A/N: If you haven't already, I posted Chapter 40 on Sunday, so please read that Chapter first.
Chapter 41: A Fearsome Farewell
The situation around her fizzled. She didn't hear Nadir's snicker, Madame Giry's disapproving groan, or Phillipe's mad attempt to wake his unconscious brother. Her sense of sensibility completely abandoned her; all moral and ethical thoughts dissolving before they could form conscious thought. For just a moment, she forgot all about her dear friend that laid injured on the ground and could only think about the angel before her.
Erik, her Erik. His eyes had finally found her, their fierce gleam fading into a loving stare. She followed her primal instinct and raced forwards with her arms outstretched. Erik pulled her into a tight embrace, lifting her off her feet and spinning her in the air. The world around them blur into nothingness. She buried her head into his neck, a trickle of tears snaking down her cheeks onto his collarbone.
"You found me." She cried.
He exhaled into her hair. "I will always find you."
She could feel the rattle of his heart against hers, the two of them adjusting their tempo until they were in sync. They stopped spinning, his hands rubbing along her spine while keeping her deliciously close. Every curve of her body melted into his as she took in every sense of him. He was alive, present, and warm in her arms. All worries of being separated faded away. This escape, as terrifying as it had been, would not be as devastating as she had feared. He was here and that was all that mattered.
His lips made a trail from the top of her forehead around the curve of her cheek. They mingled there, as if asking for permission to continue. She turned her head, gladly giving him permission. Their lips met softly at first but with each kiss deepened until their lips nearly formed into one. She still wasn't used to the electricity that overtook her. He swallowed down her gasp of delight as he pressed his lips harder against her own.
Hesitantly, he pulled away. "When he was dragging you away like that…" Erik whispered in her ear. His husky voice quickly turned somber. "I thought he would take you from me forever. I've been through hell and back, Christine, but nothing had ever scared me as much as the thought of losing you to him forever."
Christine sighed, holding him tighter. "I am not going anywhere."
"I could kill him for what he did."
"What he did was wrong, but he was just trying to look after me."
Christine didn't entirely believe her own words. Her stomach felt queasy the more she thought about how Raoul forced her down here, despite her protests. To think that he would completely disregard her wishes despite her clear protests made her uneasy. Instead she tried to give her old friend the benefit of the doubt. With the madness of the evening, he too probably succumbed to its insanity.
"He will never need to do that again."
A swarm of butterflies erupted in her stomach. She couldn't hold back the bright smile that formed on her lips. Did he truly mean what she hoped?
Phillipe had managed to awaken Raoul, who rubbed his cheek while groaning in pain. Once he and Nadir had propped the young vicomte against the back wall, he stormed over towards the lovesick duo. Christine felt her body tense at the sight of his furious eyes over Erik's shoulder.
"What is the matter with you!" He yelled. "You could have killed him with a hit like that!"
She felt Erik's grip tighten momentarily around her waist. He turned to face the Vicomte, who flinched as Erik towered to his full height. Erik glared down at him with a menacing growl. "That was my intention."
Christine gulped down a nervous chuckle. She told herself that despite Erik's dark tone, he was only joking. Whether or not that was true was a different story, but that would be her excuse for the moment. She would address his lack of manners at another time.
"Phillipe, please. This is all a misunderstanding."
"Chriisttinnee." Raoul groaned. His eyes fluttered open and close as he tried to remain upright against the back wall. Christine felt the urge to go to him, to let him know that she was alright. But Erik's possessive grip pulled her back flush against his chest.
"How is another clear attack on my brother a complete misunderstanding?"
Christine stiffened, looking up at Erik. He avoided her gaze. "Another attack?" She questioned.
Phillipe scoffed. "Did he not tell you? Raoul and I met those three mongrels only a few days ago. This creature held a knife to my brother's throat!"
The room gasped, though Erik seemed completely unfazed by his words. Christine glanced up at him. As difficult as it was to admit, it would not be out of character for Erik to do such a thing. In fact, after the severity of his attack on her ex-fiancé, she found herself believing Phillipe's words without hesitation. Meg stepped forward, her arms folded across her chest.
"Three mongrels?" She questioned.
Phillipe seemed perplexed by her question. "Mademoiselle?"
"By three mongrels, do you mean the Phantom, Nadir, and the boy who tried to help us earlier before your brother knocked him out?"
Nadir turned to the vicomte. "What!" He bellowed. Madame Giry quickly grabbed his arm, holding back the furious Daroga. Phillipe seemed completely off guard by the shift in the conversation. He rose his hands defensively.
Meg refused to yield, her hands moving to her hips. "You have met Darius before and still knocked him out! How dare you! You knew he was on our side this entire time."
Raoul was completely oblivious to Meg's scolding, his body swaying from side to side as he slowly regained consciousness.
"So you have all met before?" Christine asked, staring at Erik questioningly. He seemed to realize the hint of hurt in her tone as his threatening aura faded into shame under her glare.
"Well." Nadir began as he reloaded his pistol. Phillipe straightened and shuffled backward at Nadir's actions, though Christine knew the grey haired man had no intention of shooting anyone. "This coup has been in the planning stages for years. We were merely waiting for the Shah's son, Mozaffar to be old enough and popular enough to be accepted by the people of Persia. Charles de Chagny, your father, has been a secret supporter for our cause for his own, personal reasons."
