Many hours went by and all Erik could think about was his sweet angel, over and over in his head he mauled over the conversation he would have with Raoul and every time he knew it would end up with Raoul dismissing the truth and leaving him to suffer in the cell. If he could just get out of the cell and explain to the vicomte alone maybe he could persuade him, but how would he break free even a great magician like himself could not see such an exit. It dawned on him that violence would be his only way out; he knew that in an hour all the officers would leave for lunch leaving just one officer on guard, which would be his only chance. Patiently he waited and then watched the officers leave the station, after a few minutes he called for help claiming to have fallen ill the officer had no other choice than to enter the cell and see to the prisoner. As he bent down beside him Erik whispered "I'm Sorry" then jumped up hit the officer across the head with a piece of wood taken off the chair he had once sat on. Quickly he placed the officer on the bed and escaped trying not be seen by anyone he slipped in and out of doorways and alleys until he entered a back door of the opera house.

Meg was the first person Erik came across she gasped and quickly turned to run away "Mademoiselle Giry please wait I mean you no harm" there was something about the way he spoke that made meg believe what he had said. Slowly he walked towards her out of the dark corner he had been stood in the light shone bright on his face and it emphasised the scars that had put fears into many people in the past. Meg did not feel afraid as he approached her not know she could see him fully and it was quite obvious that this was not the same person who had threatened her life. Erik now stood directly in front of her and gave a slight smile "I am sorry mademoiselle I did not mean to scare you" Meg felt even more reassured that he was not the same man "that is ok monsieur I am still a bit jumpy after what happened" meg soon realised that she may be giving away more than anyone would want her to. Meg turned away from him "I am sorry my dear I have no elegant masks to cover the horrors of my face, please there is no need to turn away I shall cover my face with my hand" meg quickly turned back "no monsieur I was just getting this out for you I hid it here the night you left" he looked down to see something wrapped in a pink cloth as she unwrapped it he was pleased to see his old mask. Without hesitation he took the mask and placed it on his face he already started to look like the phantom he had once been with elegance and style. He now smiled proudly towards Meg "thank you, I worried that all my masks would have been destroyed" he looked down a corridor into the darkness "I need a favour mademoiselle, please will you take me to the vicomte I must speak with him urgently". Meg knew that this could possibly be a very foolish thing to do but she felt so at ease with him that she turned and asked him to follow her down to the caves below. Just as they reached the opening Erik insisted that Meg returned to the opera house and spoke no word of his arrival not even to her mother Meg seemed somewhat anxious on this matter but never the less obeyed his order and hurried back to the dressing room. Erik awaited Raoul's return in a dark corner of the caves patiently; soon a boat approached the edge with the vicomte inside luckily for Erik he travelled alone. As Raoul stepped onto dry land Erik walked out of his dark corner "monsieur de changy I wish to speak with you" Raoul was stopped in his tracks he knew that voice "it's you I demand you tell me where Christine is now". Raoul swirled around and now faced Erik "I do not know where she Monsieur, I assure you I have not set eyes on her or yourself since the night" he paused as if for breath "she left me" he continued. Although the vicomte had no liking of this man and certainly no trust he could not help but to see in his eyes that he was telling the truth "ok, but if you claim that you have not seen her then who, dressed as the phantom has taken her?" Erik sighed in relief that the vicomte listened to him "I do not know, but I have come here tonight to ask if I can assist you on your search to track them down". Raoul ignored his request and made his way back to the opera house "please monsieur I only wish to help you find her I do not wish to have her for myself only to know she is safe" Raoul turned back "why? Why should I believe you? The person who dragged her down to this dark underworld, the person who threatened to kill me if she did not stay. The past year has been a nightmare for me every fearing that you would return and take her away again maybe change your mind and decided that she has not choice in the matter anymore. Yet you stand before me acting all noble saying you just want to help her and make sure she is safe, but how can I believe that why would you help her if not to gain anything? She left you remember she did not love you and never will love you are you sure you still feel the need to help her?" Erik turned away to wipe the tears from his cheeks "because monsieur I love her no matter what happens and if she loved me or not I will always love her, but please do not fear that I will take her again, I know now that her love cannot be returned and I have accepted this but I beg of you to grant me this one last wish and allow me to help you find her so that I can rest again knowing she is safe in your arms" he spoke the words with a slight tremble in his voice as he tried to stop further tears from falling. The vicomte looked to the ground "ok very well you can help, but remember I hold no joy in this and I expect you to leave as soon as she is found" Erik agreed and they both ascended up the passage to the opera house.

As they approached the opening Erik could overhear the sound of a police officer asking Madame Giry questions about their missing prisoner. Swiftly he turned to face the vicomte "I fear I may have missed one minor detail monsieur" Raoul could also hear the officers "what is it …phantom? I have no time for any confessions; the officers are waiting up there to help with the search I need to inform them that it is not you we are looking for". As Raoul attempted to pass the phantom he held out an arm in order to not let him pass "please monsieur, the officers are hear for me indeed but not for the same reason as you think" Erik lowered his arm "they are looking for an escaped prisoner, I attacked a guard and escaped the prison just before I came to you I had heard about this heinous crime against Miss Daae and I had to break free in order to clear my name but most importantly help find her". Raoul could not believe what he was hearing he could not be seen guarding a prisoner escaped "what would you have me do? Lie for you pretended I have not seen you, phantom remember I am the vicomte de changy and I cannot be seen assisting a criminal cant you see this?" Erik now faced the floor "please monsieur I merely robbed for food to survive I did not harm anyone" the vicomte stopped him there "except the prison guard!" Erik now faced Raoul "I just hit him to knock him unconscious so I could escape, I am deeply ashamed on what I have become and what I have done but it will all be worth it when Miss Daae is home safe". Although the vicomte wanted nothing to do with this he could see in the phantoms eyes that he spoke the truth and had meant no harm "very well phantom stay here I will talk with the officers and come get you when they have left" Raoul made is way to the opening, just as he was about to exit he was called back "monsieur thank you for your help and please would you do me the honour of calling me by my name Erik" Raoul turned back with a slight smile "Very well Erik and for the time being you may call me Raoul, now please excuse me I will return as quickly as I can and we will discuss our plans for finding Miss Daae". With that Raoul exited the passage and pushed the painting back against the wall to close the opening.