On the Run

Silence ensued. Then, someone's phone rang.

"It's not mine," Frederic said.

"Not my ringtone," Sophie added.

Giselle groaned. "It's Louis."

Sophie dug in Giselle's purse for her phone. Then she handed it over to her, still ringing and vibrating. Giselle's hand shook as she answered the phone and brought it up to her ear.

"Louis?" Giselle asked shakily.

"Giselle, mon amour, where are you?"

"I can't tell you that, Louis. No... I won't tell you."

"Giselle," Louis pleaded. "Please come home."

"No, I... I'm done. I said that."

Then Giselle hung up and set her phone down on her leg. She looked up at Sophie and Frederic with tears in her eyes. She let out a small sob and her shoulders shook.

"I know that I shouldn't be so upset about this... but I can't help it. I've been with Louis since 1337 A.D. That's a long time of commitment."

The other two nodded and said that they understood. Giselle let out a sigh of relief.

"We'll let you rest now," Frederic said. "I'll be back later to check up on you."

Then him and Sophie left the room. Giselle laid back on the bed and closed her eyes.

Some time later, she was suddenly awoken by a hand clamped down on her mouth. Giselle jolted and her eyes darted back and forth, scared. It was night; she could see the man before her clearly.

"Don't make a sound. Understand?"

She nodded slowly. He removed his hand.

"What are you doing here, Louis? How did you find me?"

"I made you. I can always find you. It's our... bond."

Giselle shivered in fear. Louis caught it.

"You're not... afraid of me, are you?" he asked worriedly.

"Louis, in the past three months, you've been colder. Less... humane; more... animalistic. You've hurt me, emotionally and physically. So, yeah. I am scared of you, just a little. I always have been, ever since you showed me the truth."

Louis's eyes widened. He took a couple steps back from the hospital bed and hung his head.

"Désolée, mon amour. I'll be better, gentler, I promise."

"Oh, Louis. I fear it's too late for that."

He swallowed. "Giselle, I can't lose you. I fought Le Monde for you. I became the King to keep you safe; I don't want to be the King! But I am, for you."

"Louis," she said miserably. Then she shook her head in sadness.

"Wait... why are you here? What if they test you? They'll find out the truth!"

"I drank too much and got sick. I was brought here to get better."

"Who brought you here?" Louis asked darkly.

"You're getting over-protective again."

Louis took a deep breath to calm down.

"At least tell me who your doctor is."

The door opened. "I am, Montpierre."

"Wood," Louis growled.

Giselle shot up and placed her hand on his arm lightly.

"Louis, wait..."

"Oh, so you're taking his side now?!"

"No!"

Rage filled Louis's eyes. They burned at her.

"Calm down, Montpierre," Frederic said. "Before you wind up doing something you may regret."

Louis growled and lunged at Frederic. The two Originals battled it out. Giselle kept to the wall, staying out of it. Frederic and Louis kept grappling and wrestling each other. At one point, Frederic was facing Giselle. He caught her eye.

He motioned slightly, just enough that Louis didn't notice (he was too busy trying to sock Frederic anyways). Frederic tried to get Giselle to leave through the window. Being a vamp, and having just been given blood, she would be able to survive the jump. She understood what Frederic was implying and silently made her way over to the window.

When the opportunity arose, she opened the window unnoticed. Giselle slipped out onto the ledge. Then, she jumped.

The moment she landed on the ground, she took off running into the night.

As she ran, she thought, Now I'm like a fugitive. On the run.