Phillipe noticed Nadir's changed tone when addressing his father. "My father wants peace with the Middle East and Europe. I did not realize that was such a terrible thing."
"Your father is a nuisance and so are you." Erik grumbled. Nadir ignored his friend's remarks and continued his story.
"A few days ago we met to finalize the plan to take down the Shah. These two made a surprise visit to aid us in our quest."
"We received Andre's telegram and came as soon as we could." Phillipe wrapped his arm around Sorelli, who smiled softly up at him. "The Shah has always been an enemy of my family. But once he took the people we loved, we knew we had to act."
Christine glanced over at Raoul who stared directly at her. She could see he was finally conscious and aware of the conversation. She bit her lip as she looked away. Despite his recent brutish behaviour, she still couldn't bear to see any pain in his eyes.
"Christine." Raoul moaned, rising to his feet. His sleepy eyes fluttered just a moment before returning his gaze in her direction. She watched him with pity, doing her best to ignore how Erik tried to pull her closer to him than she already was. This jealousy act would have to end soon.
"Why didn't you tell me that you met with Raoul?" She asked.
Erik stiffened. His eyes darkened. "Why would you want to know?"
Christine scowled. "He is my friend. I would have loved to know he was here. If we had worked together then maybe none of this would have happened."
Phillipe chuckled mirthlessly. "I doubt these two would reconcile even with your intervention, mademoiselle. Why do you think they fought the first time?"
Christine felt scorned by his words. Had they truly fought over her, without any thought as to what she wanted? A flare of anger erupted in her soul. Why couldn't two of her closest friends at least be on amicable terms? Or better yet, why couldn't they consider what she wanted? She found nothing heroic about fighting over the love of a woman without considering what she would want. She studied Raoul, who winced as he rubbed his jaw. Her heart ached when she met his blue irises. They seemed so lost, like a child who had been denied comfort. She saw the same pain in Erik's eyes. To think she would be the cause of such pain was unbearable. Though it was a pain she would gladly endure rather than continue being tossed around like a doll.
"Philippe is right." Nadir stated, holstering his newly loaded gun at his hip. He grinned menacingly towards the elder vicomte. "But if the two vicomtes had followed our original plan, this transition would have been significantly smoother. You were supposed to rescue the crew and then meet us outside, nothing more! Instead you barged into the throne room, attacked my deputy, and exposed the tunnels to the Shah's guards! You have no idea what we went through to close them up after your blundering attempts! Did you even consider how many have died cleaning up your mistakes!"
Raoul scoffed. "Did you really expect me to stand back while he took my fiancé from me?" His words were slow and slightly slurred due to his injury.
"I think you will find she is capable of making her own decisions." Erik spat. He stepped forward menacingly.
Raoul didn't seem deterred by his threatening stance. "Especially now you have her brainwashed."
"I have not been brainwashed!" Christine snapped. Raoul so often spoke for her. She was tired of it and ready to speak her own mind. "A lot has happened since we last saw each other, Raoul. Can we just please wait to discuss this in private?" Christine nodded to one of the tunnels. It wasn't ideal, but at least then the three of them could be somewhat alone.
"There is no need to move on our account." Carlotta bemused, interrupting from the back of the room. "A rest and a show, what more could we ask for?"
The crew did their best to hold in a snicker. Christine's cheeks burned in embarrassment. The last thing she needed was her friends and coworkers watching her break up with one man for another who stood closely behind her.
"I do not see how discussing this with him around will be beneficial." Raoul countered.
Erik snickered. "Are you afraid of what you might hear?"
Christine did her best to ignore Erik's remark. "We cannot move forward with this until we understand each other. So much has changed, Raoul."
"I concur. The last time I saw you, we were on the rooftop of the opera. Do you remember that? We were going to get married. Now you seem repulsed by my touch! Think of all the times we would go to that roof. Life was so much better then, Christine, better than all this horror you have been through. It can be like that again!"
Christine bit her lip. It hurt to keep her tone calm despite his raised voice. "No, it cannot."
"I don't understand!" He exclaimed. "The last time I saw you, we were in love and you were considering my hand in marriage. Yet now you deny me for the hand of a man who has lied to you your entire life!"
"I have changed. It isn't about him, or you, it is about me!" Christine cried. Their voices escalated, echoing madly off the walls around them.
"I came here to rescue you! I had a plan to save you and you have done nothing but resist it."
"I don't need saving and if you would just listen to me you would understand!
"I love you!"
"And I loved you but not in the way you had hoped!"
"You have gone mad!"
"I denied you that day because I knew I wouldn't be happy with you but I couldn't bear to break your heart!"
"You are breaking it now!"
"STOP!"
The room fell silent except for Raoul and Christine's panting breaths. Christine felt tears sting her eyes and she rubbed her hands through her hair. Erik gently rubbed the side of her arm, but she pulled away. This was something she needed to do alone, without the crutch of his gentle touch.
