The Midnight Train Crossing

Rusty stumbled over his feet as he went over to the Mastermind. In his fuzzy brain, he was determined to make sure she didn't help Eponine anymore. He stopped in front of her and, as he was still a bit drugged, he first had to concentrate on keeping his feet in the right places.
"What?" she asked.
'What... what will happen to her?'
"Who?"
'Eponine.' He looked up at her with large brown eyes.
The Mastermind shrugged, but she looked a bit guilty. "I don't know."
'You don't?' somehow that frightened him.
"Don't you dare look at me like that!"
'Sorry,' he lowered his eyes meekly.
"I... perhaps went a bit too far," she said, "But, if I killed her, I killed her... I think I could probably bring her back again..."
He shivered at that thought.
"Nothing I haven't done before... just never twice to the same person."
'You... won't hurt her?'
The Mastermind shrugged
He lay down at her feet, 'Please?'
The Mastermind looked at Rusty... "I'll... try to avoid it, for the moment."
'Thank you,' Rusty got up and thrust his head under one of her hands.
She looked surprised at this and watched as he lay at her feet again. "Ah... so you're ready to play the dog then?"
'I... I guess...' he answered sadly, but resigned.
"Good boy."
He hung his head and closed his eyes.
"don't be so.. .depressed about it!"
'Sorry...' he said automatically.

"Now... I'd bring you to the place I have set for you, but I don't want to risk... oh, never mind that!" The Mastermind waved her arms, and they were back in her room. "There. you have a bed, and a dish, and toys. You should be a happy puppy."
Rusty walked over to the corner that she had made for him and wiggled in between the wall and the bed, then lay down on the floor.
"Wouldn't you rather sleep in your bed? "
'No ma'am.'
"Why not?"
'Because...' he answered, not putting his thoughts into words, he wasn't sure why exactly either, he just didn't want to.
"Because why?" she persisted.
'Because it's not my bed...'
"A train bed would be too big," she said, "And you slept in a chair besides Eponine last night."
'And?' he asked dully.
"That wasn't your bed."
'But it wasn't *a* bed either.'
"You slept in the dog bed earlier today, when Eponine was there."
'I was sick then....'
"I can make you sick, if you'd be happier that way."
'No!' he exclaimed.
"You sure??"
'Yes! Yes I'm sure!.... please don't...'

"Then, lets play fetch."
'Fetch?' he repeated.
"A game. I throw a ball, and you chase it."
'Oh...' he didn't sound too pleased with that idea, but he got up.
The Mastermind found a ball, and threw it. Rusty followed after it and she frowned, "No... no... chase it!"
'I am,' he said, stopping the ball with his paws.
"I mean run, be... excited!"
Rusty gave the ball a push with his nose to send it rolling towards the Mastermind
"We're playing fetch... not catch!" She scolded, "You pick it up, and bring it back to me." The Mastermind threw the ball again
Rusty watched the ball and walked over to where it landed then nudged it back towards her, this time pushing it all the way over to her.
"You pick it up in your mouth," she directed.
'Yuck.' was his only comment.
"No... you'll like it. dog's like it. they think it's fun."
'good for them.....' Rusty muttered.
"Good for you. you're my dog, remember?"
'I remember...' he said softly.
"So, pick up the ball, and have fun with it."

Quite distastefully Rusty gently picked up the ball in his mouth and spat it out in the Mastermind's hand.
The Em looked at the spit in her hands, in slight disgust. "That... was not at all what I was looking for..."
'Sorry, I'm new at this.'
"so am I. But, I think what you're supposed to do, once you have the ball, is run around, and try to keep it from me." The Em threw it again
'But I thought that the object of the game was for you to throw it, and me to chase it...' Rusty said, not seeing the logic in what the Mastermind wanted him to do.
"Yes, but real dogs like to have some fun with it, when they have it. They're... very happy, silly animals."
Except I'm not a real dog, Rusty thought, before he could stop himself.
"You had best do a fairly good imitation of being one."
He sighed sadly, he didn't have a choice in the matter, 'okay.....'
"Now, get the ball."
Rusty walked, (well, a bit faster then a walk) over to the ball. He hesitated for a moment then picked it up in his mouth.
"Now, come up to me, then veer off... and run around with your tail wagging, and drool dripping out of your mouth..."
Rusty did some variation on that. He started towards her, did and about face and ran off in another direction. But when he realized that she was chasing after him, he came to a halt and she bumped into him.
"Rusty!" she exclaimed, frustrated.
He turned and deposited the ball in her hand.
"You don't give me the ball. I have to get it from you." She threw it again
He chased after it, picked it up and ran away from her, running under the desk.
She started to pull him out hard, by the tail
He let out a yip, dropping the ball
"Rusty!"
'That hurt!'
"Well how else am I supposed to catch you, under that table!" She crossed her arms in clear discontent.
'I dunno....' He sheepishly emerged, with the ball.

