Hey everyone! Look, I'm back, with an update! Thrilling right? Lol, anyways, sorry this one took so long as well everyone. Been busy with Marching Band and plus Sumner up and disappeared for this week so there was a moment of separation anxiety... not really but I have to have some excuse for being so late with this.
So- I think this chapter is going to be pleasing. We have set the stage for upcoming major Erik and Raylan interaction...and we are finally revealing Raylan's secret... or the major part of it just without the details. Hope it's a surprise when you find out.
A Few Thanks
shimmeringtears- I am so sorry we kept you waiting! I know, I hate cliffhangers myself, but I must use them occasionally. Have I mentioned that you are the best reviewer on the planet? Well...you are. I'll try to not to make any more cliffhangers for you. Thanks bunches!
surf with music- Yea, I love reviewers who are willing to tell me their opinions, it's extremely informative. Sorry about the cliffhanger! I know it's horrible. Glad you are enjoying the story though- I hope it stands up to your expectations. Love your comments, and more Erik is soon to come. Thanks again!
Juilette Delphe- Sumner! Don't give anything away! That's our little secret. Shsshhhh. And come back! I miss you!
Alright, so, here is the story! Enjoy! And please review! You know the drill. Thanks!
-Olivia N.
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She stayed in the darkness, waiting, her mind screaming in desperation, Come on Raylan! Give me something to work with! Vits couldn't see, she had to wait for Ray to make a sound, to give away her position. Then at last she heard it! A faint shriek. Vits took her risky shot, throwing her knife with deadly accuracy. She aimed for just below the chin. If she was right it would nail him in the hand. If she were wrong, she would cut Raylan's throat.
A satisfying thud let Vits know she had been right. She heard the near silent curse, followed by the ruffle of his cape. A heavy thump announced that Raylan had indeed been released.
As the Phantom left the stage, the lights returned, and Vits was already halfway to her friend's body. Raylan lay crumpled upon the floor, a pale and limp image of the deceased. Her plump southern lips had already begun to turn a tint of blue, the once beautiful coloring of life slowly draining from her body.
Despite her shaking hands, Vits took hold of her roommate's wrist, searching for a pulse. Her own quickened as she felt none. "Damn it!" She cursed, resting her head upon her friend's heart. "Come on! Ray! Fight, damn it! FIGHT!" Vits urgently called. Then at last, her call was answered.
It was faint, a slimmer of a heart beat, but it was there. Vits quickly massaged Raylan's neck getting the blood to flow through her veins, feeling the life grow stronger. She gently pried the near deceased's mouth open, and forced air into her lungs.
"Come on Ray, just a bit more. Give me more," She whispered, and began to push upon the girl's diaphragm, trying to get her lungs working.
"Come on!" She nearly screamed, "Damn it! I need it! Ray! HELP ME!"
Her voice turned desperate. Again she pushed breath in the body, watching the chest rise. She pumped her friend, forcing the breath in and out, trying to get the heart to work. She felt the beat grow stronger.
"Please Ray, don't give up on me. Not yet!" She whispered, as she forced more air into her lungs. She waited. Vits knew she had one more try, and if she failed, well...there would be a new grave tonight.
She pumped her friend's lungs, tears rising to her eyes as she whispered, "Don't you dare leave me. Don't you dare."
Time slows in moments like these. What may have been just seconds could seem like hours, and minutes like a life time. Your whole world is put on pause, and all you can do is sit there, helpless and praying to God that life will return again.
Everything that mattered before is cast aside for that moment; your focus becomes that hope that they will pull through, full of uncertainty and desperate wishes. Many have been let down, prayers left unanswered, and wishes denied. Time will return, leaving your world shattered and faith waning on the edge of a knife, and life will go on without a second glance to the one it had lost.
Sometimes though, there are those who will not accept denial and refuse to loose hope. They will stare death straight in the face, and tell him that this persons life he can not have, and they will fight him for it until there is no more hope left to hold. Vits fought, demanded fate itself to bend to her will, and this time her prayers would be answered.
Raylan's chest suddenly jolted forward as the breath of life returned to her, her eyes shooting open as she gasped and heaved for the air that she had formally been denied. Her breathing was raspy and mixed with extreme coughing, but she was indeed living once more.