"I was so alone, Raoul." She cried, her voice a mere whisper. "I lost my angel, my father, and a part of myself. You have always been my friend and I will always love you for that. I will never be able to repay you for your kindness when I was at my worst. But I cannot marry you. We would suffocate each other. Can't you see that? We don't have to be the same, but we are just two pieces that will never fit together no matter how hard we push. I need music. You need your lifestyle. I told you that I needed to take this journey to find myself and despite all the horrible things that have happened, I can say I have succeeded. I have learned so much about myself. I am brave. I used to think it was just something I had to suffer through to make my father happy but in reality, I have been brave all along. I am brave enough to look after myself. I may not be the strongest, or the most combative, but I am brave enough to take on tyrants. You have never seen me like that. I have always been something you needed to protect and lead around like a child. Do not deny it! I begged you to stop and you forced me down here, as if my words meant nothing. I am brave enough to know who I am and what I want, and I am not afraid to achieve it. I am brave enough to admit that I know we wouldn't be happy, though it hurts to say. I am so sorry that I have to hurt you, but it would hurt you more to force you down a life of misery that I could have prevented here."
Raoul didn't say anything. He stared at her in disbelief and Christine could hear his heart shattering against his ribcage. She took in a shaky breath, doing her best to fight back the tears that trickled down her cheeks. She looked down at her shoes, hugging herself tightly with her arms.
"I am so sorry, Raoul. I never wanted to hurt you." The shaky truth nearly turned into lamentable cries and she desperately forced herself to regain her composure. "But I have decided."
The entire chamber was silent as Christine sobbed softly. Raoul looked around, as if someone else would join his defense. But he was met with avoiding eyes or pitiful smiles. He turned back to her, shaking his head. They remained in silent for a moment until Raoul's eyes drifted to the shadow looming over her shoulder.
"Do you have anything to add, you monster?" He spat.
Erik shook his head. "As I said, she is capable of making her own decisions."
Christine closed her eyes. She muttered a thank you under her breath, just loud enough that she was certain he could hear it. Raoul would never be able to understand her like Erik could. He knew when to leap to her defense and when to let her take the lead. It was a mutual companionship that grew together, not off one another. Although their short relationship was tarnished with captivity and torture, she was eager to see how they would bloom once they escaped into the sun.
Just as Raoul prepared to open his mouth, Madame Giry stood. "Wait." She interrupted. The group turned to her, frozen in place. Her brow slowly furrowed before looking towards Nadir. "Do you hear that?" She asked.
Nadir looked around, listening intently. Suddenly, his hand gripped onto his gun. "Get into the tunnels, just far enough down that you can see the center of the room. That will hide you in the shadows. Someone is coming down here from the dungeon. Go!"
Erik's entire demeanour changed. He changed from the gentle support behind her to a sudden force in front of her. Raoul reached his hand out to take her hand, but Erik quickly pushed it away, standing in between them. He turned his back to the vicomte, whispering in Christine's ears.
"Let's go." He instructed. Christine nodded, following his lead. She glanced back at Raoul, who stood motionless. His eyes reflected all of the sorrow in the world. She had to look away, unable to take the pain in her heart.
The group scattered. Madame Giry, Meg, Jammes and Louis dashed down one tunnel while Carlotta, and Piangi helped Sophia and Ignacio hobble down another. Phillipe and Sorelli joined Raoul in a nearby tunnel on their own. Erik slid his arm around Christine's waist, guiding her towards the next available tunnel. Instead of following Nadir's orders, they remained close to the entrance. Erik fanned out his cloak to hide her.
"Stay close to me." He instructed in her ear. She shivered, forgetting that he had such a useful ability.
Erik slowly stepped out into the room so that he was hiding against the adjacent wall to the opening. Christine followed numbly, staying within the second tunnel. Whoever walked through the first, would not see him until it was too late. Nadir followed suit on the other side, his gun raised near his head. Christine peeked over the corner, her fingers trembling.
The footsteps grew louder until they suddenly stopped. The only thing Christine could hear was her ringing pulse.
"Nadir?" A hushed voice echoed throughout the room.
Nadir perked up. "Darius?" He pointed his gun towards the entrance, slowly stepping out to the center to gaze in the tunnel. A bright smile grew on his lips as he holstered his weapon.
"Darius, my boy! You finally caught up!"
Darius emerged from the darkness, a wry smile on his face. "You know it is difficult to keep up when you keep getting left behind."
Nadir laughed, pulling the young soldier into an embrace. Christine exhaled, her shoulders relaxing. She couldn't stop the large smile that formed on her face at the sight of the young deputy. Her fears of his demise quickly fizzled away and she covered her rapidly beating heart.
"Darius!" Meg exclaimed. She raced out of one of the tunnels, Jammes not far behind her. Sorelli joined them as the three of them pulled him into a tight embrace, nearly toppling him over in the process. Darius's eyes widened. His arms stiffened and unsure of what to do.
"Why, hello ladies." He chuckled nervously, doing his best to retain his normal, suave composure. "No need to fight, there is plenty of me to go around."
"Ever the humble one." Meg snickered before placing a chaste kiss on his cheek. "Don't let that go to your head. We are just relieve you are alive."
Darius's eyes widened to the size of saucers before he awkwardly shuffled away. "I um...uh."
The four women giggled as Darius's dark cheeks burned crimson. He looked away from the women, clearly not as charming as he had hoped.
"Oh Darius, I am glad to see that you are alright." Christine sighed, exiting the dark tunnel.
He shrugged, glancing around sheepishly. "It will take more than a little whack to get rid of me. Speaking of which, where is that bastard?"
