As the cold fog began to roll lazily over the broken glass and into the tunnel, Erik paused one more miserable moment to gaze longingly back at what he was giving up. He then turned to face his solitary future, and stole silently down his secret escape route. He contemplated where he would go, where he could hide his abhorred deformity… But wait! Erik turned; his mask! "That little blonde angel" had it in her hand; he couldn't go back for it now. So he strode alone into the darkness. Erik didn't mind the dark; he had been in the dark practically all his life. He had been alone practically all his life, too. But he knew now there was nothing he could do to change that. Erik. "What?" He would have been silent but for his surprise. Had he heard someone? No. It was just memories, remorse, desperate desire, toying with his mind. He was alone, as he had always been. Erik. He knew he had heard someone that time. Perhaps…. He was so afraid to hope… "Christine?" he croaked. Then, floating out of the abyss, a response: "So that was her name. Just not the same, was she? I knew you would never get over me." He could feel her smug grin from where he was standing; her warm, soprano voice cutting through the forlorn silence of the tunnel. "What I can't understand is how you managed to come across someone so much like me." It couldn't be, he thought…
"Kathryn?"
"Even after all this time, I would think you could still recognize my voice. It was the first thing you noticed about me, or so you said. I would ask if you've missed me, but the way you looked at that Christine, I think I know the answer."
Erik remembered more than just her voice; "It's been a long time, I think I did pretty well, don't you?"
"Hmm," Kathryn huffed. She seemed to halfheartedly agree, though, somewhat disapprovingly.
"You're right, you know. She is a lot like you."
"I noticed." She chuckled. "Don't worry. I missed you too. But no matter how hard I tried, I knew I could never find anyone quite like you, Erik. And believe me, I did try. So I decided to come see what you were up to. I was also curious as to what kind of reception I might get…" She smiled inquisitively.
Kathryn stepped up into what little light there was and with her hand gently caressed the distorted part of his face. Erik took her hand as the shouts of the vengeful mob began to get louder and more intense.
"We need to get out of here." He whispered gently.
"Yes, I suppose we do. We can catch up later. Come on."
Kathryn reached for his hand and turned to go. Erik caught her wrist; "Wait, do you know where you're going?"
"Of course. How do you think I got in? It may have been a long time, but you taught me all your secrets, remember?" She smiled.
"Oh, I doubt I showed you everything…." He whispered seductively and smiled.
Kathryn giggled, and they darted hand-in-hand gracefully, silently, down the passage…