*A/N* I don't own the song Come What May, which is used here. Lonely Girl
by Pink is also used.
Out of the Darkness. The End is Here
The room was dark, save for a thick stream of light emitting from the barred window near the ceiling. A musty smell reigned in the basement room, but Satine barely noticed. She was too engrossed in her lecture to pay much attention to anything.
She sat in the darkest corner, hoping the darkness would hide her from the duke. She held a crumpled piece of paper and barely made out the words Christian had written her. He was sorry, he was disgusted with himself, he didn't know, and he loved her.
Tears ran down her cheeks as she read his words for the thousandth time. She was sorry too. She hadn't meant to direct what she said towards him, but it was as if she got stuck in one of her nightmares and couldn't get out. Just like now.
At the bottom of the page was their song typed from beginning to end.
"Come what may, I will love you, until my dying day," she sang the words.
The loud clang of the door made her jump to her feet.
"Shut up!" the duke threatened from the doorway. He couldn't stand to hear that song.
Satine let herself slide to the floor, shaking. She didn't stop singing. Somewhere in her mind, she felt Christian could hear her, and she needed something to cling to. Something that made her feel safe.
"SHUT UP!" the duke yelled, his face turning red and his hair flopping over his eyes. He took a step forward and the light enveloped him. Satine saw the crazed look in his eyes, that first begun on the night in the Gothic Tower, and never left.
His attention was suddenly diverted to the paper Satine was holding. She tried to hide it, but it was too late. He wanted that paper.
"Give me that."
Satine shook her head and held the paper close to her heart. She wasn't about to give up her security blanket to the duke.
"Give me that," he repeated more furiously. She still refused.
The duke approached her, and she knew what was coming next. "Christian, help me!" her mind screamed before the numbness took over.
***
"Christian, help me!" he heard in his mind as the words shook him awake.
"Satine!" Christian screamed as he shot up. Where was he?
The faint sound of horse hooves answered his silent question. He wiped the sweat off his forehead with his sleeve. He felt Harold strong hand on his shoulder.
"Is she alright?" he asked, a little paler than usual.
"He's hurting her," Christian answered, his voice breaking. He looked out the window in attempt to compose himself. What he saw, however, only served to further agitate him.
They were nowhere near the city of Paris. He saw rolling hills, a blue sky, and immense fields. Not Paris.
Christian turned to Harold, angry beyond words. "You're in this with the duke, aren't you!" he demanded. "You want her hurt. You want her away from me!"
"No I'm not!" Harold tried to explain, while attempting to release the poet's hands from his collar. When Christian wouldn't listen, he pushed him off and bellowed, "LISTEN TO ME!"
Christian was stunned enough to do as Harold said.
"There are no hills in Paris, but on the outskirt. We're on the countryside, and I think this is where the duke's mansion is. It's peaceful and secluded out here, just like he would want it. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you distrusting yourself," Harold softened. "You're Satine's only hope."
The two men fell silent. The only sounds were of the horse pulling the carriage.
"Harold, I'm sorry," Christian apologized.
"Don't be. We're all worried about her."
A large, looming building distracted them from further conversation.
"There it is," Harold whispered.
They exited the carriage and advanced slowly towards the mansion, gaping. It was the biggest house either of they had ever seen!
"How do we find her in there?" Harold asked himself, almost angry.
"I know where," Christian answered him, his voice ghostly soft.
"You find her, I'll get help."
Harold's words barely registered. He could feel her pain, and it was taking over his head. "Still I curl up, right under the bed, 'cause it's taking over my head, all over again..." he whispered. "Come what may..."
Suddenly, he noticed the door was slightly open. "You're getting careless, duke." After checking if the way was clear, Christian slid through the opening quietly. There was no one in sight. Not even Warner.
He navigated the house like he'd been living there all his life. He knew Satine was guiding him. The pain was gone, and was replaced by fear.
Christian froze on his tracks. Footsteps were coming from the other side of the door he was about to open. He quickly hid behind a table and prayed the duke wouldn't see him.
"Mine. She's mine now, Christian," a deranged voice whispered. Christian risked a quick peek. The duke was holding a crumpled piece of paper. "Mine."
The duke left, leaving the door to the basement conveniently open. Christian rushed down the stairs to another door. This one was locked, with the key still in the bolt. Christian turned the key and the door creaked open obediently.
Satine sat in the corner, rocking herself back and forth. Through her sobs, Christian could make out a song. Their song.
"Satine!" he exclaimed, and she jumped.
He rushed to her and gathered her in his arms while she cried. "Shh it's okay. I'm here now. You're going to be alright." He felt her nod against him as he rocked her.
Tears of relief formed in his eyes. He stroked her matted red hair, grateful that she's still alive. She pulled herself as close to him as possible, and he enveloped her with his arms.
