I have to admit that I was nervous about posting that last chapter, and I'm glad that you all enjoyed it. It was draining to write. At the same time, I wanted to keep within my current vision. I'm sorry if I depressed everyone, but I hope that you continue to enjoy the story. There will likely be two more chapters and an epilogue after this one.

Read and Review!

Nadir cursed once and quickly glanced into the rearview mirror, before stepping onto the gas pedal and swerving to pass a truck. Raoul drew back in the seat, nervously looking to the side as the two vehicles came dangerously close to touching. He took a breath as the Iranian quickly pulled ahead and the highway became less congested. "I hate city traffic," muttered Nadir. "I'm beginning to hate everything about this city."

Raoul tiredly nodded, growing more anxious as he saw how many minutes had passed since they'd begun their journey. It was already nearing eight in the evening. They'd said little to each other for some time, save for Nadir's occasional complaint about traffic or the weather and Raoul's quiet murmur of agreement. Outside, the sky was completely dark, the clouds covering all moonlight and the air thick with cold moisture. A feeling of urgency followed them, and Nadir had come dangerously close to getting a speeding ticket several times. Still, luck had been on their side, and they had continued forward with few delays.

"At least we're past rush hour," Nadir stated, leaning back into the seat. "That would be a nightmare. It would take us at least several hours to get through the mess, and that is assuming no accidents." He sighed. "We might as well not even bother."

Raoul glanced up with a disconcerted frown. "We've got to at least try to get to her! We can't leave her like that! She'll end up dead."

"No. You are right. I'm sorry to be such a pessimist. Ignore me. It has been a long couple of months."

"It's fine. I'm just worried about her. He paused. "A couple of months? Is that how long you've been here? I remember when you were trying to talk to Christine that one day." He shook his head in disgust. "Jesus! You were probably trying to warn her..."

Nadir chuckled sadly. "I was. But let us not dwell on what might have been. As to your other question, I've been in the United States for a little over a year. Only for the past few months was I in Vermont."

"Why? I mean, you just happened to run into this...Erik again? Sorry for the questions. I'm still trying to figure all of this out."

"I ran into Erik because I had been searching for him for years. It was luck that finally led me to him after all that time, if you can call it that."

Raoul hesitated before continuing, wondering how much distress he was causing with each question. "Why were you looking for him? Weren't you the one who saved his life?"

"I was. That is why I felt responsible for anything that happened." Nadir paused, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel and staring straight ahead. "After Erik disappeared, a bunch of...things went missing with him. Weapon design plans, some samples of the nonperishable chemicals...even a few biological agents. The government of Iran was furious. As I was Erik's closest thing to a friend, I was somewhat suspected of aiding in his escape. It was best for me to leave the country before I ended up dead."

"So you were trying to find out if Erik still had the weapons?" Raoul asked, his facing becoming whiter in slow realization.

Nadir nodded. "The thought of what Erik might do with those things haunted me. I wasn't so sure if he would use them himself, but think of whom he could sell the wretched things to! Thousands could be killed with mere ounces of some of those substances. If anything happened, it would be my fault."

"Oh my God," muttered Raoul. "Christine accidentally inhaled some of that stuff! It nearly killed her! That's why she finally tried to escape. You don't she was permanently hurt, do you?"

Nadir's eyes widened. He was silent for several moments, maybe disdainfully thinking back to the past. "If she has shown no symptoms by now, I can think of very few agents that would continue to cause harm. But still..." He sighed. "It is nothing to toy around with. I should have never..." He stopped and focused his eyes upon the road in silence. They passed several residential areas, both gazing enviously at the people who were contently going about their lives inside the illuminated houses.

"You couldn't have known," Raoul quietly replied, feeling the need to give the older man some kind of peace. Nadir said nothing in return for several moments, slowing the car slightly as they passed a police vehicle.

"So that was the only reason Christine planned to go with you? She found the chemicals?"

Raoul chuckled wryly. "She had a ton of reasons to go with me. The guy kidnaped her, drugged her, scared the heck out of her when she took off his mask. And..." He swallowed. "The main reason was the body she saw in this one room, the same one where she found the chemicals."

