Chapter 28

"Erik!"

On the stage of the old opera house a man lay still.

"Erik!"

There was no one there to say his name, yet he heard it ringing through his mind. He tried urgently to rouse himself from his sleep, because he knew with every moment he laid on the ground, she was further away from his protection.
Erik finally stirred from his unconsciousness hours after Jacques and Nicole had left. He knew this because the sun now shone brightly through the windows.
He slowly raised himself from off the floor, and sat up. His head was pounding, and he felt a large bruise upon his forehead.

"Erik!"

Her desperate scream rang through his head as he stumbled to his feet.

Nicole I am coming! Nothing will stop me!

He made his way to the streets, and cautiously looked out upon the city of Paris. People littered the avenues, but most were retreating into store fronts and offices for dark clouds appeared and started to blot out the suns glorious rays. He waited until there were few souls in the streets, then he could stand it no longer, and ran to the only place he thought to start his search.

He doubted very much that Nicole was safely back at her home, but he had nowhere else to look. He knocked on the back door, hoping that Anne would answer and no Marie, or a servant. His silent prayers were answered when Anne opened the door with a confused look on her face.

"What has happened?" she asked.

In that simple question he knew that Nicole had not returned and his last fleeting hopes blew away in the mighty wind.

"I am sorry please, come in. It will start to rain any moment." She offered, but with a shake of his head he declined.

"Jacques has taken Nicole. I don't know where."

Anne gasped and grasped her stomach with one hand and with her other steadied herself against the wall.

"Why would he do that?"

"He saw us together. He almost struck her when she defended me. I moved her out of the way and took the blow instead," he gestured to his bruise, "Now I know he tried to hurt her once, he may do it again. Please, Anne, you must help me."

Anne's eyes cried silent tears as she nodded and said, "Please, wait here one moment."

With that she disappeared into her home. It was mere minutes that slipped by until she returned, but to Erik they seemed like days. When she got back to him she handed him a small piece of paper.

"Directions to Jacques home. We went there once for a dinner party, it is several miles outside of town, in the country. If you need a horse, please take ours. He is a little older than you might need for this, but he is all we have."

Erik nodded lightly, and with nothing else to say turned to leave. Anne stopped him with her hand on his shoulder.

"You do love her."

It wasn't a question, she knew he did.

She wants me to tell her that I will do all that I can to get her back.

"Anne, I do love her. Nothing will stop me from bringing her back."

"Don't bring her back here."

"What?"

"Run away, like you two had planned. There is nothing for her here. Her life here, had nothing, no one but me. Nicole needs so much more than a sister's love. I had hoped once that Jacques was going to fill that void, but he never loved her. She is just an obsession to him."

Erik hung his head in secret shame, and for the first time felt a small amount of pity for Jacques.

I was once like he, not so long ago. I know exactly what he is going through.

Anne's voice broke through his private thoughts, "Nicole needs a life with love, Erik. She has earned it. I know now that you are the only one to give her that. It is good to know that she has not mistakenly given her heart to you. Run away with her, take care of her."

She stopped there, and released his shoulder. She nodded to him, and entered her home, closing the door behind her.

Anne had little idea that Erik needed Nicole's love just as badly. He too, never received the love of his mother. Christine had once loved him, but never as he wished. He had wanted more, needed more. He had tried to force it from Christine as Jacques is forcing it from Nicole. Erik and Nicole were alike in more ways than one, and he knew she was meant for him. He would do anything to get her back.

Anything.

Nicole awoke in room she had never been in before. It was beautifully decorated with flowered wallpaper, delicate lace curtains, and the bed she was on had a large canopy. Atop a vanity with a large mirror there were bottles filled with perfumes. A breeze was coming in through the window that cooled the warm room. This room was meant to be feminine and comforting, but Nicole felt nothing but dread.
She knew she was here, because she had failed Erik. Later, she would realize it was not her fault, but in this moment she felt as if she would never make up for her mistake.

Erik had placed himself in front of me to protect me! Why did I have to be so bold and stubborn? Why! If it weren't for me Erik would have easily over powered Jacques, I just know it.

She had even tried to run from Jacques, but had tripped off the stage and landed hard on her right ankle. Jacques had no trouble shoving her into his carriage, that he drove himself, and whisking her away to his home. There was no one out that late at night to help her. Eventually she had exhausted herself, and Jacques must have carried her up her. After all that had happened her mind never stopped going back to Erik's unconscious form on the opera stage. She hoped he would be all right, and that Jacques had not killed him. Deep down, she also wished that Erik would come and save her. She knew she was being selfish, but she knew he would come.

But even if he did try to find me, there is no way he would find me! No one knows I am here, or how to get here! I must find my own way out!

She go up out of the bed and tried putting weight on her ankle. She immediately stumbled backwards onto the bed. She got up again, and looked toward the open window. Determined, she got up, but did not put any weight on her right leg. She hobbled over to the window and peered out over the balcony, and sighed dejectedly. She was three stories up, even with a healed ankle the climb would be difficult. She looked around the room and found two doors. One, she assumed was a wardrobe. She went for the other and found it locked. In that moment her resolve had deteriorated and tears sprung to her eyes.

She fell to the bed and cried into her pillows, "Erik, my love, save me."

A loud knock came from the door, and before she said anything Jacques barged in.

"You are up, good. I have brought you some breakfast." Saying that he placed a tray of food on top for the vanity.

"Why have you brought me here?"

"So that thing cannot find you. You will be my wife Nicole. There is no stopping it now."

"He is not a thing! He is a man and I love him!"

"No! You love me! You…you just haven't realized it yet."

His anger scared her, and she lapsed into silence. His eyes were closed and his fists clenched tightly.

"You are staying here. Anne cannot see you, maybe after we are married. You will never leave this property. Don't bother with looking for servants. I have dismissed them all. I am going to pay good money to pay for deaf and mute servants."

He abruptly left her then, slamming the door behind. She heard a small snick and knew the door was locked. In the distance thunder roared, and a foul wind blew through the window. She limped over to the window and closed it, just as the first drips of rain fell.

Erik, will I ever see you again?

"I hope you like it here. I grew up here." said Jacques as they ate dinner.

She was silent throughout the entire meal, only nodding whenever he spoke.

He had forced her to dine with him, saying, "If you do not eat with me, you do not eat at all."

Jacques was no longer himself, and she was growing more frightening with each moment she had to spend with him. He was no longer the man she had known, he had turned into a monster. A monster fueled by jealousy, rage, and madness. She had no feelings for, none left but pity. Even now after all that had happened she still saw the friend she had made, and wanted nothing more than to help him. She had no idea how she would, but she knew she must.
Outside the rain pounded against the house and the wind blew.

"Nicole, you must say something."

"May I be excused? I am very tired." she replied without even looking at him.

"Well, I suppose, since it has been a long day." he rose and walked over to her.

He pulled her chair away from the table and she stood up, weakly. Her ankle was throbbing with pain.

"Let me help you to your room." he offered, but she shook her head.

"No! I will be fine. Good night."

Before he could say anything she limped out to her room. The stairs were the most difficult part, but she just bit her lip and trudged onward.

There is no way I will ask him to help me!

She entered her room and collapsed on the bed in exhaustion. She slowly drifted off to sleep, knowing that Jacques would lock the door, and leaving any chance of escape impossible.

"...Nicole..."

Her eyes fluttered open.
Did I just hear my name?

She sat up in the darkness of the room and listened again. Nothing happened.

"Must have been the wind." she said and lay back down.

"...Nicole..."

She sat up instantly, knowing she had heard her name, and knowing its source. She turned to look out her window, already knowing who would be there.

"Erik!"