Nope Moulin Rouge is still not mine...

Chapter IX: Escape the Underworld

"You're what?!?" Zidler boomed, still shocked at what she had said.

"We're leaving." She said with a smile. All she could think of was her new life, away, far away from the poverty of the Moulin Rouge.

"You're making a big mistake, Satine." He told her coldly. She ignored him and continued to pack her belongings. "Sa-"

"No!" Satine yelled, before Zidler could say anything else. "I don't need you anymore! All my life you made me believe I was only worth something when someone would pay for me!" Satine stopped and looked at him. "But Christian loves me! He loves me Harold!" She yelled stronger this time. "He loves me, and that is worth everything."

Zidler was silenced immediately. He never knew what Satine had felt. This wasn't just some infatuation. She stared at her only father figure she had known.

"Good bye Harold." Satine had everything packed and ready and was prepared to leave. She went over to Chocolat who was protectively waiting to escort her back to Christian outside. She said her final good-byes to Chocolat; one part in her life she would truly miss. Satine gave him a tight hug and kissed him in his cheek. Before someone put a strong arm on her, but it wasn't Christian. It was Zidler.

"Let me help you with that cherub." He said in a more coaxing tone. Christian looked at Satine and then stared slack jawed at Zidler. He could never figure that man out. "Hurry."

The two stepped out of the carriage that Zidler had sent out for them. Harold left them on the count of he remembered something very important that he had to do They had arrived at the very same train station Christian had used to get to Paris. Christian was out buying the tickets for their train when something caught Satine's eyes.

"Christian..." Satine said nervously.

"What is it darling?" He said turning to her.

"It's t-the Duke," She said trying to keep her voice calm.

'How did he know?' Christian though in surprise. He took Satine's hand and hurried towards the boarding train. 'If we make it on we'll be home free.' Christian though, as he tired to blend in with the crowd. He looked back to see if they were being followed.

Looking back was a huge mistake. The Duke immediately spotted the dark-haired boy and ordered Warner to get him. "Take out the boy." The Duke ordered his other manservant. At last, he would finally get rid of the damn writer. Warner ran towards the lover's direction, knocking several people along the way. The duke and his other manservant were not too far from him as usual.

"I think they spotted us." Satine said nervously to Christian. He was afraid of that. Christian moved behind Satine as they turned their jog into a run. Warner noticed and quickly hastened his pace. Without Satine knowing, something, rather someone pulled Christian back.

"Run, Satine!" She heard Christian say as she fell to the ground. Satine screamed when the Duke pulled her hair.

"Thought you could run away, my dear?" His lip curled up as he spoke. "And look over there..." He pointed to Christian. "...It's the writer!"

"Let her go!" Christian yelled, who was still on the floor.

"I already told you, she's my Sparkling Diamond!" He screamed his hair flopping.

"She's not some piece of property that you can just bargain for!" Christian fired back. Warner and his partner were still restraining him.

"Take this...thing out." The Duke said disgusted.

"Gladly." Warner said, reaching into his coat. He was about to pull out his gun when he heard someone yell,

"Stop! Police!"

The Duke jumped like a frightened puppy. "Blasted..." He then ordered Warner to take Satine. His other manservant lifted Christian off his feet and hit him hard in his chest. "We'll deal with him later.

"Christian!" Satine wailed to him.

"Satine..." He barely made out before passing out cold.

XXX

Christian woke up because of a rocking motion. He slowly opened his eyes and found himself nowhere near the train station.

"Oh, you're awake." Christian turned to his side as he heard Zidler's voice.

"Satine!" He suddenly remembered. "Where's Satine?" Christian demanded.

"She's with the Duke." Harold said in a calmly manner.

Christian was suddenly awake. "That bastard Duke took her!" His fist clenched, he looked around and that only agitated the poet even more. "Where are you taking me???"

"It's for the best..I'm taking yo— "

"What? The last time your said 'it was for the best', I got my arse kicked!" He looked at the floor and thought for a second, his still mind jumpy. "Wait...You're in it with him aren't you!" Christian threatened angrily before Zidler could even finish. "I can't believe you! So when money calls you come running? Wait..Or is it for the beloved Moulin Rouge?" Christian spat callously and without much thought.

"Christian I-"

"You want her away from me huh? Christian interrupted. "You know she loves! Why can't you just except the facts!"

Zidler was burning with fury. He gave Christian a sock in the head to wake him up. "Listen to me!" He ordered the boy to be quiet. Christian followed, feeling the bump on his head. "We're going to RESCUE Satine!"

"Oh..." Christian mumbled. His arms covering his face, tightly.

"Where going to one of his estates in Paris..." Harold continued to explain. "He took me up there one time. Very exclusive, very private. The perfect place to hide." The two men remained silent for several moments.

"I'm sorry Harold." Christian said disgusted in himself.

"You worry too much, she'll be alright." Zidler said in a friendlier manner.