Vits sat back, wisely letting the girl cough her lungs out. She was breathing, and as long as she stayed that way, she would be alright.
Raylan continued to cough horrendously for a good few moments, and had only fallen into normal breaths when she had exhausted herself. After that Vits pulled her friend to her feet, and lead her back to their room in slow, measured steps. Once safely inside their apartment Vits rested her friend upon the couch. She quickly went to the kitchen and poured a drink of something from her hidden stash and swiftly returned to kneel before her friend. She shoved it in Raylan's hand with a blunt order, "Drink."
Raylan took the drink without any question. She brought it to her lips and drank down a heavy gulp before she began to cough an enormous amount once more. "God!" She gagged, "What the hell is that?"
"Scotch," Vits nodded approvingly, "It's damned good scotch."
Raylan lips thinned in disgust as she handed it back to Vits, muttering scratchily, "I don't drink."
Vits nodded, and went back to the kitchen, downing the scotch herself on the way there. She returned a second later and handed Raylan a different, taller glass of a clear liquid, demanding again, "Drink."
Raylan took it, raised a skeptical eye, but drank it anyways. She was relieved to find that it was water, icy water that dripped so welcomingly down her burning throat. She drank the whole thing without stopping, downing the liquid to relieve some of the pain on the walls of her throat.
Raylan then handed the empty glass back to her with a nod of appreciation before laying back into the couch. Her eyes shut for a moment, almost making it seem as if she had fallen asleep until she said weakly, "You saved me...thank...thank you."
Vits shrugged, "You would have done the same for me. Now sleep, morning dawns soon."
Raylan shook her head, trying to fight it. She didn't want to go to sleep, didn't want to be left vulnerable again, but exhaustion made her weak to the nights charms. After only a second of defiance she fell into a heavy slumber.
Vits went to her room, but did not sleep. Her puzzle still consumed her mind. Every time she closed her eyes she saw him, making her smile. making her happy for the first time in so many years. She felt his lips, his warm caress. It had been one of the most enjoyable experience in her life, kissing Ethan had been almost a dream. On the other hand, kissing him hand caused the most tension she had ever felt from Raylan. He should have stopped you, Vits had remembered Raylan hissing as if the action was mutiny, He has the power to say no, and he didn't. My quarrel is with him... I don't expect you to understand. And she didn't, she did not understand this at all. With her mind rambling, she had to get some relief. An hour before dawn, she went walking, hoping that her morning ritual would clear her head, or provide an answer.
As usual, Vits allowed her feet to carry her, as her head was preoccupied with other thoughts. Her question still plagued her mind. She boiled it down to Mind over Heart. But was that right? Would that be the right answer?
She did not realize where her feet had led her until she started to walk up the steps to his hotel. Before the door of the Cervantes Inn she shook herself, and looked longingly at the windows. Again she shook her head, and walked down the steps. No, she did not have an answer, Not yet. She had nearly made it to the last step when the creak of the inn door sounded. There was a pause then, the silence that confirmed that it was indeed he who had opened the door.
Vits stopped unsure what to do. In the end curiosity got the better of her as she slowly rotated on the spot, until she faced him.
Ethan stood there, plastered in the threshold, uncertainty sketched all over his face in hard, concentrated lines. His mouth was slightly limping open as he fumbled for something to say. He hadn't intended on running into her that morning. He was going to go for his morning walk as usual, just avoid the Sine to avoid the pain of seeing her. In no way had he expected her to be here. She never ceased to surprise him.
Vits also didn't know what to say. She had not intended her feet to take her here-to him. But then again her feet had a mind of their own. She still wore his shirt, having lost the chance to acquire a new one yesterday. She met his eyes, trying to find what lay within them.
Staring, they were just both staring at one another, neither of them daring to utter a word. Ethan had managed to get a gentle ummm out but nothing more.
The moment was lost in that silence, Vits looked at him with troubled eyes. Then she turned and fled, in the direction of the Sine, her refuge.
Vits managed to get halfway there, before she stopped. No, running was not the answer. Taking a deep breath she gathered herself. She knew what she wanted. Calmly she forced herself to return to his hotel, hoping that he would be there.
