Chapter 12

Christine did not want to be calmed or comforted. She wanted Erik. The past day's stress kept her nerves on edge, but the news of Erik's escape pushed her past it. She had one thought now, and that was to find him. Somehow she must find him.

Antoinette placed her arm around Christine's shoulders. Able to shield her injured shoulder till now, the pressure of Antoinette's attempt at comfort became too much to bear.

"Antoinette! You're hurting me. Please take your arm…" But before she could finish, she felt Antoinette's breath at her ear, as the other girl whispered furiously.

"Christine, shhh. The gendarme from headquarters across the street is watching us. We must have raised their interest after all. You must collect yourself. Please, Christine. Just walk with me, as if nothing is wrong."

Christine glanced at the doorway and spotted the man. He glared at them and it frightened her as she remembered his look of recognition earlier. As they turned their backs and walked away, she saw the look of worry etched upon her friend's face.

"I don't understand. That officer had looked at me as if he knew me. Raoul told me he would let the authorities know that I had been found. That they needn't search for me any longer. But the way he was acting…"

"We just need to continue on our way. We shall return to the inn. Perhaps, once we are safe again, and rested, we will come up with a solution."

Christine gave Antoinette a hopeful smile, knowing in her heart that she had no solutions and no clue as to where to begin.

When they reached the inn, both girls collapsed onto the bed in Christine's room. Their quest at headquarters had begun late in the afternoon, and by the time they arrived at the inn night had fallen. Exhausted, Christine knew they both needed sleep but did not want to be without each other's company. As Christine drifted off into a fitful doze, her mind replayed the events of the past two days, allowing her little relief.

Christine woke about an hour later, sitting straight up in the bed and grinning.

"Antoinette! Wake up. I know where they would go. Antoinette!" She shook her friend by the shoulder repeating her words until Antoinette was lucid enough to listen.

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Erik and Claude had returned to the city, forging a path through the brush, leaving the horses and checkpoint far behind. When Erik felt they had put enough distance between themselves and the checkpoint, they stopped to rest. Clearing a small area at the base of a tree, they sat with their backs to it, closed their eyes and waited for nightfall. Both were quiet as Erik formulated the rest of the plan he had devised. He knew they must go back for Christine and Antoinette and the best way to do that would be to travel in the shadow of night. Laying out his ideas in his mind, he noticed from the corner of his eye that Claude watched him with an odd expression.

"Claude, there is something wrong?"

"Non, Monsieur Erik. Thank you for getting us out of there today. You never cease to amaze me."

"I only did what was most beneficial to us both. I would have done it had you not been there."

"Yes, well, I'm sure you would have. But you did something else for me today and, I want to thank you for it."

Erik raised his visible eyebrow in question as he turned to look at Claude.

"And whatever else have I done for you today Claude, that you would want to thank me? Freeing us I suppose I could understand. But I did nothing else."

"But you did Monsieur Erik. You…called me your friend."

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Christine and Antoinette packed a small amount of food, water, bandages and ointments in two bags along with anything else they could think of to tend to any wound they may find. Each dressed in their darkest clothing, and carried a lantern full of oil. Though Antoinette had never been through the secret door, she knew where to find the latch from watching her father and Erik come and go. She used that knowledge now as she and Christine peered through into the dark beyond.

"Were you not afraid when you came through here? It is so black and I fear our lanterns will offer little light."

Christine remembered her fear as she followed Erik, staying in the shadows just outside his light. Would he accept her? Would he believe her, that she wanted him, loved him and only him? And always had. That she hadn't misread their kiss and made the biggest mistake of her young life. No, it wasn't the dark she had feared as she now looked into this abyss, where the decisions she'd made had changed her life forever.

"Yes, Antoinette. I was afraid." But for reasons you will never understand.

Someone banged on the front door, locked since the morning before.

"Christine! The officers must have followed us."

"It may just be a weary traveler that needs a bed for the night."

"Either way, we must go now. We may not have this chance again."

