--Unknown Location
Three small forms sat stiffly against the wall of a dungeon cell. All were silent, their heads bent with either hopelessness or exhaustion. Each of their slender arms were chained painfully upward, lines of blood already dribbled slowly down the roughened edges of their wrists. It was dark and dank in the lowly room and several shadows of rats slinked about the corners of the boys' vision. The diseased beasts dared only to venture closer when scraps of food from the single slice of bread the children received once per day fell onto the grimy floors. The elder of the three suddenly shifted, and glaring amber eyes gleamed from beneath the shelter of sweaty, curled hair.
"Gus…Gus…Gus!"
The second largest child stirred and wearily lifted their raven-haired head to reveal their emerald eyes.
"What Jean?"
"Have you thought of anything yet?"
"…No…"
The twins' quiet conversation roused the smallest boy, a blonde whose dimly lit ice-blue eyes lifted from their tired slumber.
"What are you guys going on about?"
"We're trying to think of a way out."
"Why don't you just give up guys…nobody knows we're here and we don't even know where here is."
"Don't talk that way Pierre!"
"Yeah!"
"Jean has-."
"Totally been-."
"Through this before!" "Through this before!"
Pierre smiled slightly as his head fell back against his chest. Even though both he and the twins were in a Hellhole, somehow, both Jean and Gus managed to have hope and even a small amount of happiness.
--Destler Château
Erik was cradling Christine in his arms. She was silently weeping, her glossy tears framing her angelic face. They were sitting in the rocking chair Erik had built for Christine after he learned about Odette. The simple rosewood seat adorned the nursery beside Odette's crib and leaned westward towards the large canopy window. Said window was opened, and the gentle winds that sifted through the night air had lulled Odette into slumber and cooled the worried atmosphere shared between the loving parents.
"Oh Erik…where are they?"
"I don't know mon ange, I don't know…"
"Why didn't I care for them better? Oh Erik! You must think me the worst mother in the world!"
Christine dissolved into wails and cried desperately into the warmth of her love's chest.
"Christine…Christine! I do not think you a bad mother; you are a goddess and could have done nothing to change what has happened. If anything this is my fault."
"W-why, why would it b-be y-your fault?"
"It is my Devilish seed that makes up half their souls, it is only Fate transpiring against me for having loved an angel."
The sudden smack to Erik's cheek was unexpected and he turned astonished eyes towards the red-faced form of his upset love.
"Don't you dare say things like that Erik Destler! Don't you dare! I don't care how the world has seen you, I only see use as Erik, my love, my savoir and the father to my children."
That being said, Christine angrily stormed from the room, silvery tears following her sad form.
--Giry's Apartment
Meg was pacing the length of her bedroom, her left hand rubbing the large bump of her unborn child, and her right hand nervously being chewed in her mouth as she worried over Pierre. Theo entered the room having put Gizelle to bed, the tiny four year old had spent the week and a half without her brother screaming and crying and absolutely refusing to sleep. Seeing Meg trembling with worry and unshed tears clogging her eyes caused Theo to feel the lump of repressed sadness and anxiety work its' way back into his heart. Gently he gathered Meg into his arms and sat her on their large plush bed.
"Meg dear, you must relax-."
"Relax? Relax! Theo my baby boy is out there somewhere possibly dead or God knows what and-."
"Honey… Honey!"
"What?"
"Worrying about him will not help him or you, let me worry about this, you must focus now on Gizelle and this one."
Gently, Theo rubbed the baby swelling in Meg's stomach and drew his wife into his arms as she sighed and released her sheltered tears.
--Living room, Giry's Apartment
Antoinette was knitting in front of the small fireplace, her elderly eyes tired and worried. Not far from her was Nadir, he was yet again staring out the window, his wizened eyes not much younger than Antoinette's own, seemingly empty as he appeared deep in thought. Unexpectedly, a knock came at the door and Antoinette began to rise from her seat.
"Allow me Antoinette, it is the least I can do."
"Thank you Nadir."
"You are quite welcome."