Ethan was maybe a few steps away from his inn, walking solemnly in the other direction, but he stopped when he heard footsteps.
She watched him, wondering if she had made the right decision. If happiness could truly over rule her mind, and allow her a moment's rest from the cruel power driven world of the Opera House, she would risk it for that.
Ethan turned around, once again looking to her with those cool, calming blue eyes. Although uncertain he did offer her a small grin, one of a rather tiny hope.
Vits returned the grin, with one of her own. She walked to him, covering the ground easily. For that fleeting moment, she had chosen right. What the next held, she didn't know, but she would take it as it came.
Vits broke the silence first, with serious news. "Your sister damn near died last night," Her tone was soft, and calm but still there hidden hint of fear.
There had been a small bit of hope in his eyes when she approached, but as soon as she delivered the news it was replaced with enormous concern. "What?" He looked terrified, "How? What happened? Dear lord is she ok? Why did you leave her alone? Is she alright? What the hell happened?"
"She's alright, now. He only tried to strangle her," Vits said, then going on to explain the past night to him, ending with, "It was easy breaking the lasso. It was hard hitting his hand in the dark." She shuddered to think what would have happened had she missed.
Ethan looked shocked, "What the? But why did he try to kill her? What did she do that deserved such a thing? And who the hell does this guy think he is? He has no right to touch her that way." Anger flared in his eyes, and his shoulders hunched with irritation.
"The Phantom is the one who rules the Opera House-we all must submit to it, or die. Why, I don't know. I didn't hear-and I'm not going to ask. His reasons are his alone. Asking will merely result in my death-followed by hers. And possibly yours," Vits was strangely entirely calm about this, "He only strikes like that after dark."
Ethan fell silent, running a hand through his hair in frustration as he mulled something over. After sometime he had begun to pace, and he did not stop until he began to speak again. "She can't stay there then," He said strongly, "I wont let her endanger herself like that just so she can keep a low profile. She can't die, you understand, she can't. I need her."
"Ethan, you risk losing her if you bring her out of there. Raylan can take care of herself. She has too. You can not remove her from there, and you know it. Stop this foolish thinking," Vits's tone was stern. She didn't know the situation, and she didn't care. She did know that the Phantom would come looking for Ray, if she left the Opera House, particularly without getting his answers. And when he found her, only Death awaited.
"Why does he have to know?" Ethan spat harshly, "Raylan is tormented enough with those memories buried inside her. Why does he have to dig them up again?"
"Boy, you are asking the wrong person. But believe me, if you bring her out here. She will certainly die. Sometimes safety lies within the lion's den," Her words were wise, but like usual they would be ignored.
Ethan growled, "You don't understand...we have to leave. We have no choice. The time is getting closer that we will have to run. She can't remain there even if she wanted too."
Vits shook her head, "Once you leave the country, you both will be free. From him at least. For the moment Ray will have to bite the bullet and keep her head down." Vits paused only for a second before making a well calculated guess, cautiously saying, "If you two are on the run, there is no better place to hide, than the Opera Populaire."
Ethan looked suspicious and then said rather defensively, "How could being in the madman's house be any better? And what makes you think we have any desire to hide out? What? You think we have a reason or something? Because we don't. We just like to move around."
Vits cut him a level gaze, "Ethan do I look stupid?"
He eyed her up and down and said lightly, "Do I have to answer honestly?"
Vits chuckled. "You were never meant to act. And you, don't like moving around-that much is obvious. Or at least moving around the way yall are," She paused, "Listen, I grew up on a ship of pirates, being on the run isn't new to me. I know how to identify it. The sudden appearance, the extra suitcase that Raylan carries, the unusual tension between you two- it's written all over your actions."
Ethan then played a crafty game, side stepping the subject of he and Raylan, and questioning Vits on her words. "Pirates?" Surprise sounded in his voice, "You said it was with sailors...not pirates."
"They are one in the same," She said smoothly.
"Only respectable sailors don't usually plunder for a living," Ethan continued to prod, giving a quirky smile.
"Neither did these," Vits shrugged, "We more or less acted as a carrier for other pirates treasure. We deposited it with in their secret hideouts, so they didn't have to make as many trips, then took a bit of the ration for our labors."
