A/N: As always, thanks to my beta, Le Chat Noir
Episode 37: Haunted
By: Elektra
"Bring him over here!" the chubby redheaded boy began as he ordered his twin brothers to drag the young boy they were holding over to the fence. "Quick, get the handcuffs!"
Their 13-year old victim did not protest, nor did he struggle as they chained him up. He remained utterly silent, which irked the two boys holding him.
"Hey, Nicky… the freak keeps tryin' to scare us. Look at his eyes!" said one of the twins.
Nicky stumbled back, trying to hide his discomfort at the darkness he saw in that amber glare. "Man… you're just as freaky INSIDE!"
"Umm… what if his parents come lookin'?" That was the other twin.
Nicky laughed, "He don't got no parents. Not real ones anyway. Did you tell everyone it'll be two bucks to see him without the mask?"
The first twin nodded. "Yup! I say we strip him too so they can see how ugly the rest of him is."
The boy was naked in seconds.
"Ewww… look how bony he is!" Nicky pointed out. "Gross! You can see his ribs and veins and stuff!" He then leaned down and looked into the younger boy's face. "You gonna cry yet? We're waitin'"
The boy said nothing.
Seeing that they weren't going to get a vocal response from him, they attempted a physical response, using their father's belt to force the boy to show some sort of emotion.
He simply gritted his teeth and remained silent as he felt his skin welt and tear. He began to feel blood trickling down his back, but paid no heed. It would be over soon. They would grow bored… or tired.
Or maybe his foster parents would find him and realize what was happening.
But he knew that was a fool's hope.
So he struggled to break free.
He fought to tear the cuffs from his wrists, but only tore the skin instead.
For five days he remained there.
And no one ever came.
No one ever would.
Erik's lids flew open and he found himself staring up into a pair of worried blue eyes, the warm weight on his chest and the tiny hands wrapped around his wrist told him he was currently being pinned in a rather undignified position.
"Christine?"
She had taken to spending a few nights in his room, either watching a DVD, playing video games, or simply getting help with her homework. On occasion – such as tonight - he would take her to the opera, and she would later crash beside him.
"Are you okay?" she asked breathlessly. "You were flailing all around like crazy. I had to stop you. I… I was scared you'd hurt yourself…" She slowly released his wrists, her fingers gently sliding down his arms.
She did not say them, but Erik could hear her unspoken words - or me…
He closed his eyes and released a breath.
She still feared him. As much as Christine believed she loved him – though he himself still had trouble coming to terms with that fact – the fear would always be there.
Now freed, his arms came up around her little waist, hugging her reassuringly and attempting not to respond as she relaxed fully atop him, her petite form molding to his larger one perfectly.
Why had he never noticed how thin her cotton cami was before? He could feel her through it. Too much of her, in fact. And his hands, now resting at the small of her back, encountered only warm skin, the inadequate cloth having slid up her torso as she had tried to restrain him.
He swallowed hard when he realized it was not only his hands in contact with her skin, for he could feel her revealed stomach pressed against his bare abdomen as well.
He wondered what it would be like to feel every inch of her soft skin pressed against his. To touch her as he had never dared touch her, to kiss his angel from the top of her sweet little head to the tips of little ballerina toes, leaving nothing out in between.
Erik silently cursed himself as he bit back a groan.
"Erik? Tell me you're okay." Christine repeated as she rested her head upon his shoulder and nuzzled her face against his neck.
It took him a moment to realize she was speaking about his restless sleep.
"Just an unpleasant memory resurfacing. Nothing to worry about." He said nothing more on the matter.
Erik reminded himself he was no longer the skinny skeletal boy who had been handcuffed and whipped for the pleasure of the neighborhood bullies. He was now a full-grown man who could easily break away from such attacks and seriously harm the perpetrators...
…Or kill them… he admitted.
He pressed a bony cheek against Christine's softer one and closed his eyes for a moment. It was so very nice to feel warm skin against his face rather than a cotton mask.
"I must go away on some Guild business next weekend," he began. "To a town where I lived for a short while with a foster family."
