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Chapter 17

Restlessness overcame Ally and she opened her eyes. She blinked, taking in her surroundings. Recalling the events that have passed since yesterday, she frowned. She tried to look on the positive side. Maybe I'll get some answers today, she thought. She felt that someone was watching her and she shuddered.

She stood up on the bed and turned her head. She was face to face with the masked man she had seen the day earlier. She had a feeling he knew all the answers to her questions. She let out a small gasp of surprise. The man stared at her as if deciding what to do next.

Taking these moments, she studied his features. He wore a white porcelain mask that covered half of his face. The other half, she had to admit, was strikingly handsome. She slowly looked up and met his eyes slowly. She saw deep, beautiful eyes looking back in hers.

She could get lost in those piercing green eyes of his. They seemed to bore into her very soul and beckon her away from her hiding place. Without thinking, she gently placed a hand on his cheek. The man instantly closed his eyes, as if enjoying it. "Oh, Ally..." he whispered, his voice husky and hoarse.

opened his eyes and she saw desire blazing in them. Behind that, she thought she even saw a flicker of hope. He had called her Ally. "Ally?" she questioned. He nodded. "That is your name." He placed his hand over hers.

Athrill shivered down her spine and she began to tremble with excitement at the touch of his tender flesh. A simple movement and yet so sensual, she thought. Why does he make me feel this way? The man instantly pulled away when he felt her tremble.

" I'm sorry," he apologized," I won't do that again." He cleared his throat awkwardly. and averted Ally's perplexed glances." I can see you have regained some of your health but I suggest you stay in bed and get your rest. Would you like some breakfast?" he said tonelessly.

Ally simply nodded, surprised by his change of mood. "Very well, then. I'll be right back." He got up and left the room, closing the door behind him. Ally, then, realized she never asked him the questions that filled her mind.

She knew one thing though that provided her with some comfort. "Ally" she said, testing out the word that was supposedly her name. She liked it. It fit her somehow.

Erik walked away, shaking his head. He headed to the kitchen where he had left the food he had prepared for her just in case she was hungry when she woke. She fears me, he thought sadly. A little voice rang in his head. Of course she would! How would you feel waking up to a stranger? Don't beat yourself up! She'll come around when she's ready. I was a fool to believe she would recognized me. He sighed and picked up the tray and headed once more to the room.

Ally patiently waited for he man to come back. She was determined to get some answers. The door opened and a delicious aroma filled the room as the man entered. Ally's stomach growled loudly and she blushed a bright red, embarassed. The man chuckled. "I thought you'd be hungry," he said, smiling.

He put the tray down carefully onto Ally's lap. He placed a crimson rose with a black ribbon elegantly wrapped around it on the tray. Ally returned the smile. " Thank you. You're verykind,"she commented. She picked up the fork that was on the tray and began to eat.

The man sat back down on the same seat and watched her eat every morsel. Ally suddenly felt uncomfortable under his steady gaze but continued to eat. She swallowed a lump that was beginning to form in her throat and put down her fork." Cna you tell me what happened to me?" She gulped.

"I mean when I saw you, you looked deathly pale as if you had seen a ghost and you dropped something. I'm sorry if I frightened you. What was the thing that you dropped, anyway?" The man looked take aback but regained his composure and answered hestiantly.

"For the past few weeks, Ally, you had been in a coma. I caught you outside in a dreadful snowstorm and rescued you just in time. You had fainted when I got there. I suppose you were upset about your fight with your friend, Brooke. Ever since then, you had never woken up until now. The thing I had dropped was a music box with a monkey in persian robes sitting on top of it. I thought if I played it, there have might been a chance it would somehow wake you."

Ally sat still. "Did I know you? Why can't I remember anything, then?" she blurted forwardly. The man lowered his head. "You are suffering memory loss, my dear. I was... a good friend of yours." he said softly. When he looked up, she saw tears glistening in his eyes. Looking at the empty tray, he stood and picked it up.

He, gingerly, grabbed the rose and gave it to Ally. "Cherish it as one of your memories." he whispered, "Sleep now, you need your rest." Ally gave him a weak smile as he left the room. She held the rose close to her and smelled its dainty scent. Something about it triggered something inside of her. The only possible answer to her neverending questions. She held onto it for dear life and closed her eyes, letting sleep take over her.

Erik had cleaned up and went to the room to check up on Ally if she had fallen asleep. He peeked inside and sure enough, she was sleeping peacefully, clutching the rose he had given her. He went by her side. He brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face and watched her as she slet. He sang softly in her ear.

Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime

Lead me, save me from my solitude...

Say you'll want me with you here

Beside you

Anywhere you go, let me go too...

Ally, that's all I ask of you...

The smallest of smiles crept across her rosy lips. Erik smiled back. "Pleasent dreams, my love," he whispered and ventured off to his own room to his coffin and sleep for the first time in weeks.