Christian let out a small smile. Harold Zidler wasn't always that cold hearted, back stabbing, greedy man Christian thought he was. 'We're coming Satine...'

XXX

"Where are you my dear?" The Duke said in an oddly calm voice.

Satine made her way up the stairs and ran directly into a room. She knew Nini's old 'Get them where it hurts' method would come in handy one day. She navigated her way through the Duke's mansion no problem, remembering what she had learned when she first came here. She never thought in a million years, she'd be back in this hellhole, just a few weeks after her escape.

Christian would find her, she was sure of it. Satine hid under the wooden table and rolled herself into a tight ball. She heard the door open.

"Christian please find me soon..." She shut her eyes to block out the sure to come torture.

"Storm clouds may gather and stars may collide..." She whispered to herself.

XXX

...But I love you, until the end of time." Christian hummed to himself, to keep him from losing his sanity. He could see a huge mansion over the distance.

"You go in and find Satine, and I'll go get help..." Zidler continued to explain his plan. They were getting closer.

Christian got out of the carriage and ran straight for the door. 'Hopefully Warner wouldn't see him' he though as he saw the oaf lighting a cigar. He frantically turned the knob but I wouldn't open. It was locked.

He looked around trying to get an idea of how to get in. An open window caught his eye. "Perfect." Christian grinned as he went through, no one noticing.

"Psst...Satine!!" Christian whispered careful not to get any one else's attention. No answer. 'Where is she?' He thought to himself. This was the biggest mansion he had ever seen! There were so many doors; none of them seemed to be leading him to the right place though. He suddenly heard someone singing.

"Never knew I could feel like this like I've never seen the sky, before..." Where was it coming from?

"Want to vanish inside your kiss, everyday I love you more and more." He looked up; it seemed to be coming up the stairs.

"Listen to my heart can you hear it sing? Telling me to give you everything." He knew who it was...No one could sing that beautiful, it was her.

"Seasons may change, winter to spring, but I love you until the end of time." He tried to follow her voice her voice, but it was gone. After that he couldn't hear anything else. He began to panic. He flew up the stairs and tried to figure out which door would lead him to Satine. So many goddamn doors!

"Come what may...." He began to sing. "Come what may..." he began to sing louder and louder, until he heard the Duke scream "SILENCE!!!"

Christian's face turned a few shades whiter. Oh, God the Duke was with her...I'm coming Satine!

XXX

"SILENCE!!!" The Duke screamed as he tossed Satine to a corner. He couldn't stand that song. He couldn't stand that writer either. She was going to pay for it now. She made him believe that she loved him. And now she would understand his pain.

Satine looked up at the crazed Duke. He had that devious twinkle in his eyes, the one's she saw the day he took her...

They both were startled at the loud banging on the door.

"Don't you hurt her Duke!" Christian threatened from the other side, his voice cracked. He couldn't believe it. The Duke was on the other side... with Satine. He could be hurting her right this very moment and because of this fucking door, he couldn't do a damn thing about it!

The Duke returned to Satine and smiled. Satine looked around herself trying to find anything to protect herself from this lunatic.

She saw a large priceless vase. The Duke caught her eye and both attempted to grab it before the other...

Satine screamed as Christian heard a loud crash from the other side.

"Satine!!!" Christian screamed, panicking even more. Now he was even more desperate to open the door. He began forcing the door open with his body. Christian ran from the other end of the hall as he threw himself on the door. The door gave way and he immediately saw two bodies on the floor.

"Oh my God..." He slowly approached the two and saw Satine crying.

"S-satine, oh god...it's okay." Christian comforted her and slowly turned his attention to the unconscious Duke. Satine immediately latched onto Christian's arms.

"It's okay...it's okay..." He said, baffled himself. The two jumped at the sudden banging on the door downstairs. In a matter of moments Zidler and the cops were upstairs.

Satine sat on a chair as Christian explained to the cops what had happened. She looked outside the towering window and saw the doctor take the Duke away. She looked up as Christian put his coat over her shoulders.

Christian gave Harold a look and suppressed a smile as he stared at Satine. Zidler was right, she would be all right. Both lovers gave out a content sigh knowing it was all finally over.

"Let's go home?" Satine asked her poet.

He smiled at her. Everything would be all right. She was finally safe. There where no more pesky dukes, trying to kill them. Both could now walk down the streets, hand in hand, no longer afraid of being caught. No longer that infatuation between the lead actress and the young writer. But the unbreakable bond and love between a beautiful Courtesan and her Penniless Poet.

XXX

I can't believe it! It's finally over!!!! [throws party] naw we have 1 last chapter to go through...the epilogue! Dun dun dun well your reviews made it all worth it for me! I enjoyed writing this! What did you think? Please tell me it was worth you time!

I'm starting on another one but I'm not sure when its gonna happen...check out my site to find out when it happens... xanga[dot]com/tonicboom1 there the one's who usually know what's happening my online journal with a whole lotta Ewan pics!

Song(s) used: Come What May- David Baerwald!