"No." she smiled as an idea occurred to her, "Go back under the table with that. What if I lured you out with a treat?"
'I'd rather come out on my own.....'
"But a dog wouldn't."
'but... I would...'
"But, you're a dog now."
Rusty whimpered, he didn't want to be "lured out with a treat"
"A nice treat."
'please no...' Rusty shrank back under the table
"You'll like it." The Mastermind flashed something liver scented under his nose. "Drop the ball, run out, and beg for the treat." she instructed
He dropped the ball and inched out from under the table.
"You're excited."
'No I'm not...'
"Yes you are." the Mastermind said more forcefully. "You love liver flavored treats."
Rusty sighed and pulled together the most obviously fake excited look that he could manage.
"You're faking it!" the Mastermind sounded angry
He quite promptly cowered at her tone
"No! don't cower! We're playing. you aren't supposed to be scared!"
'I'm sorry...'
"Now, get excited, and dance around, and beg for a treat! It isn't that hard, for goodness sake
'Says you...' he muttered, but, feeling very foolish, he did as commanded.
The Mastermind patted him on the head, and pushed the treat back into his mouth
'gah!' he gagged and tried to spit it out
"Rusty!"
'nasty' was the only coherent thought he could manage.
The Mastermind, in her frustration, hit Rusty squarely across the head. While that hurt, it did help in dislodging the treat that had gotten stuck in his throat and he swallowed it.

"Lets try that again."
'Don't stick it back so far,' he pleaded softly.
She held out the treat in her hand. "Then take it."
Realizing that if he didn't, she'd just wedge it down his throat again he did as he was told.
"Like it," she ordered.
'No.'
"Yes. Get excited. Beg for another. Wag your tail, and like it."
The only thing that he managed to do was beg for it.
She hit him. "no! you aren't doing it right!"
'I'm sorry...' he said softly, shrinking to the ground, 'But... I can't...'
"YES YOU CAN!" She shrieked, magically raising him so he was several feet off the ground. He curled into a ball. "Oh no you don't..." The Mastermind tossed him against the wall
He hit against the wall and landed in a heap.
"Get up."
After he had done so, the Mastermind threw the ball, "Get it. Have fun."
Rusty mindlessly obeyed. The Mastermind chased him around the room, caught up to him, gently wrestling the ball from his mouth. He fought against her half-heartedly and then let go.
She laughed and pet him enthusiastically, "Good boy."
When he had no reaction she crossed her arms, "Don't you like being pet?"
He didn't answer, but he rubbed his head against her.
"What a good puppy," she cooed, picking up the ball and throwing it.

Once again, he chased after it and allowed her to grab it. She then threw it beneath her couch. He followed after it, but came to a stop when it was apparent that he couldn't get it.
"What are you waiting for?" she asked.
He dropped to the ground and attempted to get the ball out, but couldn't manage it.
"go under the couch."
'can't fit'
"Yes you can."
'alright...' he wiggled under the couch
"good dog."
As predicted, he got stuck. He wriggled, trying to get out.
The Mastermind laughed at this, finding this the most funny thing in the world. She slapped his doggy butt
'help?'
"No."
He wiggled again, moving further under the couch.
"fast. get out with the ball."
'can't get out...' he said as the ball came rolling out. He had managed to get completely under the couch.

"Get out now."
'can't...' he whispered.
"Try. Try until you do."
'yes ma'am...'
"Go on then." she ordered, "Faster."
'I'm trying!' and indeed he was.
"Faster, or you'll be sorry. you have... ten second."
'what'll you do to me if I can't?' he whispered, suddenly very frightened.
"You get out, and you wont have to find out. 5 seconds."
He struggled and actually managed to inch along. *Nearly there...* Rusty thought, just as he got stuck again.
The chair disappeared. "Ah. you missed the deadline."