"Go on," she encouraged, her lips brushing his neck.
Erik shuddered slightly at the contact, but managed to keep his voice neutral. "Currently, scouts are trying to find more information about the strange events that have been happening there. People have spoken of deaths of a questionable nature. Bodies burned."
Erik reigned in the shakiness that was threatening his voice as Christine shifted her body atop his.
"We do not usually have such assignments, but since no evidence was found to support a physical cause of death, Leroux suggested we take a look. I am to be there should physical force be needed. And since it is a fair distance away, they wish to have me on-site."
Christine said nothing, knowing what he meant. If these deaths were of a dark nature, then the Executioner would be needed to take care of the perpetrator.
"Would you like to keep me company?"
She raised her head, surprised. "You're actually offering?" she smiled. "And here I thought you wanted to keep me out of harm's way."
"You WILL be out of harm's way. Should I be needed, you will not be joining me on the job," Erik met her eyes, voice soft as he brushed his fingers down her cheek. "I do not want you to see that side of me, Christine. It is enough you know it exists."
She took a deep breath and nodded, reaching out to brush a lock of hair off his forehead. "You might need me," she said. To bring you back… she added silently.
Erik nodded.
"I'll come. How are we getting there?"
"I am driving, of course," he answered.
"Ah ok," Christine responded, then furrowed her brow as she recalled what he had just said. "Wait - you drive?"
Friday Evening
Christine held on for dear life to the man before her as the motorcycle raced down the street. "I'm gonna die!" she shouted fearfully. "I'm so gonna die!"
"When I told you I was driving, you did not seem nearly as worried," Erik shouted back to her over the almost deafening noise.
"I thought you meant a CAR. With DOORS. And a ROOF... and SEATBELTS! Why didn't you ever tell me you had a BIKE?"
"I only use it when I must travel a fair distance for business – guild or architectural." He shrugged. "Since I had no need to take you on it, it never came up." He suddenly turned into a gas station and brought the bike to a stop.
Christine stood frozen for a few moments, trying to stop her pounding heart from tearing through her chest. "Never again..." she muttered. "Never ever again!"
"Beloved," Erik began as he climbed off and removed his helmet, "You WILL need to make use of it again if we are to get to our destination and back."
Christine yanked the helmet off and shook her hair out. It was, Erik decided, quite attractive. Christine, however, having caught her reflection in the mirrors of the bike, thought otherwise. "Ugh. I have helmet hair."
"Your hair is fine." Erik answered.
Christine pouted. "Maybe I'll find a bus… or something."
"Ah... yes... I believe a bus will be here sometime on Monday. If you wish to miss Antoinette's class, then by all means, feel free to wait for one."
Christine paled at that. Missing Madame Giry's class was not an option. She would rather take her chances on the motorcycle.
She slid off the seat and hooked the helmet on the handlebars. "I'm going into the store to get some snacks. Want anything?"
"No, but thank you." He said as he popped the gas tank and began to fill up.
Christine nodded and gave Erik a quick kiss on his masked cheek before heading inside. She went over to the snack food and immediately decided what she wanted: A bag of Baked Lays - low in fat, she decided; pretzels - always healthy; And a chocolate bar – better hide this from Madame.
Before she could head towards the cash, a large burly male stopped her. "Ain't seen YOU before." He smirked. "Don't got no women as pretty as you 'round here." He stepped closer. "You new?"
"Just passing through," Christine answered, trying to side step him. He moved with her.
"If you're new, I could maybe show you around a bit. Got a nice truck out there." He indicated the gas stop. Christine looked up at him, shook her head, and tried to move past him. "C'mon, I'm just tryin' to be friendly," he protested.
Before Christine could respond, a young man burst through the door of the shop. "He's BACK, Nicky! That masked freak's back in town! He... he's gotten real BIG too!"
Christine's blood turned to ice. They know Erik?
She then remembered what he had said about his dream - an unpleasant childhood memory.
Christine glanced at the two men before her. Had they done something to him?