"You're okay now. I won't let him hurt you anymore."
Satine looked up at him, her eyes red and swollen from crying. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean what I said. It was like a nightmare and I couldn't get out and I didn't know what to do...", she rambled.
Christian silenced her. "It's okay. It doesn't matter now. All that matters is that we're together again."
She nodded and kissed him lightly.
"I have to get you out of here," he told her urgently, remembering where they were.
Christian helped her up, carefully avoiding bruises. Her face was once again scratched and swollen, as was the rest of her broken body. "Can you walk?"
The door suddenly creaked shut. The lovers looked in shock at the person staring back at them.
"You're not going anywhere, writer," the duke said, fingering the gun he held.
Satine fearfully clung to Christian, who stared at the duke venomously. Before anyone had the chance to say anything else, a loud crash emitted from the first story. All three looked at the ceiling, listening to the herd of heavy footsteps.
"Police!" they heard someone yell. Christian's heart leapt with joy. Harold had gotten the police!
His happiness was soon extinguished once he remembered the duke had a gun, and was very capable of shooting them.
"She... won't... be... mine..." the duke said, an unpleasant realization dawning. A crazed smile slowly spread on his face. His eye twitched.
The footsteps were nearing closer; the policemen were in the room above the staircase.
"I won't be caught," the duke whispered. He slowly lifted his arm.
The army of footsteps drew nearer, down the stairs. The gun was now touching the duke's forehead.
"I won't be caught... The end is here."
He pulled the trigger. The creaky door burst open, revealing a horde of armed police officers, and Harold standing behind them. Satine screamed and buried her face in Christian's neck.
The duke fell to the ground with a dull thud. The clatter of the fallen gun echoed around them. Harold, pale-faced, bent down to checked the duke's pulse.
"He's dead."
Two officers picked up the body and carried it outside. Christian simply stood staring, numb.
"He won," he mumbled. "He was never caught."
Satine cried against him.
"It's all over now," he soothed. "We can go home. It's over now..."
*A/N* As you might have guessed, this is... duh duh duh... the end! But don't worry, there will be an epilogue to explain what needs to be (and maybe a sequel... ehehe). PLEASE let me know what you think (of the fic and the possibility of a sequel). BIG thanks to all the reviewed (I count 79 now!!!!), you guys really brightened my day and gave me a reason to continue this fic. Thanks again!!! :)
Out of the Darkness. The End is Here
The room was dark, save for a thick stream of light emitting from the barred window near the ceiling. A musty smell reigned in the basement room, but Satine barely noticed. She was too engrossed in her lecture to pay much attention to anything.
She sat in the darkest corner, hoping the darkness would hide her from the duke. She held a crumpled piece of paper and barely made out the words Christian had written her. He was sorry, he was disgusted with himself, he didn't know, and he loved her.
Tears ran down her cheeks as she read his words for the thousandth time. She was sorry too. She hadn't meant to direct what she said towards him, but it was as if she got stuck in one of her nightmares and couldn't get out. Just like now.
At the bottom of the page was their song typed from beginning to end.
"Come what may, I will love you, until my dying day," she sang the words.
The loud clang of the door made her jump to her feet.
"Shut up!" the duke threatened from the doorway. He couldn't stand to hear that song.
Satine let herself slide to the floor, shaking. She didn't stop singing. Somewhere in her mind, she felt Christian could hear her, and she needed something to cling to. Something that made her feel safe.
"SHUT UP!" the duke yelled, his face turning red and his hair flopping over his eyes. He took a step forward and the light enveloped him. Satine saw the crazed look in his eyes, that first begun on the night in the Gothic Tower, and never left.
His attention was suddenly diverted to the paper Satine was holding. She tried to hide it, but it was too late. He wanted that paper.
"Give me that."
Satine shook her head and held the paper close to her heart. She wasn't about to give up her security blanket to the duke.
"Give me that," he repeated more furiously. She still refused.
The duke approached her, and she knew what was coming next. "Christian, help me!" her mind screamed before the numbness took over.
***
"Christian, help me!" he heard in his mind as the words shook him awake.
"Satine!" Christian screamed as he shot up. Where was he?
The faint sound of horse hooves answered his silent question. He wiped the sweat off his forehead with his sleeve. He felt Harold strong hand on his shoulder.
"Is she alright?" he asked, a little paler than usual.
"He's hurting her," Christian answered, his voice breaking. He looked out the window in attempt to compose himself. What he saw, however, only served to further agitate him.
They were nowhere near the city of Paris. He saw rolling hills, a blue sky, and immense fields. Not Paris.
Christian turned to Harold, angry beyond words. "You're in this with the duke, aren't you!" he demanded. "You want her hurt. You want her away from me!"
