Wow. I was going to upload this in two chapters but decided it would be detrimental to the narrative. This chapter kind of wrote itself like good songs do... any musicians out there will get what i and please review! Really hope you're enjoying it so far. Many thanks to those who have stuck with it for so long!
Phanty belongs to Leroux and Lloyd Weber.
Nadir sat by the tent, keeping watch just as Erik would have done; taking care of Christine just as Erik would have done. It was freezing but they weren't able to light a fire. It was too close to the gypsy camp; there was too much risk. He exhaled, exhausted. His breath; visible in the night air. Explaining his plan to Christine had been as draining as he had expected and it had taken hours to ensure her that it was the only way. Finally she had retired to the tent, no doubt exhausted herself; anguished with helplessness and haunted by the fact that she could not do anything to aid Erik in his time of need; aid him in his escape. Nadir held his head in his hands and grimaced as he recalled his words...
"I have to betray him..." He began.
"What..?" Christine replied in disbelief. "What are you saying?"
"It is the only way that Emile will trust me enough. I have to get close to him, Christine. I need to get that cage door opened."
"But... Monsieur, you cannot!" Nadir held his hands out in a calming gesture.
"Hear me out." He said gently. "I will visit Claude tomorrow night. Claude will unlock the cage when no one is looking and we will pretend that it was Erik's doing. And... I will give Erik some sort of a sign, something to tell him that it is time to use the pistol. When he does I will..."
Nadir stopped speaking and looked at the woman before him apprehensively.
"What?"
"I will have to..." He spoke hesitantly, dreading the next words he was to utter. He knew that Christine would not take kindly to them.
"What, Nadir?"
"I will... have to shoot him." He said with a sigh.
"WHAT?!"
"So that is looks as though I am loyal to Emile, Christine! He has to know that I am not acquainted with Erik. He must be sure of it! It will not be dangerous!" He placed his hands on her shoulders in an attempt to calm her. She shook him of.
"It will not be dangerous!? You are going to shoot him, Nadir!"
"Only in the shoulder or... in the arm..." He reasoned.
"Only..!? I cannot believe you are speaking of this so casually! What if you miss!? Why should he be put through any more pain?!"
"I will not! I was a Policeman, remember? I have never missed! And I assure you, it is a necessary pain. He has been shot before..."
"And that makes it alright?!"
"No! Of course not! But it is the only way! Don't you think that I care for him also!? Do you think that I would willingly subject him to further suffering if weren't absolutely necessary!? I care for him more than you know! And more than he cares to admit..." He took a breath. "I... apologize for raising my voice, Christine..." He said. Christine had begun to weep.
He placed a soothing hand on her arm and continued, determined to explain the remainder of the plan before she could further attest to it. "I will take the gun from Claude or another man standing by. Erik will not expect it and he will not shoot me as he would anyone else."
"But... you cannot do that to him, Nadir!" She wept. "You can't! It will break his heart! He will give up hope! He trusts you!"
"He trusts me to save him. He knows that I will. He will be shocked at first but I promise you... he will understand."
Christine walked away, shaking her head disapprovingly. After a few moments she returned to Nadir, sniffing and wiping her eyes.
"Well... what is the purpose of this?" Christine asked; apparently now open to hearing more. "Once Emile trusts you, what then? Whatever it is, I doubt Emile will care much for Erik's well being and you will not have much time before his gunshot wound takes a turn for the worst. Whatever you do... it will have to be very soon after."
"Yes. It will be. The very same night. I will say that Erik must have stolen my pistol. If things go well and Emile believes my tale, he will return it to me. I will ask to inspect Erik, say that I will pay more for a private viewing and because of what I did to him... Then... once in there I will ask... not to buy Erik as you say... le Vicomte did, but simply to keep him for a day or two; make my own profit from him. I'll ensure Emile that I will pay handsomely for this as well."
"And if he does not accept?" She asked doubtfully.
"I do not expect him to; it is simply so that I may get inside Erik's cage... So that the door will be open and ready."
"I see..." Christine looked down thoughtfully. "And... what then?"
"Then... I will shoot Emile. If I have to, I will do it. And we will make our escape."
"It doesn't sound like you have planned much of that part." She said, with a hint of a smile.
"I haven't." He said plainly.