"The freak sucker punched Johnny! For no reason!" the nervous man sputtered.
"Erik doesn't just sucker punch someone!" Christine suddenly snapped at the two men in the store.
Nicky and his brother looked at her, eyes wide. "Tell me you ain't here with HIM!" Nicky gasped.
"I AM here with him," Christine replied. "Excuse me!" She dropped her snacks on the counter and quickly headed out to Erik, seeing him crouching over a prone figure on the cement, taunting him. Yelling and cursing as she had never heard him curse before.
"E…Erik?" she approached him slowly, cautiously resting a hand upon his shoulder. Erik froze, lifting his head and straightening his back. He did not turn to her.
Only then did she see the black cotton mask clenched in the hand of the man on the ground. She didn't even take notice of the startled sounds from the men behind her, all her attention focused on Erik alone.
"Erik?" she spoke again, crouching behind him to slip her arms around his neck and place a kiss against the back of his head.
He immediately extricated himself from her embrace and grabbed the mask, replacing it on his face. "We have no time for this."
She looked up at him with concern as he jumped to his feet. "Are you alr-"
"We leave. Now!" he snapped.
"But you didn't pay!" Christine protested.
All she received in answer was the rev of Erik's bike and a harsh "NOW!"
Without another word, she crawled up behind Erik, fastened her helmet, and held on tight as the two raced on to their destination.
Huchington Bed and Breakfast – 20 minutes later
"Hello! Welcome to Huchington Bed and Breakfast!" A cheery middle-aged female greeted Christine as she went up to the check-in desk. "How may I help you?"
"Is this the only Inn here?" Erik asked, coming in behind her. The woman at the desk froze, then remembered herself and plastered on her smile once again.
"Oh, yes sir! This is a small town. We don't really get visitors except those passing through."
Erik sighed inwardly. The lady was desperately trying to pretend his mask wasn't there, but she could not hide the look in her eyes as she stared at him. "We were looking for information on a few dea-"
"On a room!" Christine suddenly interrupted, sparing a quick glance at Erik before she turned back to the lady. "We're only here for the weekend – taking a break from the big city and all," she smiled.
"Of course!" the lady was cheerful once again as she focused her attention on the lovely brunette before her. "Yes, a lot of folks come up here to get away. It's quite peaceful."
"And so pretty too!" Christine responded with a sweet smile.
"Oh indeed!" The lady clapped her hands. "Well now, you need a room. I have a few to chose from. Will you need two beds?" she asked warily, eyes darting between the two before her. There could not be a couple more opposite.
"If possible," Christine offered. "But not necessary."
Erik, for his part, shifted impatiently. Why was Christine wasting her time, and asking about rooms? They needed information, not sleep!
"Well, I have a lovely room with a Queen sized bed and a pullout couch," the lady offered. "$150 for the weekend."
"Do you take cash?" Christine asked. The lady nodded, and Christine turned to Erik and held her hand out. Erik blinked a moment, then realized she expected him to actually pay for the room.
Scowling, Erik pulled out a handful of crisp bills and handed them to Christine, who in turn handed them to the lady before her.
"Thank you," the lady replied, then reached behind her to take something off a hook, "Here's your key. I just need you to sign in and-"
With an unpleasant curse, Erik grabbed the key off the desk and quickly headed outside to grab the duffel bags strapped to his bike.
"He's not a people person," Christine apologized.
The lady nodded sympathetically, then leaned forward, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I should warn you, my dear. Your beau's… looks … may gather some unwanted attention. People here may not be as accepting as those in the big city."
Christine nodded. "We already ran into some trouble at the gas station,"
"Nicky Parsons and his brothers, most likely. Even his son, Nate, torments my Jenny." She suddenly held out a hand, "Oh! I should introduce myself since you'll be staying here for a few days. I'm Alice Laviel, the proprietor of this fine little establishment. If you need anything, just ask."
"My name is Christine. The grumpy guy is Erik," she offered as the two shook hands.