Nadir rapidly turned to face him, causing the car to sharply veer into the next lane. He quickly regained control of the steering wheel, shaking his head in self-disgust. Raoul released another sigh of relief as the vehicle went back on track. "A body?" the Iranian asked, now gripping tightly to the wheel. "She saw a body?"

"Well, she saw a sheet covering something that looked like a body. But it had to be! This guy she knew...this producer...Piane...he disappeared. Right after he gets in contact with Erik, he disappears. What else could have happened?"

Nadir hesitated. "Now wait a moment, young man. Erik may be a very capable killer, but he usually has at least a scant reason. He is not careless. Are you sure?"

"I don't know. But does it really matter? Look at everything else this guy's done! He's killed before. You've seen him torture people! I had to get Christine out of there! She was going to end up dead!"

"I know. I understand. But this Mr. Piane-who was he? I saw nothing in the papers of such a death."

"He was a producer. Christine auditioned for him."

"That still makes no sense, especially if the man was there to help Christine." Nadir paused in thought. A strange expression suddenly crossed his face as Erik's words returned to him.

I have been infiltrated with informants...

They are everywhere, Nadir. Relentless. They have even used her to get to me. But they have failed.

The Iranian murmured something in a foreign tongue and shook his head.

"What?"

"It is possible that this Mr. Piane was working for the FBI, trying to use Christine to find out more about Erik. Or at least Erik may have thought that to be the case. That might explain it. If that were true, then the man is likely dead."

Raoul perked up. "The FBI knows about Erik, then? Maybe we can get their help. It sounds better than charging into this by ourselves."

"They are helping just fine," Nadir replied with a glare. "It is my fault they are involved at all. I was using a retired agent to get information on Erik's whereabouts, and that has already ended up in at least one death. No. It is best to leave the government out of this until the end. I fear it would only cause more chaos to involve them."

"But don't you think..." Raoul sighed. "Never mind."

Nadir side-glanced the young man. "No. If you feel I am doing something wrong, then by all means inform me. I certainly have made a mess of things so far."

"I can't tell if you're still protecting the guy! If it were me, I'd have a police team here. I mean, this guy is a threat to security. He's a murderer...a kidnapper...God knows what else. They've put people to death for less than some of the crimes he's committed."

The Iranian silently turned off an exit and into the heart of the city, making his way through the lines of cars as quickly as possible. He turned left at an intersection, and they were soon traveling between lighted stores and restaurants. People constantly pulled out of parking spaces, heading home after a night of shopping and dining. When he had again found open road, Nadir spoke again, his voice even. "When it becomes necessary, I will consider phoning the authorities. Let us see where the night leads."

Raoul nodded in resignation. "All right."

Slowing the car down significantly, Nadir began to closely look around. They were now in an older section of the city, surrounded by boarded-up buildings and cracked pavement. Several homeless people stood on one corner over a trash can fire, likely searching for somewhere warm to spend the night. "We are close," he stated, dimming his headlights slightly. "I have often seen them drive this way. If we are lucky, the car will come through here at some point."

"He brings her here?" Raoul asked, looking around at the urban decay.

"It is a good place to hide," Nadir stated with a shrug. "I would have to guess that Erik's home is more accommodating than it appears on the outside."

"I hope so," he muttered. "So now what? We just wait?"

"We wait for a bit. Maybe drive around a little. I..." At that moment, Nadir's cellular phone began to ring. He looked toward it with a frown, quickly pulling the car to the side of the road and parking it. Raoul swallowed, subconsciously gripping onto the gun. "Stay very quiet," the Iranian stated, before reaching down and answering. Raoul could hear the icy voice on the other end.

"Good evening, my friend. You are out rather late for a man of your age. Don't you know that the city can be a dangerous place at night?"

Nadir retained his composure. "Erik." Raoul's eyes widened, but the Iranian signaled for him to keep silent.

"I have been informed that you are currently located somewhere you really should not be. Perhaps you should leave before you are harmed."

"I am not going anywhere," he calmly replied. "I think it is time for you to tell me what you are doing with Christine."

"Christine is where she is supposed to be! I told you she would return, didn't I? Well she has! And it is none of your concern. She is mine...soon to be my wife. If you attempt to interfere, there will be no more second chances."

