They stood in the house, Christine anxiously pacing around. Nadir gently led her to a chair and sat her down.
"It'll be alright," he reassured.
"How can it be alright?" She shot to her feet. "You don't know where he is! My son is out there somewhere!" She sighed and sat down, burying her face in her hands. "Where could he possibly be? We shouldn't have left them alone!"
Erik sighed, trying to think as he did so.
"You'll be alright?" Christine asked.
"Of course." Adellade smiled. "Enjoy the concert. I'm certain they'll love your music."
"I want to go with you," Gustave pleaded. "Please?"
"When you're older," Erik argued. "I'll play you the piece when we return."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"If he's with Adellade, he'll be fine," Nadir reassured. "And I have everyone searching the city for them. We'll find him, Christine."
"You think so?" she asked.
"Of course." He nodded and walked over toward Erik. "Where do you think she would go? The opera house?"
"No. Part of the renovation into a ballet school was to close any and all entrances to the lair." He frowned, thinking. "She wouldn't harm him, yet she wouldn't take him without a reason…."
"What are you thinking?"
"There may be another place she would take him to."
XXXXX
She got out of the carriage and dragged him toward the door.
"Adellade?" Gustave asked.
"It's alright," she reassured. "Nothing will harm you. It's alright."
"What about mother? And father? Won't they be worried?"
"It'll be alright."
She led him inside and went to one of the rooms, taking the old revolver from its case. She dragged him up the stairs and into the room at the end of the hall.
"He'll come to us," Madeline pointed out. "And once he does: he will pay for what he's done."
She walked over to the door, closing it shut. "I can't hurt him," she whispered. "Not Erik and certainly not Gustave."
"But the boy must be protected from the monsters. Wouldn't you agree?"
She dug her nails into the wood. "He's only a boy. He's only seven years old…."
"And you remember what he did to you when you were seven, don't you? What's to say he won't do it a second time?"
Images flashed through her mind. Cages and whips, men in colorful costumes, laughter all around….
"That wasn't Erik. That was you."
"Yet who chose to keep you with him? Who chose to never leave you behind? Who gave you nothing but nightmares from that day on?"
"Adellade?" Gustave called out.
"It'll be alright. I promise."
"This is the only way to protect him. The only way to keep him safe from the monsters and all the horrid things they bring."
XXXXX
He got out of the carriage and stared at the house, seeing the worn down exterior.
"This is where you grew up?" Christine asked, following his gaze. "But why would she take him here?"
"Because this was where Madeline lived," he explained, walking toward the door.
Erik sighed and pushed the door open, hearing the hinges creak echoing inside. He glanced down at the footprints and followed them into the study, seeing the old case lying opened.
"Gustave?" Christine called out. "Gustave?"
"Mother!" came the faint reply.
Christine made to run toward the source. Erik stuck his arm out, stopping her.
"Darling?"
"I know where he is," Erik whispered.
"So why aren't we there right now?"
"Because it's not good if Adellade decided to come here of all places."
"What do you mean? This is where you grew up, isn't it? This is where you lived."
He shook his head. "I never lived here. They did. I was only allowed to remain in the attic." He walked over toward the stairs and paused. "The one place Madeline never followed her to…."
Christine placed a hand on his and gave a reassuring squeeze. "You aren't the same person who left this place behind."
"And neither is she."
"You think Adellade is up there?"
"I know she is."
"Then what are you frightened of?"
"The Adellade I know would never return here, and yet she did. Something compelled her to return...either that or someone…."
"You said they were both dead. Your father and your mother were both dead. Who else could there be?"
"I have my suspicions," he murmured, beginning to go up the stairs. "I only hope they're wrong."