Nadir left the room and swiftly walked down the hallway towards the front door. He opened the door, and was met by nothing. Puzzled, he closed the door and began heading back towards the living room when a letter, obviously fitted through the door, caught his eye. Bending down, Nadir grasped the piece of parchment and slowly read the note…
If you wish to see the boys come to the Opera Populaire Halloween night. Should you not appear the boys could meet a rather hellish end.
DeChagney
--Destler Château, twenty minutes later
Erik was stirred awake by the frantic knocking on his front door. Yawning and making his weary way to the foyer, Erik was met with a frantic looking Theo and Nadir.
"What the Hell do you want?"
"He has them! That damn asshole has them!"
"What? What the fuck are you talking about!"
"That damn fop has our sons, Erik!"
"He WHAT?"
"He has our sons!"
"Erik my friend, we received this."
Nadir quickly handed the slightly crumpled note to Erik's raging fingers and took several steps back as the Phantom's gold eyes began to bleed red. A twitch began to form in his left eye and his teeth were bared.
"Three days? Three fucking days…! I'll kill him! I'll slit his fucking throat!"
"Erik?"
Erik's murderous form immeaditly calmed at the sound of his heaven-sent wife sleepily calling out.
"What's going on?"
Her nervous form was wrapped in a fluffy white robe and she stood at the head of the stairs with a sleepy looking Odette cradled in her arms. Theo and Nadir looked questionably at Erik knowing that they couldn't just break the news to his wife.
"Theo and Nadir think they've found the boys."
"They have? Then why are you just standing around!"
"W-we don't really don't know exactly where they are."
"I don't understand."
Sighing as Christine now stood at the bottom of the steps, Erik handed the nearly shred note into her right hand as her other held Odette. Her eyes widened and she looked fearfully at Erik.
"W-what will we do…?"
Erik sighed mournfully once again before taking her hand and drawing her close enough to place a chaste kiss to her forehead.
"All we can do is wait mon amour, all we can do is wait."
--Three Days Later, Unknown Location
Jean, Gus and Pierre were shocked when their cell door opened to reveal more than the man who brought their meager meal to them. Four burly hit men and Raoul himself entered the room, each smirking evilly as they approached the boys' chained forms. Bringing out the key, Raoul smirked at the look of surprise that filled the children's eyes.
"Now, now, don't get any ideas you worthless rats. I'm only releasing you so that I may transport you to your final resting place."
"You're a sick disgusting bastard Fop."
Raoul shook his head smugly before backhanding Jean's face and laughing as he turned bleeding lip and bruised jaw back towards him.
"You'd do best to be respectful, you worthless piece of poor-bred Monster's bastardly shit!"
Jean spat the blood out of his mouth and smirked before speaking again.
"I may be poor-bred shit, but at least I'm not a Fop."
Raoul smacked Jean a few more times before signaling for one of the hit men. Said hit man, stuffed a sock into Jean's mouth and roughly tied a blindfold around his head before releasing him from the wall and tying his hands behind his back. As Jean was led blindly from the room his thoughts tumbled awkwardly in his head.
'Please find us Da…'
--Opera Populaire
It was a few hours before the Halloween Opera would begin, and Raoul calmly walked through the doors of the Opera Populaire, leading three boys stiffly in front of him. Knowing better than to ask questions, the entire hallways were silent as the Viscount continued onward until at last stopping in the upper catwalks above the stage and hidden from view. Naturally confused, Jean spoke up.
"You untied us and stuff just to bring us here? What the Hell is wrong with you!"
Raoul's slightly mad eyes closed for a moment before he turned teeth bared towards Jean.
"You shut up you little fucker! You are up here because you are going to fix it so that the chandelier falls into the stage."
"You kidnapped us, made us prisoners in that slimy dungeon, and dragged us up here just so you could crash a party?"
Jean burst into laughter as he collapsed and held his sides, tears of mirth streaming down his face. Raoul drew his pistol and shot the space two feet to the left of Jean's face. He immeadietly fell silent and looked at the insane Viscount.
"One…more…word…just one more…and I'll blow your face off…"
Jean gulped nervously before resuming standing. Raoul slowly lowered his weapon and smirked at his plan as he continued speaking.
"The chandelier has many…many candles, and when those candles hit the stage…"
All three boys shuddered as they imagined the effect of a large glass, flaming decoration smashing into a very flammable stage. Their thoughts were broken as Raoul continued.
