Chapter 11

Christine watched Raoul's face. For a moment he retained the same bland look that he'd held as she asked her second question. Suddenly, he laughed. But it was more than a laugh. It held incredulity, shock, amazement. It took him several minutes to regain his composure.

"Surely you jest Christine! You want me to help you to save – him? I had all of Paris scouring for you. I thought he had raped and murdered you, or worse, had left the city with you as his hostage."

"Raoul! Never! He would never…" But Raoul continued his tirade, speaking over every defense she tried to make.

"And then, to have you tell me that he is what you returned to? Of your own free will? Really Christine, I don't see anything in him worth saving and would rather not waste my time."

"And I see all that is in him worth saving."

Raoul's eyes flashed anger at her as he tried to regain his composure once again.

"I will however, give you my assurance that the authorities will be notified of your safe return." He turned from her then, and took several steps. She realized he may be her only chance at freeing Erik and, though it pained her to do it, she moved after him and placed her hand on his arm.

"Raoul, please! You are the only one I can turn to. I know I have wronged you. I know I no longer have a right to ask you for anything. But if you ever truly felt anything for me, please, help me now." She held her breath and waited – for him to turn or run she didn't know. She just knew he would be her only chance to get to Erik.

It seemed like a lifetime had passed before he turned back to her, his face holding that same bland expression, but his eyes holding more sadness and anger than she had ever imagined a soul could carry. For a moment she wished she could feel more than pity, but she had no other emotion to give.

"Raoul, please. I love him."

"What do you want from me Christine? I wanted to give you the world. Instead you want me to give you the help you need to save the man who is your world. I can't do that. I just can't…I love you."

"If your love was true and sincere, you would help me now. You feel nothing for me! Nothing except a glorified idea of what we might have had based upon our childhood. How would we have ever built a lifetime on that, Raoul? How?" She waited for a moment, watching his face, giving him one last chance. All she saw was the same; sadness, hurt - longing? It was an awakening for her, to realize what she might have had with him, and what she knew she would experience with Erik. The difference was night and day, dark and light, sorrow and joy. She'd chosen the joy. She'd made the right choice in returning to Erik. If she had doubted her decision at any time, she no longer needed to be concerned with it. Shaking her head, she removed her hand from his arm.

"I'm sorry Raoul, I've asked something of you I don't think you will ever be able to give." She saw his eyebrows rise to question her. As she shook her head, she answered his unspoken question.

"Forgiveness, Raoul. Forgiveness for not loving you." Giving him a sad smile, she turned from him walking away for the last time.

Erik had led the trio through the back alleys of the city, keeping to those he knew were rarely traveled in daylight, but extensively at night. He'd lived underneath this city for years, new the nightlife's habits intimately. Had walked among them in the cloak of darkness. These people worked far into the morning hours using any illegal means necessary to survive. When the sun rose, they hid themselves away, to wait for the dark to conceal them again. He knew their chances of being seen were slim. They had stopped early on to make the commander more comfortable. Finding some rope in the saddle pouches he tied the commander's hands. He tore a piece from the commander's shirt using it to blindfold him, then sat him on the third horse, strapping him to the saddle. Satisfied the man would not take his leave any time soon, Erik led them in circles for the better part of an hour giving the commander the impression they had traveled a great distance. The gendarme did not venture into this part of the city. Crime was rampant and the perpetrators vicious. The police feared the area as much as the upright citizen, so let them take care of their own. Erik knew however, he would have to gain information from the commander in order to make their escape. When he felt the man was completely confused as to their whereabouts, and suitably frightened, he halted their little group and turned to him. Seeing the fear so evident on the commanders face brought a slight smile to his lips.