"Let us get to the room already!" Erik practically growled in Christine ear. She let out a startled yelp and turned to him. As usual, she had not even heard him come up to her.
Had he heard her call him grumpy?
"Up the stairs and to the left," Alice pointed out. Christine nodded, gave another sweet smile, and followed Erik to their room.
Hutchington Bed and Breakfast - Jenny Laviel's Room
"Punishment must be dealt,"
A pretty blond girl appeared before her. "They left me here! They left me to die. It's not fair! They got freedom… they got to LIVE!"
She only wished she could back away from the girl before her, but in her dream, there was nowhere to run.
"Why so frightened?" she asked coldly
The child whimpered, but the apparition ignored her.
"Sometimes the ones in the town…" the apparition continued to rant. "Sometimes they come back. I punish them for leaving me! It's fun to watch them scream! Watch them burn."
"Punishment must be dealt!"
"Jenny? Jenny, wake up!" a voice shouted, and 11-year old Jenny Laviel felt herself being shaken awake.
Jenny blinked her eyes and looked up into Alice's face. "Momma…" she started.
"Are you ok, honey? You were talking in your sleep… you were going on about some punishment?"
"She killed them!" Jenny began. "She killed them all. All the burned bodies found near the orphanage … she did it!"
"What are you talking about, Jenny? Are you ok, honey?"
"She wants to be free. She'll punish them until she's free…"
Erik and Christine's Room – that night
Erik leaned over Christine's shoulder, noting that she was already dressed in her pajamas.
His eyes skimmed the textbook before her, but his mind was not on her homework. "Why did we get a room?" he demanded.
"Because we can't just waltz in and start talking about dead bodies," Christine answered as she continued with her budgeting assignment. So much went into a stage production…
"How else are we to get information?"
"You make friends," Christine replied as she finally turned to him. "And let's face it, Erik - people are more likely to talk to a nice college girl than a tall scary guy who asks a bunch of cold questions about dead people."
She took his hand in hers. "Trust me on this, ok? You might be super intelligent and all that, but you lack tact when it comes to dealing with other people. If you want answers, don't make it so obvious you're asking questions."
"And how do I do that?"
"YOU don't. I do. Alice will be more willing to share while having a nice normal conversation with a curious girl who loves stories." Christine smiled.
Erik simply walked away, hands clenching and unclenching as he muttered incoherently beneath his breath.
Christine studied him for a moment, then furrowed her brow. "Erik, what's wrong? You've been in a mood since we left the gas station." He said nothing. "Listen, if it's about those guys, they were jerks. Just forget them."
"Forget them? That is easy for YOU to say!" he hissed.
Christine was startled by the harshness in his voice. "Well, it's just…I mean… you… you don't even know them. You'll never see them again. They're not worth your energy."
He spun on her angrily. "What makes you so certain I don't know them?" he snapped.
Christine was taken aback by the way his golden eyes caught the light, almost glowing with anger. "E-Erik?"
"I told you I used to live here. I TOLD you that I had unpleasant memories!" His voice suddenly turned cold. "Want to see my unpleasant memories, Christine?"
Before she could respond, he yanked his shirt off and turned his scarred back to her, "THESE are my unpleasant memories! THESE have branded me for the rest of my life!" He threw the shirt angrily across the room.
"That… that happened here?" she asked softly.
"YES, it happened here! And did it end when my blood began to stain the grass? Oh no!" He stormed up to her and showed her his scarred wrists, but Christine shrunk away, momentarily frightened.
"LOOK, little angel! Look how your Erik almost cut off his hands to free himself from those men! LOOK!" he shouted. Christine quickly turned back to him, not daring to disobey as she glanced at the old scars that decorated his wrists.
"And you say I should FORGET them? I could NEVER forget them!" His hand shot out, sending a lamp flying.
"ERIK!" Christine cried out in response, jumping back as his temper flared.
"I could NEVER forget FIVE days of HELL where I was put on display, my face and body exposed for all to see!"