"Now then, which one of you is going to set this up so that I don't have to kill you right now?"
Raoul looked at Gus expectantly, but the seven year old shrugged and pointed towards Jean who was already grudgingly pulling levers and running ropes in a fashion that suggested he knew what he was doing. Confused, Raoul looked at Gus one more time as the boy spoke.
"Don't look at me fop, I'm a musician not an artist."
Cocking his gun again, Raoul looked angrily at Gus and spoke once again.
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
Raising his hands in a defensive manner, Gus looked worriedly at the pistol as he answered.
"It means that I spend all my time in the orchestra pit, not up here with the scenery directions and stuff."
Satisfied, Raoul once again lowered the gun and watched as Jean finished his work and looked grumpily at the Fop. Raoul inspected the job before calmly looking at Jean.
"What does it take to bring it down?"
"There should be a rope near stage that has to be cut."
Smirking, Raoul led the boys back down the twisting walkways until they arrived at center stage. Many of the ballerina's and actors looked sadly at the threesome as Raoul smirked and walked towards the form of the temporary manager. The boys were considering running off when a burly guard appeared beside them with a Winchester rifle held calmly in the crook of his arm. Raoul finished his conversation and walked smugly back to the boys, leading them once again towards a pole set up obviously as a prop for the Opera that evening. When they drew closer, it became apparent that the pole had the ability to drop below stage. As Raoul tied Jean, Gus and Pierre roughly to the pole, he smirked as Jean spoke once more.
"Are you going to tell us what the Hell you're doing?"
"Well I guess you deserve a 'last request…' I'm tying you to this pole so that tonight when the chandelier comes down, you'll all burn in the flames."
"You think the people will just-."
"I paid everyone here to just ignore you and let all three of you burn."
Jean looked downtrodden for a moment before shaking his head and smirking.
"What about Madame Giry? She'd never-."
"That old windbag retired not too long ago fool, she's no longer here to play errand girl to your Devil father."
"You take that back about Da!"
"I'd rather not, you shall burn to death beside your brother and the little witness."
"Why burning huh? What the Hell's your fetish with fire?"
"Bastards born of a Devil should die in the same manner, in the flames of Hell!"
Laughing in victory, Raoul left, three guards following him laughing all the way.
--Two Hours Later, In a Carriage Bound For the Opera Populaire
Christine sat nervously beside Erik, her hands clasped together and her fingers wringing the handkerchief in her worried grasp. Not only did she have her sons to worry over, but she had to worry about Erik as well. Though he had worn a large-billed fedora and tipped it in a fashion that hid his mask, she was still greatly miffed over his safety. Seeing her discontent, Erik calmly gathered one of her dainty hands into his own grasp.
"Relax honey, we'll get them back…"
"But Erik, what if-."
"No buts mon amour, no what ifs. I will get them back…"
As Erik gently kissed her, his mind raced with murderous Fop killing thoughts.
'I will get them back and use that Fop's face as a floor waxer or die trying…'
--Foyer of Opera Populaire
Erik scanned the gathering crowd for Nadir, Antoinette and Theo. Though the men had protested, Christine and Antoinette had somehow bullied their way into joining the murderous threesome. All five had ordered Meg to stay behind and willed her into believing that it was because the children needed someone stern to watch them and keep them safe. As Erik clutched Christine's hand closer to his form, he smiled as he finally spotted the Giry troupe. Heading that way, as Erik arrived the doors leading towards the stage and seats finally opened. Keeping silent, the five weary adults trudged into the room and took their seats in the back of the auditorium.
--Below Stage
Jean, Gus and Pierre had all been spending their last few moments before curtain call to think of plans to escape, but each child could think of no way to break free of their doomed confinement.
"What if we shout to the crowd for help?"
"Arrg, think Gus! The stupid Fop will undoubtedly have guards posted everywhere!"
"So?"
"So Pierre, the minute any of us tried to call for help one of those jerks will blow our freaking heads off!"
"Damn it! If we could just get word out to someone!"
"Maybe Ma and Da are already out in the crowd."
"Yeah, and a holy angel will swoop from the heavens and smite the Fop, get real Jean!"