Erik chuckled darkly, nodding towards Raoul's tunnel. The two vicomtes were nearly completely out of the tunnel, both freezing in their tracks at Darius's comment. Raoul gulped while Phillipe tried to broaden his chest threateningly.
Darius rolled up a sleeve. "If you are going to hit me, you better make sure that I don't get back up to return the favour."
Nadir leapt forward, laughing nervously as he held Darius back. "I am afraid you are late to the game my friend. The Angel of Death beat you to it." He gestured to Raoul's bruising cheek.
Darius sighed, dropping his hands. "Typical."
The four women giggled as the rest of the crew re-emerged. She glanced over to them expecting to see more joyous smiles at his arrival. Instead, she was perplexed by their open mouths and wide eyes. She followed their gazes. Two more men emerged from behind Darius. They were both gauntly thin, like skeletons wrapped in old skin and grey tufts of hair. They both wore rags, their feet bare against the stone. Christine frowned. How did they seem so familiar? Instead of joining Darius in the center of the circular room, they huddled against the back wall and avoided all eye contact. One of them glanced in her direction, their eyes widening before turning away.
She recognized those eyes immediately.
"F-Firmin?"
Her managers twitched at the sound of their names. They gripped onto each other as if letting go would cause them to fall into the pits of Tartarus. Christine nearly felt ill just looking at them. Long gone were the boisterous, plump managers that dined with royalty and thieves. Instead, they were just two mortified mice in a den of lions.
Madame Giry let out a choked sob, her hand coming up to cover her mouth. The rest of the crew stared in horror.
"What the hell happened to them?" Raoul asked.
Darius looked back at the two men he brought with them. He glanced around somewhat nervously. "They've been tortured nearly every day since their arrival." He stated somberly. "We tried to ensure everyone's safety but...the Shah was adamant..."
Christine couldn't tear her eyes off them. How long had it been since she had last seen them? Then they were clearly malnourished and neglected, but this was something different entirely. It was as if their humanity had been completely stripped from then, leaving them as weak and shivering skeletons.
"Firmin?" Madame Giry whispered, stepping closer slowly. "Andre? It is me, Antionette Giry." She outstretched her hand gently, stopping short of them. They both whimpered before stepping back against the wall.
"Who did this to them?" Carlotta asked. "Why, they are scared of their own shadows!"
"What on earth did that tyrant do to make them like this?" Louis questioned, holding onto a trembling Jammes. The group huddled around each other, all of them trying to fake warm smiles towards the managers. Madame Giry and Meg continued to speak softly to the managers, as if they could pull them out of the horrors in their minds.
Christine felt cold. Her body slowly turned on its own accord. Erik remained behind her, his arms folded across his chest as he leaned against the back of the wall. His eyes were focused on hers, ever as mysterious and unrevealing to his emotions. The exposed half of his face was the only indication that he was tense. She could see the muscles in his jaw as he held his thin lips together. What was causing him to act so strangely?
"Erik?" She questioned. She reached her hand out, encouraging him to join her, but he did not move. She furrowed her brow. "Is everything okay?"
His lips parted for just a moment, before returning back to their thin line.
"You..." Raoul whispered. "You did this."
Christine's head snapped towards Raoul. He stared at Erik, his hand covering his swelling cheek. His blue eyes fluttered over to her for just a moment. She searched them for any trace of jealousy or mal intention, but saw only fear.
"Don't be ridiculous." Christine snapped. "He is not the madman you keep labelling him."
Raoul didn't respond. Phillipe joined the crew in their fatal attempts to calm the managers. It left Christine standing in between her two dear friends, unsure of what to think. She looked back at Erik.
"Tell him, Erik."
Erik didn't say anything. His eyes studied her intently. He seemed so tense and rigid that he would snap at the slightest movement. Though his entire body was covered in porcelain and cloth, she could see his body trembling. Yet his eyes never left her, as if waiting to see what she would do. It caused her heartbeat to spiral downwards until she could barely breathe.
"Erik." She stated desperately. "You couldn't have. Tell him he is wrong."
Raoul appeared at her side. His good hand gently grabbed her upper arm. "Christine, I know you care for him but trust me, you need to step away from him."
She jerked her arm free. "All day you have bullied me around and I will take no more of it! You don't know him!"
"Then why doesn't he deny it!" Raoul hissed. Erik's eyes finally left her, glaring at the vicomte. She could see the muscles of his jaw tighten.
Erik finally opened his mouth. "You insolent-"
His words were interrupted by Firmin and Andre's screams. They collapsed on the ground, their eyes looking around frantically. They scanned the ceiling, the tunnels, until they finally found the Angel of Death. Their screams grew louder, more frantic as they shuffled away from him. Madame Giry tried to hold them close, cooing them softly to try and calm their screams. They gripped onto her and all the others that joined her in a mad attempt to distance themselves from the sound of Erik's voice.
Christine suddenly felt queasy. Her lips parted as she stared in horror. They heard his voice and screamed.
He is an assassin for the Shah!
Christine, I have done terrible things.
I am a monster.
Even good men have to obey orders.
She shook her head, all the clear signs blaring in her mind. He had warned her many times that he had done terrible things for the Shah, yet she had naively cast it aside. Her angel could not have done something like this. She looked over at Firmin and Andre, two completely different men than she had seen before. What kind of madness had they been subjected to at his hands? The same hands that could lull away her fears and create masterpieces on the piano.