He shrank against the floor and closed his eyes, bracing for whatever it was that she was going to do to him.
She didn't do anything. just spoke. "guess, I'll have to leave you like this then." She said coldly, "a few... years as a dog would teach you, I think
He whimpered. 'no please don't... I'll be good. I promise.'
"You'll be good anyway... or you'll be a very unhappy dog indeed
'For... for h-how long?'
"As long as you're alive."
'For- forever? I have to be your dog forever??'
"Yes." the Mastermind said sweetly. "Forever, and ever, and ever."
'Even if I'm good?'
"If you're good, you won't get hurt."

Suddenly without any sort of warning or thought, Rusty bit her. He had decided whatever he did wouldn't help him anyway, and he had been wanting to do this ever since she had first turned him into a dog.
She hit him, very hard.
He held back a yip.
"BAD *DOG*"
He growled.
She smacked him again, harder. When he had no reaction she frowned, "don't you care?"
'No.' he answered calmly.
"what if I killed you?'
'You won't let me go home, you're making me be a dog...' he started.
"You'd rather be dead?"
'I'd rather be myself.'
"You're not going to be."
'Then it doesn't matter.' He lay down and closed his eyes.
"Yes it does." she snapped, "Now get up."

'Why?'
"To play some more."
'don't feel like it,' he muttered
"You like playing."
'No I don't. But you seem to.'
"You'll need to learn to like playing."
'Why?'
"Because, you'll be happier in your new form, if you do."
'doubtful.'

The Mastermind frowned, torturing Rusty was much more fun when he had a reaction. Without another word to him, she vanished to find someone new to bother.
Rusty went back to the corner, curled up and went to sleep. He was happy to discover that, despite his new form, he retained his ability to go to sleep on command. He slept on dreamlessly.

Eponine shifted slightly in Erik's arms, having slept for several hours. She made a small sound and then suddenly burst upright, with a cry of horror
The Phantom had started to doze off and he nearly jumped three feet into the air when she cried out.
Eponine made, a rather disastrous attempt to get to her feet. She tried to get away, but only for a moment.... the realization of where she was, and who she was with finally began to dawn on her. She grabbed onto him to keep her balance and slowly sat back down, but her eyes remained wide and she didn't look at him. She put her head in her hands, but she seemed to be calming down.

"Are you alright?" he asked after a moment.
"Yes." She said, shakily
"Nightmare?"
"Yes." She said again, in the same shaken tone
"I'm sorry."
He stood up stiffly and stretched.
She still avoided looking at him, even though she could see perfectly well that he was wearing the mask now. She put her head back in her hands... besides everything else, she still had a headache, thanks to that stupid Mastermind.
"Are you feeling alright?" he asked, "Or at least a bit better?"
She sighed, "Still... very dizzy, but only when I move. Things just.. .start to spin."
"Then stay still," he advised.
"My head hurts." She wasn't exactly complaining, so much as stating a fact
"Lay down," he said gently.
She shook her head. "No. I don't want to anymore... I'm sick of it. That's what *she* wants me to do."
"Oh?"
Eponine nodded, then gasped slightly. When she did that, it felt like there were little rocks rolling around in her head.
The Phantom walked swiftly over to her, ready to catch her if she fell and she found herself leaning back against him, without even thinking about it

"Shh now," he soothed.
"I'm... fine." She said, regaining herself. "Good god, look at me... I was able to walk across the barricade with a bullet wound. I should be able to..."
"No," he interrupted her.
"No?"
"No," he said, "Eponine, no one will blame you for this."
"I don't like her being in control of me."
"None of us do."
"I'm not going to let her anymore..." Eponine said bitterly. She crossed her arms, in hopeless anger
"I'm sorry," he said gently.
"I hate her." Eponine hissed
"I know..."
"Any other jailer..." she hit the floor, "Even Javert doesn't treat his prisoners as she does! He works them, but... he doesn't torture them, not like she does.."
"Shh..." he said, "Calm down or you'll make it worse."
"I... I'm calm." Eponine said, not at all calmly
"No you aren't."
"Yes I am!"
"Eponine, you obviously aren't..."
"I'm not going to listen to her anymore."
I wish you luck in that, he thought.
"At least with Javert, I could..." Eponine broke off, not really wanting to finish that sentence.
"With who?" he questioned.
Eponine sighed. "Javert. the chief of police. The swine has tried to capture me before, but I've never let him. Then... he'd put me in jail, forever and that'd be the end of it."
"I see."
"No. It wouldn't. I'd escape. He'd never, ever, ever being able to keep me in some jail."
"I see," he said again.
Eponine scowled, "But... she's doing too good a job..." She shut her eyes tightly, "and even if I could... get up and run away... but no.."
The Phantom held her gently.

