The Light Halfway
--Somewhere Just Outside Paris
Gustave had never been happier. He had been reunited with his mother, gained back his health and escaped the hellhole he had previously been living at. They, as in his mother and himself, had been living with Madame Duboix and her neighbor Genevieve. Genevieve's house had burned down half a year ago and since then had been living with Madame Duboix. Gustave only had faint memories of Haley Duboix, but they were all fond and he was now beginning to see her as an over-active grandmotherly figure. Yet…something was not quite right. He'd been having nightmares, one's that he was sure were not his own. They all revolved around the Viscount and Jean. They were always in darkness, and Jean was always crying in pain. Gustave would often awaken screaming and bringing his frightened mother into his room. Tonight was no different, but this time he awoke knowing that Jean needed help. As his mother came bursting into his room armed with a teakettle, Gustave immediately leapt from his bed and ran to her form.
"Mother! Please we must get to Paris!"
"What? Gus whatever has come over you? It's three in the morning! Why on earth would you need to-?"
"It's Jean! He's in trouble! I can feel it!"
"Gus-."
"He's dying Mum!"
--Paris, Apartment #131
The terrified form of Meg Giry roughly shook Erik awake.
"Quickly Erik! My mother needs to speak with you!"
Sensing the urgency in the situation, Erik sprang from the chair he had fallen asleep in and followed swiftly behind Meg into the kitchen where Antoinette was pacing nervously. Spotting him, she quickly turned and spoke in a worried and slightly hushed tone.
"Erik! I know where Jean is!"
"You what!"
"I know where he is-."
"Then why the hell are we just standing here!"
Seeing Erik heading towards the door, Nadir quickly reached out an arm and stopped him.
"It's not that simple my friend, for one the Viscount is not there so he has increased the amount of people guarding the location. Secondly, the Vicountess has warned us that he has many chambers within the building, which could lead all of us to get lost and well perhaps ending up being forced to leave empty handed."
"That will not happen. Either I leave with Jean or I do not leave at all."
Set with steely determination, Erik turned towards Antoinette with a look that said all.
"Erik…there is one more thing to consider before we go…the Vicountess…she…she said that Jean is very ill, and that we…we don't have much time."
Erik felt as though his soul was being devoured by a demon. His son was ill? So ill that they did not have much time? Everyone was on pins and needles as Erik lowered his head and shadowed his face in a way where no one could determine his emotions.
"I will not leave my son to suffer one second longer!"
The other's nodded and followed as Antoinette lead the way towards the DeChagney Château. Before leaving, Theo paused and looked at Meg.
"You must stay here Meg."
"I know…promise me you'll all come back."
"I promise… Meg, be prepared to care for Jean…"
"I will."
In the darkness of the night, four vengeful forms made their way to rescue the only hope left in Erik's life.
--Viscount's Château
Jean didn't know where he was…he felt as though he was floating. His eyes were stinging as though he'd been crying, but the last time he remembered crying was when Renée had appeared and told him that the likelihood of his fingers fully healing was slim to none. He had always wanted to be perfect, or at least, more like his brother. Gustave had most of the talent and the best of personalities. He was polite, shy, kind, endearing…his talents were singing, playing five different instruments, writing almost anything, the list went on and on. All Jean felt as though he had was painting and drawing. And now…now he could no longer do that. Yet this place was so bizarre, the wounds he knew he had in the other place were gone, and he felt none of the usual disdain he'd been feeling lately, besides that though, there were people everywhere, and they looked so happy. All of them were playing and laughing and…Suddenly, Jean realized what was going on…violently he fought and swam against the strange current pulling him towards the other people. Jean's eyes snapped open and revealed the blank stonewall in front of him. Coughing harshly, he knew immediately he would be unable to move. He felt as though he were frozen, his limbs ached dully and something told him that if he wasn't rescued soon he'd find himself back in that semi-dead zone.
Erik moved like a black panther. While Theo and Antoinette struggled to keep up, Nadir followed right beside Erik's swift form. They had dodged most of the guards surrounding the Château and silently killed five others. Suddenly, Erik stopped and three other forms ran into his back. Listening carefully, Erik heard it again…coughing. Very faint and very weak, but definitely existent. Increasing his already unfathomable speed, Erik rounded a corner and found the large Oakwood door that signaled the entryway to the cellar. Not pausing to inform the others, Erik burst open the door and was greeted with three guards.
"What the?"
"Who the Hell?"
Quickly, Erik killed two of the men and went to get rid of the third. As he advanced on the burly looking guard, Erik called back to Nadir.
"Go on without me Nadir! Get Jean!"
Jean had to be delusional again. He could swear he heard his father's voice booming throughout the room, but that was impossible. No one knew he was here, and why would they care if he was here? Why should anyone care? He was supposed to die and protect his broken family. That was all there was to it. Yet suddenly, he heard a gasp and he yelped in pain and shock as two strong and foreign hands picked up his wounded form.
Erik was waiting just outside the door for Nadir. He had disposed of all three guards silently and efficiently. Nothing in the entire world however, prepared him for the appearance of Nadir and curled weakly in his arms, his emaciated little son. Antoinette had to stifle a sob, and Theo had to look away as two dimly lit amber eyes looked upon Erik's form. As Jean opened his mouth, Erik had to stifle his own sob of outrage and sadness as blood trickled down the child's chin.
"Papa…"
It was so weak and barely there, but Erik swiftly drew his son to his form and held him gently as he cried. Jean weighed less than nothing, and Erik could already tell that his son's ribs were severely broken. Looking down at his face, Erik could see bruises and lacerations covering his entire forehead. His eyes suddenly caught sight of Jean's twisted knee, blown apart by a bullet and turned yellow and black with infection and dying tissue. Lower, Jean's ankle was also swollen and pus filled, dead tissue hanging limply off the deep cut. Nadir slowly interrupted Erik's quiet inspection with a weakened voice.
"We must leave my friend, he needs treatment badly…"
Nodding, Erik followed emotionlessly as Nadir led the way out and Jean sank into an unconscious slumber against his father's warm and protective form.
End Chapter 21
A/N: Sorry again for all the morbid-ness, but it's really important that you guys understand how seriously injured Jean is. Also, yes, Gus did have a 'connection' or 'vision' if you will that showed him that his brother was in danger. Gus isn't however, clairvoyant in any way, it has been shown and proven many times that twins often have a connection similar to that of a six sense and thus are able to determine if the other twin is hurting or in trouble. Jean was able to sense Gus's pain just as Gus is able to sense Jean's. Hope that clears some stuff up! Please review so I can judge how I'm doing. hugs Thank you!