In spite of his promise to stay vigilant, Nadir succumbed to the ever- consistent call of sleep. He was awoken by Christine the next morning, shortly after sunrise. The camp was on the move again. And when they next stopped he would have to put his plan into action. With haste they packed up their belongings and before long they had mounted their horse and were once again in pursuit of the gypsy convoy.
Tasks such as eating and drinking were mundane and rushed. The day seemed to stretch on for hours but finally, after hours of following behind Erik's caravan and absentminded small-talk, the sun had set and the convoy had once more come to a halt. They stopped in an area similar to the last one; a large expanse of grass surrounding by dense greenery. Christine and Nadir kept themselves hidden a few yards behind the tree line as they had previously done. They did not bother to set up camp. Finally after pacing restlessly for the better part of an hour, it was time to leave. There was not much that could be done by way of preparation for such a plan and what could be done was not physical; merely internal preparation for what might transpire, preparation for both the best and for worst result.
"You must not accompany me, tonight." Nadir spoke after what felt like months of silence. "If... when I have him, we will return here to you, where you will have the horse ready." Nadir regarded himself quietly. He would have to find a way to free Caesar as well. There was no way the three of them could make an escape on one horse...
"I knew you were going to say that, Monsieur. But perhaps I can help... and... I have not seen Erik since... since the basement..."
"You cannot come, Mademoiselle." He warned, recalling Erik's request. "Do you really wish to see him like that? Do you really wish to see me shoot him?"
"No! Of course not! But..."
"I am sorry. You must stay here."
"But why!?"
"They are Erik's orders..." He said abruptly. He looked to Christine who was visibly taken aback by his words.
"...He... does not wish to see me?"
"My dear..." He began warmly. "Of course he wishes it. He would want nothing more. But he... he does not wish for you to see him like that... he requested it."
"Oh..." She said uneasily.
"And he would kill me if I allowed you to come to harm." He added with a hint of humor.
"Yes." Christine nodded slowly. "Yes, alright. If it is his wish, I will stay."
She watched him as he disappeared into the darkness. This was it; this was the night. There was no way she was going to let Nadir attempt this alone. This was everything. This was what they had been waiting for; what Erik had been waiting for. What if everything went wrong and she never saw him again?
She was going to see him.
She was going to help.
As soon as Nadir was no longer visible, she started in his direction. She peered hopefully into the distance but as she grew nearer to her destination the hope diminished and was soon replaced by dread; sickly and heavy... coating the inside of her chest like molasses and threatening to weigh her down with every step she took.
Lights.
Fire.
Music.
People.
Laughter...
Erik's childhood, the same sounds that haunted his memories; haunted his dreams. Somewhere in that spinning carousel of torturous chaos; of noise and light was Erik. She felt sick.
She fell back into the tree line and leaned against one for support, bending over either to catch her breath or be sick... she did not know. Suddenly it was all so real, this was Erik... right in front of her; the sounds, the imagery that he had experienced growing up were here. The very same sounds and sights had always filled her with joy, memories of her father... But these were what made him into who he was, the days and nights with the gypsies formed the boy who would become the man she loved; and yet here they both were. Back where they stared. Nothing had changed.
Suddenly the need to reach him became dire. She did not care what he had said, what Nadir had said. She needed to see him...
She needed to see...
She pulled her cloak tightly around herself and walked with swift determination, leaving the safety of the tree line far behind her. She pulled the hood of her cloak over her head and picked up her pace.
No turning back now.
Nadir was overwhelmed. The camp looked vastly different than it had previously; it was brightly lit, there was music playing... there were people everywhere. Children and adults alike seemed to be walking about, dazed and enraptured, enjoying the splendor that was Emile's travelling Carnival. To his mind the lighting and general atmosphere were nothing short of eerie and only served to heighten his feeling of unease. He walked through the crowds, eyes; ever-searching for that red caravan he seemed to have lost sight of. He had agreed to meet Claude by Erik's caravan... but he did not know how to prepare himself for what he might see inside...
He walked past a group of children, apparently beguiled by the act of the juggler before them. Another child ran past him almost knocking him off balance and sending him into a passerby. He turned around to see that he had bumped into a group of drunken men, laughing to one another, seemingly not concerned with what had just happened.
"Apologies, Monsieur." He spoke immediately.