The sound of footsteps caught their attention.
"Expecting any more guests?" Louis asked Nadir.
"It is coming from that tunnel." Phillipe stated, pointing towards the tunnel where they had hid Javad's corpse.
Nadir growled in frustration. "It is probably Javad's men, though this time I am sure there will be reinforcements. Come, we must hurry!" Nadir yelled. "Monsieur Phillipe, take your brother's gun and stay towards the back. Shoot at anything that isn't with us. Darius, help the vicomte de Chagny navigate these tunnels."
Darius scoffed. "Is there a different docile female that is in need of my attention?"
Nadir rolled his eyes, pulling Firmin to his feet. "Stop acting like a child and do as you are told! Everyone, quickly!"
Raoul waved his good hand. "Darius, help the others. I can make it on my own."
Darius gritted his teeth, clearly conflicted over taking orders from the vicomte and his desire to do exactly what he said. Instead, he wordlessly pulled Andre onto his back.
Nadir checked the group one last time before breaking off into a sprint down the tunnel. He led the way with Meg and Madame Giry at his side. The two women practically carried Firmin in between their arms while navigating down the tunnels. Carlotta and Piangi huffed behind them, their imprisoned and once pampered bodies struggling to keep up with all this running around. Gabriel and Louis struggled as well, though a nearly limp Ignacio draped across their shoulders did little to preserve their energy. Sorelli at first tried to stay with Phillipe, but he urged her to help Jammes with Sophia.
Christine couldn't tear her eyes away from Erik. She was still waiting for his gentle smile, his assurance that he did not cause the madness in Firmin and Andre's minds. Yet, they remained silent. She tried to decipher all his nonverbals; the way he hunched slightly or trembled occasionally when he inhaled. It wasn't until Nadir yelled for the crew to flee that Christine was able to turn and watch them. Each of them struggled to move forward. Though she wanted to help, her body was glued in place. If they did not reach the carriage soon, then there was no saying if any of them would make it. But she couldn't leave the aura of the man she loved...and feared.
Phillipe seemed to hold the same apprehension about the crew. He glanced over his shoulder. All that was left was his brother, her previous lover, and, in his eyes, a madman. His eyes scanned each of them before stepping forward. He took the gun from his brother wordlessly before turning towards the Phantom.
"I don't trust you." He hissed, pointing at his half-covered face. "But I am afraid I have no choice. Clearly you are a man of terrible violence. The crew will not be able to keep this pace for long and I cannot stop these men alone. Can I trust you to help me?"
Christine wiped away the tears that trickled down her face. Phillipe's words were a mere buzz in her ear. She forced herself to glance back over at Erik. His eyes had not left her, despite Phillipe's desperate plea. She didn't know what to say or what to think. More than anything she wanted to pull away that mask and interrogate the real him. She wanted to shower him in kisses and hold him tightly as if it could squeeze out all the darkness in his soul. What had he done that destroyed the very essence of those two men? Was that his intention or had the Shah forced this upon him?
She internally scolded herself. Of course this was the Shah's doing. He had told her many times how that tyrant had the upmost control over his leife., She had watched him struggle to break free, pretending to be a complete monster just to keep her safe. The same man that could make the muses bow with his music could not enjoy the pained screams of her managers. He just couldn't. She refused to believe that Erik found pleasure out of such a horrid act, but the fact he was capable scared her.
A series of distant gunshots from Javad's men caused her to flinch.
"Can I trust you?" Phillipe asked again, his voice growing more desperate.
Erik finally faced him. "Yes." He muttered. He stepped closer to Christine, stopping himself before he could touch her. She quickly stepped closer, closing the gap between the two of them. He swallowed, looking away from her. "I didn't want to." He whispered.
It was like a child asking for forgiveness from their mother. His eyes could not meet hers and his shoulder raised upward protectively. She bit her lip, knowing the truth all along. Poor angel of darkness, she thought, what kind of life have you known? Gently, she reached out to hold his hand. At first, his fingers flinched away, but she refused to loosen her grip. He shuddered at her touch.
"I know." She whispered.
He released a shaky breath, his voice cracking slightly. "I don't deserve your kindness."
Quickly, as if she would pull away, he brought her hand to his lips and planted a quick kiss on her knuckles. She wanted to hold him, though she didn't know why. Was it because she wanted to know that he was forgiven or because she was completely terrified of what he was capable of? She wondered if this was the worst thing he had done, or if it was just scratching the surface of the horrors he had committed.
"You have to go." He said softly. Christine felt her skin bristle at his words.
"No." She protested. "I-I want to stay."
"Christine." Raoul tried to interject, but Christine cut him off with the wave of her hand.
"I am not leaving you." She said sternly though her bottom lip trembled. Erik wiped away a tear that dribbled down her cheek.
"In the end, it is your choice." He said hollowly. "If you stay, I may not be able to protect you. You will have no weapon. There will be little you can do. But if you go, you can help your friends. Darius and Nadir will not be able to do it alone and this pup is too injured to catch up on his own."
"You are injured too." She countered. Though Erik had done a good job of hiding his pain, she could see the way he winced when he walked or the unusual way he ever-so-slightly hunched to the side when standing. The beating he had taken the night before clearly affected him more than he wanted to give off.
