Chapter 17: A Kidnapping-Again! (Subtitled: Will Someone Please Tell My Muse to Stop with the Kidnapping Plots!)
Caroline sprawled out on her bed in her apartment. Once again, she held her left hand out to admire her engagement ring and giggled. That morning, the doctors told her Guilliame wouldn't have to go to England after all and released him that afternoon. Erik took Guilliame back to the lair for recovery. After that night's performance, Caroline, Carly, Adair, and the Gemini retreated to Caroline's apartment to discuss wedding plans. The four girls left a few minutes ago, when Estella had awoken with a nightmare. The girl now slept on the opposite side of Caroline's bed.
Caroline turned off her lamp, covered Estella better and went to put away the wine glasses the girls had used that night. As Caroline crossed the living room, a soft tapping came to her parlor window. Unnerved, Caroline put the glasses down and inched carefully towards the window. On a second thought, she grabbed one of the glasses to use as a weapon and then opened the window. A cloaked figure tumbled in. When he stood up, Caroline could see it was the Opera Ghost himself. "Erik!" she exclaimed, putting down her wine glass. "What are you doing climbing my apartment's trellis at this hour of the night?" she asked. "Did you read the newspaper today?" he asked. All the anger Caroline had felt earlier in the day resurfaced as she replied in the affirmative.
She walked over to her table and picked up the paper. "Vicomte Escapes Paris Prison," she re-read. "How could they let him escape?" she asked, not seeking an answer. Erik understood this and approached her. "But the Captain is still in prison," he reminded her. "Which makes no sense," Caroline exclaimed. "But the Captain has no ties to Christine." Caroline could hear the bitterness in Erik's voice. "Christine?" she asked. "What happened?"
"She's gone."
"Gone? You mean Raoul kidnapped her?"
"Apparently. There was no note, no one close to her knows anything, and her apartment is a mess," Erik explained. "If he could kidnap you, who says he could not kidnap Christine?" Caroline smiled weakly. "I dated a serial kidnapper." Erik squeezed her shoulder.
Erik then got to the real reason why he was in Caroline's apartment. "Guilliame sent me to get you and Estella. He's worried that if Raoul has already kidnapped Christine, he may try to get you two as well. He wants me to bring you to the lair until the Vicomte is back behind bars." Caroline nodded. She found a piece of paper and scribbled a note addressed to Carly. She then went into the bedroom to pack for her and Estella. "Erik? Could you come back here and help me with Estella? She's asleep," she called. Erik went to the bedroom, wrapped Estella in a cloak Caroline handed him, and hoisted her up. Caroline picked up her bags after wrapping a cloak around her and nodded to Erik.
The group walked down the dark streets of Paris to the Opera House. Caroline slowly walked down the path that lead to the lair, so that she could take Estella from Erik when they reached the boats. Erik pushed the boat off from shore and it glided over the black lake. On the other side, Guilliame stood there waiting for them, leaning on his crutches. His worried expression transformed to one of relief when he saw Caroline. He eagerly took Estella from the boat and helped Caroline out. The two embraced, careful not to squash Estella.
After placing Estella in bed, Guilliame led Caroline to his room. Once he closed the door, Caroline leaned in for a passionate kiss. The two broke apart after awhile. Guilliame said, "I'm glad you two are here with me so I can make sure nothing happens to either of you." Caroline smiled. "Don't worry about me and Estella now. Let's worry about Christine; she is the one Raoul kidnapped." Guilliame nodded. "I know Erik is concerned for her. HE never stopped loving her. I want to help him, especially after he got you two for me."
"We'll help him find and rescue her plus send Raoul back to prison where he belongs!" Caroline declared. "Alright, Caroline. But first, go to bed," Guilliame mocked-ordered.
Caroline a little disoriented when she awoke the next morning. Her immediate concern was why there was another body sleeping next to her. Then she remembered about being in the lair, sleeping next to Guilliame. She rolled over and gazed at him. He was still sleeping, his blonde hair sticking out in all directions. She smiled at the sight, kissed his scarred forehead and got out of bed. She quickly dressed herself and hurried out of the room. Her new concern was for her adopted daughter, who had slept through the entire trip to the lair.