"Not to w-worry!" The man slurred. "Not t-to worry, my friend." He patted Nadir on the shoulder absentmindedly and walked away. His friends followed him, tripping and falling into one another as they went.
Where are they going?
Going to see Erik.
He dismissed the paranoid part of his mind, attempting to focus on the task at hand. Another child ran past him followed by an adult; presumably a parent.
"Not so fast, Emmeline!" The harried parent called.
This was chaos. How was he to find his way to Erik's caravan, let alone find Claude?
He was tapped on the shoulder.
He spun around.
It was Claude standing before him, as if on cue.
"I thought it best to seek you out." He said. "There are more people present than expected."
"Yes, I... I was quite overwhelmed." He admitted. "Should we make our way to... his caravan? I could not see it."
"Have you come up with a plan?"
"Yes. It involves Erik, though."
Claude nodded curtly.
"First, tell me your plan. Then we will go to your friend. Come, let us find somewhere quiet."
"Wait..." Nadir pulled at Claude's arm as he had begun to turn away. "Is he... alright?"
Claude did not meet Nadir's gaze.
"We should make haste." He said.
Almost as soon as Erik's caravan had come to a halt, Emile had entered and ordered him to be bound once more. In spite of himself, exhaustion prevented him from putting up much of a fight. He had spent the day tied to the back of the cage so that when the time came he would not cover his face. Members of the clan would occasionally walk past and mutter cruel things but he shrugged them off; he had been through all of it before and he was well aware of what he looked like. But tonight, the carnival would begin... he would be on show... and in spite of his hard exterior and the front he was struggling to keep hold of, he was afraid. He had spent so long repressing these memories; the only ease he had found was at the fact that he would never have to live through any of it again... And the longer that he waited, the weaker he became, the less resolve he had. With every passing hour, he was...becoming that boy again. Maybe that was Emile's intention?
Night...
The carnival would begin at night...
It always had.
... There was still some time.
By nightfall his exhaustion had all but taken hold and he was shaking where he stood. The ropes were doing a better job of holding him up than his legs were. In spite of the pain he was in he was all but drifting off to sleep when Emile entered his caravan once more.
"It's time!" He yelled.
Erik jerked awake.
He looked past Emile, blinking several times so that his eyes could focus on his surroundings. It was in fact now night... It had all changed and the air was filled with a familiar sense of unease.
Music.
Lights.
People...
"Wake up, old friend! It's show time! It's finally here! Aren't you just ecstatic with excitement? I am!" He unlocked the cage and strode up to Erik where he stood at the back of the cage. "Now..." He began, his voice low. "If you make this easy... things will go well for you... If not..." He produced a knife from behind his back and in one swift movement held it to Erik's throat. "Well... I think you know."
Erik smiled at Emile.
"If you think I'm going to make this easy, you're more of a fool than I remember."
Emile returned the smile before throwing a hard punch into Erik's stomach.
"We will see." He said. Erik coughed and bent over.
"You think that people want to see that?" he asked, looking up.
"No." Emile grabbed Erik by the hair and pulled his head backward, exposing his face. "People want to see this."
Erik simply stared at him; his gaze unwavering.
"Look..." Emile began, releasing him. "Everything is prepared. All you have to do... is stand here. That sounds fair, doesn't it?" He placed a hand on Erik's shoulder in mock friendship. "We even managed to find your old sign! Can you believe that?! The Devil's Child! The triumphant return!" He laughed. "Aren't you excited?!"
A smile came to Erik's lips once more.
"No. I'm preoccupied. I'm too busy picturing your lifeless body. Lying on this cage floor... the same way I left your father's."
The humor left Emile's face.
"Open the doors." He commanded. He turned to Erik. "Let the games begin, my friend."
Erik watched as the whole front wall of his cabin transformed into two large doors and began to open up using hinges he didn't know existed. With one last, futile tug at his restraints he closed his eyes and clenched his fists; preparation for the nightmare.
"So... you're going to shoot him?" Claude questioned, apparently just as perplexed as Christine had been.
"Yes, yes! But only to ensure that Emile doesn't suspect anything."
"So, what am I to do?"
"Once the people have dispersed, you open his cage... Erik will pick up the pistol I gave him."
"You gave him a gun?"
"Yes! He will think it is time to escape. Then, you... make a scene of it. Yell or... something."
"What if he shoots me?!"