"No I'm not!" Harold tried to explain, while attempting to release the poet's hands from his collar. When Christian wouldn't listen, he pushed him off and bellowed, "LISTEN TO ME!"
Christian was stunned enough to do as Harold said.
"There are no hills in Paris, but on the outskirt. We're on the countryside, and I think this is where the duke's mansion is. It's peaceful and secluded out here, just like he would want it. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you distrusting yourself," Harold softened. "You're Satine's only hope."
The two men fell silent. The only sounds were of the horse pulling the carriage.
"Harold, I'm sorry," Christian apologized.
"Don't be. We're all worried about her."
A large, looming building distracted them from further conversation.
"There it is," Harold whispered.
They exited the carriage and advanced slowly towards the mansion, gaping. It was the biggest house either of they had ever seen!
"How do we find her in there?" Harold asked himself, almost angry.
"I know where," Christian answered him, his voice ghostly soft.
"You find her, I'll get help."
Harold's words barely registered. He could feel her pain, and it was taking over his head. "Still I curl up, right under the bed, 'cause it's taking over my head, all over again..." he whispered. "Come what may..."
Suddenly, he noticed the door was slightly open. "You're getting careless, duke." After checking if the way was clear, Christian slid through the opening quietly. There was no one in sight. Not even Warner.
He navigated the house like he'd been living there all his life. He knew Satine was guiding him. The pain was gone, and was replaced by fear.
Christian froze on his tracks. Footsteps were coming from the other side of the door he was about to open. He quickly hid behind a table and prayed the duke wouldn't see him.
"Mine. She's mine now, Christian," a deranged voice whispered. Christian risked a quick peek. The duke was holding a crumpled piece of paper. "Mine."
The duke left, leaving the door to the basement conveniently open. Christian rushed down the stairs to another door. This one was locked, with the key still in the bolt. Christian turned the key and the door creaked open obediently.
Satine sat in the corner, rocking herself back and forth. Through her sobs, Christian could make out a song. Their song.
"Satine!" he exclaimed, and she jumped.
He rushed to her and gathered her in his arms while she cried. "Shh it's okay. I'm here now. You're going to be alright." He felt her nod against him as he rocked her.
Tears of relief formed in his eyes. He stroked her matted red hair, grateful that she's still alive. She pulled herself as close to him as possible, and he enveloped her with his arms.
"You're okay now. I won't let him hurt you anymore."
Satine looked up at him, her eyes red and swollen from crying. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean what I said. It was like a nightmare and I couldn't get out and I didn't know what to do...", she rambled.
Christian silenced her. "It's okay. It doesn't matter now. All that matters is that we're together again."
She nodded and kissed him lightly.
"I have to get you out of here," he told her urgently, remembering where they were.
Christian helped her up, carefully avoiding bruises. Her face was once again scratched and swollen, as was the rest of her broken body. "Can you walk?"
The door suddenly creaked shut. The lovers looked in shock at the person staring back at them.
"You're not going anywhere, writer," the duke said, fingering the gun he held.
Satine fearfully clung to Christian, who stared at the duke venomously. Before anyone had the chance to say anything else, a loud crash emitted from the first story. All three looked at the ceiling, listening to the herd of heavy footsteps.
"Police!" they heard someone yell. Christian's heart leapt with joy. Harold had gotten the police!
His happiness was soon extinguished once he remembered the duke had a gun, and was very capable of shooting them.
"She... won't... be... mine..." the duke said, an unpleasant realization dawning. A crazed smile slowly spread on his face. His eye twitched.
The footsteps were nearing closer; the policemen were in the room above the staircase.
"I won't be caught," the duke whispered. He slowly lifted his arm.
The army of footsteps drew nearer, down the stairs. The gun was now touching the duke's forehead.
"I won't be caught... The end is here."
He pulled the trigger. The creaky door burst open, revealing a horde of armed police officers, and Harold standing behind them. Satine screamed and buried her face in Christian's neck.
The duke fell to the ground with a dull thud. The clatter of the fallen gun echoed around them. Harold, pale-faced, bent down to checked the duke's pulse.
"He's dead."
Two officers picked up the body and carried it outside. Christian simply stood staring, numb.
"He won," he mumbled. "He was never caught."
Satine cried against him.
"It's all over now," he soothed. "We can go home. It's over now..."
*A/N* As you might have guessed, this is... duh duh duh... the end! But don't worry, there will be an epilogue to explain what needs to be (and maybe a sequel... ehehe). PLEASE let me know what you think (of the fic and the possibility of a sequel). BIG thanks to all the reviewed (I count 79 now!!!!), you guys really brightened my day and gave me a reason to continue this fic. Thanks again!!! :)