Sighing, all three boys felt a melancholy depression fill them as the sound of the orchestra warming up began and hope left with the crowd's dying conversations.
--Two Hours Later, The Last Scene Has Happened and Raoul Takes Center Stage
Seeing the Fop upstage makes Erik quickly rise to go after him, but Nadir's stiff arm blocking him stops him. Looking confusedly at his friend, Erik watched as Nadir pointed towards the boxes nervously. Following that direction, Erik scowled at the sight of gunmen armed and waiting for anyone to interfere. Drawing his attention back to the Fop, Erik's scowl deepens as the rat speaks.
"I thank all of you for coming tonight, but I have one little surprise left."
Smirking, Raoul pulled a lever onstage and watched with excitement as the pole rose behind him and revealed Jean, Gus and Pierre blinking under the harsh stage lights. Meanwhile in the crowd, Christine had risen and was about to run over to the stage when Erik caught her arm and nodded briefly towards the boxes. She stiffened and let silent tears streak down her cheeks as Raoul spoke once again.
"Now then, I would suggest that all of you sitting near the front row leave."
Drawing his rapier, Raoul walked towards a rope tied near to the pole where the boys were.
"Oh, and I would like to say one thing to the Phantom whom I know is watching this from somewhere…Happy Halloween and say goodbye to your little bastard brats!"
Raoul swiftly ran his blade across the rope and made a hasty exit, as the crowd watched in horror as the beautiful chandelier hanging from the ceiling came crashing down into the stage, setting ablaze the entire front row and the stage itself.
--Onstage
When the chandelier fell, Jean watched in horror as his parents rose from the back of the room. Once risen from below stage, Jean had spotted the many hit men and silently hoped that his parents weren't around. His wish was unfortunately denied and he panicked as he watched his father rushing towards his immobile form. His vision was cut off as the chandelier crashed and thousands of shards of glass flew towards him, stabbing and lacerating his paralyzed being. To make matters worse, the Fop had earlier poured gasoline all about the stage and when the many candles found the liquid igniter, flames jumped upward and seared the unprotected flesh of Jean's right leg. He cried out in agony as wounds sprung across his body. Panic quickly filled him as he looked down and saw that his wooden left leg dangled dangerously close to a lit candle. Roughly turning his head, Jean gasped as he saw that Gus's left hand had been freed by one of the many glass shards, and his twin was now desperately trying to reach a piece of glass hanging limply from the end of the fallen chandelier.
--In the Walkway's Leading Out of the Opera Populaire
Raoul was running as quickly as he could, his legs pumping furiously as he rounded corners and desperately headed for his escape. He turned his head to check behind him and felt sheer terror fill him at the sight of the Phantom speeding after him. He could already tell that he was much slower than his adversary and panicking, took a wrong pathway. When he realized his mistake, he knew that the way he was going, he'd be heading towards the rooftop. Briefly he checked and made sure his pistol was still in his jacket and decided that a rooftop show down would be quick and simple before resuming his escape mission.
--Behind the Fop
Erik was beyond livid. Had anyone besides himself and the Fop been in the hallway and seen his murderous face, they'd see gold/red eyes and sharp bared teeth. He had leapt from his seat the moment he saw the chandelier begin to drop and felt as though his heart had been ripped out when he realized he was too late. His mourning was immediately cut off however, when he saw the Fop's coat tails round a corner far to the right of him in an obvious attempt at escape. Murderous rage he had never quite felt before boiled his blood and as a red glow filled his vision, he tore after the Fop hell bent on ripping the pansy's face off.
--Outside in the Terrified Crowd Beside Opera Populaire
Christine had watched horrified as the chandelier fell and seemingly crushed all three of the boys. Her soul had lifted up out of her and she screamed in agony, collapsing into hysterical tears as Erik disappeared and Nadir picked up her crumpled form. Now, outside, in the midst of chaos, Christine stood completely numb as she watched her childhood home burn. Though she knew in the recesses of her mind that Erik was still in there, she knew that if no one else, he would survive. Her soul however had been ripped in half, one sat in the plane of her husband's heart and the other now lay in heaven with her precious sons.