"Ah... Ok. I'd not thought of that. What if you go and find Emile after opening the cage? Then you'll be out of the way. As soon as I hear Emile coming I will... simply take hold of another man's pistol and shoot Erik. He won't expect it."
"I would say not..."
Nadir sighed.
"It is... unorthodox, I know. But it's all I have."
"So... another man's gun? What If there is no one else around?"
Nadir shrugged helplessly. Claude produced a pistol from within his coat and handed it to him.
"Take this."
"But... Emile will know that it is yours?" He questioned, slowly taking the weapon.
"It doesn't matter." He sighed. "It sounds like it could work. You believe that Emile will trust you after that?"
"Yes. I think I can convince him."
Claude laughed uneasily.
"It is a gamble. I'll give you that. What then?"
"I'll convince Emile to let me see Erik... tell him that I want to..."
"He won't let you buy him." Claude warned.
"I know, I know. Perhaps I only want to use him for a few days... to make a profit. It is only to get inside the cage. And then... I will have Erik's gun and my own. Everyone will have left except for Emile and... if need be, I will shoot him."
Claude nodded in understanding.
"I don't know how this will go. So many things could go wrong. But... as I promised, I will aid you in any way I can."
Nadir placed a hand on Claude's shoulder.
"When the time comes, open the cage."
"The Devil's Child! Come and see The Devil's Child!"
Was this real? How could this be happening? Perhaps he had never left the camp... Perhaps everything in between had been nothing more than pieces of a dream, or visions of another life. No, it had been real. For a time, there had been Christine... and there had been happiness.
A glass bottle was thrown at him from outside the cage, landing to his left, the glass littering the floor of the cage. He flinched as the small, colored shards flew through the air, each piece thankfully missing him.
The glass...
He thought back to his mirrors, carrying Christine over the threshold as if they were man and wife.
The glass crunching under his boots...
So much had happened...
"Show his face! We can't see his face!" a child yelled.
A child.
Erik scoffed. The world had not changed.
A crowd had gathered around Erik's cage... just like before... But he would not lift his head. He would not. He could not bring himself to do it. He looked to his right...
The pistol...
It lay just beside his boot, just beyond his reach.
"I assure you..." Emile began from outside the cage. "When you see his face... you will not be disappointed!" He looked into the cage.
"You will show your face, Erik." Venom in his voice as he spat out his name. "These nice people have paid good money for the privilege, now show your face!"
Erik looked up at him through strands of hair, thankfully covering most of what the mask usually did.
"I will not." He said calmly.
"You will not." Emile repeated. "You will not..." With that, he walked away, muttering something under his breath. He returned a few moments later with a large bucket of water and immediately Erik was made aware of his intentions. It would be unpleasant, yes. But what was that compared with humiliation?
"Show your face." Emile demanded.
"I will not."
With a smile, Emile threw the entirety of the bucket at Erik. His breath stopped in his chest for a few moments. He began to shiver uncontrollably. It was freezing. His shirt was soaked and his hair was drenched. And it was going to snow again... this was probably how it would end; something anti-climactic like pneumonia. He just hoped that he would have the chance to see Christine once more before he reached that end.
He looked up at Emile and smiled; the cuts on his face stinging in the icy water as he did. He spoke through sharp, shallow breaths.
"W-well..." He shivered. "I... was thirsty."
Emile marched up the caravan steps, enraged. Hastily he unlocked the door to the cage and threw his knee into Erik's torso before pulling his head back once more before he could catch his breath.
"If you will not comply, I will force you to... just as my father did..." With that he stepped back, finally allowing his audience to set eyes upon Erik's face.
Erik attempted to pull away but once he realized he could not... he simply closed his eyes. He would endure it. He had done it before. He could do it again.
There was silence.
And then...
It came...
As it always did...
"The Devil's Child!"
"His face...!"
"It's hideous!"
"The Devil, himself!"
And then... came the food...
A piece of fruit sailed by his head, closely missing his left ear. Probably an apple... They usually were...
Suddenly his head was released. He opened his eyes to see Emile leaving the cage and locking the door behind him. Perhaps he believed that he did not deserve the same fate. Once safely outside of the cage he folded his arms and stared at Erik, grinning smugly at his triumph.