Erik sighed. "I am used to this. Physical pain is nothing compared to the idea of these men breaking through and getting to you. It will keep me going. You've seen what I can do..." His voice trailed, guilt staining his desperate words. "A monster is needed to stop them. You, little songbird, are not a monster."
Her face scrunched as she tried to hold in her tears. Her slight nod was the only sign that she surrendered to his pleas. He wasn't forcing her into anything but his wisdom could not be refuted. No matter how brave she felt, there would be little she could do to stop those soldiers.
A lone finger lifted her chin up to meet his eyes. She shook in her place, unsure of what she wanted to do. Erik acted quickly, cupping her cheeks as he placed a chaste kiss on her lips. It broke the little self control she had. Her arms instinctively cupped his cheeks, pulling him closer though he initially tried to pull away. The words burned in her throat. She wanted to let him know how much she loved him. She could pour her soul out right here, in case it was the last time they saw each other. Instead, she merely kissed him as passionately as she could in such a short period of time. Internally, she prayed he would understand. It didn't matter what horrors he had been forced to do in his past, she knew he was a better man.
Raoul groaned in agony against the wall, his jealous and furious tone clear to both of them. Christine pulled away quickly, slightly embarrassed by her outwardly action. Erik merely shot a furious glare in his direction.
"Go." Erik whispered. "I will find you again."
Christine sniffled. "Promise?"
He gave her a soft smile. "I swear it."
It wasn't much, but it was enough. She clung to his words, nodding solemnly. Erik took a deep breath, clearly relieved at her surrender. His demeanour quickly changed from the broken man she saw before her to that of a hardened general. He turned to Phillipe and pulled a Punjab lasso from his pocket. "You will have to keep them at bay with your weapon. Once they get closer, I can be more of an assistance. I vote that we continue moving back while they charge. If they realize there are only two of us, they may be more bold in their attack."
Phillipe nodded. He quickly began to reload his weapon. Erik turned to face Raoul, his jaw setting sternly at the sight of him. "Christine, get this pup out of here." He growled. "But do not get the wrong idea, little vicomte. I will catch up with you again."
Raoul said nothing, though his scowl said more than words could. Christine lifted Raoul's bad arm over her shoulders, letting him lean on her for support. She noticed how he pulled her in closer, but said nothing. She would be lying if she wasn't grateful for some form of comfort.
"Can you run?" Christine asked hollowly.
Raoul nodded. "I believe so. Phillipe, watch your back."
Phillipe nodded. "I will see you soon, brother."
Erik gave Christine a small smile, silently encouraging her to go. With tears in her eyes, she turned and led Raoul down the opposite tunnel towards the crew. The light from Nadir faded in front of them, but burned bright enough for her to run confidently through the darkness. It was only her tears that clouded her vision. Raoul was able to keep up, though their pace was slower than a sprint. His good hand cradled his jaw as they ran, though he began to lean on her less and less. It didn't take long for them to catch up.
"How far are we?" Gabriel panted from the back of the crowd.
"Not far!" Nadir yelled back. "Just hold on!"
Christine wasn't sure how much longer they had. Everyone seemed completely exhausted, their sprint turning into a sluggish jog. Christine wiped away the tears from her eyes. A distant series of shouts and gunshots erupted, causing her to flinch. She tried not to imagine the battle Erik was facing. All he had was his Punjab lasso against a group of soldiers with guns. How on earth was he going to do this? Raoul gripped her tightly, encouraging her to go on.
"They will be okay." He muttered. She looked up at him, expecting to see the same jealous scowl on his face as earlier. Instead, his features had softened. "He will be okay." Raoul begrudgingly admitted. She felt her lower lip tremble.
"Thank you." She sobbed. She turned back to focus on the group ahead. A large metal door formed in front of them and she could hear the group's sigh of relief. Nadir fumbled with the large circular wheel that locked them in. He and Darius grunted as they turned the rusted wheel. The rest of the crew leaned against the wall or keeled over in exhaustion. Christine struggled to keep it together. She wasn't sure what terrified her more, the complete desperation of her friends here of the sounds of war behind her with Erik in the middle. She didn't realize she was trembling until Raoul pulled her into a hug.
"He will be okay." He whispered over and over in her ear. She sobbed silently, grateful for his kindness. Her Raoul had always been kind and true. She could see how those words felt like acid on his tongue, but it was exactly what she needed to hear. The desperate brute that had dragged her here was just a misstep in his character. This was the Raoul she had always known.
God, she hoped he was right.
Suddenly, they were surrounded in light. Christine shielded her eyes with her hand. The brightness of the sun nearly blinded her after being in the dark for so long.
"You must stand!" Nadir begged the group. "Monsieur de Chagny! Please lead the way to the carriage."
Raoul pulled Christine forward, quickly manoeuvring through the weakened crowd. "It is just on the other side of the palace walls. Come on, everyone! Your freedom is so close!"
Christine wasn't sure who was helping who at this point. Her shivering limbs barely held her up. In fact, it was Raoul that pulled her into the sunlight. He led the way, the group following close behind.
