As Erika began to walk out of the village she hesitated and drew slowly farther away from Erik who continued walking. At last Erik realized the Erika was no longer following him so he turned around to look at her and then said as he walked back towards her, "What is wrong mad… er Erika? Are you feeling sick again? Please tell me what is wrong." Erik then heard the malicious voice in her mind say, "Yes, admit it Erika. You are caught in between a rock and a hard place, if you follow him the future him will remember you and claim you as his. It's a pity you didn't listen to me in the first place. Oh well to late now." Erik than shook her head as laughter once more filled it and then said to Erik, "I don't think this is such a good idea, Erik. I mean following you. Please don't get me wrong I am very grateful that you rescued me but I think that I should return to the town. I'm sorry." Erik looked into her hazel eyes with reflected the early rays of the sun then countered, "if you go back they will kill you and make it as painful as possible. You would be much safer coming with me and living for you have a long time to live still. Please come with me, trust me, I won't let you get hurt I promise." It took Erika a minute to separate the pros and cons of the matter and then decided that she would continue with Erik, no matter the risks. Erika then willed her legs to move and took Erik's extended hand once more and continued her voyage down the gravel path away from the village and a very furious Phillip.
After a few hours of waking Erika began to tire, and broke the silence that seemed almost sacred by saying, "Erik? Could we stop for a while, for I am beginning to tire and need to sleep before I fall over with exhaustion?" Erik then turned and smiled but quietly led Erika to a small crevice in the rock along the road where the sun wasn't shining and let her lay down. Immediately Erik saw her discomfort as she tried to lay her head on the hard stone. Quietly Erik suggested, "If it would make you more at ease Erika, you may rest your head in my lap while I sleep against the wall. I don't mind at all." Erika looked at him and then moved and laid her head in his lap. Erik was just beginning to fall asleep when he heard a small voice saying, "Thank you Erik. Rest well." He then felt a shiver go through his whole body as he realized that he had a young female his age resting her head in his lap and also sleeping with him. He than stroked her hair gently not wanting to startle her as he replied, "It's not problem Erika. Rest well yourself. See you in a few hours." The two then slowly drifted off to sleep and sleep without a single nightmare of any fearful tossing, but rested in each other's embrace as the sun slowly rose over the Earth and warming it with its rays.
After a few hours of sleep, Erik awoke to find Erika still asleep in his lap and as he sighed, her realized that if they wanted to get as much distance between them and the town he would have to wake Erika and get her moving again before it got dark again and they had to turn in for the night. He then gently bent forward at the waist and breathed slightly in Erika's ear, "Erika, I'm sorry to wake you but we need to get moving again before it gets dark. Please get up I have something for you to eat if you are hungry." Erika slowly shifted in Erik's lap, which forced him to close his eyes in a complete state of ecstasy at the feeling that shot through his body. Erika then sat up slightly blurry eyed and yawned before saying, "How long have I been asleep? Did you say that you had food? I'm starving but not happy about continuing this journey. Where are we headed anyway?" Erik only nodded and then shrugged in response to Erika's questions as he reached into a bag and extracted a small bag that was full of food for weeks of travel. He then gave a small but rational portion to Erika and then got some for himself some and they began to eat in silence before Erik said, "Guessing by the sun's position we have been asleep for at least 5 hours maybe more. I can't be positive." Erika nodded her head and knew that this would be a long journey and would also take a lot of physical strength. Something that comforted her was that she would not be doing the journey alone because she had Erik to help her through everything and she in her own way could help him through his tough times. Erika smiled at the thought and then continued to eat the food that had been so gratefully brought alone for the journey. They continued to eat in silence and think about the journey that was ahead of them.
After a few minutes of absolute silence, Erik rose and assisted Erika in once more getting up. He then shouldered the bag and began walking side by side with Erika, and once again there was silence. Erik then spoke slowly so as to make sure he got his words right, "Are you from this… um century?" Erika stopped dead in her tracks when she heard those words but then calmly replied, "I am. Why do you ask me that?" Erik could tell that this was not the road he wanted to take with Erika, as she still did not fully trust him except when she was asleep. Erik replied cautiously, "No reason, just forget it I should never have asked you that question. I'm sorry just…" Erika quickly cut him off and kissed him lightly on the cheek before saying, "You have a right to ask me things, and beside you have my complete trust. You did save me and I can only trust you for nothing can ever repay such a debt of that nature." Underneath Erik's mask he blushed crimson from both the kiss that was given to him by a young, beautiful girl but also from the compliment and full trust that she had given to him. After a moments silence between the pair Erik said, "I won't let you down Erika. Correct me if I am wrong but are you placing your life in my hands or am I mistaken?" Erika giggled and then replied, "Yes, I am placing my life in your hands, because I know that you won't let anything happen to it. You're and honorable man Erik and just want to let you take me away to safety. Will you do that for me?" Erik nodded with a face of pure shock, before he shook himself and said, "I suppose we should continue Erika. Yes, I will do that for you." Erika giggled and then began almost skipping with Erik down the trail.
After hours of walking down the dusty road together they heard behind them a multitude of caravans approaching quickly. Erik gasped when he realized what they were and they hurriedly said, "Erika, quick behind that boulder. I'll explain later just hurry!" The pair just barely got behind the boulder when the first caravan stopped barely feet from where they were standing a moment before. Erik pulled Erika to his chest so that she would not be heard if she screamed. From a small distance they hear, "Halt! There are more prints here and they are fresher. Search around the area and find them." There were cheers and then within minutes hundreds of feet moving causing the ground to shake. A few minutes passed but then from behind them Erik felt a knife put to his throat and felt arms pulling Erika away as she screamed he fought back but was quickly defeated by a blow to the head the left him stunned but conscious. Erik and Erika were then brought in front of the leader of the moving caravan, who looked them over as if he could judge their quality by what they were dressed like. Finally he spoke in low but dangerous voice, "The boy will make a good carnival spectacle but the woman. Kill her and then let's move on, she is of no help to us." Erika immediately spoke saying frantically, "Please sir, I beg to disagree. You see I can cook and feed all of you with the best meals that only take a few minutes to make and need very little ingredients. Please sir, take me with and I promise I cook and work faithfully for you." The man turned around slowly and then said slowly but still in his same tone, "Keep girl, none of us like cooking and the girl made a good point she can. Throw her in with the boy and let's get out of here." Erika sighed with relief and was thrown roughly into the back of a caravan where she fell on top of Erik and then slowly let the darkness consume her as Erik wrapped his arms protectively around. Erika passed out and stayed in Erik's arms knowing that she was well protected and cared for by him.