Another piece of food hit the floor of the cage. He looked out into the sea of hateful faces, now determined to look them in the eye. Each wore the same expression, each was yelling, hurling a similar insult or obscenity. Except for one... One was watching silently, her hand to her mouth, her eyes meeting his own with fierce emotion; pity, anguish... sadness...
A woman in a hooded cloak...
Christine...
It couldn't be.
Nadir had promised...
He had promised...
She couldn't see him like this...
His chest tightened as their eyes met.
Erik.
She mouthed.
She was crying, she was sobbing.
I love you. He wanted to say. It isn't as bad as it looks.
He pulled at his ropes with renewed strength but this only served to intensify her sadness. He searched her face desperately. He wanted to hold her. There was so much that he wanted to say...
I have not stopped thinking of you...
I have not stopped loving you... not even for a moment.
It does not matter what Emile does to me, I would spend my last waking minute trying to get back to you...
I would spend my last breath trying to get to you.
Could she read all of that in his eyes? Something told him that she could...
Go, you need to go before he sees you.
Please, Christine. You need to leave.
Go, my love.
Run.
Erik looked at Emile. It was too late... Emile had followed his gaze and found Christine. He threw another smug glance at Erik before starting towards her.
"Christine!" Erik finally cried; his voice hoarse, his eyes desperate. "Christine! Run!"
I love you.
"GO!"
"Allah..." Nadir exclaimed as his eyes were met with the sight that was Erik. It was worse than yesterday; worse than he had remembered. "What have I done..? I have taken too long. Look at him!"
"Come." Claude began. "We must conceal ourselves." He pulled Nadir into the shadows produced by two adjoining trailers and stood in front of him. "I don't understand..." He said. "Where is Emile?"
Nadir surveyed the area silently. Emile was nowhere to be seen. He saw Erik... and he saw the crowd... a few of Emile's men were even scattered about the place but they seemed on edge; ill at ease somehow.
"He wouldn't leave Erik on show and simply fail to be present. He is worth too much."
Then, Emile returned. Immediately, Erik began to yell.
"What did you do!" He cried. "Where is she!?"
"She..?" Claude whispered behind him. "Do you suppose that..."
"No... I... I left her back at the camp. She must be back at the camp?" Nadir exclaimed, questioning himself with every word.
After what seemed like an eternity Emile returned.
"What did you do!?" Erik demanded, pulling at his ropes. "Where is she?!"
Emile ignored him and turned to his audience. To Erik's surprise he began turning them away.
"Enough! Enough now! Five Sous will only get you so much! That is all for tonight."
Erik yelled out of frustration, he pulled at his ropes once more, ignoring the burning sensation they were causing.
"Tell me where she is!" He cried.
"Come, everyone. Time to leave." Emile continued.
"Can I have a private viewing?" A small man approached Emile with coins in his hand. "I can pay!"
"No, no. Not tonight."
Erik regarded him bitterly. No, nothing else mattered to Emile if he had Christine. Not now that he could utilize Erik's weakness so conveniently.
Emile turned down several similar offers and soon the crowd had dispersed as he had ordered. He strode up to Erik's cage.
"Now, Erik... I will be right back. I have something that may... motivate you. But I have to make sure that... it is properly secure."
"NO!" He yelled, his struggling causing the whole caravan to rock slightly. "NO! YOU LET HER GO, YOU MONSTER! EMILE! EMILE!"
"Right back!" He said with a smile.
"NO! NO!"
As soon as Emile had left, a man emerged from the darkness brandishing a key.
"Who are you?" Erik cried, his voice hoarse with grief.
"Quiet, Erik. I am a friend." He walked up to Erik's cage and with a turn of his wrist, he had opened the door. He produced a knife from within his boot and held it up to Erik. "When I unite you, pick up the gun to your right..."
"How do you know..."
"Just do it."
"How do I know that I can trust you?"
"You do not have a choice."
Claude cut the ropes binding Erik to the back of the cage. He immediately fell to the ground, wracked with pain and exhaustion.
"Pick it up. Pick up the gun." He said, backing out of the cage.
Erik's brow furrowed in confusion at the command but he did as he was told.
"Follow me..." Claude said quietly. "Hold it up. Point it at me."
"What about Christine?" He asked weakly.
"She is safe... I... we think she is back at the camp."
"We..? Nadir is here? Is that it?" He could not help but exhale in relief. It all made sense now. Nadir had come up with a plan...
