(Yep, I know waaaaay too many Meg/Erik stories begin like this on here, but hey, it's like obvious that they would meet at this point!)

I stood up and surveyed my surroundings before picking up mask once again. It was ivory and smooth. I glided my hand along the inside of it thinking about the face that had been wearing it only about an hour ago. That dreadful, disgusting, loathsome… sad face. It'd been obvious from far away how horrified he was when Christine had introduced the world to the ghost behind the mask. No, the man behind the mask. I knew they said he was a simply of a spectral shade… a phantom, a spirit, a ghost. But no. I knew he was a man… And, I wanted to meet this man, this murderer face to face. And I would. I knew I could manage. He couldn't scare me off if he hit me, I'd stand my ground. He wouldn't hurt me though… I knew how much pain he was in, he wouldn't hurt me, he'd probably just tell me to leave. But I wouldn't. I'd stay, as long as I possibly could.

I took a step back into the shivering water and tried to retrace my steps here. I was sure there must be gaps in the lake, and I was not a strong swimmer, I'd almost drowned two years ago in a river, I never wanted to repeat that experience. So I inched slowly along. At one point I tripped and got soaking wet, which was a problem, as it got darker, it got colder, so the moment I managed out of the water I curled up in a little ball against the wall.

"What are you doing here Giry?" I looked up and spun around. The fire down the hall was enough to make out the figure of a man. A well built, but terribly disfigured man. I could remember the face easy enough. It was something that could embed itself in one's brain. The skull, the brain… You could see the veins running through his face. It was disgusting, but more than horror, I had felt pity. He swirled his cape and took a step closer. I could hear him breathe. "I said… what are you doing her?"

"I…I…" Come to think about it, what was I doing here? "I have come to help you." He scoffed.

"Looks to me like you are the one needing help." He growled. "The only thing I need is my mask. I know you have it." I looked at the mask in my hand and reached it up so he could take from me which he did. He snatched it quickly, and I could see him put it on.

"Please? Let me stay…?" he looked over angrily and grunted at me. I didn't want anything special, just to be friends, he needed a friend, worse then almost any person I'd met. And I'd met a lot of people. And a lot of men who would want nothing more than me to stay at their house overnight. Erik wasn't like that though. He didn't want me, let alone my body. I'd convince him to let me stay though…or, I could just follow him. So that is what I did.

"I'm leaving now Giry, stay away or I will hurt you." His words did not phase me. I followed. He turned back to me. "What are you doing. Go up to your mother and leave me be!"

"Maman does not want me. She is likely mad at me, she will not care what I do."

"Yes but I care what you do, I care that you remove yourself from my presence." I shook my head and he cursed and turned around. I kept behind him about two paces. The darker it got, the closer I walked. He grabbed my wrist and dragged me quicker and plopped me in the boat. I wished I'd seen this boat earlier. I might not be soaked to the skin and freezing had I. When we reached the actual lair I stayed in the boat for several seconds after he'd got up.

"Do you want a change of clothes or not?" His question startled me and I looked up. He was holding a pale blue dress. I nodded quickly, got up and took it. He pointed to a curtain and told me I could change behind it. It fit just fine. A little small around my chest, but other than that it simply hugged my curves, which by feeling the material, I supposed that it was on purpose. It made me a little uncomfortable, I didn't know why, it just did. He turned and looked at me. I watched him scan my body appreciatively and then turn quickly.

"Does it fit alright?"

"Yes Monsieur." I nodded and sat down.

"The peacock bed in there is for your use." He motioned to a little chamber and I saw the bed.

"Thank you Monsieur."

"Erik." I raised an eyebrow in confusion. "My name is Erik if you don't mind."

"Thank you… Erik." I nodded and went to sleep.