Erik wondered down the halls quietly. If anyone heard him they would send the guards out. He had been locked in his apartment for over three weeks, but a diminishing food supply and need for fresh air drove him out. The war had been going on for three years now, and he was sick. Sick of the fighting, the conniving, and the violence. He'd left Persia to get away from the bloodshed, only to get sucked right back into it. The building he was working on, The Paris Opera house, had been seized by The Commune, and he was trapped for fear of being caught as a spy. Suddenly he heard a sob, as of someone crying. He turned the corner and saw a young, dirty woman huddled on the floor. He moved closer, but as he did she jumped up screaming, "Don't hurt me! If you're going to rape me just do it quick and don't torture me!" He grabbed her and held his hand against her mouth. "No one's going to rape or torture you, just keep silent! The people occupying this building are enemies, and they will kill us both if they hear anything." The woman was trembling as if she might faint. Erik whispered, "I'm going to let go now, keep quiet and follow me." He released his grip and she whispered "Who are you?" He hushed her, "No time to explain."

He led her down the hall to one of his secret doorways and had her follow him through the twisting tunnels. The woman was obviously frightened and Erik wondered what was going on. She shouldn't have been here; she needed to be at home with her family or in England where all the pompous, rich, tarts had fled. "Where are we going?" She asked a lot of questions. "Keep silent" Erik whispered. The walls of the cellars had been built hollow so any noise echoed throughout. It gave Erik a chance to hear what was going on, and also, when the Opera's began, he could listen to them twenty feet below Paris! Soon they came to the lake and the woman gasped. Erik held out his hand and looked at her astonished face. "Do you trust me?" "It appears I have no choice" She replied. He helped her into the boat and began to push the pole along. The woman trailed her fingers in the water and then brought them up to her lips. Erik had seen how thin she was, she must have been starving and thirsty.

"I have food, water and shelter for you. You can freshen up and then I'll take you back home." The young woman startled at his words and tears welled up in her eyes. He didn't mean to insinuate that he was kidnapping her! "I'm sorry, forgive me, and tell me your name." He asked. She looked at him, sorrow etched on her face. "Elisabeth". She said timidly. "I'm Erik." He tried to smile through his mask, but she was trembling. They came to the pier on the left of his hidden house and he led her out. "What's going on?" She asked. Of course it appeared to her that Erik had just led her under the Opera House, across a lake, and placed her before a brick wall. He pressed the lever that slid the second casing on its hinges, and bade her step inside.