"I don't feel well." Eponine said quietly, all the anger seeming to have drained from her voice
"Then go back to sleep," he said gently.
"I can't."
"Yes you can," he said gently, his voice taking on an odd tone, almost hypnotic.
Something in The Phantom's voice seemed to catch Eponine, and she looked up, teary eyed at the Phantom
"Go to sleep now," he said in the same tone, "You'll be safe..."
Eponine nodded, suddenly unable to think of anything, but listening to The Phantom
"go to sleep," he said gently, "and then you'll feel better when you wake..."
"Okay..." she mumbled
"Just close your eyes and go to sleep."
Eponine shut her eyes, relaxing easily into his arms, just doing as he told her
"There now," he said, "Just go to sleep."
"I love you..." She mumbled, sounding, far more asleep than awake.
"Sleep now," he said gently, knowing by now not to listen to anything that anybody said while listening to him. He eased the sleeping girl gently to the ground.

After quite a bit of time had passed, the Mastermind appeared before him. "She loves you," she said teasingly.
"She's very ill," the Phantom said, "Really you ought to stop doing this to your cast, they'll never be able to sing after all of this."
"I have come up with something interesting to do."
"I am not interested."
"I mean, a way to make killing more interesting, if you'd like. you're welcome to use Eponine, for this experiment."
Eponine shifted in her sleep, almost as if she had heard
"I have no desire to make killing more interesting," he said calmly.
"It could be fun.... we could kill her, quite completely. Turn her into a rat, and then drown her. Animals have no souls you know." she said the last line maliciously
"Why do you not seem to understand what I am saying?" he asked, not turning to face her.
"I understand it. just don't believe it. She cares for you. Obviously, the feeling isn't mutual. so, lets turn her into a rat, and kill her. It'll be fun!" She said in a disturbingly happy tone.
"No it won't."
"Would you rather watch me do it?"
"No."
"would you like me to do it, while your not watching?"
"I'd rather you didn't."
"But, since you really wouldn't care if I did or not.."
"As *you* say..." he answered coldly.
"do you care then?" she asked.
"Does it matter?"
"Yes."
"You honestly intend to take my opinion into account of what you do?"
"I do."
"Probably not in a way that would be to my satisfaction." He sighed, "What do you want of me?"

The Mastermind floated Eponine upwards, "You do realize that she has been awake since I came in?"
He shrugged.
Eponine opened her eyes, as if on cue. She started to do sit up.. and did a double take when she saw she was midair. She closed her eyes, pointedly going back to pretending to be asleep.
"Just relax Eponine," he said calmly.

The Mastermind dropped Eponine unceremoniously. She let out a small, "ouch.." But, quickly went back to pretending to be fast asleep. "Not really sure," the Mastermind said in answer to the Phantom's question, "I think... I want to see you get very angry, or cry, or fall in love. Something dramatic." She mindlessly hit Eponine's head against the floor. For her part, she was not reacting in the least.
"I am not sure that you would appreciate me being very angry," he commented dryly.
"I think it'd be interesting."
"Indeed. I might find the results most interesting..." he answered. It wasn't a threat. Not quite.
"What do I have to do to get you angry?" She asked, banging Eponine a bit harder against the floor.
Suddenly he strode over to her, with the black cape flowing out behind him it was a rather intimidating sight.
"Are you angry?" she asked, hitting Eponine on the floor again.
"You could say that, yes."
"It makes you angry when I hurt her?" Another bang
"It makes me angry when you taunt me like this."
The Mastermind threw her against the floor again. "what if I put you in a cage?" she asked, "A tiny cage. Would you struggle, and cry?" She smiled and backed away from him, "Lets give it a try." Soon, a tiny, barred room had grown around him, and the firmly balled up Eponine. so small, that they couldn't avoid touching. She laughed, and then left them.