They had entered a battle field. Bodies laid scattered along the gardens, some men fighting in the distance. The once white roses of the gardens were stained red with blood. Christine tried to ignore her surroundings as Raoul led them through a clear path towards the main gate. But she couldn't help but look around. The palace was on fire. Smoke spewed from the broken windows of the palace as flames flickered against some of the walls. She could just see the balcony outside of the Harem and gasped at the sight of flames that roared over it.
She returned her focus in front of them. On the other side of the road in front of the palace, a large crowd of people had gathered. They all stood in shock of the sight before them.
"Watch out!"
Raoul yanked Christine to the side as a burly man leapt from the bushes. He swung his blade downward, just missing her by inches. Raoul pulled Christine behind him as the man continued to slash in their direction.
"Raoul, no!" Christine screamed as he attempted to rush the man. But before the solider could attack. Darius leapt forward and lunged his blade into the man's chest.
Christine had to look away. The spray of blood made her want to hurl, but she swallowed it down.
"Keep going!" Darius ordered as more soldiers approached them from behind. Nadir took the dead man's blade as he and Darius fought off the new battalion behind them. Raoul pulled Christine along, leading the cast towards the gate.
"TOBIAS!" Raoul yelled.
A plump man appeared from around the corner of the gate entrance. He waved them down. "Hurry, monsieur! More soldiers are on their way!"
A carriage was an understatement. As Christine rounded the corner, she gasped at the sight before her. It looked more like the wooden wagons that carried criminals to the nearest prison. It was a giant wooden box with a pair of metal doors that were wide open. Inside she could see two rows of benches against the walls and small barred windows just above them. If they wanted to leave Persia undetected, she deduced, this would have to be the best way.
"Quickly! Everyone get in!" Raoul ordered. The two of them stood at the side of the opening, doing their best to help the crew climb into the wagon. So many of them were exhausted, their limbs too weak to climb up one step into the carriage. Firmin, Andre, Sophia, and Ignacio were helped in first. They were barely conscious, the madness of their flee too much for their frail bodies to handle. Louis and Gabriel did their best to help situate them in the room, though they themselves struggled to even lift tiny Sophia onto the bench.
Sorelli gripped onto Christine's arms, tears streaming from her eyes. "We cannot leave without Phillipe!" She cried hysterically. Christine tried to calm her, but the young ballerina could not stop crying. Madame Giry pulled her into the wagon, doing her best to calm her. Christine swallowed. They couldn't leave without Phillipe or Erik. But where on earth were they?
A loud explosion called them all to scream. Raoul leapt over Christine, shielding her from the little debris that flew over the palace walls. She buried her head against his chest until he finally rolled off her.
The flames now grew higher, the entire top half of the palace alight. Without thinking, she scurried to her feet. She may of had no weapon, but there had to be something she could do to save Erik. Raoul's arms quickly wrapped around her.
"No! It isn't safe, Christine!"
She was just about to smack the side of her head against Raoul's injured jaw to break free when a blur of black froze her in place. Erik, Nadir, and Darius all sprinted around the corner, sliding onto their backs as arrows and spears hurdled over them. Four large guards raced after them, swinging their swords in a bitter battle. Erik struggled to stand, though Darius was quick to leap in front of him and block a guard's attack. Christine recognized these men. They were the eunuchs that guarded the harem, warriors Erik had labelled as the best. She could only watch as he half crawled, half stumbled towards them.
"Get her out of here!" Erik yelled hoarsely.
Raoul ignored him. "Where is my brother?! What have you done to him!"
Erik turned quickly, throwing out his lasso as one of the eunuchs that attempted to charge him. Though the lasso snared around the man's neck, it didn't stop him from delivering a fierce kick to Erik's stomach. He cried out in pain as he yanked the cord, sending the soldier crumbling to his knees.
Darius raced towards them, pushing them towards the wagon. "You have to go! More guards are coming."
"No! I am not leaving without my brother."
Darius grabbed Raoul by the shoulders. "He is dead! You have to leave now before you all follow him to the grave!"
Raoul froze, his eyes widening. Christine gasped, her hand covering her mouth. Phillipe was dead?
Darius barely gave them time to process the news. He turned back towards the battle, barking one more order at them before leaving them behind. "Get out of here while you have the chance!"
Raoul did not hesitate. He lifted Christine onto the wagon. She screamed, pushing him away and leaping down onto the ground. "No! I am staying with him!"
Raoul did not speak. There was a mad desperation in his eyes that caused her to shiver. She opened her mouth to try and reason with him, but he nearly toppled her over as he tried to grab her. Her cries fell on deaf ears as he threw her back into the wagon. Her head smacked against the wood, blurring her vision for just a moment. But before Raoul could enter, she flailed her limbs about and landed a swift kick onto Raoul's chest. He cried out in pain as he collapsed onto the ground. That was where she left him as she sprinted ahead into the battle.
"Erik!" She screamed.
He stood hunched over a motionless eunuch, removing the lasso around his pale neck. At the sight of her, he visibly shook. He limped in her direction, pulling her into his arms.
"Christine, you have to get out of here!"
"I am not leaving you. I don't want to go back to France without you."
"Damn it, woman! It isn't safe here!"
"Which is why I am not leaving!" She cried. "I am not leaving you here. We go together or not at all!"
