Disclaimer: Don't own it…
Will Erik and Christine be rescued? Read and find out! This story's beginning to wind down, only a few chapters left!
Enjoy!
The Black Knight, part 2
Erik opened his eyes, darkness engulfed him. A cold chain surrounded his wrists, sending fear and panic careening through him. "Mother!" he screamed. "Mother!"
A pair of arms went around him. "Shh, it's okay, I'm here." Christine whispered. She felt him shudder against her body.
Erik nuzzled his head into her chest; tears cascaded from his eyes, soaking his mother's shirt. "I'm sacred Mother. What's going to happen to us?"
Christine sighed. "I don't know, son. I don't know."
Erik sniffed. "Will Father come save us?"
She rubbed her son's face. "I do hope so. If I know him, he'll be here soon." Erik held her tightly.
Christine looked up into the darkness, hoping to see that strange pair of yellow eyes glancing down at her. But they weren't there.
'Erik,' she thought. 'I need you. Please, my Angel. Come to your Angel of Music.'
She closed her eyes and let the darkness engulf her again. She fell asleep as his voice came to her again.
"God has wadged his price, so stand and watch it burn. They've past the point of no return."
In another part of the Opera HouseBlood seeped from a cut in his forehead, the strike of the gun still blazed. "I'll ask you again. Where is the Phantom?" a man yelled.
Raoul looked at him. "I may not like the man, but I an no traitor. You want to find him, you do it."
Raoul was striked again, the pain in his jaw exploded. "Fine then. Your precious Countess and Viscomte will meet their maker!" He snapped his fingers. "Joseph, William! Finish the Count off and make it look like an accident."
Raoul's eyes grew wide with fear. Joseph and William grinned. "Of course, sir." The door was slammed shut as they walked towards the helpless Count. "Well, looks like you've run out of luck, Count." Joseph raised a gun to Raoul's temple as William held his mouth shut.
Suddenly the room went dark, Joseph fell silent. "Joseph, pull the trigger." William chuckled. No response came from Joseph. "Joseph, pull the goddamn t—"
Raoul felt William's hands go cold fell away from him. His hands suddenly became free as the gentle glide of a sword cut the rope. "Thank you." Raoul said.
A few candles around the room were relit as Raoul saw his rescuer. "Phantom." The Count's eyes narrowed.
"Erik." he said. "Call me Erik."
"I'd prefer Phantom." Raoul challenged. He only called his friends by their first name, and the Phantom was certainly not on a friendly basis.
"Whatever you want. Now, tell me. Where are they?" the asked.
Raoul gave him a look. "Where is who?"
Erik put his sword up to Raoul's throat. "I could kill you with the flick of my wrist, but you know where Christine and my son are. I heard Gaston telling you a few minutes ago."
Raoul recalled the moments before his life would end. "Why should I tell you? You stole my wife and my son away from me." He felt the tip of the sword make an indent in his skin.
"You try my patience, Mousier." Erik said darkly. "Tell me where Christine and Erik are." He twisted the sword around, earning a painful glance from the Count. "Or I could have your blood on my hands as well."
Raoul knocked the sword from the Phantom's hand. "As long as they're safe, that's all I care about." Raoul stated. "I'll tell you where they are," He extended his hand out to Erik, creating a truce. "on one condition."
Erik eyed the Count as he holstered his sword. "What would that be?"
"You leave Christine and Erik alone, never bother us again." Raoul stated.
Erik stared at the Count, his eyes wide.
In their room
Christine was awoken as a beam of light cut through the darkness. Erik stirred in her arms. Someone grabbed them and shoved them out into the light.
"Come now, the Countess and her son have a public notice to announce." A voice said as blindfolds were placed over their eyes, leading them somewhere.
"Why are you doing this?" Christine asked.
"You rich folks think you can outwit us, don't you? Taking money and food away from our children? I have some private business with the Count that must be settled."
Christine felt herself be pushed into another room, her son crashing into her. "For now, Countess. You shall be here, until it is time."
The door was shut abruptly as Erik and Christine sat there, trying to figure out a way to escape.