But both girls stalled at the tunnel entrance, neither making the first move to enter. They heard the pounding again, more insistent. Realizing it wasn't someone looking for a room, they clasped hands and marched through the opening, bags over their shoulders and lanterns held high, as the panel slid shut behind them.

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Erik reflected for long minutes. Claude's words had affected him. Friend. Did he consider Claude a friend? Did he really know what a friend was? It had rolled so easily across his tongue, that word friend, with no sarcasm behind it as was his usual inflection. No disgust. Just…what? A feeling. A feeling that it had been the most natural word to use. He had known Claude and his family for years but had never thought about his relationship with them. Had always taken for granted that Claude was there. Even when he had failed to save Angelique, Claude had remained by his side, never blaming him for her death, though he had blamed himself enough. Claude had been one of two people in his life that he trusted, Madame Giry the only other. In the past few days, he had learned many new things. The woman he had loved for so long returned those feelings in kind. And he had a friend. Neither of these had he thought ever to know in his lifetime.

He cleared his throat. "Claude, we must be off now. I wish to get back to Christine and Antoinette as soon as possible." He rose from the ground, extending his hand to Claude. Claude rose, and as he met Erik's eyes, Erik saw a glint he knew far too well. Claude smiled at him and shook his hand. Winking he said something Erik never thought to hear.

"Thank you, Erik – my friend."

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"It is so dark. Are you sure it's safe? The lanterns barely penetrate."

"I only know what I have told you. I followed Erik for some time. But…I was so tired. I--I could walk no farther so he carried me. I must have fallen asleep, as I don't remember anything else. I cannot imagine it being anything but safe or I'm sure Erik would not use it." She did not want to acknowledge the true reason for her inability to remember, too ashamed of her weakness to admit she had fainted.

"Shhh. I hear something!" From outside their small circle of light, they heard noises. Not footsteps, they were sure of that. But what? They continued holding hands. The comfort they derived from each other had kept them going. But now, even that wasn't helping. Suddenly, they heard a scratching like a thousand nails across the stone they trod.

"What is it?" Antoinette shouted but Christine was too shocked to make a sound as a horde of rats scurried across the path in front of them.

"Mon Dieu! Rats! Run, Christine, run!" Antoinette began to run further into the tunnel, aware of nothing except escaping the vermin. She dragged Christine with her and as she ran Christine regained her senses. She caught glimpses of passages branching off of the one they followed, and realized they must stop or they would be lost.

"Antoinette! You must stop!" Christine tried to plant her feet but the stone was too smooth and she could not gain purchase. Caught off guard, her forward momentum too great, she jerked forward into Antoinette, slamming into her back and knocking them both off their feet. As they tumbled in a ball of arms, legs, packs and gowns, their lanterns went sailing away, crashing into pieces and eliminating their only source of light.

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"Monsieur Erik, why are we here? That is not a doorway, it is nothing but stone!" Claude stood with his friend in front of an archway on the alley side of the Opera House. Decorative arches graced the wall at even intervals down the entire side of the building, which ran the length of the block. They stood in an area seldom used when the Opera House had been in full operation. Now no one had any reason to come here.

"Remember, what I have told you in the past. Things are not always as they seem." With that, he pushed here and there around the arch and the wall gaped opened to reveal a door no one would have suspected. Inside, a tunnel similar to the one that led from his room at the inn stretched into darkness.

"Hurry. Although I see no one, that does not mean we are not being watched."

The two entered into the dark as the door closed behind them. Claude heard a match strike and watched the eerie glow as Erik lit several torches on the wall. Claude had never ventured far into the tunnel from the inn. Now he looked around in awe. They stood in a small area with tunnels that branched down from the door they had come through. Look more like slides to me thought Claude as he wondered if they would be descending on their backsides. Taking two torches from the wall, Erik passed one to Claude, motioning him to follow and starting off down the tunnel to the right. I am getting too old for this, Monsieur Erik, too old.

Erik held the torch in front of him while he moved down the tunnel, into the bowels of the Opera House. Close to the wall, the path was quite manageable as the edge was rough and easily trod upon. They walked for what seemed like an eternity before finally reaching the lake. His boat had been left on the shore. Of course, the animals that destroyed my home would need a way to return to theirs. Erik motioned Claude into the boat, giving him the torch he carried once Claude sat down. The torches would be their only source of illumination upon reaching the opposite shore.

