's done."

She understood immediately. "No!" she screamed. "You can't do this!"

The men laughed. Buquet shook his head. "My dear Christine, I believe I already have."

Posted on March 29, 2012