Erik held the pistol in front of him as he followed Claude out of the cage; hunching slightly and holding his side as he walked. Once he had made it down the steps and onto the soft grass beneath, he was told to halt.
"Stay there."
"What..? What do you mean, Emile will be back soon?"
"That's the point!"
"Wha..? What are you talking about?" Erik began to back up in panic... It was a trap. It was a trap after all. How did he know about Nadir? Perhaps Emile had captured them both! What had he done! He pointed the pistol directly at Claude's heart.
"Tell me what is going on..."
Claude was silent.
Erik cocked the pistol. He was preparing the pull the trigger when another man stepped out of the darkness...
Nadir...
"Daroga! I knew that it was you! I..."
Nadir simply looked at him; a contrite expression had tainted his features and there was something else in his eyes; sadness? Regret?
"Nadir... what is it?"
Nadir raised his own pistol and pointed it at Erik.
"Daroga..." Erik laughed awkwardly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm sorry." He whispered.
Before Erik could speak, Nadir had pulled the trigger. There was smoke in the air and Erik was on the ground.
Please let it be his shoulder.
I never miss.
I never miss.
Nadir was frozen.
"Quickly... swap the pistols..."
"Why?"
"Trust me..."
Nadir did as he was told.
Within seconds Emile had returned.
"What is going on here!? How did he get out!" He grabbed Claude by the collar and shook him. "How did he get out!?"
"He... I don't know... Before I knew it, he had my pistol." He pointed to Nadir. "This man saved my life and shot the... shot the monster. I don't know how he escaped." Emile dropped Claude and strode up to Nadir.
"Is this true?" He asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
"It is true."
"Check the pistol..." Claude added from behind Emile. "You will find it to be mine." Emile glanced at Claude before walking to Erik, now wreathing on the grass in pain and reaching for the pistol beside him. Emile stepped on Erik's wrist and picked up the gun.
"Indeed, it is yours, Claude." He threw it to him. "Do take better care next time." He turned back to Nadir who was trying with everything he had not to watch Erik, not to go to him... not to speak.
"If what you say is true, kind sir I shall have to reward you. This man is worth a lot of money to me."
"I have no need of a reward, Monsieur..." He held out his hand.
"Please, call me Emile." He replied, taking Nadir's hand in his own and shaking it. Nadir grimaced inwardly. He wanted little to do with the man who had put his friend through so much.
"Emile... I have no need of a reward but I have something I must ask you."
"Oh yes?"
"This man... this... attraction you have. He is truly magnificent."
"Thank you." He said with a slight bow.
"I wonder if... for a handsome fee, I may have a private viewing."
Emile regarded him.
"Ordinarily, I would say no. I did have something planned for him but... I do owe you a favor for what you did for me here tonight."
Nadir looked around nervously. Erik was already out of the cage... and presumably there was no one around. Perhaps... he could end it now?
"I have the money here, might I... see him now?"
Emile laughed.
"Yes, yes! I don't see why not. He is hardly in the state to cause you any harm. Behold!"
With a slight nod to Emile, Nadir began to walk to Erik who was now moaning and holding his chest tightly. At least it did not look fatal. But Erik's hand was doing nothing for the blood flow and he knew that if he did not act quickly, Erik would be in danger of bleeding to death on top of everything else.
As Nadir approached Erik caught his gaze and held it. Erik's eyes were narrowed with pain and yet they questioned him, stared at him in utter disbelief.
How could you? They asked.
Don't speak Erik. Please.
Trust me.
Just trust me.
"If you will excuse me Monsieur, I will return in just a moment. There is something I must attend to when you are finished here and... I must prepare. " Emile said. "Claude... watch him."
Christine...
As soon as Emile had disappeared once more, Nadir knelt down next to Erik.
"Are you alright!?" He whispered.
"You shot me...!" He managed through gritted teeth. "What... sort of plan... is this?"
"You... you knew?"
"Of course..." He grimaced. "You... always were a... terrible liar."
"Well... then perhaps you deserved it." Nadir quipped. "Is it serious?"
"No. But... excruciating all the same." He looked up through pained eyes and shifted where he lay."You're... asking me whether it is serious or not? You should know."
"Stop being unpleasant, Erik."
