Kaylen walked through the tunnel aware of her family ahead of her.
"Come here to us Kaylen."
"Papa where are you?" she called into the darkness. She fumbled through the gloom guiding herself by feeling the walls.
"Kaylen" Her name echoed through the hollow caverns.
"Mother!" Kaylen let go of the security of the wall and ran off into the pitch black around. She stretched her hands out in front of her searching for her family blindly.
"Kaylen." The voices were getting softer know as they receded further and further out of her reach. She ran faster trying frantically to reach them. She stumbled and fell to the ground. She tried to get back up to resume her pursuit but her legs seemed to be glued to the ground. She reached out with her hand straining to somehow reach them." No! Papa don't leave me!" There was no answer as her cries bounced off the hollow walls. "Don't leave me!"
*
Kaylen awoke in a cold sweat. She hadn't had that dream in along time but it still scared her. She sat up in bed and wrapped her blankets more tightly around her and began to cry. She missed them so much.
*
Erik heard soft sobbing coming from farther in the corridors and decided to investigate. The sound was coming from Kaylen's room. He quickened his steps wanting to make sure that she was not in trouble. He peered into the room, hand on the secret lever that would grant him access if she was in trouble. What he found surprised him. She was sitting in her bed...crying. He had never seen her cry before. Something must have troubled her deeply to reduce her tears. " Kaylen?" He said barely over a whisper. " Why are you crying." She looked up, surprised for once, and wiped away her tears quickly. " I wasn't crying." she said softly. Erik looked at her, unbelieving, and with good reason. She had been crying, he had seen it. She had seemed so happy after the Opera earlier. He had watched from behind the walls as she found the rose he left for her. It had reminded him of the little figurine she kept by her bed and so he had thought she would have liked it. So what could have caused this sudden change in mood? "Are you sure you're all right?" He asked not wanting to leave her so sad. " No." She said shakily as more tears escaped her eyes and slid slowly down her cheeks. " Is there anything I can do?" He said, concern creeping into his voice. He looked on as she clutched the covers more tightly around her body." Could you...I mean would you... never mind."
"What?" he asked wanting to anything that would help the girl find some peace.
" Could you come here and...sit with me?"
Erik stood in silence for a moment. She had seen the mask, she knew he was the phantom and yet she had given him permission to enter her room." Of course, my dear." he said hoping that he could comfort her. He touched the lever and entered the room. Again she seemed unsurprised. He care fully sat beside her draping his cape over her shaking shoulder and pulling her towards him. She sighed as she put her head on his shoulder. He rocked her back and forth as he sang to her softly. The sound of his voice seemed to sooth her so that she finally stopped shaking." Shhh It was only a dream." he said soothingly noticing fresh tears upon her face.
*
Kaylen could feel him breathing under her head and it seemed to calm her somewhat. She had stopped crying by now and was now just content to feel the touch of another human, a simple pleasure she had not known since her mother had died. He began to hum and slowly Kaylen's eyelids became heavy and she surrendered once again to sleep.
*
Erik gently lay her back on her bed. She seemed at peace now even though he could still see the glistening tell-tale trails the tears had made on her cheeks. He fought the urge to stay with her. If she woke up again he didn't want her to be alone. He ran a hand through his sparse hair in frustration and began to look around for something to focus his attention on other than the sleeping girl. He turned his head to the small nightstand beside the bed. The crystal rose lay next to its real counterpart, almost perfectly alike. He admired the crystal rose for a minute. It was very fine indeed, finer than anything in the room he noticed as he looked around. Before coming here, Kaylen obviously hadn't had much money. He studied her open closet noticing that there was only four dresses and one plain nightshirt. He would have to do something to remedy her shortage of clothes.

Erik looked in as Kaylen slowly began to awake. He had stayed with her most of the night, leaving only when he was sure she would be fine on her own and returning early in the morning to check on her.
*
Kaylen sat in her bed stretching and trying to shake the sleepiness out of her. She had work to do and Birdy's to-do list would only grow longer if she did not begin early. She slid off the bed and crossed to her dresser to brush her hair. Sleepily she reached down to the spot where she normally kept her brush only to find that it had been moved and two boxes stood in its place. Wondering where they had come from she became fully awake and noticed an unmarked envelope attached to the top box. With shaking fingers she opened it to reveal a note written in curious red ink.
Dear mademoiselle Kaylen,
I thank you for the opportunity to tutor your voice and the trust you have put in me. There have not been many people who would have willingly invited me to keep them company. I wish to express my gratitude by presenting you these gifts. Also I have left you a small sum of money to use as you see fit.
Sincerely,
Erik
Kaylen carefully folded the note and replaced in the envelope only to find one-hundred francs within. ' A small sum of money indeed!' she thought as she recounted the bills to make sure she had not miscalculated. This was more than two weeks wages she sat in her chair wondering just what she was going to do with two weeks wages. She suddenly remembered the unopened boxes and sprang out of her stupor so as to discover their contents. Slowly she untied to ribbons on the first box .The memory of Christmases past filled her head as she carefully lifted the cover. The small gifts, as Erik had described them, had turned out to be one rather expensive looking dress and a cloak to match., perfectly tailored as if they had been made for her. She held up the dress first admiring the dark black material. It had been cut in the latest Parisian style with long sleeves and a sweetheart neckline. The cloak was even more magnificent. Made out of rich black velvet, it seemed to be made of midnight itself. Kaylen was sure that if she wore it at night no one would be able to distinguish her from the shadows.
*
Erik watched from his usual spot as Kaylen opened his gifts. She stood now running her finger delicately over the cloak he had bought her last night. Not to say that there had been any stores open that late at night but he had his ways. He had to admit that he was pleased with himself. The clothes were the finest he could find on such short notice and the fact that Kaylen seemed to like them only pleased him more. He turned to leave just in time to hear Kaylen's whispered thank you.