The Phantom stood stiffly in the center of the cage. He didn't say a word, he didn't move. He didn't dare to. Trapped. Cage. Not again...
Eponine opened her eyes, a look of dumb amazement on her face. She tested the bars calmly. Very calmly, until the realization dawned on her, that they were both trapped and then she hit one of the bars as hard as she could. She pulled her hand back and stood, or at least tried to. The cage was much too small for her to move effectively, and she was too dizzy besides. She tried to push the bars apart. Break them. Anything! She wouldn't stay in here!
Eponine's outburst brought the Phantom to his senses. It suddenly dawned on him that 1) he was not a child and 2) he was not alone. "Eponine!" he tried to get her attention and remain as calm as he could.
She beat at the bars frantically, her knuckles were bleeding.
He caught hold of her hands to stop her, turning her around to face him.
"Let go!" she said frantically, her tear-stained face fixed in a scowl of mixed horror and disbelief.
"Hush now," he said gently, "It won't help."
She struggled against him, but he held her firmly. "Eponine! Listen to me! It will not help!"
She shook her head desperately.
"Trust me."
She stopped struggling, he did not release her until he was sure that she had calmed down.

Eponine took a deep breath in. she didn't want to look at The Phantom... but she didn't want to look at the bars either. So, she stared at her hands... she had managed to make them bleed, she noticed, detachedly. She flexed them experimentally. One of them moved, painfully, but easily enough. The other was rather limp.
"Let me see your hands," he said gently, he took her hands and looked at them.
She looked down, away from him, clearly ashamed of her own behavior. How was it he was always so calm... when things like this happened?
He pulled out a cloth from his pocket and started to bind up her hands.
"I can't move one of them..." she said in a soft tone
"which one?" he asked.
"This one." She said, showing him
He picked up her hand, holding it gently by the wrist.
"Hmm... This may hurt," he warned, putting pressure on her palm on the bleeding artery in her hand.
She started to jerk away, automatically
"Hold still," he said gently, "I need to stop the bleeding."
"Okay." She said softly
He nodded and continued to hold her palm.
Eponine watched him apprehensively
After what seemed like a long time, the bleeding stopped.
"Thank you."
"Of course," he said, "It might still be numb for a few minutes," he warned, letting go of her.
She sunk down to the floor of the cage numbly... it was hardly big enough to sit in, and if the phantom wanted to do so, she was quite certain she would have to be in his lap, or have no room at all.
He hesitated and then set a hand lightly on her head.
she glanced up
"Sorry," he removed his hand.
"No... I don't mind. I... I like it." She put her head back down in her hands
He hesitated and then set his hand on her head again, "At least you aren't alone..." he said softly.
"I'm not. you're hear. I'm glad..." She paused. "not that you're here... stuck. Just that you're with me."
"I understand."

"Do you want to sit?" Eponine asked after a bit, "I can stand, for now, if you like."
"No, it's alright," he said distractedly, trying to think of the best way out of this.
It was probably for the best, as Eponine's light headed dizziness had yet to cease. Things still seemed to spin around her, when she tried to focus on them. She kicked one of the bars half-heartedly. She hated looking at them
"I know," he said gently.
"sorry."
"It's alright."
"How can you be so calm about this... and everything?" Eponine suddenly felt very childish next to The Phantom
"I've had a great deal of practice," he said absently, looking around the cage while trying not to focus on the bars.
"What sort of practice?"
"Hmm?"
"You... said you'd had a great deal of practice?"
"Oh." was all he said, wishing that he had not brought it up.
"What sort of practice?"
"Because I've dealt with this before."
Eponine gave him a questioning look
"This," he indicated the cage, his tone said that he didn't want to talk about it.

Eponine was about to comment, when something warm and soft landed in her lap, "Rusty?" Eponine said softly, recognizing the steamer-turned-dog.
'wha?' he asked.
"hi." she said softly. She touched him lightly with bandaged hands. The cage was so small, that there was no way he could move out of her lap
He hadn't opened his eyes yet, 'Still a dog?'
"Yes."
He sighed.
"sorry."
'Not your fault.'
She hugged him... more for her own comfort than for his.
'What's wrong?' he asked, sensing her feelings.
"Open your eyes." she said quietly
He opened his eyes and regarded her, not understanding her serious look. She reached out and touched one of the bars
As he watched her when suddenly it dawned on him that there were bars all around them. 'Oh.' was all he had to say.
She tightened her grip on him, just a tiny bit. "Are you okay?" she asked, trying to distract herself a bit, "I... felt something while you were gone. You were upset."
'Still am' he said.
"What did she do to you now?"
'She... she won't...' he started, 'I'm stuck. Like this.' He moved closer to her, if that were possible.
Eponine looked horrified at this. "Aw.. Rusty..'
"She's not turning him back." She explained to the Phantom, holding Rusty close
"She will," the Phantom said to Eponine.