"Well, let me see her for myself, Erik. Maybe she did return to you, eh? Didn't you say something about inviting me over to visit? I would certainly enjoy that."

Erik laughed coldly. "I'm afraid that the invitation has been cancelled." A pause followed. "Besides, my friend. You have larger problems to concern yourself with. Like the fireworks I have so carefully placed in the Metropolitan Opera House. Perhaps you should ensure they have not gone off yet. They can often be unstable."

Nadir's eyes narrowed. "You are lying! There is nothing there."

"Am I?"

"You are trying to distract me! There is nothing in that building. No more games. Now where is the girl, Erik! What have you done with her?"

"Ah yes! Christine can tell you of the marvelous fireworks. Would you believe her lovely words?" Erik must have handed the phone over, for there was a rustling noise, followed by shaky breathing.

"Christine?" Nadir cautiously asked. Raoul started to call out to her, but Nadir waved his hand rapidly for silence.

"Yes?" she asked, a quiver in her soft voice.

"Are you all right? Tell me where you are."

"No, my dear," Erik commanded in the background. "Tell him only of the fireworks! Nothing more. He will try to separate us, and we cannot have that."

"There's..." She choked slightly. "There's explosives."

"Where, Christine?"

"In the opera house. Under the seats...I..."

Erik took the phone back. "She is very tired tonight, I'm afraid. In fact, so am I. Leave us be; we are fine now. Go remove the fireworks and be useful. If you journey forward any further, you will not see the morning. Go, Nadir. Forget everything. Retire somewhere warm, and leave me and my love alone. We are fine now."

The phone quickly clicked off, leaving him with only the dial tone. Nadir cursed and leaned back into the seat, placing his hand to his forehead in distress.

"What's going on?" Raoul frantically asked. "Is Christine okay? What's he doing?"

"Christine is...alive. Erik claims to have placed explosives in the opera house. Although I think it is merely a distraction, I cannot be sure."

"Explosives!" Raoul sighed. Nothing was beginning to surprise him anymore. "Why didn't you want me to speak? Maybe she would have told me something."

Nadir smiled slightly. "That is where we may be one step ahead, my friend. Our meeting was such a coincidence that even Erik couldn't have anticipated it. If he has people watching us, which I now assume he does, it may be too dark for them to see inside the car. Erik does not know you are here. That is a blessing."

"Oh." Raoul looked slightly confused. "So now what?"

"He advised me to leave and to check on the opera house. I won't, though. He will not win this mind game. Besides..." Nadir picked up his phone. "If he did rig it with explosives, there is more than one way to clear a building."

Raoul watched as he dialed the operator. "Please give me the main office of the Metropolitan Opera House." A silence followed before Nadir spoke again, his accent thicker. "Powerful explosives are to go off tonight in your auditorium. Many lives will be lost in the name of jihad, Allah willing." He uttered something in Farsi and hung up. Raoul gazed at him in shock, beginning to look like he was about to jump out of the car. Nadir shrugged. "They will certainly empty and search the building now. I can only hope that the phone number is not traceable."

Raoul slowly settled back into the seat. "You...you really think he put explosives in there?"

"It is possible. Erik has reached a level of madness I have not ever seen. He is desperate to escape with Christine. We are in for a long night."

Raoul gripped the gun. "Are they still going to come past this way?"

"I believe so. Erik would not care about my presence here, otherwise. They are returning, although they will likely not stay for long. I imagine Erik plans to get out of the country with her. At least out of the state. Tonight is our only chance."

"My God," Raoul murmured. He had been skeptical of Christine's fears the entire time, thinking she has been captured by some nutcase off the streets. Now that he realized what they were dealing with, her paranoia made sense. They should have been more careful. They should have driven to Canada and never looked back.

Both sat there in silence for some time, staring out at the desolate streets as the tension in the air continued to grow. "Is that it?" Raoul suddenly asked, glancing toward a moving vehicle with its headlights off.

Nadir squinted. "No. It is too small to be the car. We had best keep an eye on it, though. Erik may have someone following us."

"You mean he has people working for him, too?"