In Christine's dressing room
Erik stared at him, no words came to mind.
"Do we have a deal?" Raoul asked. Erik was speechless. How could he abandon the woman he loved, and his son? "Do we have a deal, Phantom?" Raoul asked again.
This was the most difficult decision he's ever had to make, and the most painful one. But Erik and Christine's lives depended on it. He raised his hand slowly and grasped Raoul's. "Deal." He said solemnly.
"All right, listen up." Raoul said. "They're in the hallway that's just above the scenery room…"
1 hour later
"It's time, Countess." Gaston said. Christine felt herself being pulled up, and Erik being dragged behind her.
The darkness was cut by a light as Gaston pulled them out. "Listen up, Phantom!" His voice echoed through the hall. "I have something you may want."
"Help! Father!" Erik shouted loudly. Gaston smacked him across the face as he fell back.
"Erik!" Christine called. "Please, don't hurt him!" she begged.
"Let him alone!" the doors burst open as Raoul burst through, a gun in hand. Gaston gasped.
"How did you escape?" Gaston yelled furiously.
A voice boomed over the chaos. "I have set him free. I shall do the same to you, only if you release Christine and Erik."
"Phantom!" Gaston yelled. "Show yourself!" There was no response. "Weapons ready, men. Be prepared to expect the unexpected." The sounds of guns loading echoed through the house.
"Give up, Gaston. You won't win." Raoul called.
"Just watch me!" He aimed his gun towards Raoul. "You will be the first to—" His jaw popped as he fell to the ground.
"You shall have to go through me first!" the Phantom jumped down, sword drawn.
"Kill him!" Gaston yelled. "KILL HIM!"
About ten men charged towards Erik, who disappeared into a cloud. A hole appeared in the floor as he fell through it and down into a room. All ten jumped down, the trap closed behind them.
On stageGaston held Erik by the neck. Christine was brought up behind him, her eyes full of hear.
"Phantom!" Gaston yelled. "I know you're here! Show yourself!" The ceiling remained quiet. Gaston grew angrier and grabbed the boy by this throat. The blade of his sword pressed slightly to the boy's skin as Erik held his breath. "Do you want this boy's blood on your hands?" he yelled furiously.
Below the stage, the Phantom snickered. After finding the trap door that Erik was seated on, he slipped a note through the crack. Erik felt hit rub against his leg. He watched as Gaston yelled again, cursing the Phantom for being a coward. He slowly opened the letter and read it.
Erik-Don't let your arms get caught. Close your eyes and stay silent. I shall not come to you. You will come to me.
Erik read the note curiously. Suddenly the lights went out again. He felt the floor beneath him drop as he was robbed of his breath. He began to fall, but didn't stop. He finally landed in a pair of arms.
"Erik," a voice said. The boy saw he had landed in Raoul's arms. "are you okay?"
"Yea," he dusted himself off. "I'm okay." He glanced around to see that someone was missing. "Where's father?"
The Phantom suddenly burst through the door and fell to the floor. "Father!" Erik called. He ran towards him but stopped abruptly.
A white mask lay near him, parts of it covered with blood. Erik saw his father's face. His whole face. He reached out and touched the misshaped figure. "What happened to you?" he whispered.
His father suddenly jumped. "Do you want nightmares, my dear boy?" he said harshly.
Erik didn't move. "Your face, it doesn't scare me, Father." He saw the dismay in his father's eyes. The Phantom grabbed his mask and cleaned it of the blood, then placed it back on his face.
"Phantom!" Gaston's voice reached down below. "Show yourself, you coward!"
He looked up. "I must go. Count, Erik, stay here." He began to walk up the stairs, but fell.
"Father, you are not well." Erik said.
"Stay here." He commanded and put more authority in his voice.
Erik tried to reach towards him, but Raoul stopped him. "Let him go, Erik." Raoul looked at the Phantom. "He will save your mother, I don't doubt that." The Phantom looked at Raoul.
Was that a compliment?
Raoul removed his sword from his side. "Here," he tossed the belt towards the Phantom. "you will need it more then me." He grabbed it, and reluctantly clipped it around his waist.