"Ah," Ethan shook his head, "I have absolutely no idea about that sort of thing."
"I didn't expect you would. Most don't," She chuckled. Vits enjoyed having him near, and relaxed as their playful banter resumed. She knew she had made the right choice.
Ethan allowed the banter to continue, easily manipulating the conversation to not return to his and Raylan's purpose for being there. He had to admit, Vits simply figuring out something was impressive, but he couldn't allow her to pry him anymore. Raylan was right, he was weak to those he cared for. He had to restrain himself, drown his thoughts in their conversation and not think of the truth so he would not be tempted. Do his job, that's all her had to do. Keep quiet, and do his job.
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A few days passed since the incident that night on the stage Surprisingly the Americans near death had remained a secret between Vits, Raylan, and the Phantom, the eagerly gossiping Opera House never discovering the drama that had occurred. To Vits disappointment Ethan had never appeared to inquire upon his sisters well being, but for the most part her work that week had kept her occupied.
The set, in its entirety was completed one week day afternoon. Along with the work being done for the upcoming play, the entire house was in a bustle, everyone thrilled about the greatness that would soon be in their presence. Malorea Chalondra was arriving that night.
Each day, the Patron glowingly informed Vits of her mother's arrival, and each day Vits had grown snappier and snappier. She was glaring at everyone now, and they all avoided her like the plague. She and her crew were hammering out the last details, and quirks with the set, mostly how to move it quickly and silently between acts. In fact, they were busy on stage, moving various pieces. The men worked in perfect unison, as a team, and Vits for the moment dictated where each piece would be moved to, and marked it back stage with chalk. Later she would help when the details had been sorted out.
To her surprise, a blur rushed past her, a blur she recognized. Ethan, her mind suddenly realized. Vits quickly stopped Ethan in his tracks, before he tripped over an open trap door in his haste. "Whoa, watch where you are walking. You'll get hurt. Ethan... what's wrong?" She asked in a light conversational tone, after she had forcefully pushed him out of harm's way.
Ethan looked befuddled, his hair a wild mess and his eyes so wide it looked like he was mimicking an owl. His breath was ragged and his pulse thudding, the precipitation forming around his hairline confirming that he had run there. Now he stared at her as if he didn't recognize her and his words came out loud and alarmed as he asked, "Where is Raylan? I need to see Raylan."
Vits looked him over, slightly alarmed at his state. She glanced at her men, and curtly told them, "Go take a break." They quickly scattered, Vits leading Ethan to the shop, and shut the door. Alone, she asked in a voice of concern, "Ethan, what's happening?"
"I have to talk to her!" He said, his voice still in the panicking state, "Please, please, please, take me too her. It's important. It's so important- please. I have to talk to her. I have to!"
Vits's shout then, her voice in a sharp crack like she had slapped him across his face as she spat, "Ethan! Get a hold of yourself man!"
Ethan shook his head, and although he still remained alarmed he forced his voice to sound calm as he said, "Please...Vits... please. It's urgent."
Vits looked him over, "Alright, now that you have some of your wits. And you're not trying to get yourself killed. Wait here, I'll go fetch Raylan. I have more power than you."
He nodded, resting his body against one wall and taking in slow, shallow breaths. "Thank you," He mustered the strength to say between breaths.
She gave him a stern look. "Stay and don't do anything stupid" She left, closing the door behind her. A minute later Vits reopened, allowing Raylan in and then Vits before she slammed the door shut. She gestured at Ethan, "This fool damned near killed himself."
Raylan surprisingly didn't ask questions. Instead her eyes were stern and warning to Ethan, reminding him of how she had not wanted him to return.
Ethan's words though immediately changed her gaze as he said at almost a whisper, "Raylan...they...they're here."
At first Raylan looked terrified but after a few moments of letting his words sink in her expressions returned to calm and controlled. She turned smoothly then to face Vits and asked very calmly, "Vits, could you please leave the room?"
Vits nodded. "I have an errand to run," She looked at Ray, "Let Dres know when we can use the shop again." Her voice wasn't harsh or pointed, she knew that they needed privacy, and so she cleared out.
As soon as Raylan was sure the door had been securely shut Raylan whirled on Ethan, "Tell me exactly what is going on!"