Erik panted heavily, staring at her with confusion. "Then stay back, near the crowd. I will grab Darius and Nadir and we will run into the city." She stood, ready to follow his direction, but he quickly grabbed her arm. "Are you sure, Christine? If we do this, we will never stop running. Don't you understand? This will never end. He can give you a life full of happiness and safety but I can bring you nothing but misery."
Christine didn't care what horrors faced her in the future. She didn't care if her life returned to its gloomy days on the streets. She had lived that life with her father. Though it was difficult, she sometimes wished she could return to those days. It was there that she felt the most loved. Her father was always with her. Even on the streets of Persia, she would survive. As long as Erik was by her side, she would be happy.
"I don't care how far we have to run as long that I run with you." Her palm pressed against his chest over his heart. He clasped her hand, sighing loudly.
"How could I tell you no?" He wept, pulling her into a deep kiss. Her eyes fluttered shut. The sound of screams and the clanging of metal faded around her as they made their silent promise. They would be together. Nothing could ever change that.
Erik groaned as he broke their kiss, gripping onto his side in pain. Christine quickly helped him to his feet. There were only two eunuchs left, both Darius and Nadir struggling to keep them at bay.
"Go to the crowd." Erik instructed. "If you are there, the eunuchs will not attack you, but you will be able to cover for us if anything happens."
She nodded quickly following his orders. Some of the people jumped as she approached, but Christine didn't care. She stood near a lamppost, turning to watch the battle before her. Every time a guard swung a blade in Erik's direction, she felt the urge to scream. He barely dodged them, his punches and kicks a mere desperate attempt to keep them away. When he fought last night, each of his moves were calculated and fine tuned. Now, they seemed more like he was throwing his limbs around and hoping they stuck.
Nadir released a loud scream before collapsing to the floor. A eunuch stood above him, his blade dripping with blood. Nadir cried out as he gripped his leg, his blade dropping to his side. Christine gasped. Her hand covered her mouth as his attacker raised his sword above his head.
"NO!" Darius screamed. He leapt forward, ready to knock down the eunuch with his blade. But the eunuch was prepared. Instead of swinging down onto Nadir, he spun around and lunged the blade directly into Darius's chest.
Christine screamed so loudly that she barely registered she had made a noise at all. She saw Nadir's mouth open wide, his own scream drowned out in the battle. Darius barely moved, his body completely frozen in an arch over the blade. Christine watched as his sword clattered against the ground. The eunuch pulled the blade free from Darius's body just before being pierced by Nadir's. The two of them collapsed at the same time.
Christine lost control of her body. She ran out to Darius's side, stumbling to a stop a few feet away. Her fingers trembled as Nadir's wails overtook her. He leaned over the young deputy, shaking his shoulders violently.
"Darius! Wake up! No, no, Darius!" He wailed, gripping onto his lifeless body. Nadir lowered his head against the deputy's bloody chest and howled in pain. Christine couldn't move. She stood over them her stomach flipping at the sight of Darius's hollow eyes staring into the nothingness.
When her vision went black, she initially did not fight it. Darius's eyes still haunted her vision. It caused her entire body to feel numb. Had she passed out? Had the blood just been too much for her to bear? But when she began to notice that she was being pulled backwards, she screamed. Something covered her eyes.
Before she could retaliate, she was thrown in the air. She smacked against something hard, her eyes finally free of whatever covered it. Her stomach dropped at the sight of Jammes, who sat on the wagon bench staring at her red-eyed.
No. No. NO!
Christine leapt to her feet, but Raoul had already closed the metal doors of the wagon. Christine ran forward, slamming her shoulder into them in an attempt to force them open. Instead, her should ached in a sharp pain as she collided with the barrier. She cried out, too frantic to stop her second attempt. Before her shoulder could smash into the door again, Raoul pushed her back. She slammed against the side door, but quickly regained her footing and reached for the handle.
It wouldn't budge. She pushed and pulled and did everything she could, but it would not move.
Raoul had moved past her towards the front of the carriage. He yelled through the small window to the drive. "Tobias! Get us out of here!"
"NO!" Christine screamed. The rustle of the wagon toppled her weakened limbs to the ground as it abruptly moved forward.
Everything blurred. Her vision could only process so much. The metal door, the look of desperation in Raoul's eyes. Her voice, though she knew she was screaming, seemed like a haunted whisper. The only thing she could feel was the tumultuous flip of her stomach as she realized what had happened.
He had dragged her back in here. After all she had said, all she had done, he had dragged her in here.
"Let me go! Raoul! Let me go!" She lunged towards him. He wasn't ready for her fists that smashed against his chest and nose. He yelped in pain, quick to pull her into a bear hug and pin her to the ground. She convulsed against him, screaming at the top of her lungs. Madame Giry, Gabriel, even Meg tried to calm her as she flailed desperately. But she refused to yield. They were going to run away together. They were going to survive this and finally be together. The room grew suffocating and she gasped for breath.
Raoul didn't say anything, though his pained eyes reflected a weak apology. She was wrong, so wrong. He was a brute. His actions were not some misstep in character, but a reflection of who he really was. "I hate you!" She wailed. "I hate you! Let me go! I love him! EERIIIK."
Then the world around her faded into darkness.
Don't hate me... A lot has happened in this chapter and I know you are not going to be happy with the ending. Just remember that this story isn't over yet! *hides and prays for forgiveness* See you guys on Sunday!