"I haven't been in a boat before," Claude said. "This is…strange. Is the water deep? What happens should we tip over? I'm not comfortable with this. Not at all."

"Claude, you were willing to take on the gendarmes but not a little ride in a boat? I am surprised." Erik showed his amusement as Claude gazed at him with apprehension.

"Claude, the water comes only to my knees. No more. But it is very cold and we have some way to go. The boat is the obvious choice." He waited for a comment from Claude that was not forthcoming. By the expression on his face however, Erik was sure, had he held anything other than both torches, he would have pitched it at him by now. Claude glared at him for a moment, then turned face forward watching their progress.

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Christine and Antoinette clung to each other as they sat in total darkness. Never before had either one been so frightened.

"Christine, what do we do now?" Antoinette whispered as if the walls could hear.

It can't be that dangerous here. Erik uses these tunnels all the time. He would never have put me in harm's way.

"Can you feel for the lanterns? Either one will do. And mind the broken glass. Perhaps one is still usable, but we won't know until we find them."

"Shhh, don't talk so loud." Antoinette whispered again.

"If it is only the rats we must worry about, they won't care how loud we are, and perhaps it will scare them away. I doubt anyone else is here or we should see their light. Please. Help me find the lanterns."

Sweeping their hands about the floor, the only thing either girl felt was the broken glass.

"Oooh! Mon Dieu!"

"Antoinette. Are you all right? What happened?"

"Oui, a piece of glass pricked my finger. At least I think it is glass as I cannot see it. Whatever it was is gone now."

"Keep looking then, we must find the lanterns."

Christine took her pack from her good shoulder and shoved it aside.

"We'll never find them like this. Let go so I can explore farther."

"No! What happens if you can't find your way back?"

"You must let me go. Tell you what. Hold my ankle while I reach out as far as I can. We'll go in a circle and if I don't find one of the lanterns, we'll move a little farther and try again. How does that sound?"

"No, please. What if you should slip from my hand? It is so black. I cannot."

"You must or who knows how long we shall remain here." Perhaps forever she thought trying to keep her own fear at bay. She heard Antoinette's sigh of resignation.

For a moment, she though the death grip with which Antoinette held her would never let up, then felt Antoinette's arms relax a bit.

"Yes, I…I think I can do that. Just don't lose me." Christine felt hands moving down her skirt until they reached her feet. The same grip Antoinette used earlier now trapped her ankle, making her squeak in pain. She knew Antoinette was frightened. She was as well. But fear would not solve the problem they faced. She began by crawling as far from Antoinette as she allowed, reaching forward. Please God, just one lantern. I can't take the dark much longer either. The pain in her shoulder grew with each circle she made and she knew, problem solved or not, she would pay dearly.

"Christine, talk to me. I need to hear something other than my own breathing."

"What do you wish to talk about? I need to concentrate. I don't need any more injuries." She heard a sob catch in Antoinette's throat and berated her own fear-fueled temper.

"I am sorry. I'm just as scared as you. Forgive me." Hearing nothing from the girl she continued. "What would you care to talk about?"

They made small talk, finding comfort in each others voice as Christine circled, moved a bit and began again.

Circle and move, circle and move. This went on for some time until Christine's fingertips bumped something that rattled.

"Antoinette! I've found one." Reaching out to grasp it, she paid no heed to its condition. As her hand clamped over the lantern, it also drove a piece of the broken glass through the palm of her hand.

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Erik looked for candles, another torch, anything that would bring them more light. He caught sight of Claude's face out of the corner of his eye. He stopped to watch as Claude paced around the area in awe. Although the mob had destroyed almost everything, remnants of Erik's former home remained intact. He watched as Claude took it all in. For a moment he saw his home again, in all its opulence and it saddened him.

"Monsieur Erik, you lived here? This…this cave? How could you have lived like this for so many years?"