"No I won't." the Mastermind said
"And why not?"
"because I won't," she said simply, "He bit me."
"And why did he do that?"
"He was angry with me."
"And why was he angry with you?" the Phantom asked patiently.
"Because I told him I'd keep him in this form."
"And you're surprised that he was angry at you for that?"
"No. but, I am surprised he bit me."
"I'm not." the Phantom said.

Eponine, for her part, had become extremely unresponsive. She had Rusty tightly in her arms, and her eyes were firmly fixed on his fur.
"Why don't you look up at me, my dear?" The Mastermind said to Eponine - who was quite pointedly ignoring her.
"I think that is also obvious," the Phantom said.
"Eponine, look at me."
Eponine buried her head in Rusty's fur
the Phantom shifted so that he was standing between Eponine and the Mastermind.
"That's sweet of you Phantom, but you're in the way." The Mastermind said
"that was my intent."
"Eponine, get up."
"Leave them be," the Phantom said crossly.
"Eponine." The Mastermind said warningly.
"She can't get up," the Phantom said, "There isn't room."
"I can't." Eponine's tone was defensive, "I'm too dizzy. Just do whatever you're going to do."
"Get up."
"I can't."

The Mastermind gestured towards Eponine. suddenly she couldn't breath. Eponine tried to gasp for breath... she couldn't. She tried not to look as panicked as she felt... which was hard to do with her face turning blue
Rusty got up slightly, frightened himself, and picking up on Eponine's panic, it was enough to jolt him out of the state he had previously been in.
The Mastermind disappeared wordlessly
"Come back here!" the Phantom shouted. When there was no response it only made him crosser, "ah, it makes sense that you would leave..." he said, "I wouldn't expect you to stay and face me now."
"I have no problem facing you." a voice said, "Deal with her now."
He took a deep breath and turned to Eponine.
Eponine was struggling to draw air, a task that seemed utterly impossible

The Phantom crouched down, with some difficulty, and looked her over. The minute he touched her, suddenly she was coughing and gagging, though only managing to take in small gasps of air in the process. He expertly ran his hand over her throat trying to determine why she couldn't breathe while Rusty rubbed against her, trying to calm her down.
Eponine coughed violently
It was a good sign that she was able to cough at least, he thought.
Slowly, Eponine found herself able to draw in a bit more air
"Easy now," he soothed.
The coughs began to ease, leaving her gasping for breath. Eponine was very pale, but the blueness was fading
Once he was assured that she could breathe again the Phantom relaxed. Rusty, on the other hand, looking quite worried.
Eponine opened her mouth, to try and tell them she was okay, but she was still to short of breath to talk.
'Okay?' Rusty asked.
"Yes." she said breathlessly
'Good,' he leaned up against her and closed his eyes, 'I'd thought-' he didn't even want to finish that thought.
'me too...'

Meanwhile, the Phantom was leaning up against the bars of the cage seething. He was too angry to speak.
"Stand now." The Mastermind reappeared
'Can you?' Rusty asked Eponine softly.
Eponine shook her head
'Try?'
Eponine made an attempt. She was dizzy, and hardly had room to maneuver, plus, Rusty was still on top of her..
Rusty attempted to get off her, moving almost under the Phantom's feet.
She stood up shakily
Rusty moved over to her side, ignoring the fact that if she fell there really wasn't much he could do to help her.
The size of the cell became smaller, so the bars were touching her face. The was no way to sit back down now

The Phantom glared at the Mastermind, but she vanished again. He clenched his hands into fists at his sides, determined not to do something that he would probably regret.
After a few seconds, she reappeared, running a hand down his tensed back
He jumped at her touch.
"Hi," she said cheerfully.
"What do you want?"
"A game."
"A game?" the Phantom repeated.
She nodded. "Eponine. sit down."
"And tell me, how is she to manage that?" the Phantom asked crossly.
"I don't know. She had better come up with a way though
"I doubt even you could manage that," the Phantom said.
Eponine, was indeed, trying to figure out a way to sit. Rusty was also silently pondering how she could manage it
"10 seconds."
Rusty whined softly, recognizing this.
Eponine made an attempt, but the space was far to small.
"3."
'don't,' Rusty pleaded.
"1."
Rusty closed his eyes.
Eponine, indeed, did not sit.