But Estella was fine; in fact, she seemed very happy to be back in the lair. She sat with Erik, Madame Giry and Meg at the table, silently eating her breakfast and listening intently. Caroline rushed forward to hug Estella good morning. "Maman!" the little girl said, throwing her arms around Caroline. "Grandpere, Madame and Mademoiselle Giry are talking about Aunt Christine and Master Dean," Estella said. Caroline smiled at Estella's inability to break the habit of calling Raoul "Master Dean" yet easily had started calling Erik "Grandpere" on her own. "Well, I have to talk to them too, so why don't you go and finish the book Aunt Carly bought you?" Caroline suggested. Estella nodded and bounced into her room.
"So what are we going to do?" Caroline asked. "Right now, try and find her," Meg replied. "But there was no note, no nothing giving us any clues," Erik said. "For all we know, Raoul could've taken her to another country by now."
"Like he did with me," Caroline interjected. "So, do we have any way of contacting any countries Raoul might flee to?" Her question was met with silence. "Do we know where Raoul might flee to?" No answer yet again. "What do we know?" she asked. "We know we will need a plan," Erik said. "Not to be taken the wrong way, Erik, but that won't help if we don't know where she is," Guilliame called out. He hobbled out of his room. Madame Giry tutted and scolded, "You should be off that foot!" Guilliame hobbled to the table and sat down. "I'm fine. So, what's my part?"
"Apparently criticizing me."
"I was just stating the truth."
"Will you two stop?" Caroline snapped. Erik sighed. "Besides, Guilliame, your foot. What could you do?" Guilliame looked downcast. "Nonsense," Caroline responded. "He can help." Everyone looked at her, but only Meg saw where Caroline was going. "Of course he can help! We need someone to stay here with Estella," Meg said. "Carly or any of the other girls can do that," Guilliame retorted. "Myrcel doesn't like it if more than one of us is out at a shot. If I'm not there, the others still have to go on," Caroline explained. "Besides," Madame Giry said, catching on, "you can alert the police if we aren't back within a set amount of time. A back-up of sorts." Guilliame nodded.
Estella came running out of her room. "Maman! Maman!" she cried, jumping into Caroline's lap. "What's the matter?" the mother asked. "Will Aunt Christine be all right?" Estella asked. "Of course, we are trying to get her back safely as we speak," Erik said. "Then why does the note in my book say she is going to be hurt?" The little girl's question caused an uproar at the table. Meg slipped into Estella's room and retrieved the said note. "Caroline, it's addressed to you," the ballerina said. Caroline opened the letter and began to read it aloud:
"Dear Caroline,
"As you already know, I've escaped from jail. Do not worry about how this note falls into your hands. I've kidnapped my wife. We will enjoy the countryside manor while we await you. Of course, if you don't come to the address written on the back within the next forty-eight hours of learning of my escape, I will kill Christine. When you come, bring a suitcase full of your valuables. We will immediately return to New York and live out the rest of our lives as Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dean, with Mrs. Dean's sister Miss Arnold. See you soon. Raoul."
Caroline turned the piece of paper over to read the address. "Fremont Manor, Sixty-one fifty-two Louis Boulevard, Ville de Sainte," Caroline read. "Where is that?" Guilliame sighed. "It looks like Jean-Philippe was able to help Raoul." Everyone looked at him. "My last name is Fremont," he explained. "It's my father's manor." Caroline shoved the piece of paper towards her fiancé and picked up one of Erik's pens. "Write out directions to this manor," she instructed. She turned to the rest of the group. "Time is running out. Erik and I will go to Fremont Manor to save Christine from Raoul's temporary insanity."
"Temporary?"
"No interruptions, please! Madame Giry, you go to the police and send Meg with them. Guilliame, write a spare set of directions as well. Everyone understand their part?"
"What will you and Erik do once you get there?" Madame Giry asked. "Improvise. After all I am the Phantom of the Opera," Erik responded, a glimmer in his eyes.
As everyone prepared to leave, Caroline hugged Estella. "Now, you be good for Guilliame," she told her daughter. "I will, Maman," Estella said. Next, Caroline kissed Guilliame. She looked at him and suddenly remembered something. "When Jean and Pierre come tell them I probably won't make it, but not to worry, okay?" Guilliame agreed. "Good luck," he said, kissing her again. With that, Caroline left the lair with Erik.
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A/N: Thanks for the reviews! Did everyone have a nice Thanksgiving? I did anyway. So, look for the next chapter coming soon! This one took a while because of different reasons: my Theology term paper, my AP Government paper from hell, college applications, and the fact that our school newspaper (which I am on) can finally run an issue. ~*Mac*~