"Oh well, I apologize. ...I am in quite a bit of pain... you know! I think... at this point in time, pleasantries are overrated!"
"Well, I'm sorry! But there is a plan in action. Although shooting you was probably a long time coming, there was purpose to what I did. I..." He looked up. "Shh, here he comes."
"Ah. Here you are." Nadir began, walking towards Emile. "I know that you would never sell such a prize... But, I wonder... would you be open to... allowing me to keep him for... say a day or two? Only a day or two. I would make my profit from him and return him promptly. And... I would of course share said profits with you."
"Alas, my friend. This, I cannot do. I cannot let him go. Not even for a moment." He laughed and turned towards Erik. "Did you honestly believe that I would?"
"I... I can pay handsomely."
"Oh, I'm sure." Emile replied, eyeing him.
Something had changed. Emile was acting differently. Perhaps he knew... But how could he possibly?
"Are you acquainted with this man?" He asked, pointing down at Erik.
"I... acquainted? Well, yes. Just now... I..."
"No. No. Perhaps you misunderstand me. Are you acquainted with this man? Have you ever met him before? I suppose you would know if you had!" He said with a laugh. "Not every day you see someone like this, I expect!"
"No. No I... have not seen him prior to tonight." Nadir replied, biting his tongue. There was so much he wanted to say... So much he wanted to do to this man.
"Ah." With a twisted grin, Emile stepped on Erik's wounded shoulder. He cried out in pain. "Are you sure?"
"Yes! Yes, I am sure. Why would you..."
Emile applied pressure where he was standing. Erik yelled louder.
"I'm sure! I'm sure! Why would you... why are you doing that!?"
"I am no fool, Monsieur. His beloved Christine turning up on the same night as you... You wanting to pay money for Erik? Coincidence? I think not. In my experience they rarely are." He pressed down again.
"Alright! Yes! Yes, I know him. Just stop, please."
"Drop the weapon, Monsieur." He warned.
Nadir did as he was told. Emile released Erik and bent down the retrieve Nadir's weapon. He emptied the chamber and threw it back to him.
"That's better. So how long have you two known one another?" He knelt down next to Erik. "Can't be that close to you if he shot you!"
"If... you have Christine... let her go." He breathed, still grimacing from the pain. "I will stay here, just let her go."
"Ah! You're rushing ahead, my friend! I really do hate it when people do that." He stood up and walked over to a man who had returned with him.
"Tie him up." He said. "I don't trust him."
Erik eyed the man as he approached him. He seemed apprehensive; hesitant. This was it; Erik would not waste this opportunity. As soon as the man knelt down beside Erik he seized the opportunity to take charge of his knife and hold it to the man's throat. That much movement had been agonizing but it had been worth it; now he had a weapon...
"Ah. I thought you might do that." Emile said calmly. "Bring her out." He called behind him.
Her?
No...
Erik began to stand, attempting to pull his hostage up with him. His whole body ached and his shoulder and side were screaming.
And then, she came into view... Christine.
She was frightened, she had been crying but thankfully it looked as though she hadn't been harmed.
"Erik!" She cried as she came closer.
"Christine... are you alright?!"
"Yes! I'm alright..."
"God, why did you come! Why!?"
"Yes, Christine." Emile answered. "Why did you come?"
The man holding Christine handed her over to Emile. He took a knife from his belt and held it at her throat.
"No!" Erik yelled.
"Now, need we play this game? Drop the knife."
"Please, don't hurt her..."
"DROP IT!" Emile yelled. Erik jumped and dropped the knife immediately.
"Ok, alright." He raised his arms as high as his injuries would allow. "There... now let her go."
"Erik. You don't listen! I never said anything about letting her go!"
"Emile! Let her go! I'll walk back into that cage myself!"
"Erik, no!" Christine cried.
"No, no. This is what I wanted, don't you see? You took from me someone whom I loved dearly... and now I shall do the same to you! Fair is fair, isn't that right!?" He pressed the blade to Christine's throat.
"No! NO! Don't! Please! Please don't hurt her!"
"Your pleas mean little to me, old friend."
"Please, what can I do? I'll do anything! There has to be something!"
"There is nothing you can do." He said, the blade now cutting her skin.
"NO! EMILE!" Erik fell to his knees, clutching his wounded chest as he fell. "If you take her from me, I will be nothing..."
