Chapter Sixteen
Eloise's Decision
Eloise could feel her breath shortening from pain, as the bullet wedged deeper and deeper into her skin. The only thing that managed to comfort her was the steady beating of Gustave's heart against her face.
Earlier, she had run to the academy in search of Brigitte who was being dropped off at the academy by her brother.
"B- Brigitte…" Eloise fell to the ground at her feet, sending Brigitte screaming.
"Why are you bleeding!" She shouted, covering her mouth and backing away into Etienne's car.
"Help me," Eloise gasped, edging closer and closer to Brigitte.
"Did the ghost do this to you?"
"No," Eloise coughed, "but he's in trouble."
"Eloise I can't –"
"I'm begging you. If not for me, then for an innocent man. Please…"
"What's happening?" Etienne asked as he exited his car, stopping in fear at the sight before him.
He kneeled beside Eloise, examining her blood stained hand and realizing it had come from her shoulder.
"'Loise, what happened?"
"I don't have any time to explain, I need your help." Eloise stopped to breathe in some air.
She grabbed some snow to cool her face. Blood stained her body further instead and made Etienne shake his head.
"Eloise, I'm taking you to a hospital."
"No! Etienne, I beg of you, don't!" She looked at Brigitte, "Raoul has Gustave. He's not feeling well, he's going to do something he'll regret."
Etienne looked at her wounds, "He did this to you, didn't he?"
"Yes." She sighed, trying to stand but falling again. Suddenly the door opened and a tall, slender woman made her way near Eloise.
"Raoul? The Vicomte de Chagny?"
"Yes," Eloise looked at the woman strangely, who was she?
"Come children, we must help this girl." She declared. "Where are they?"
"The Opera House, I'm sure they're in his lair.
Gustave's voice sent her back to the present.
"Eloise, my angel," Gustave whispered quietly, trying to keep her conscious.
He began to sing quietly, filling the car with his sweet music. Eloise smiled, feeling Gustave begin to cry as the car came to a stop.
She could not believe how much had happened in a few weeks, and she definitely could not believe that she had fallen in love with the very thing she feared in the first place. Eloise couldn't care less about Canada or University at the moment; she just wanted to stay alive so she could see Gustave's face once more. She wanted thank him for being part of her journey, for reminding her that there could still be excitement and happiness in her life.
"Eloise, you're going to be okay." Meg whispered to her quietly followed by what sounded like an agreement from Raoul.
Raoul had been more affected by these two children than in his entire life. He had never thought that he would have turned into the monster. He had forgotten that Erik had let him hold Christine in his arms as she died, not bothering to run after Gustave. Gustave had chosen him.
Brigitte and Gustave were finally beginning to come to terms with Meg and Raoul's state.
Although the events that had taken place in the past few months seemed as if they had only lead to disaster, none of the wonderful things that had happened along with them would've happened.
Eloise finally felt accepted, Gustave was no longer shy and afraid of the world, Raoul knew his son still cared for him, Brigitte and Etienne knew of their mother's secret past, and Meg forgave herself for all the years she had allowed her mind to drive herself insane.
The most important thing that Eloise could think of though, was that Erik was still alive. The very man that had impacted each and every life in the car was still out there somewhere, regretting that he had ever let Gustave go. All she could think of before she felt consciousness drifting away from her was that if she stayed alive, she would be able to help Gustave search for his father.