A Way Home

Chapter 15 – The Fate of a Murderer

"Pawns standing in awe of the game/ of the stage/ You've worked so hard at building an empire/ of secret rooms to display yourself/ and add to your wealth/ The sting of/ Oh, it stings/ When I saw it all come crashing/ I witnessed the sound of a million voices/ Screaming for a public hanging/ So hide yourself, hide, hide yourself for now/ We caught you plotting murder/ and now the Tide is turning/ We'll light our souls, heal our bones/ upon your empire burning."

- The Spy Hunter, Project 86

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By the time Erik, had woken Henri and Philippe, and gotten them into some proper clothes and into the living room, the intruder had woken and was glaring at me and my daughters with a fierce expression on his face, as though he wanted to kill us all just by looking at us a certain way.

"Never again will you harm anyone in my family," I hissed to him. Then I muttered several curse words under my breath, in English, so that my girls couldn't understand exactly what they were. Still, though, they knew they were not exactly filled with sugar and sweetness.

"What is going on?" Henri asked, following Erik into the living room, with Philippe close behind. Philippe looked as though he hadn't slept very well. Either that, or he needed all the sleep he could get.

"This man tried to kill Rebecca," Charity explained. I was used to her calling me by my first name. In fact, I kind of preferred it. Somehow, it seemed to fit better than, "Mom" ever could.

"I can't believe you guys slept through the whole thing!" Dominique exclaimed, her hands on her hips importantly. I'd noticed of late that she was becoming very much like a teenager, even though she was only ten. I would have to talk to her about her snooty attitude some time soon.

"How did this happen?" Henri asked incredulously.

"Not sure," I said, taking a short breath right before saying it. "Why don't we ask Mr. Mysterious over here what he thinks about the whole thing?" I suggested, jabbing my finger in the intruder's direction.

The intruder's hood had been pulled back long ago, and it was easy to see that he looked so much like Erik that it was scary. Of course, he probably hadn't looked anything like Erik before his deformity. But there was nothing that could be done about that. I could tell the difference between the two easily, but others who didn't know either of them wouldn't be able to.

"Why, the man looks like Erik!" Henri exclaimed. As usual, Philippe didn't say anything, although I figured he was half asleep anyways. Good thing Personal Bodyguard wasn't his profession. Otherwise, he'd be out of a job.

There was only one big difference between Erik and the intruder: Erik was taller. Much, much taller. I couldn't believe that no one had seen through the disguise. But I guess if you had only ever heard a description of Erik, and never actually seen him, then perhaps it would be easy for others to get the two confused. Besides, this intruder had never been in Paris before. At least, not this Paris.

I was the only one who had ever seen AM2 before, so I was the only one who could tell who he was.

I removed AM2's blindfold and planted myself in front of him, my hands crossed over my chest.

"Well?" I demanded. "Are you going to tell us why you tried to kill me, and why you killed those other innocent beings?"

AM2 said nothing.

"Don't pretend like you don't know that I know who you are, AM2," I hissed at him.

Everyone in the room looked at me. I had told everyone, except for Philippe, about AM2, and what kind of person he was.

"I also know why you're here," I added, the pieces fitting together in my head like a puzzle that had had me confused for the last ten years. "Would you like me to tell everyone why I think you're here?" I asked.

For a moment, I thought I saw something like fear flit across his face. But then it was gone, replaced by indifference, and resentment.

"Go ahead," he said. "You know nothing."

"Very well," I replied, clearing my throat as for a long speech. It didn't seem to matter that Philippe was there. "I'll start from the beginning. On June 28th, 2006, you and your Council entreated me to go back in time and recover a certain person for you, whom you wished to lead your Council, and therefore abolish the social norm of what was beautiful. AKA: you wanted me to go back in time and bring Erik back with me because you thought that, since hundreds of young girls in the 21st century practically worship the ground he walks upon, that his being there would create a safe haven for you and your… friends." I sighed deeply, and took another deep breath. "At first, when I didn't return, you figured that I was either dead or lost in the time stream. In fact, the exact opposite was correct."

I wanted to slap that smug look off of AM2's face, and I hated his confidence. Well, that would soon be taken care of.

"When I finally did return," I continued, "I was pregnant, and Erik wasn't with me. You decided that you would take my daughter back into the nineteenth century and bring Erik back with you." My voice was getting louder and louder, and AM2's face was losing its confidence.