--Rooftop Opera Populaire
Raoul had made it onto the stone roof mere seconds before the Phantom and barely managed to draw his sword before the Phantom's own blade smashed against his. Raoul felt sick as he swore he could see red gleaming in the blazing amber eyes. Suddenly, the Phantom spoke.
"I will rip your face off and use the skin for a sweat rag for what you've done DeChagney!"
Shuddering violently, Raoul continued to match blows with the Phantom as the sky suddenly erupted in a thunderstorm. Pain lashed through his arms as the Phantom slit any undefended flesh. Blood seeped from his arm and neck and a particularly deep and painful cut now blazed on his left cheek. He knew he was losing badly, and a new shot of adrenaline burst through his form as fear of death filled his sorry form. Feeling a bit braver from the chemical pick-me-up, Raoul sent a sick smile to the Phantom and spoke between blows.
"You're just jealous because the only thing keeping Christine with you was those two brats!"
The jibe seemed to drive the Phantom further insane, and Raoul was suddenly caught off guard as the Phantom blocked his sword and roundhouse kicked him into a wall. Rolling away as the Phantom's sword soon followed, Raoul soon learned the meaning of fear.
"You just bought yourself four missing limbs before I kill you."
Rain poured around them, and Raoul suddenly found himself defenseless as the Phantom disarmed him and sent his rapier flying across the rooftop. The force of the blow sent Raoul sliding backward several feet, and he felt his life flash before his eyes as the Phantom charged his prone form. As insanity gripped the last of Raoul's senses, he suddenly leapt to his feet and tackled the surprised Phantom to the ground. The Phantom's blade had driven through Raoul's shoulder, but he disregarded the pain as he grasped the Phantom's hand and smashed it into the ground so that he released his sword handle. As soon as the blade fell from his hands, Raoul scuffled with the Phantom and unknowingly knocked the saber out of reach. The Phantom quickly managed to shove Raoul off him and rolled to his feet as he attempted to go after his lost weapon. He froze however when the harsh sounding click of a pistol filled his ears. As the Phantom turned to face him, Raoul smirked at the sense of victory that claimed him. Neither saw the rooftop door open.
--With the Boys
Jean had never been more thankful than before this moment. Somehow, Gus had managed to grab hold of the shard of glass directly in front of him. After quickly slicing through his own rope, he freed Jean and Pierre and the three managed to run through the blaze and into a safer hallway. Jean started to lead the way towards the exit when Gus stopped him.
"Come on Jean we have to go this way!"
"But that's towards the roof!"
"I know, but I saw Dad head this way!"
As they shouted through the noise of the inferno near-by, Jean immeaditly followed his twin as the threesome raced their way upstairs.
--On the Roof
Raoul had just taken aim and fired when a new sound besides the crack of the thunder filled the air.
"NO!"
From seemingly out of nowhere, Gus had thrown himself in front of the pathway of the bullet, and the world seemed to fall into slow motion as the bullet hit the masked side of the boy's face. The mask shattered under the blow and the prone form of the seven-year-old veered slightly to the right as his body hit the stone ground and slid on the rain to a stop. The shocked forms of Erik and Raoul were once again caught off guard as Jean's voice filled the air.
"You BASTARD!"
Suddenly Raoul felt himself falling backward and looked down in shock at Jean who had just launched himself at Raoul and knocked both of them off the nearby edge of the roof. As the effect of what was happening filled Raoul, he screamed as gravity pulled both him and Jean steadily towards the ground. Jean, whose lighter weight caused him to fall slower, slowly realized what had just happened.
'I'm going to die…'
Closing his eyes as tightly as he could, an unexpected jolt and painful ripping sound filled his head and he cried out as he realized his shoulder had just managed to catch one of the many spear-wielding gargoyle's that adorned the side of the Opera House. As blood loss began to claim him, Jean wearily looked behind him at the stone savior and smiled faintly as he realized it was a statue of Apollo whose lucky arrow drawn bow had snagged him from the sky. Falling blissfully into unconsciousness Jean tried not to think as slumber consumed him.
End Chapter 29
A/N: 3:26 in the morning, I'm exhausted and this is the longest chapter I've written. Stay tuned tomorrow for Epilogue/finale, which will be Chapter 30. Please Review, while I go to bed.
