I entered the dank ruins, trembling with a wild mixture of emotions. I pulled my cloak tighter around of my shoulders, trying to keep the shivers at bay. This was a momentous minute of my life: going to reunite with the one with whom I belonged.
"Hello?" I whsipered into the uneasy silence. "A-are you here?"
I saw a movement in the shadows and ran toward it, my heels clipping on the tiles. Suddenly I crumbled, tripping over a broken tile. Pain erupted in my ankle and I felt so foolish as well as hurt. Then a shadow decended behind me and I was about to speak when a large rough hand covered my mouth. I felt myself grow panicked and I screamed, but it was muffled. A voice whispered roughly in my ear. "Don't move, no one can hear you anyway."
I felt my heart pounding in my ears and my breath quickened. The gruff voice chuckled. "Ahhh and what a pretty one we have here. Aye, darlin' it was the wrong day to wander into this place. Don't you know it's dangerous?" He laughed aloud and I whimpered.
"Come now dearie, no crying now. Heh heh I'll make it quick." He said, shoving me to the ground. He was big and rough, with shabby clothes and an unshaven ugly face. I started to scream, but he took out a handkercheif and gagged my with his thick fingers shoving it onto my mouth. I nearly choked on it.
He held my wrists with one hand and crawled on top of me. I grew so frightnened my mind grew blank and I felt tears stream down my face, which I had squeezed shut so all I heard was the rustle of him removing his garments, then putting his hands around my waist and lifting aside my skirts. I screamed again into the gag and prayed that it wouldn't end this way.
Suddenly there was a strangling noise and a shuffling. I opened my eyes to see a shadow wrestling with the ruffian, and then throwing the man against a wall. I sat up, and pulled the horrid gag out, spitting it onto the ground. I watched as the shadow bent over the man, and a heard a familiar voice whisper, dripping with hate: "Get out before I end your pathetic life."
The man bolted, tripping over his own feet as he exited the building. The shadow apparoached me and his masked face came into the light. "Are you alright?" He asked, breathless, his eyes popping with concern from the dark holes in the mask.
I nodded, although I could feel myself trembling and the tears continue to flow. He touched me gently on the arm, then looked carefully at my ankle. "Can you stand?" He asked gently.
I tried to raise myself but when I put weight on my ankle pain seared through me and I cried out, falling over. He caught me in his arms, which held me strongly. There was a very still moment as I leaned against him and he held me tightly against his stiffened body. He seemed caught off gaurd, too cautious to make a move. At last he seemed to decide what to do. He swept me up into his arms, making me gasp as I was lifted swiftly.
"Why did you come back?" He said in a whisper. "I was sure you would leave me, as before."
His soft words struck me and I felt tears come to my eyes. "No...I chose you. I love you." I said softly, smiling through my tears. "I returned to be with you. Raoul is leaving without me."
He looked puzzled. "You told him where you are going and who you're choosing?" He asked in a confused tone.
"Yes. He doesn't agree with it but I believe that he simply wants whats best for me. He's really much too kind...I didn't deserve such a soul to love." I shook my head and smiled. "I may be a fool, but I know where my heart lies." I looked into his eyes, and sang softly words of a long-ago melody: "Help me make the music of the night..."
He suddenly lifted me against him, and kissed me deeply on the lips. He was not gentle, yet there was something tender there. I kissed him back, despite of the incident that had crippled me only moments before. I felt at peace with him holding me, and a fire that had been kindled long ago flamed to life. I was with him in the darkness...and it felt too right.