Ethan looked at her with sad eyes, "They've become smarter, Ebony. They're narrowing in. They know were here, in Paris. They've got the city surround, every method of transport is being searched and controlled. We've no place to run, no place at all. The gig is up."
Raylan paused, taking it all in, and then began to slowly shake her head, "No...no, there must be something we can do. They can't possibly have every place blocked; there has to be some road you've overlooked. Please...Renold, are you certain you've gone over every possible means of escape?"
He nodded, "I searched them all, Ray. Believe me I wouldn't say this if there was another way."
Raylan nodded and fell into an uneasy silence. She began to pace around the room, her hands nervously massaging the back of her still bruised neck.
This couldn't be happening. She was so sure they would have never found them here, so sure that this time they wouldn't have to run, that they could form roots again. Lord, she had planned so carefully, and in one instant all that hard work had been shattered. She did not doubt Ethan's words, nor his accuracy. He had never failed her before; they had always been just where he said they were, but lord how she wished he was wrong. What would they do now? Where would they go, now that they were caged in?
Ethan watched her, curiously. He read her body language, then looked at her neck. "No, you can't! You can't be considering that. Ray!" Ethan cried, feeling the panic rising in his voice, "You can't ask! He'll kill us both! Look what he's done already to you!"
Raylan once again whirled on him, "Quiet you fool! He might hear you!" She paused only to listen for an instant and then said softly, "There is no other choice Ethan. If you are right, and there is no place we can run... oh Renold please understand... there is no other option."
"No other option!" Ethan exploded, his voice cracking as tear began to build, "There has to be something else! He's already tried to kill you! So you want to go and gain the help of your murderer? Are you out of your mind?"
In desperation Raylan sprang forward, cupping her hand over his mouth to silence him. "Be quiet!" She hissed, "I would rather take the chance, do you understand me, Ethan? If we get caught, death is a certainty. We have a chance with him... I will make sure we have a chance. I promised you I would look after you, that I would not let us get caught as long as there was a breath in my body... I will not break that promise Renold...I wont."
Ethan shook his head, although he knew she was right. As crazy as the idea was, there was no other option. His eyes were brimming with tears, speaking his denial of this plan, but he knew her well enough to know she would do what she believed right. Ethan sighed, brushing away the tears to gaze clearly at her as he said pleadingly, "Just don't get yourself killed."
Despite the situation Raylan forced herself to smile, "I will do my best."
"Do better than your best Ray. Don't die," His voice was soft and serious carrying all the love they had ever shared with in its tone. His eyes held those memories.
Raylan nodded, but her eyes did not return the feelings. The times ahead were to be harsh; she could not risk loosing logical thought to longing emotions. Somewhere in the distance she heard the chime of a clock. It was five p.m. already; sunset would not be too long away. If she was going to do this she had to make arrangements during the day; entering his box at night was not a wise idea.
She looked to Ethan and said sternly, "I want you to leave the Opera House as soon as we are done talking. Go straight to your hotel, stay there until morning- do not leave your hotel before then. Tomorrow at noon come back to the Opera House. Hopefully I will have arrangements set up by then," Raylan paused then, taking a heavy swallow before continuing, "Ethan...if I do not make it back alive, I want you to leave the suitcases behind, and run. Go on foot as far as possible, avoid major highways and towns. You must promise me that you will not get caught. I promised I wouldn't let you die, and you wont, even if takes losing me. Now, do you understand everything I've told you?"
Ethan nodded. He knew that she wouldn't' take his pleadings, or his begging her. He would do as she told him, but not without leaving his heart behind. He didn't trust himself to answer.
Raylan watched him for only a moment, staring into the breathtaking blue eyes of his, sketching the gaze he was giving her into her memory. Then surprisingly she swept him into her arms, embracing him with all the warmth she could muster. She held him only for as long as she could restrain tears, and then she gently pushed him away, moving swiftly to exit the room and forcing herself not to look back.
Ethan stood their numbly, and slightly confused by her sudden actions. Slowly it dawned on him what she was doing. No, he thought, Please God! Don't let him hurt her. Forgive her, have pity on her lost soul. Please don't let her die, I need her.