Erik suddenly met her eyes, her blood turning to ice at the dark anger she saw there. "And WHY did they do it? So they could have their fun!" he spat. "So they could buy a new game! Is THAT all I am worth to anyone!" He turned his back to her, hitting the wall with the palm of his hand. "IS THAT ALL!"
The room was suddenly silent, the only sound Erik's harsh breathing.
Christine swallowed hard and slowly went up to him. She reached a hand out to touch his back, but returned it to her side.
Instead, she slid her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek against the long damaged skin.
"You're worth so much … to me…" she spoke softly.
He took a shuddering breath, splaying his fingers over his masked face. He slowly tugged the cotton off and rested his forehead against the white plaster before him.
"I love you." Christine's voice was a mere whisper, but he could hear it. He could hear it so very well.
His eyes slid closed as he felt the brush of soft lips against his scarred back, the mask slipping from his fingers and fluttering to the ground.
Christine's tender touch sapped both his strength and his anger. He unlocked her arms from his waist and turned to face her, lowering to his knees before her.
"Erik?"
He simply shook his head as if to tell her to be silent and wrapped his arms around her abdomen, burying his face against her petite chest as he grasped her tightly.
Erik's breathing began to grow deep and slow as Christine soothingly ran her little fingers through his hair, calming his anger as only she could before she took his exposed face in her hands and knelt to be at level with him.
Erik's pent-up emotion found a far more suitable outlet as he pulled her onto his lap, a slender leg on either side, and pressed his mouth hard against hers.
Christine felt herself being lowered to the ground, his kiss still demanding, his hands slipping beneath her cami. She was momentarily reminded there was nothing beneath the thin material, but she didn't seem to care. He needed a soft place to land, and she would be it.
A knock at the door interrupted the moment.
"Christine? Honey? Everything ok in there?"
"It's Alice," Christine replied once she was able to breathe again.
Erik ran his fingers down her flush cheek and tucked a few chocolate curls behind her ear before resting his forehead against hers. Christine saw the change in his eyes and smiled up at him.
"I believe we have some explaining to do." He replied softly, then placed a gentle kiss upon her lips.
Christine put a hand to his cheek. "Are you all good now?" she asked.
"Yes. All good now," he answered, then met her eyes, his voice tender. "Thank you. For being here."
He brushed his lips against her forehead and slid off her, assisting Christine to her feet.
Christine went to the door and opened it.
"Everything ok, honey?" Alice asked.
Christine nodded. "Erik just tripped in the dark and got himself tangled in the lamp cord. It's ok now."
"Oh! Oh, I'm so sorry!" she sighed. "I keep telling my husband he needs to tape down those wires."
"You ok, Erik?" Christine called into the room, knowing Erik was still lacking his mask at the moment and keeping himself hidden from Alice's sight.
"No harm done." He replied.
"Ok dear," Alice answered. "If you two need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
Christine nodded. "Thanks Alice! Good night. Sorry for waking you."
Alice waved away Christine's concern and continued on her way.
"Forgive me, angel. I didn't mean to lose my temper like that." He took a deep breath. "I really should control myself better. It is just… seeing those men again-" He stopped as she wrapped her arms around him, and he knew no more needed to be said.
Huchington Library – the next day
Christine glanced around the small library, having been led there after a friendly conversation with Alice about various urban legends that surrounded the small town.
Alice had mentioned an orphanage across the town bridge that had burned down six years back and how the popular ghost story now was that the children who had died there were seeking revenge on the orphans who had lived.
Alice thought it was all very silly.
Christine did not.
Turning her attention back to the computer before her, her search had found various reports about the goings-on at the orphanage.
One particular name came up – 15-year old Andrea Davens. Christine frowned. This girl had run away three times, and each time seemed more hysterical when forced to return.
She had even threatened the police officers that had brought her back.
Her reaction was extreme, to be sure. Some professionals questioned whether she should be institutionalized, but as she had no family, and therefore no money for treatment— she ended up lost in the system.
Apparently, she also had an obsession with fire. Reports indicated that it was she who had burned the orphanage down and was believed to perish within, though her body was never recovered due to the instability of the building.