"I need the exits from the city that are not guarded, Commander, and I require them now. I will be more than happy to let you live, should you care to share those facts with me. However, know this, Monsieur. I will kill you to save my friend and me, though I do detest being reduced to that. I think you are intelligent enough, though barely, to see the advantage in telling me what I need to know." Erik waited, watching the uncovered area of the commander's face, unguarded in it's emotions. Rage, fear, uncertainty – all stormed across the man's face as he pondered. Finally acquiescing to the situation at hand, he gave Erik three or four routes that would keep them from any checkpoint, allowing them easy egress from the city. Satisfied with the answers, Erik led them to a sad excuse of a stable with no inhabitants save rodents. Dismounting, he instructed Claude to hold the reins of his horse as he led the commander's inside. Untying him, Erik pulled him from the horse and tossed him in a corner. Tying him to a beam, he made sure the man was relatively uncomfortable before taking his leave.

"Commander, it has been an experience. One I hope never to repeat however. If you'll just sit quietly now, I'm sure someone will come along and set you free. Perhaps not today, but eventually. In the meantime, think long and hard about my earlier suggestion regarding any desire you might entertain about coming after us. You have proved to be an amusing diversion, one I would hate to have to dispose of so don't force my hand." The commander began to squirm. "Ah, I see you are not happy with your accommodations. I apologize that I cannot offer you something equal to that which you gave us. Not a sound now, sir, and I shall allow you to live." The man quieted and Erik knew he would comply. "Au revoir, Monsieur Commander." With a shake of his head and a smirk on his face, Erik led the commander's horse from the stable. Remounting, he and Claude proceeded through the alley.

They had gone only an alley or two over from the stable when Erik stopped.

"Claude, the only way we are going to get past the city proper is if we ride through the center of town." Claude looked at him as if he'd lost his mind. "I still wear my bloody bandages, our clothing is dirty and torn. And we are both badly bruised. My plan is a simple one. Will you trust me?"

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Christine walked back to her father's tomb moving down the side of the building. M Legarde awaited her return at the back of the cemetery. As Christine approached she heard a sound behind her and felt a hand on her arm. Letting out a squeak of surprise, she turned to see the person she least expected.

"What are you doing here!" she demanded.

"I am sorry, Christine. I couldn't wait any longer. You were so long, I thought he might have taken you away. I…I did hear part of your conversation. I'm so sorry he refused to help Christine. What will happen now?"

"I don't know, Antoinette, I just don't know. But I must do something. And soon."

"What do you propose to do?"

"Well, they seek me. Could I use that to our advantage? Perhaps I should march through the front doors and demand their release."

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To anyone in the city, the two on horseback looked like any other Parisians - hurt in one of the many riots that broke out in the lower sections. The little man in front led another who slouched low over his horse's neck, bandaged and covered in blood. A third horse followed, rider-less. Both men looked as though they had been on the losing side of the fight. As they made their way, those who noticed simply shook their heads and tsk'd them as fools for getting involved, most likely losing a comrade in the process.

As Erik and Claude approached the outskirts of the city, they saw less and less traffic. No pedestrians were out and very few carriages traveled. Lining the road on one side was the forest that separated the city proper from the countryside beyond. Thick and riddled with brush, it looked impassable to the casual observer.

Erik watched for the egress the commander had described.

They came upon it so suddenly they almost missed it. Seeming to be a little used turn off from the main road, it led into the forest. At one time, there had been many such as this leading away from the city. But the main road had made them obsolete and forgotten. But not this one, it seemed. Roughly sixty meters in, they saw the dense undergrowth blocking the lane. Erik rode ahead and when he was satisfied that the commander had not failed him, they continued on their way. Some areas of the lane were so overgrown they struggled to pass, attempting to make as little noise as possible. They pushed through for quite some time when, breaking into a small clearing, they heard voices but could not see where they originated. Across from them, the brush lessened considerably and Erik made out a wheat field and in the distance, travelers on the road.

"Papers are in order, let them pass. Next carriage pull forward!" he heard from close by.