Shortly after Raylan's leaving, Vits returned, in her hands a package wrapped bundle. She was muttering angrily to herself about something. She set the package on the table and looked at him, stopping her grumbling.
Ethan said weakly, "Hello."
Vits nodded, smiling to show that she wasn't angry at him, or Ray. "Hey," her tone was friendly and calm. She then looked at the package, "I got a new shirt, you can have yours back." Without waiting for him to respond, she pulled his off, over her head, and almost playfully tossed it at him. She then opened the wrapping to reveal a new shirt, almost exactly like the one that had been ruined, which she swiftly pulled on.
Ethan nodded his thank you. He was in no mood to play. Wrapping the shirt up into a semi-ball, he then tucked it under his arm and began to make his way for the door. "I have to return to the hotel," He said solemnly as an explanation.
Vits caught on to his somber mood, and nodded. "You know the way?" She doubled checked the fact, not for an excuse to walk with him, merely making sure he knew how to get there.
He nodded, slowly and full of dread. "Yes," He murmured, then muttering a small goodbye he left to wait in his lowly inn for morning.
Shortly after the Patron came bustling in, Vits giving him dreadful glare as he entered the room. The Patron was extremely eager, "Ah, Chalondra darling-"
He stopped as he watched Vits's hand disappear behind her back, and then exclaim, "Damn it! The bastard took my knives!"
He looked startled, "What?"
"The Phantom took my knives,"
The Patron gave her a look of doubt, "You must have miss placed them. I was saying that your dear mother is expected to arrive in an hour. Just in time for supper!"
Vits glared at him again. "My mother is not dear, nor am I darling," She growled. The Patron sighed as one would when trying to explain something to a child.
"We are very excited at your mother's return. I expect you present," His tone turned into a command. Vits growled, but surprisingly he held his ground until something else drew his attention, and then he left.
Raylan returned to Vits shop seconds later, a stern request in her voice as she asked, "Vits, may I borrow a sheet of paper, quill, and ink please?"
Vits, startled to see Ray there, nodded "Yes," She gestured to the table where such things were kept-her shop was extremely orderly, "They're all over there. Take what you need."
Raylan said a swift thank you before shuffling over to the table. She found everything she needed rather quickly and gathered them into her arms before rapidly returning to the door. She stopped only to say a quick, and oddly meaningful goodbye, and then exited the room as abruptly as she had entered.
Vits watched her, extremely confused. The past few appearances of her two American friends had been odd, extremely odd. Then however she got the order from another stagehand that the stage was to be cleaned and thus the set had to be moved, which occupied Vits's mind sufficiently enough for the rest of the hour.
Once leaving Vits shop, Raylan bolted swiftly across the stage, avoiding peoples questioning eyes as she went. She practically jumped from the stage to the aisles below, landing with a graceful thud before taking off down the aisle towards the box entrances. At her speed it had not been long until she came upon box five, her steps only slowing once she had entered the dark and lonely room. She took little time to overlook the room, entirely certain that the Phantom would not be here during the day. Raylan made her way over to the far end of the box, to the seat that she knew to be his.
Once there she placed the paper and ink bottle upon the cushion of the chair and opened it, dipping the tip of the quill into the oily black liquid and pressing it gently to the paper. Swiftly, she scribbled a short but meaningful message. In swift, messy strokes it read:
Forgive me, but I need your help. Meet me upon the roof after sunset. My purpose for doing this will be explained after you arrive. I will be waiting for you.
Raylan then quickly gathered the quill and ink bottle, abandoning the room as quickly as she could manage, leaving the note for only the ghost to find.
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Night had fallen and Raylan had kept her word. She sat seated at the foot of Apollo, cross legged and staring longingly at the Parisian lights as its night dwellers came out to play. Her hair was down, curling wildly about her shoulders to hide the bruises planted upon her tender neck. In her lap her thumbs danced around each other nervously, all fear absent from her image with the exception of her twiddling thumbs.
The Phantom of the Opera made her wait, to show his irritation at her forcing him to cancel his previous plans for the evening. A good solid ten minutes slowly ticked by as the ghost dealt out the appropriate punishment. He slipped out of his hidden trap door behind one of the statues of the winged horses when he had finally decided to make an appearance. In silent, graceful steps he crept behind the statue of Apollo, holding onto the God's lyre.