"But that plan was foiled when Joey decided she wasn't going to let you take Dominique, and I entrusted her with my child to bring the girl back, as I was not in any condition to do it myself. When she returned without Erik, you were, to say the least, furious that your plan had been foiled. You tried to convince me that your plan was one that would benefit all, but you couldn't fool me for a second. I saw right through your plan, and that's where things went even farther downhill."

I smiled cruelly as AM2's face fell even farther. I may not have been evil, but I was going to enjoy his discomfort as much as I could, because that was the same thing he had done to me.

"After you, Joey and David had seen me off to the nineteenth century, you took the second time machine and went on a killing spree, trying in vain to present yourself with an opportunity to kidnap Erik and take him back with you. Which just for clarification, would never have worked because he is an expert at sneaking," I said. "And now, you have finally been caught, and will pay for your actions dearly. I missed ten years of my life, my husband's life, and my children's lives because of you," I hissed at him. "I missed the first ten years of Dominique's life because you decided you were going to frame my husband, and rip our family apart. My youngest daughter is almost grown, and I never got to see her grow, and it's – all – your – fault." I said the last part sporadically, and through clenched teeth. I was trying very hard – while using all my self-control – not to punch him in the face right then and there.

I was breathing heavily, and I was sure I was going to start hyperventilating soon. Erik put his hand on my shoulder, and the pressure of his touch calmed me, and I took deep, calming breaths.

"So," Charity began hesitantly, "this whole thing started because this guy wanted Erik to go back with him in time?" She shook her head. "I find that hard to believe."

"It just goes to show that obsession is unhealthy," Dominique commented, and everyone turned to look at her. "What?" She asked innocently.

I shook my head and smiled briefly.

"Who told you all that?" AM2 whispered, his voice filled with fear, and sounding hoarse, as though he had just swallowed some rocks.

I didn't deign to answer his question and instead I turned to Philippe, who was standing there, gazing from AM2 to me and back again, his mouth hanging open like a codfish.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

His mouth snapped shut when I spoke. "Fine," he said after a moment. "I just – I never imagined that, well, I didn't think that…" His voice trailed away.

"That what?" Charity asked. "That my mom was from the future?"

For a moment, I thought that Philippe was going to faint upon hearing those exact words spoken. But then he just shrugged it off and said no more.

"You have to keep this a secret, though," Erik said. "You can't tell anyone about Rebecca. If anyone finds out, they'll either have her locked up for insanity, or they'll lock her up and demand that she show them how to go to the future."

"Or something like that," I added.

After a moment, Erik spoke again. "So, exactly what are we going to do with our fine futuristic friend here?" He asked.

"We hand him over to the authorities," Henri said from the window. "What else?"

"I guess I kind of figured that we would, you know, do away with him ourselves," I said, and I immediately regretted my words. "Of course, I would never be able to do that myself," I added, trying to make amends.

"No, listen to her," AM2 said to Dominique, who had looked at me in horror when I had suggested that we kill AM2 ourselves.

I raised my eyebrows in surprise.

"Do as she says," he continued, speaking only to my daughter.

"Hey!" I exclaimed. "You leave her alone."

He didn't take his eyes off Dominique. "Hey, I'm talking to you!" I yelled, and I slapped him hard, which immediately got his attention.

"I was just going to tell her that you can't properly and honorably do away with someone while they're tied up," he said through gritted teeth.

I realized what he had been trying to do, and I smiled knowingly. I crouched down in front of him. "Do you really think I'm that stupid?" I asked him. I stood up then and turned to leave. "Oh, and for the record, when it comes to people like you, I have no honor." Then I turned away again, and came back to hit him in the face with all my strength. "That's for what you've done to me and my family!" I threw the words in his face, as though they were some kind of weapon.

I turned back to Erik. "Boy, that felt good," I muttered to myself, and Erik kissed my forehead.

"Feel better?" He asked, a smile playing on his lips.

"Much, thanks," I replied, and left the room.

I had enough time to see Charity replace AM2's gag before turning on my heel and going back upstairs to mine and Erik's bedroom to catch an extra hour of sleep before getting up, as the sun had almost completely risen.

A/N: There's the next chapter! Please review!