"I will save her, I promise." The Phantom said and left.
This was it, the final fight.
Up top
Gaston was still screaming. "Phantom!" he called. No response came. Now, he had lost his temper. "Erik!"
The doors to the theatre opened, and in walked Erik. "You called?" he mocked.
Gaston drew his sword. "This is it, the final battle." He leapt off the stage and charged towards Erik, who disappeared into the darkness. Gaston stopped and eyed each corner.
He suddenly received a painful blow to the head as Erik hit him with the sword. "Why are you doing this, Gaston?" he asked.
Gaston kicked him and held his sword up high. "Oh, you don't remember?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Enlighten me." Erik retorted and backed up towards the stage where a frightened Christine watched.
Gaston chuckled darkly. "Revenge, my dear brother." He said. "Revenge for the pain and hurt you put our mother through."
Erik was silent. He blinked a few times. "Brother?" he questioned. Gaston merely nodded.
"Yes, Erik." He threw in a swift lash at Erik, who blocked the sword with his. "Brother. Our mother is dead, all thanks to you."
The boys began a grueling swordfight up towards the stage. Metal on metal clashed as they fought. But Erik proved to be a better swordsman then Gaston, for he left a large gash running from his ear towards his neck. Gaston, however, was able to cut Erik's arm, his cloak became soaked with blood.
Christine thought that Erik had won, but that theory was easily disproved. Gaston was able to kick him down and deliver a painful cut towards his legs and chest. Erik rolled painfully onto the stage as Gaston chuckled.
In the lobby
"Come on, hurry!" Erik called. Raoul trailed behind the boy as they ran towards the opera doors.
"Slow down, Erik!" Raoul shouted back. He and the boy had raced up countless numbers of stairs as the fight between the Phantom and Gaston intensified.
But the doors wouldn't open. They were locked as they arrived. "Father!" Erik banged on the doors. "Let us in, please!" A loud scream was heard followed by an evil laugh.
"Come on, come on!" Erik shook the door.
Raoul came over with a hammer he found laying on the ground. "Stand back!" he urged. He gave the wooden door a large bang, but it merely cracked the wood.
Erik listened intensely to the fight. Inside, he heard Gaston laugh.
Inside
Erik rolled painfully to the ground as Gaston's sword was withdrawn from his shoulder. Gaston laughed as he walked towards Erik, his sword drawn again.
"Well, looks like the famed Phantom isn't what everyone expects. It's a shame I have to kill you." He snapped his fingers. "Joseph! William!" No one came. He looked around.
"Dead," Erik huffed. "They're all dead. It's just you and me now." Gaston kicked his sword away.
"Fine. Then I shall kill you on my own!" He raised his sword high and brought it down, only to be stopped.
Christine grabbed his wrist. "Leave him alone!" she yelled. Gaston threw her down and aimed his sword for her.
"I shall deal with your girlfriend first, then your son." He raised the sword high, preparing to slice Christine. She screamed loudly, only to have the sword stop and fall at her feet.
He fell to the side; Erik's sword was visible through Gaston's bleeding body. He coughed and fell into the pit area. Christine watched with tears in her eyes as Erik crawled towards her.
"Erik." She whispered. "Thank god." He collapsed into her lap as the doors finally opened, and the police walked in. Raoul started barking commands as they rushed towards the stage. Christine was taken, and Erik cuffed.
As Raoul talked with the police, Erik spotted movement in the pit. "For my father and mother, the beast shall die!" Gaston yelled. He aimed his gun for Raoul as fear jumped into his eyes.
Erik pushed the cops away and ran. "No!" He yelled. Gaston pulled the trigger as Erik pushed Raoul out of the way, the bullet him hi square in the chest.
From a distance, Christine's son watched in horror as the police shot Gaston. He watched his father fall to the floor. "NOOO!" he yelled. His voice echoed as his father fell to the stage, he didn't move after that.
"Erik!" Christine yelled. "Erik…" tears fell to his face as something fell from a cord around his neck. It was the ring she gave him ten years ago.
And that was covered in blood..
ch 8 up soon...