The Mastermind gestured, and once again she was unable to breath. Then, the bars around them disappeared. The Phantom swiftly moved to catch Eponine, as he predicted that she would fall. She fell, going limp in his arms, just struggling to draw air.
He automatically put a hand towards her throat, as if he could help her breathe that way
"It's just a little spell. something you can't even see. You wont let that beat you, now will you Phantom?" The Mastermind said mockingly
He seemed to ignore her, continuing to try and help Eponine.
Eponine hung her head limply, actually feeling herself begin to lose consciousness. and that cold feeling, like last time she... she didn't want to think it, but all she could think was that she was going to die now
'No' Rusty thought, going over to Eponine, gently nudging against her leg.
The Mastermind giggled
Despite the fact that he knew somewhere in the back of his mind that he didn't have a fire anymore, Rusty felt it burning somewhere in him. He turned to the Mastermind and growled very softly.

As she had before, Eponine started coughing after several minutes.
She thought... thought she felt something moving in her throat! But, she still couldn't breath... it was blocking most of her air
The Phantom felt something in Eponine's throat and he shifted her, "this might hurt a bit," he warned her, bringing her up right and putting his arms around her. He pressed hard in her stomach area.
Eponine coughed harder, a mixture of liquid, and something pink, and wiggly... and very clearly alive. and then another. She was able to catch small, gasping breaths but...
The Phantom continued the process until he was sure that he had cleared Eponine's throat completely. Then he pulled her close
Eponine was crying... she hadn't realized it, or when she had started, but, she was. The little things she had expelled... now, very clearly blind, pink, baby rats, crawled about sightlessly the liquid on the floor
"It's alright," the Phantom said softly, holding her close, pulling his cape around the both of them protectively.
The Mastermind laughed. "That was an interesting game." She said
"Hardly creative," the Phantom said crossly.
"It gets better. Eponine, look..."
Eponine didn't look, not so much in willful disobedience of the Mastermind, but in the complete and utter confusion of the moment. She kept her face firmly buried against The Phantom's shoulder.
"Eponine. Look. now."
"Eponine?" the Phantom asked gently.
Eponine stared for a moment at the blind, hairless rats, crawling around on the floor, helplessly.
"See Eponine?" the Mastermind asked, far too sweetly, "They're your babies." She observed how pale Eponine seemed, ill looking, but it didn't particularly bother her, or even dawn on her that this was her fault. "Quite a mother you are, leaving them in a pool of vomit."
Eponine silently counted the little rats. There were eleven of them... and why was she calling them her babies?
"Take a good look at them. Pick them up. there yours."
Eponine knelt down automatically. She started to pick one up, but when she touched it, it exploded, bits of it splattering against her face. she backed up automatically
The Phantom gathered her into his arms again, this time a bit restrainingly.
Eponine curled into his arms, not knowing what else to do.
"Eponine..." the Mastermind said warningly, "their yours. If you leave them there, they'll die."
"I would like to point out that as soon as she touched one of them it did just that," the Phantom said calmly.
"It wont happen with all of them. just that one."
"And what was particularly unlucky about that one?" he wanted to know.
"It was the first. just wanted to see her reaction"
"If anything," the Phantom said coolly, "They are yours. You created them. But-" he added thoughtfully, "Considering what I know about you, perhaps they would rather belong to Eponine."
The Mastermind struck him... not physically, but in her usual way. Just hard enough to be painful. "They're Eponine's. they came out of her. She's there mother. She has to take care of them now."
"She would certainly be a better mother then *you*"
"I don't plan on being a mother." but she struck him again
"Good." he answered.
Eponine made a slight, rather half hearted attempt to move away from The Phantom, but she did not object when he would not let her go. He continued to glare at the Mastermind when out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of Rusty.
Despite the fact that the two had no psychic connection they managed to communicate something silently. The Phantom blinked in acknowledgement and Rusty closed his eyes again.
"At any rate." Them Mastermind said, "If she forgets how to breath again, you'll know what to do."

The Phantom with surprising suddenness reached down and scoped up the remaining baby rats, pulled his cape over himself and Eponine and vanished into the shadows while Rusty lunged at the Mastermind and bit her firmly in the back of the leg
The Mastermind screamed at the pain, like something she had never felt before. She looked down at her bleeding leg and started to chase after Rusty, but it hurt! and she was not used to pain of any sort. She slipped in what was left of what Eponine had coughed up and fell flat on the floor.

