Yeah, I know, another short one, but the next chapter will be pretty interesting, I think...

Disclaimer: I don't own PotO. I only own Anna.


Two years went by, and Erik wanted desperately to give up hope. Suicide was on his mind often, but the thought and hope of seeing Anna again when he was free kept him alive. Life in prison was none too easy to live, but Erik got on quite well, for the other prisoners were too frightened of him to pick fights with him or get too close to him at all.

Depressed, Erik soon lost track of time. How long had he been in jail? A year? Two? How was he supposed to know? None of the officers ever told him, they just hit the bars of his cell with tier black clubs.

Erik knew better than to get in the way of those clubs. He knew what it was like to be hit by one. The second he began to think of his horrible past behind bars, he knew that he was going to regret it, and regret it he did.

The food in prison reminded him of the vile, unappetizing meals he had been served while he was a captive in that horrible traveling circus. The bars reminded him of the ones that used to surround him in his small, blood-red tent, and the shrieking of other criminals when they saw his face reminded him of the scared people who visited him, if you could have called it visiting.

One day, Erik actually attempted suicide, by striking his forehead against his porcelain sink, but the officers had heard the noise and stopped him. Erik decided that it was actually a good thing that they had stopped him, because he could see Anna again, and she could see him. After a while, Erik was no longer living for himself. He was living so that he could, one day, return to Anna and watch her smile and be happy as she saw him.

One day, after four years had gone by, a guard approached Erik in his cell, "Let's go, convict. It's time."

Erik was a bit wary, but he quickly changed his attitude to a more positive one when he realized that he was going to be set free. At last! Freedom! He could find Anna once again, and see her again!

Erik, at first, had no idea which way to go, but he soon stumbled upon the lab he had been captured from, and made his way from there. He had no idea if he was going to right way, and tried hard to remember that night, 4 years ago, when he had escaped and crawled away to Anna's home. It took a long, long time, but finally Erik came upon Anna's hometown once again.

He could have jumped for joy at that sight. Oh, my beloved Anna, I shall today finally see you again. How long have I waited for this day, this beautiful day during which I shall hold you in my arms!

Many times as he walked, Erik had to retrace his steps. He knew very well that he could not ask anyone for directions, because (even if they knew Anna) he had no mask.

After a while though, Erik found himself walking down Anna's street (He remembered it because of an old oak tree on the corner). His feet sore, his legs aching, and his stomach grumbling, Erik walked around to the back sliding doors and slipped inside the house.

The house was different, very different from when he had left it. Instead of the tropical, blue living room, Erik found himself looking upon a maroon, royal-like room. For a second, he was afraid that Anna no longer lived there, but the back yard was exactly the same, as was the kitchen, so he decided to walk to Anna's room and see if she was there.

Down the hallway Erik walked, gazing at the new pictures and searching them for Anna. He was about to turn around and leave the house when he saw one picture that did indeed have Anna in it. It was the one he had seen the first time he had met Anna, the one where Anna was 14, and the longing glint was big in her eyes, though hidden.

"Anna?" he asked when he opened her door. Erik could not suppress a gasp at what met his eyes.

Anna's room was completely black. Everything from her stereo to her dressers to her bed was black. Even her lights were black lights. Opening up Anna's drawers (since Anna was not there), he saw that they were mostly empty, except for some black clothes.

Erik was horrified by all of the black he saw. One thing caught his eye. It was a blood-red book, sitting on Anna's desk. Erik picked it up and red the words (in black, of course) Property of Anna. It was a diary!

Curious, Erik flipped the book open and began to read...


I'm working on Chapter 10 right now, but I kinda feel like this story is too short... is it? Give opinions in reviews!