The checkpoint was not far from them. They had reached the city boundary. Dismounting, he held the lone horse while Claude joined him. Checking the saddle pouches for anything else they may be able to use, he dropped the reins of each horse allowing them their freedom. They stood grazing but Erik knew they would eventually move enough to be found. He hoped the authorities would assume he and Claude had left the city far behind them.

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Christine and Antoinette stood across from Headquarters for almost an hour. Nervous but determined, Christine had no idea what she would say. I've come to see an old man who was brought in yesterday. He was with another man. No, how would I explain that? What excuse can I give for asking about them? Pausing in her thoughts, an idea began to form. Antoinette! But of course!

"Antoinette. I have it! It's perfect. You're going to do the talking." She saw the look of disbelief as she related her idea.

"Me, Christine? Me? I am not the actress. Non, you must be the one inquiring."

Christine looked at Antoinette with impatience. This was the only plausible solution. She certainly couldn't ask about Erik. It would raise too many suspicions. Yes, this would work. It had to.

"Antoinette, you are looking for your father. If they hold him there, it will be convincing when he sees you and you him. Erik must not react to me. It would be too dangerous for us all. Besides," she clasped her hands together in frustration, "How could I explain my seeking Erik? I can think of nothing that would make sense. You must do this, Antoinette. You can do this. You underestimate your abilities." Christine pleaded with voice and expression, willing the other girl to say yes. She watched, knowing Antoinette considered all the possibilities and outcomes. But she knew in her heart that Antoinette would not desert her father. A moment's guilt at putting her in this situation passed quickly. No, she would not desert her father any more than Christine could Erik.

"Antoinette, will you do this? For all of us?"

"Oui Christine." Antoinette spoke with resignation. "I cannot leave my father. I must know if he is all right. But I cannot guarantee the outcome of our little charade. What if I cannot convince them?"

"Then I fear, Antoinette, all is lost."

Christine watched the desk officer as they approached. The closer they got to him, the more his expression turned to one of a doomed man. He looks uncomfortable. He must not care to deal with women. Perhaps this will be easier than I thought.

"May I help you, Mademoiselles?"

"Officer," Antoinette began, "word on the street is that two men were brought in yesterday. My father left home for work with another man yesterday morning and I have not seen him since. I worry so, I must know if they are the men that were arrested." Christine had been watching her friend, a fleeting thought coming to mind that Antoinette had missed her calling. This brought a tiny smile to her face. Turning back to the officer she realized her mistake. He scrutinized her with a look of familiarity but the moment passed quickly as Antoinette began again.

"Well, officer? Is this true?"

"Yesterday, our officers brought in two men, yes. They had been involved in a carriage accident. But we do not allow visitors of any kind here, Mme."

Christine watched Antoinette's face take on just the right look of confusion. This time, though she had the same thought, it did not bring the smile to her face again. She knew anything out of the ordinary now would bring too much suspicion on them.

"A carriage accident. Were they hurt? What would cause their arrest if they were hurt in an accident?"

"Ahem…well…yes, you see, um…there were certain articles in the area that could not be accounted for." His discomfort grew once again. If this had not been so serious, Christine would have laughed aloud.

"Officer, if you will not let me see them, then tell me please, what did they look like?

"One was slight, the other quite…intimidating in size. The larger man was hurt the most and was unconscious for most of his stay, the other, being a deaf mute, was useless for explanations." Christine felt a chill run down her spine when she heard the officer's description of Erik's condition. She waited but Antoinette didn't miss a beat.

"But officer! That is my father and his friend. Please, I must see them."

"I am afraid that is impossible Mme." He paused looking to Christine as if he'd rather be anywhere than here.

"They escaped earlier today."

Christine paled and began to shake, grasping Antoinette's arm for support. She could hear the officer ask if she was all right and Antoinette's answer as well, but her head swam with the thought that Erik was gone.

She felt Antoinette take her arm as she led them both from headquarters. Once outside, Antoinette led her to a bench across the street and helped her sit. Christine looked at her in panic.

"Antoinette. What now? Where would they go? How will we find each other now?"