Perhaps she would ask Alice if she knew anything about young Miss Davens.
Huchington Bed and Breakfast
Jenny listened carefully as her mother talked to the nice young lady from the city. She was asking about the orphanage across the bridge.
Jenny shivered involuntarily. Not only had she visited that orphanage on a dare from Nate Parsons, but Jenny knew she had once been a resident there - before she had been adopted at age four by Alice Laviel.
A large room. Burnt wood cracking beneath her feet. The toe of her shoe kicking something that was not wood.
A charred body. Only a few days old.
Jenny tried to force the images from her head. She didn't want to remember what she had found up there two months ago.
She didn't want to remember the words that continued to haunt her dreams to this day.
"Punishment must be dealt…"
"Hello?" Christine called out when she heard a soft little gasp from the opened door on the left side of the room.
She heard little footsteps suddenly run down the hall and quickly jumped out of her seat, Alice following quickly behind.
The girl was soon knocked to her rear as she ended up running head-first into a very intimidating Erik.
"And where are YOU going?" he asked.
The little girl's eyes went wide, backing away, only to find Christine behind her. She spun around and shook her head.
"No… I can't… I can't tell!" she gasped out.
Christine furrowed her brow. "Tell what? Do you know what your mom and I were talking about, sweetie?"
Jenny continued shaking her head.
Christine knelt before the girl, meeting her eyes. "Please, honey… if you know something, you need to tell us."
"No!" Jenny cried out. "They think I'm all freaky! The kids at school say I'm all weird and scary 'cuz I have messed up dreams!"
Erik crouched down behind her. "Trust me, girl… I have some idea about freaks. Tell us what you know!" His voice was demanding, and Christine offered him a rather annoyed glare.
"Jenny…?" Alice began.
Jenny looked back and forth between Erik, Christine, and her mother, then finally took a deep breath, and focused on Christine once again.
"It's Andrea." she whispered softly. "Andrea's hurting everyone…"
"Jenny!" Alice seemed appalled. "Honey, really! Don't make up stories when we have guests."
"No… wait, Mrs. Laviel." Christine leaned towards the frightened girl. "Jenny? Is Andrea alive?"
"I… I don't know. She shows up in my dreams. She … she says she's waiting… waiting at the orphanage, but I won't go. But…" she looked nervous again, as if debating how much to say.
"Please - go on." Christine urged.
The girl swallowed nervously. "Some of the others go. That's when she hurts them." Her face fell, tears streaming, "She scares me! She won't leave me alone!"
"I… I'm so sorry, Christine," Alice apologized hopelessly. "She gets like this sometimes. Nate Parson's dragged her up to the orphanage a while back, and she's been having nightmares ever since."
Christine nodded at that. "It's ok, Alice. She won't be having nightmares for much longer."
"How do you know that?" Alice asked.
Christine glanced at Erik. "A guardian angel will protect her,"
With a nod, Erik stood up and headed off to do what he knew must be done.
Nadir Khan's Residence – the next day
"It seems your beloved proved rather useful, Erik," Nadir spoke into the phone as he sat at the kitchen table. "I am to assume all matters were tended to?" he asked. He nodded at Erik's reply, "Good, good. Perhaps you would like to come for a visit some day then? There is someone here who wants to see you."
Nadir frowned at the response that got.
"Erik…" a pause as he was interrupted. "I am not going to lecture you, Erik. But she is STILL your mother. No… don't you DARE hang up on me, Erik! ERIK!" Nadir shouted into the phone, but received nothing but a dial tone.
With a frustrated sigh, he cradled the handset.
"Please, Mr. Khan… don't bother."
Nadir turned to see Madeline leaning against the wall. She had taken to staying with him out of necessity. Leroux had used his sway to prevent the woman from going back to jail, but she would have to answer to Nadir until her parole was over.
Nadir had agreed to that. His place was rather lonely. And there could be worse company than a lovely woman.
"Madeline, I'm sorry… you weren't meant to hear that."