"I would imagine so. Erik has built his own little underworld throughout the region. Few probably know exactly who he is, but his presence is powerful enough that they do as he says. Given enough money, most people will work for anyone."

"Oh."

Nadir glanced back up and looked out the front window. His eyes widened. "There it is!"

Raoul crouched low in the seat as Nadir slowly drove forward with his headlights completely off. Few streetlights illuminated the road, causing them both to frequently be cast in dark shadows. "What's going on?" Raoul asked, growing uncomfortable in that position.

"Erik already knows I'm here. The other car is attempting to get in my way. If we are stopped, my best advice is to take your gun and run as fast as you can." His normally calm voice was shaky, as if he knew that the coming battle might be unwinnable.

"Run to where?"

Nadir hesitated. "If you want to live, somewhere far away. If you want a chance at getting your friend back, try to keep up with the black car. Do what you wish." Poking his head up, Raoul watched as Nadir turned a corner. The long vehicle finally stopped to the side of the street. Nadir frowned as he saw that the smaller vehicle had also stopped. The front doors opened, and two intimidating men emerged, wearing handkerchiefs over half of their faces and carrying large objects in hand. "Stay down," Nadir whispered.

Reaching under the seat, the Iranian suddenly pulled out a shiny, black gun. Raoul blinked but stayed silent as Nadir opened the door and climbed out of the vehicle. He could hear muffled voices outside, followed by the sharp sound of a gunshot. Raoul cringed, breathing heavily and slowly raising his head to look outside. One of the strange men had fallen, and the Iranian was currently involved in a struggle with the other one. Suddenly, the man took the heavy object he was holding, a metal pipe of some kind, and slammed it into the back of Nadir's skull. With a sharp gasp, the Iranian clutched his aching head and stumbled backward. "Go!" Raoul faintly heard him call out, before he fell to the pavement and disappeared from view.

Eyes wide with horror, Raoul threw open his door and climbed out of the car. The remaining man looked up in surprise and began to run toward him. Raoul ran in the direction of the parked black car, attempting to get his gun ready with one hand. The sound of footsteps thudded behind him, but his adrenaline kept him moving quickly. His fingers fumbled for the trigger. In the glow of the streetlights, he suddenly saw a flash of blonde hair near the dark vehicle. Christine. A towering figure emerged as well, blocking her from his view...encasing her in a shadow. Raoul's eyes narrowed. He gripped onto the gun.

Yes...he would make it...

Christine watched as Erik clicked off the cellular phone and tossed it to the side. Trembling slightly, she then turned around to look back out the car window and gaze at the passing buildings. Minutes ago, Erik had forced her to tell Mr. Khan of the explosives. She had been so disheveled that she could barely speak. Looking back, Christine wondered how Nadir had even known to come find her. A part of her was too tired and defeated to care.

"That idiot thinks that he can tear us apart!" ranted Erik. "He had better not interfere. I will ensure that he does not touch us. My hands will not even be the ones to do away with him, as I will not permit him to get that close. Nothing will come between us!"

Christine said nothing, allowing herself to be mesmerized by the city lights and to escape her surroundings. She couldn't get through to him when he was acting like this. It was an unbreakable wall of insanity.

Erik continued speaking, craving her attention...her conversation...her affection. "There are better cities than this. Much better ones around the world. We will see them all together."

She wearily nodded, feeling entirely drained of all energy. At the moment, she wanted to curl up in a ball and sleep, escape this entire thing. Another part of her wanted to go back and change things from the beginning. What if she had called Raoul earlier and told him not to come? What if she had never gotten her friend involved? What if she had attempted to escape Erik earlier?

What if she had never believed a disembodied voice was speaking to her? she thought with somewhat bitterness. So many what ifs...

"You will enjoy the world, Christine. I can take you anywhere...We can even wed in a country of your choosing...live in a place of your choosing. Everything can be ours."

"That's fine, Erik," she softly replied, unable to hide the frustration in her voice. Christine almost shrieked as he clutched to her shoulder with his bony fingers, his eyes a bright shade of yellow. Taking his other hand, he gently ran it through her soft hair.