"Nothing is exactly what you are!" Emile yelled. "And exactly what you deserve."
"Don't listen to him, Erik!" Christine cried.
"You..." Emile growled.
"Emile." Claude called. He threw him his pistol. "Use this."
Emile slipped the knife back into his belt and and with swift dexterity, cocked the pistol and held it to Christine's head.
"Thank you!" He said.
Erik glanced at Claude... Could he be trusted? Or had he just sealed his fate? Either way it was too late now...
"Now... any last words?" Emile asked, looking between Erik and Christine.
"No." Erik said solemnly, looking at Christine. He would not give Emile the satisfaction. "She knows." Christine nodded with a sad smile.
I love you. She mouthed.
With a smile, Emile pulled the trigger.
Click.
"What..?"
Click. Click.
"Claude... did you..?"
Claude smiled.
"Christine, quickly!" Erik cried.
She struggled free from Emile's grasp and ran to Erik.
"You emptied the bullets..." Emile said, almost under his breath. He threw the gun aside and lunged at Erik. Erik pushed Christine out of the way seconds before he was taken by Emile. They fell to the ground. Erik yelled as he came in contact with the earth and he thought his rib might finally break as Emile fell atop him.
Nadir dropped to the ground and began to search for the bullets carelessly discarded in the grass. As soon as Christine saw what Nadir was doing, she did the same.
There had to be one! He only needed one!
Erik wrapped his hands around Emile's throat, something he had dreamed of doing for a long time. Emile threw punches into Erik in an attempt to free himself but to no avail. He pressed down on Erik's chest where the gunshot wound was still bleeding. With a yell, he was forced to let go.
"Erik!" Christine cried.
Both of Emile's men rushed to his side, attempting to offer assistance but he sent them away.
"No. No. I will finish this. Take hold of Claude. He will get his later."
They stood back awkwardly and and had no choice but to simply watch the scene unfold before them.
Again, Emile pulled the knife from within his belt, this time holding it over Erik's throat. Erik pushed against him with all his strength, but his days in the caravan, injuries and lack of food had weakened him and with every second, the blade grew nearer.
"Yes. I can taste it!" He said as he applied pressure. "I was going to kill her but... I suppose that you will suffice! I can always kill her afterwards... Or perhaps keep her for my own."
"You will not touch her!" Erik yelled. With all his might he pushed the knife toward Emile, effectively prying it from his grasp and rolling on top of him. His hands found their way to Emile's throat once more.
"Found it!" Christine exclaimed. She handed it to Nadir and within seconds the bullet was in the chamber.
"What are you doing?!" Emile called to his men. "Help me!"
They started towards Erik.
"Don't move." Nadir said, pointing the pistol in their direction. "Don't you dare move!"
Emile threw another punch into Erik, hitting his injured rib. Again, he loosened his grip. Emile reached for the knife once more but Erik pulled him back, punching him in the face several times before reaching for his throat again. Emile managed to pry Erik's hands away and once more began to crawl toward the knife...
"Can't you shoot? Just shoot him!" Christine cried, clinging to Nadir.
"I can't risk it, Christine. They are both moving too much!"
Again, Erik pulled Emile back and attempted to take hold of his throat. Emile threw several punches at Erik's already bleeding face and rolled on top of him, attempting to take hold of his throat.
"I will kill you for what you have tried to do here tonight!" He yelled. "You will never be free!"
Erik pried his hands away and with a kick to his chest, sent him far enough away so as to make for the knife.
There it was, gleaming in the moonlight; beckoning him. This knife would end it all, one way or another. He crawled towards it.
He was almost there.
Three feet.
Two feet.
One foot...
Mere inches away...
Pain... excruciating pain in his side as Emile landed atop him once more.
He threw an elbow behind him, presumably landing the blow on Emile's face.
He threw another.
Emile wrapped his arm around Erik's throat... He wouldn't have much time now.
Desperate, he threw another elbow behind him.
And another...
Not far now...
With all the strength he had left he threw a final elbow behind him, causing Emile to release his grip.
He reached out and took hold of the knife.
He rolled onto his back and held it out before him.
Emile fell on him once more...
Fell on the knife...
A small yell...
And it was over.
He felt the body on top of him grow heavier as the life left it. Blood; thick and warm covered the remainder of his white shirt that was not already stained red from his own.
Just like your father...