The Phantom pulled Eponine along with him, keeping to the shadows until he thought that they were far enough away from the Mastermind. Briefly he hoped that Rusty was alright. He stopped under the stage and had her sit down. She did so dizzily.
There was the sound of many hungry, cold, unhappy little squeaks from within The Phantom's cloak
"Yes I know," he said a bit absently to the rats,
"Can I see them?" she asked
He reached into where ever he had put them and pulled them out.
"They're mine? The Came out of me?" Eponine asked, not quite able to believe it.
"In away," he answered, "But she made them appear in your throat."
"Yes. they had... sharp little claws." she winced at the memory, "What am I supposed to do with them?"
"I... don't know," he said, "I... have a certain... fondness for animals... and I couldn't very well leave them there."
Eponine nodded, clearly agreeing. "no. couldn't let them die. but..." she touched one, "how can I feed them? I'm not a mother rat..."
"No you certainly aren't." he said looking thoughtful.
Already, one of them was nibbling on the tip of her finger, as if trying to find something to eat.
"Wait here," the Phantom said to Eponine.
Eponine didn't let go of him right away... really not wanting him to leave her

At that moment there was a faint sound from over head and Eponine jumped... she never remembered being that nervous, but there was something about this place.... the Mastermind seemed to be lurking in every shadow.
Rusty jumped down into the pit.
Eponine smiled. good. it was just Rusty.
'You okay?'
"Better now..."
'good..' Rusty said, 'I- I think I hurt her...'
"She can't do anything... when you hurt her. can she?"
'Don't think so...'
"Good."
"Stay here," the Phantom warned, "I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Alright." Eponine said, more willing to let the Phantom go, now that Rusty was here.
The Phantom vanished into the shadows

Rusty moved closer to Eponine and rested his head in her lap.
Eponine moved The rats into her lap, near rusty, where they could be warm at least, and leaned her head back against the wall, exhausted. 'What did she have you doing.. while you were away?' Eponine thought, finding that easier than talking at the moment.
'She had me be a dog...' he started.
'I'm sorry.'
'yeah... some game with chasing a ball or something...' he said matter-of-factly.
'you know... I'll probably get home... if she sends me home... raving about rats, and strange machines called trains, and he she its... and everyone will think me quite insane
Rusty laughed slightly at that, not meanly of course.
Eponine smiled to, 'and wonderful men, in masks, and horrible women, who torture for fun..'
'Do you think she can do it?' Rusty asked suddenly.
'do what?'
'Keep me like a dog...'
'I hope not.' She patted his ear lightly, 'you don't deserve it'
'Thanks,' he said.

'have you been feeling better... since the last time you changed? not as dizzy, and tired...'
'yeah...' he said, 'I haven't - I mean, I haven't felt as bad... but... I haven't been changed in awhile...'
She hugged him a bit closer
'I... haven't been changed much.. either. since she got mad, and kept changing. but, she's been playing other games'
'Yeah... I know... I felt- I felt you get upset before-"
'Ah. and... I could hear you crying before. it's strange.'
'Yeah...' Rusty thought, closing his eyes, 'I wonder...'
'wonder what?'
He thought of his home and Eponine found images of Rusty's home.. tracks, happy coaches, lights filling her mind. His imagination pulled up in front of a large building.
Eponine watched his images, gratefully. they were nice
Rusty took Eponine on an imaginary journey through his home, 'pulling' into the freight yard.
'where is this?' Eponine thought
'The freight yard,' Rusty answered, "Uh- for the cars that carry things... not people.'
'ah' Eponine relaxed, watching
'I usually pull them,' Rusty explained.
'do you like it?'
'Coaches are more fun to pull,' Rusty answered, 'but... it's not horrible to pull freight. Just... harder.'
'oh' Eponine thought, sleepily. 'this is very strange.. I can feel my body falling asleep.. just not the rest.'
'hmm.' Rusty shrugged, watching several boxcars getting loaded.
'what kind of trains are they?'
'Boxcars,' Rusty answered, 'Freight cars. Those are the kind that I pull a lot.'
'oh. are they nice, like you?'
'They're pretty nice,' Rusty said, 'but not exactly like me.'
'mm." Eponine thought. Her head was now resting against Rusty's fur
Rusty's imagination moved again, he hesitated for a moment.
'What' Eponine thought, feeling the hesitation.
'I'm just... not sure I want to see my family right now...' he thought a bit sadly.
'why? what did they do to you?' was Eponine's first instinctive thought/ Then, remembering something, 'sorry. I mean, you must miss them quite a lot.'
'Yeah...' he said softly, 'I mean, I want to see them....'
'but you miss them.'
'Yeah...'
She gave him a light hug and he smiled slightly.