Wanted

Chapter 68

[April 10, 1893]

The prison system had been established not too long ago. Christine had spent time reading up on the prison system with her husband before traveling to visit Raoul. The prison was located at an old castle and as soon as she walked in, she could tell how insanitary it was. She knew Raoul was surely hating it.

Christine entered through the double doors at the front and walked to a small desk, surrounding her were men, women, and even children all locked in cages. She had to stop looking eventually, she felt everyone staring at her. She was out of her element, she had entered wearing a nice dress with her hair done nicely, they knew she wasn't someone off the street.

Christine offered a smile to the man at the desk. "I'm Christine Destler. I've come to visit Raoul de Changy." She said and the man stood to lead her down a hallway. Another officer went to get Raoul and they brought him into a small room with a table and two chairs, a visitation room. She gasped when she saw him, his hair unkept, his ankles and wrists shackled.

His head hung low as the officer led him into the room, when he finally looked up he looked shocked to see her. "Christine." Raoul breathed out as the officer forced him into a chair. Christine sat across from him, taking in his appearance again.

The officers left the room, but she knew they were standing just outside the door. "What are you doing here?" Raoul asked, and Christine almost laughed. How dare he act ignorant to what had transpired.

"You kidnapped my son and tried to kill my husband. What do you think I'm doing here?" She spat at him, and he was taken aback immediately. Christine herself hadn't expected to speak that way either.

"Ah, so the rumors are true. Your dear Phantom survived." He said and she nodded.

"And you're damn lucky he did, if he had not this visit would be very different." She assured him and he nodded. It seemed as though he was taking her words to heart and she was glad for that much. She wanted him to hear her and understand her anger towards him, her disappointment as well. "But Raoul, believe it or not, I'm not here to yell at you. I just want to know what led to this point. The last time I saw you, I thought we were on good terms! Then you turn around and harm my family in so many ways." Christine expressed and he nodded, listening intently, before taking a moment to choose his response.

Raoul situated himself in the uncomfortable chair and their eyes locked. "I never meant to hurt the boy. I was upset, I've always been upset. I needed to get that monster away from you. I played as your friend, then when your defenses were down, I took the boy, knowing your husband would come after him. Once he let his guard down around your son, I took my opportunity." Christine could hear all the truth in his words, yet they angered her so much.

"But you did hurt my son! I take him to therapy once a week! My five year old son! He can barely let Erik out of his sight, because he doesn't want to lose his father. Not even that, my daughters, a year and a half, have trust issues! They're always on the look out for the 'bad man who hurt Papa'! I wanted to be your friend, Raoul! But I don't even know you anymore." Christine said and she stood to leave, he called after her, but she needed to get back to the Opera Populaire. All she wanted to do was fall into Erik's arms.

Meanwhile, Erik was seated in his office with Nadir, they were working through logistics for the season, and how to use the money from the president. "My wedding is in two weeks. I need you to be my best man." Nadir said and Erik looked up as a smile crossed his masked face. Nadir and Meg hadn't spoken much of their wedding after the proposal, so he was glad to hear that they had a date now.

"I'd be honored. Although, I still can't believe I got married before you." Erik said and Nadir laughed as he turned to look at Erik's two girls who were sitting on the floor playing. Erik followed Nadir eye's and smiled. "You want children." Erik spoke quietly, it wasn't a question though. He could see it in the way Nadir looked at his children. The Persian nodded and turned back to look at his oldest friend.