"It was rather comfortable at one time, until the mob tore it apart. It was my home."

Claude approached him and placed his hand on Erik's arm.

"Would that I had known, my friend. How desolate your life has been."

Taken aback by the sincerity of Claude's words, Erik swallowed against the lump that formed in his throat. Friend. Still such a foreign word to him. Clearing his throat, he instructed Claude as to where he might search for a candle or two.

They had been looking for some time and had managed to find several candles to light when Erik stopped, tilting his head.

"Monsieur? What is it?"

Erik stood, barely breathing, as he listened, trying to catch the sound he thought he'd heard, a second time.

"Erik?" Erik held up his hand in an effort to quiet Claude. Again he heard it. Faint, but unmistakable. Someone was crying.

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Christine let out a shriek as she pulled her hand away. She felt the warmth of the blood as it ran across her palm. She knew she had cut herself badly.

"Christine! What is it?"

"It's nothing. I've…just cut my hand."

"Can you tell how deep it is?"

"I think it's not too bad, but I need something to wrap around it. Where is your pack? Can you find a bandage?"

"I have no idea where it is, we've moved too far."

"Well then, can you tear a piece of my underskirt away? I can't…"

"I can try. Is it bleeding a lot?"

"No, not really but I don't want the blood all over me and I do not want the cut to get dirty." She hoped she sounded convincing enough that Antoinette wouldn't panic. It was quite bloody, and having explored it with her other hand, realized the glass had gone completely through. She needed to stop the bleeding, which grew worse by the moment.

She felt Antoinette's hands move at her hem then heard the sound of material ripping. Before she could move, Antoinette's hand found her blood covered ones.

"Christine! This is more than a simple cut. Your hands are covered in blood. You need help."

"And how do you propose we get that help? We have no light, no idea where we are, we're sitting on a path in a tunnel that leads to who knows where. How do we get help?" Her nerves cracked and her voice rose with each word. She took a deep breath to calm herself.

"I'm as scared as you, Antoinette. I have no idea what to do. But I know I have to stop the bleeding and you need to help me. I need it wrapped tight and tied. Can you do that for me?"

"Oui. I can do that." Christine felt Antoinette's hands on hers, heard a sharp intake of breath when Antoinette realized the severity of her injury, but she could feel her gentle ministrations. Her head swam as Antoinette finished tying a knot in the makeshift bandage. Reaching with her good arm, she found Antoinette's shoulder and lay her head upon it while Antoinette held her close. As she drifted off, she realized that Antoinette had begun to cry.

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"Crying? Who would be crying down here?"

"I don't know, but we need to find whoever it is. Grab one of the torches and come with me."

Erik approached the first tunnel opening. Holding his hand up to halt Claude, he slowed his breathing and listened again. Again he heard it. Faint, but distinct.

"Follow me and don't stray, else I must find you as well."

Erik started off at a brisk pace, going quite a way, stopping to listen, before proceeding again. At one point he reached a section that had several smaller tunnels cut into the side of the path. Stopping again, he listened, moved toward one of the offshoots, stopped, turned to another, listened again and started down it, Claude close at his heels. The farther they got, the faster he moved until he could hear Claude trotting to keep pace. At a sharp turn, he stopped once again and listened to the sobs. Holding the torch in front of him so as to give him the advantage, he quickly turned the corner, only to be treated to a blood-curdling scream.

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Christine must have fainted. Antoinette moved her head to her lap, trying to ascertain, by touch, that the blood wasn't seeping through the bandage. She cried aloud, so lost in her despair that she lost track of her surroundings. She wished Christine would awaken, she felt so alone. Lowering her head and closing her eyes, she prayed through her tears for someone to save them. As she lifted her head, a brilliant light assaulted her eyes, turning her cries into the scream of her life.

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Erik had never heard anything like it before -- this scream that chilled him to the bone. Before he knew what was happening, Claude had pushed past him, running toward the sound.

"Claude! Stop!" But there was no stopping a man who knew his daughter was within reach.

Erik heard Antoinette calling out and realized that they had found the girls.

Christine. Thank God. My Christine.