Chapter Fifteen
Raoul's Decision

Trying to ignore the searing pain her arm, Eloise covered her wounds with a trembling hand and ran after the footprints that were pressed into the snow. She needed a doctor, but she feared that if she wasted any time, Gustave would meet his death all too soon. His father was alive,and as much as it baffled her that such a thing could be true, she didn't doubt it. For once, she saw a glimmer of hope in Gustave's future, more hope than she could have ever offered him. Trailing blood behind her, Eloise ran faster and faster, knowing exactly where Raoul had taken Gustave regardless of the footprints.

Raoul had finally dragged Gustave back into the depths of the Opera house, stopping in front of the cage that guarded the lair.

"LET ME GO!" Gustave shouted, finally breaking free of his stepfather's violent grip, falling to the floor and gasping for air. "If you want me to let you live, tell me what happened to Erik first."

"Oh Gustave, I must admit - I doubted you very much. I never would have guessed you would catch on so quickly." Raoul moved slowly around Gustave, pacing in circles. "Your father was the reason we ever visit Phantasma." He spit, "The very place your mother died." He sighed, "Where you left me for that thing."

Gustave nearly raised his hand on the Vicomte but caught himself in time. "What happened to my father?"

"I found out that he was coming back to Paris, that he had you with him and that after eight years of what he made me go through, I could have my revenge. He truly was Mephistopheles, a circus freak, a sin." Raoul laughed and Gustave stared back at him with hatrid. "One night, I found where you were and caught your father as you were sleeping. I had no clue how you had snuck back to Paris, but he made sure that he made me regret ever finding you - he nearly took my life," Raoul raised his shirt to reveal a long red mark going across his stomach and extending to his chest. He recalled when Erik had taken his sword and threatened to stab Raoul.

He had of course believed Erik, knowing that he undoubtedly was much quicker and smarter than him. It killed him to think of it so he took a rope nearby and threatened to kill Erik the same way he had killed so many others. Erik then disappeared and reappeared behind Raoul, tying the rope around his neck and slashing his torso, laughing at the stupidity Raoul had shown.

Raoul found himself staring at Gustave with the same disgust, "Of course when I threatened to kill you, one way or another, he gave in. Especially after I mentioned I wouldn't hesitate to blow up Phantasma in a heartbeat. It was the place where his beloved Christine died in his arms, where he met you, where he managed to ruin my life… How could he bear to lose it?" Raoul laughed and stopped directly in front of Gustave, pushing him back slightly. "Your father's been back there ever since, not having the same cunning he used to all because he wanted to save poor, helpless Gustave."

"You're lying!" Gustave screamed tackling Raoul and watching him fall into the waters, scraping his head on the rocks below. He backed away when Eloise's words rang in his head.

He just wanted some attention,Gustave reminded himself.

"Fine!" He shouted, helping Raoul up and ripping his own shirt. He tied the fabric around his stepfathers head and watched Raoul stare back at Gustave, completely baffled.

"What are you doing?"

"Giving you what you wanted." Gustave smiled sadly, "A son."

"What?"

"You wanted me, didn't you? You wanted what always belonged to you! So takeit." He said through clenched teeth.

Raoul looked as if he didn't know what to do with himself. What had he become? Did he really want his son to throw away his life for him?

"Gustave," Raoul began, "I'm sorry." He pulled out his gun and placed it near his temple.

"RAOUL NO!" Gustave screamed falling to his knees. "Don't do this."

Raoul smiled strangely, cocking the gun, "I can't bear this life anymore Gustave. I'm sorry I've hurt you somuch."

"No!" Gustave repeated, sobbing uncontrollably, "I loved you, Raoul." He sighed, "Father."

"Father?"

"You were my father before – him." Gustave felt his own words stabbing him in the heart. He had to save Raoul from his own death. He had to stay alive.

"No, he was always your father." A glimpse of hatred shone in Raoul's eyes. He breathed in deeply and tightened his grip on the gun, trembling violently.

"Raoul," Gustave looked into his eyes, "don't do this." He moved closer, "For me."

"I've done enough to you, son. It's time I do something right…" Raoul shut his eyes but opened them quickly as he heard another voice.

"Raoul!" Gustave turned to find Eloise, barely alive, being carried on a makeshift stretcher by Brigitte and another boy, with a woman behind them. She had bright blonde hair and a pained face. It was Meg. "Raoul, I beg of you, don't do this to yourself."

"Meg Giry…" He smiled, "this must look all too familiar to you."

Gustave remembered when Meg had tried to kill herself suddenly, feeling his vision blur from tears. He ran to Eloise and picked her up, holding her against his chest.

"Eloise..." He whispered calmly, realizing Eloise was as cold as death. He kissed her head and watched as tears streamed down her blood stained face. Brigitte watched in bitter jealousy.

"Raoul, don't you dare shoot!" Meg begged, "I wish I had been able to tell myself that before I ever pondered the thought." Meg begged, moving closer and closer to Raoul. "I have two kids now, Raoul. You know them well." He looked back at Brigitte and Etienne with guilt in her eyes. "You have one too, and he still loves you. I'm very sure of it."

"How do you know?" Raoul asked coldly, offending Meg slightly.

"Neither of us realized it, but Coney Island brought out the worst in us. Gustave is your son, whether you chose to accept it or not. I never thought I'd have been so jealous of Christine, yet I was. Things happen, but never throw away yourlife because of it. Raoul don't do this, I beg of you." She looked back apologetically at Gustave and he nodded solemnly. Meg smiled as Raoul lowered his gun. "You cannot blame yourself for these things Raoul. I never realized how much it hurt my family when I did…"

Brigitte smiled at her mother's words and held onto Etienne's hand, distracting him from Eloise, whose eyes were beginning to glaze over. The children were rattled by the sound of the bullet splashing harmlessly into the water . Raoul sank to his knees suddenly, throwing the gun aside, weeping silently and being comforted by Meg. Gustave let out a sigh of relief and watched as Eloise smiled, then suddenly shut her eyes.

"No, no! Eloise! Stay with me!" Gustave patted her cheek and checked for a pulse, making sure she was still alive.

"Let me drive you to the hospital," Etienne offered suddenly. Gustave nodded hesitantly as they began to make their way out of the caves, Gustave forgetting what he had left behind.

Nothing but sadness and tragedy awaited them in that lair – it was time to move on.