"I can give you anything! You will be happy. You will. You are mine, Christine. But Erik is yours, as well! I am at your feet! I will give you what you want, if you love me."

Tears began to fall from her eyes. Her fingers dug into the seats. "I know. Fine. Please let go of me," she pled. She couldn't take this desperate insanity any longer. There was no room for reason or understanding or hope. She couldn't talk to him when he was like this. He would make her completely insane with his ravings and pleas for affection.

He released her shoulder and drew back, clenching his fists. "Fine. I will not touch you. He was allowed to, but I am not. And why should I be? But you are still mine! And perhaps you will long for contact someday-even from my cold, dead hands. Yes. You will love me. You will have no choice!"

Christine continued to cry, releasing all of her despair...her fear and loss. She didn't care if it angered him, burying her flushed face into her hands and heaving with sobs. Her whole body ached with anguish and exhaustion.

"Oh, do not cry!" he moaned. "You will not always be unhappy. You won't. In time."

"Erik," she managed to choke out. "I wasn't always unhappy! Until you did this! You killed my friend! You terrorized me...You..." She rapidly shook her head. "Never mind. I don't have a choice, right? It doesn't matter what I think. You wouldn't even believe me if I told you. It doesn't even matter!"

"You lied to me!" he roared. "You were going to leave with him! You lied!"

"I had a right to go with him!" she bitterly replied, beyond caring what he would do to her.

He grabbed her left arm, forcing her to look at him and into the two fiery orbs. "No! You cannot! You said you would stay with me. You vowed! There was no finale! You said you would stay."

Christine gazed at him in defeat, her face pale and tear-streaked. "I will stay," she whispered. "He's dead now, anyway. Like I said, it doesn't matter what I think. I'll stay."

Erik released her arm and turned away from her, silently staring ahead...perhaps becoming even vaguely aware of the bottomless pit they were both falling into. She momentarily glanced at him, searching for a sign of humanity or reason, before looking back out the window with a shaky sigh. Seeing the faded paint and boarded-up windows, she realized they were nearing Erik's home. Christine doubted they would be there for long. Erik clearly planned to get her out of the country.

As the car slowed to a stop, she attempted to open her door. Not to her surprise, it was locked. Erik climbed out first, glancing into the distance with a look of malicious satisfaction. "Your time ends, my friend," he softly murmured. "Everything ends except for us. Except for my bride and I."

He then swiftly came to the other side and opened her door. Christine climbed out of the car without looking up at him, hugging her arms to her chest and shivering. Blindly, she started to make her way forward to the familiar concrete steps, Erik always hovering right beside her. She wondered if he would let her go into her bedroom and lie down.

At that moment, she suddenly sensed something running toward them from the right. Glancing up, her eyes widened in shock as the figure passed under a dim streetlight. Raoul was racing toward them, his feet pounding the pavement and his hands holding something high in the air. Her friend was alive! Not even injured!

Christine gasped, both in relief to see him and in horror of the coming confrontation. Seconds later, Erik saw him as well. Hatred burned in his eyes.

"He has not learned," Erik hissed. "Oh, but he will learn tonight."

"No!" she gasped, now realizing that Raoul was holding a gun. Christine started to run toward him, trying to stop his approach before someone truly did lose their life. "Don't! Go back!" Erik grabbed her arm and roughly pulled her backward, obviously taking her franticness as a desire to escape...interpreting her relief as love for her childhood friend.

"You are mine!" he rasped, jealousy dripping from his voice. "You will stay away from him. Take one last look, my dear, for tonight is the last time you will ever see your lover's perfect face!"

Erik began to walk forward, almost seeming to float over the pavement with his smooth, quick stride. Raoul's eyes widened as he desperately tried to ready the gun, obviously shocked at how fast his opponent was moving. Finally getting a finger on the trigger, her friend quickly raised the weapon. Erik was mere feet away, his skeletal hands reaching out to form their deadly grip around the young man's neck.

Christine could do nothing but squeeze her eyes shut and pray. She waited, feeling the earth tilt beneath her feet. Each second that passed seemed like an eternity.

No gunshot ever sounded out into the cold night air.

She should have known from the beginning who would win the encounter.