She shook her head and took the seat across the table from him. "It's ok. I understand his resentment."
She released a breath and hung her head. "I'm ashamed, Mr. Khan. Ashamed and embarrassed that a pretty little girl can love my son when I never could. She sees in him what I refused to because of my own selfishness.
Madeline massaged her temples, a small headache forming. She had been having such headaches off and on since Shay had played with her mind. "Erik wasn't perfect. I hated that. I blamed him for driving his father away."
She let out a harsh laugh. "I suppose I should THANK him for that now. Knowing what I know. I was a stupid girl when I met him. He knew that and took advantage of my naiveté."
"Madeline, if I may ask…" Nadir started. "How did you end up in such a line of work, meeting Erik's father?"
She shrugged, "My own father had died in a car crash when I was 14. He left me and my mother destitute. Our poverty wasn't intentional. He just hadn't planned ahead. You think you have forever, you know…"
Madeline shook her head. "Anyway, my mother was a beautiful woman. She used her looks to her advantage and managed to find a rich man to marry her when I was 16. She became his trophy wife, but hardly ever let him touch her. She didn't love him, you see. It was a matter of money, that's all."
She frowned. "Whenever my step-father got itchy, he figured I was a good substitute for her." Madeline scowled. "I looked so much like her, after all…" her voice was heavy with sarcasm. "And so I figured, well… hell… I could make some money doing this. I left home before my seventeenth birthday and began my career."
"Shay came into my life when I was nineteen. I was already well known by then, so…" she shrugged. "He wanted to see if what he heard was true. He came by regularly, but…"
She stopped, then continued, "Well, this is somewhat embarrassing, Mr. Khan… but I never charged him. He was rather enjoyable, so to speak. And I figured if I wanted to keep him around, I might as well let him have the goods for free."
Her voice grew quiet. "I started to fall for him. I know it wasn't real love, but it was love for a man who could possibly rescue me from my life. I never intended to end up pregnant. I thought I had taken enough precautions."
She sighed. "But whatever the hell he was -or is -made those precautions pointless. It was too late when I finally realized what a cold-hearted bastard he was."
Madeline winced and closed her eyes. "Sorry, Mr. Khan. I'm getting another of those headaches. I need to go lie down."
"Go on then," Nadir replied. With a nod of thanks, Madeline left the room.
Nadir dare not voice his concerns, but he couldn't help but worry how much of his father Erik had in him.
Dean Giry's Office – Monday afternoon
"I hear Christine made herself quite useful to you on your assignment," Giry began as Erik dropped down through the air-ducts.
"Yes," he replied shortly, not wanting to be reminded of the fact he had to execute a twenty-one year old girl whose talents had taken not only lives, but her mind as well.
He was only grateful Christine had been waiting for him when he returned to the bed and breakfast.
"I was thinking, Erik… that perhaps Christine should accompany you more often," Giry offered.
"She is not to be used as bait, Antoinette!" he snapped angrily.
"You misunderstand. I do not intend for her to follow on normal hunts. But since she is a lovely charming young lady, she could probably assist in cases where information is needed from the locals before action is taken."
"Perhaps she could be, but I will not put her in harm's way!" he insisted.
"Of course not, Erik. I would never have her in such a position," Giry replied.
Erik nodded. "I will ask her if she is interested in assisting us in the future then." He quickly stood up and disappeared through the air-ducts.
Giry sighed. Christine's presence had helped greatly, but it was not the only reason she wanted the girl near Erik.
Erik was always walking a very fine line. It had not escaped the ballet mistress's attention that Leroux's official career had led him to finding several local girls strangled to death. Not by hands, no. But by a rope. A very deadly rope.
Giry knew that if it was not for Christine, the perpetrator could have very well been Erik. The presence of that girl in his life, however, allowed Giry to believe Erik was innocent of these crimes.
She was his life. The one thing that prevented him from crossing the line and losing himself completely.
At least, this was what Giry hoped for and believed in.
She only prayed her faith had not been misplaced.
END OF EPISODE 37