Thump. Thump. Thump.

I quiver as I hear those dreaded footsteps approaching from the house. Please don't let him find me, please don't let him find me…

"Christine," he calls sweetly. "Christine...come out, come out wherever you are- I know you enjoy playing your little games, do you not? Oh, but my dear, you should know by now that I will never deny you a request! We will always play whatever game your sweet heart desires in my home! But only if you come out like a good girl…."

I know that underneath his beautiful, kind tone he is really hiding the fury I will surely see (and probably feel) if I reveal myself from my hiding spot. I breathe in sharply as I watch his feet come towards me in the same rhythm as the heartbeat that is quickly accelerating in my chest. Inwardly, I curse myself. If I didn't agree to live with my aunt for the summer, none of this would have happened…

"Christine." My name rolls off his tongue. He is using that voice- the one which haunted my thoughts for so long. It is intoxicating and hypnotic in turn. I feel it swirl around me, and for a moment, I am lost in its enticing sound.

"My patience is wearing thin." Hearing this makes me snap out from under his spell. Do not make Erik angry, for he does not wish to harm his Christine, he loves her too much….." His feet stop directly in front of my face and for one heart-stopping second I truly think he is going to bend down and claim his prize. After a moment, he abruptly turns and continues his search.

What he thinks is love is what normal people call obsession.

"Christine…." His footsteps are fading as he goes off in another direction. I count the seconds under my breath. "One…two…three….four….."

The dull thumps are no longer within earshot. I quickly and quietly jump up from under the planks of scrap wood that I had taken refuge in and run down the opposite tunnel that is next to the little house. Some of the wood tumbles, but it's too late for me to go back and fix them.

Surely, he is too far away that he could have heard them fall…

I continue to run. The candelabras that align the walls flicker as they meet the rush of air as I go past, casting eerie shadows along the floor. It's freezing, but if being cold is the price of my freedom, I'll take it. Hearing the rats screeching gives me all the more reason to run faster than ever.

Finally, I reach the end of the tunnel- only to find five entrances that lead off in different directions. Who would have thought this maze of tunnels was directly under the Coney Island boardwalk?

"What is this place?" I mutter to myself. Suddenly, I pause as I hear something behind me. The steady footsteps of a hunter knowing that his prey is near.

"You cannot hide forever."

Horrified, I choose the tunnel that leads down the center and follow it, not caring that the tunnel was pitch black, musky and full of ankle-deep water. I'm so close to my freedom that I can taste it!

Or so I thought. It's just a dead end.

And the footsteps are coming nearer still.

Desperately, I try to find a ladder, a trick brick- anything to just get me away from this madman! I sob into the wall. Even after all I did to escape that beautiful prison, he still manages to wins.

The footsteps stop right behind me. After a moment, I feel a cold hand grab my shoulder and force me around. Those eyes- those horrible, burning eyes are filled with rage.

And yet so are mine.

"Why won't you let me go?" I scream.

His hand releases my shoulder only to slowly trace the length of my arm. It travels back upwards in the same manner, only to go over my shoulder and wrap his fingers tightly around my neck. He suddenly pushes me against the wall with his other hand gripping my wrist. I struggle, but his body weight is keeping me down.

"Because," he breathes into my ear. "Erik never lets go of something that is rightfully his."