It took less time than I guessed for Raoul to give chase. Three men on horseback, Raoul and two of his family's servants perhaps, were on my tail before I managed to even reach the first alleyway. I staggered along through the streets, trying to find a proper crowd or even just a good dark space I could hide in.
They were very nearly upon me when I spotted a narrow alley I could sneak down. If they wanted to come after me, they'd have to get off their horses, and I could steal away long before they'd catch up to me. Why can't they just let me go? I thought as I on, forcing my aching muscles and steadily weakening body to move forward.
The opera house wasn't as far as I had thought it to be, but I wasn't approaching it from a familiar direction. I knew I had to be coming up on an entrance to the sewers that I could squeeze through, but I wasn't looking forward to having to scrape and bruise my already quite swollen body against the stone street and walls.
I just wanted to make it to my home. I wanted nothing more than to see Christine once more. I wouldn't force her to look upon the full ugliness of me, but merely look upon her from afar. If I would die, I didn't want to die where she would find and be horrified by my corpse.
Part of me still hoped I would live, though I felt weaker with every step I took and horrific pain shot outward from where I'd been stabbed with every movement I made.
I slipped down into the sewer, groaning loudly as I scraped my wounded side against the stone of the entrance. As I made my first turn, I heard another person slip into the sewer. I didn't have to turn around to verify that it was the viscomte. His footsteps were heavy and quick, but not quick enough to catch me. I knew immediately what his plan was. Thinking of Christine, I couldn't even bring myself to try and deceive him. I just hoped that he would take pity on me and allow me just a moment to say goodbye before he took her away from me forever.