The Phantom's voice rang harsh as he spoke, "So you entered my box. I should kill you for that."
Raylan shockingly didn't jump with fright. Her voice was an odd calm as she strangely agreed, "You have every right to."
He slid, seemingly on air into view. "Tell my why I shouldn't," His eyes were as cold as the frosty winter air, his voice even colder.
She fearlessly looked up to him, her voice strong but respectful as she asked, "Would you like the truth out of me? The real truth, I mean. Everything I have to hide, would you like to know what it is?"
"I deserve to know," He said simply, crossing his strong arms over his firm chest.
She refrained from bluntly telling him he didn't, and gently tried to explain. Her words were for the first time completely without false when she spoke from that time on.
"I don't care if I die," She said honestly, "For what I have done, I deserve death, but he doesn't, and that's all that matters now. I promised him, told him I wouldn't let him die, wouldn't get us caught, but we can't run this time. We're trapped here, and you are the only one who can help us. You can make us disappear from the world, you have the ability to hide us. That's why I needed to talk to you, you see. That's why I am willing to tell you my secrets...because I need you to share yours."
The Phantom mulled her words over, thinking them through in his head. He decided to continue to prod her, "And why should I do this?"
She gave a small shrug, "I'll tell you anything you want to know...and if you accept to keep us safe...I'll do anything you ask, without fighting...I'll do anything."
Anything? He looked at her questioningly, his words almost sound conceited as he asked, "That's all?"
Raylan tilted her head to one side, "Would you like anything else Monsieur?" Her tone was a mixture of curiosity and sarcasm.
He sighed as if finding her to be incompetent, and then explained, "The mere answer to whatever questions I have, nor your willingness to do what I ask is not enough. There is no pain involved, no true price. While, I will be forced to give you part of my house, and rearrange my schedule to accommodate you."
She nodded, surprisingly understanding his reasoning. "Money?" She looked for the first time directly at his face, "I can offer you money enough to sustain you for the rest of your life, if that is what you require."
He shook his head, "No, it has no value to you. I require something of great worth, to you and you alone."
She shrugged, "Only two things matter to me in my life- my past, and Ethan. I do not know what else to offer you. I offer you my past, my future, my mind, my memories...what else would you want? My soul? Perhaps my body? Take your pick."
Again the Phantom thought her words over, and shook his head. He needed something more. "I will decide upon your payment later," He decided, "However, I still have not accepted your request. I will need time."
Suddenly she looked terrified, "How much time? Please understand sir, time is against us."
He paused for a moment, then thought over what he had heard within the shop earlier today. "I think one o'clock tomorrow, I shall have your answer," He decided firmly.
She nodded, accepting. Still her tone held confusion as she asked, "Wouldn't you even want to know why I need your help, before you make the decision I mean? I doubt if you wish to hear the whole story tonight...but do you truly want to make the decision, without knowing why we are running?"
He nodded, giving a half smile to the girl guessing his wishes, "Yes, that was my next question."
She nodded, a small laugh escaping her lips. Her eyes drew away from him as she took in a deep breath, drawing up her strength. Raylan's gaze only returned to him when she was ready, saying softly, "I know this may seem like nothing to you, because of the past you supposedly have lead, but in my opinion it's far from good. You see...in America, and yes I really am from America... in America," She paused and took a deep swallow, "I...I am wanted...for armed robbery ... and the murder of thirteen individuals."
For a moment there was silence, the Phantom slightly stunned. This he had not expected. Again this girl was puzzling him. He arched an eyebrow,"You want me to aid in the hiding of two felons?"
Releasing a sigh of relief, she gave him a half smile and said through nibbling on her lip, "Yes." She had finally said the truth, the bare minimal of the truth, but still the truth. Inside she dreaded the day when she would have to explain everything, and the real happening with Arron, but she had time before that. She had time and that was a comfort, no matter how little of it she had.
The Phantom paused, pondering. "I shall have to think upon it," He finally said, "Word will be sent to you upon reaching my decision." With that, he disappeared within the twirl of his midnight cloak.
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Hope that was a bit of a surprise. More to come and more to explain. Please leave a review. Ciao for now!
-Olivia N.