Lotte woke up the next morning to find that her father had fallen into a deep sleep and the fire had been put out. The events from the last few days had sucked the little energy Erik had and she didn't blame him for getting some rest. She moved his arms aside and kissed his cheek before standing up. He groaned then went back to sleep.
It was then that Lotte realized she was hungry. Her stomach growled angrily and she cursed herself for not grabbing food from her house or the lair. She looked back at her father. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I went to find something to eat. I shan't be gone for more then a moment," she thought. She pulled on Cesar's bridle. "Watch over him Cesar. I shall be right back."
Cesar didn't seem to care and went back to chewing on grass. Lotte moved through the bushes and hoped to find some ripe berries or nuts. Looking back upon the grove so she wouldn't lose her way she continued on as her stomach urged her on. As she walked through some low trees the rose was knocked from her hair and rested on the ground.
Lotte soon came upon a large grove of raspberries. She took one off the bush and put it in her mouth. The sweet juice tickled her tongue as she bit into it. It was so good. She pulled up the edge of her skirt and began putting a smile pile into it to bring back to her father. He would probably be waking up soon and he would surely be hungry.
With her prize in hand she started heading back to the grove. But none of the paths were familiar. Going up one row of bushes and down another she couldn't find the path that she had come in on. Suddenly she felt something tugging on her skirt. She looked down to see a large black dog pulling at it.
She dropped the raspberries and hit the dog's nose with her fist. "Let go you brute. Then there was a loud ripping sound as a large chunk of dress was ripped from her body. She grabbed the piece and was now having a fierce game of tug-of-war with the dog.
Someone had heard the dog barking and was now heading down the path. "Louie let go." A boy theageof 19,cried holding a hatchet in his hand. He had sandy brown hair pulled back into a ponytail andlight blue eyes.The dog ignored him and with a sharp tug pulled Lotte down to the ground. The boy took the handle of the hatchet and smacked the dog hard across the nose. The dog dropped the piece of fabric and tucked in his tail as he hustled away. "Are you alright?" the boy asked.
"That dog ripped my dress. Otherwise I'm all right. Thanks for your help." She got up, dusted herself off, and began to head back into the woods.
"Wait, where are you going?"
"I've got to find my father. I was hoping to bring back some food though."
"Come up to the house and we can get you some food and my mother could fix your dress. Then we'll go out and find your father for you."
"I can't I have to go now. He may be upset if he finds that I'm not there," Lotte protested.
The boy took her hand. "Relax. We'll locate him after we get you something to eat. My name's Pierre. What's yours?"
Lotte blushed, her cheeks growing warm. "My name is Lotte…Lotte De Changey."
Erik finally awoke and right away noticed Lotte's disappearance. "Oh not again," he groaned. He untied the rope keeping Cesar tied to the tree and mounted him. "Cesar if you know where she is take me to her."
It seemed as if the creature seemed to understand him, because Cesar went off in the direction Lotte had wandered off in. Erik spotted the rose on the ground in front of him. He pulled back on the reins and jumped down. "Lotte…Lotte answer me!" he shouted into the trees. There came no answer. He climbed into the saddle once more and went in the direction of the rose. This was his only lead to finding his child.
Lotte was taken into the house and seated at the table in a blanket. Pierre's mother, Charlotte, had taken her dress and was busy sewing on the torn piece. Pierre placed some soup, a plate of raspberries, and a glass of raspberry wine on the table.
"So Lotte what were you doing in our raspberry fields?" Charlotte asked sweetly.
"I was hoping to get something to eat for me and my father. I left him back in the woods. But then that dog attacked me."
Charlotte laughed. "Louie is such a dumb dog sometimes. My husband got him to protect the bushes from wild animals, but this is the first time he has ever attacked a human. If it was up to me I'd get rid of him."
"Lotte tell me what your father looks like so we can search for him," Pierre said taking out a pas of paper and a pencil.
The only noise heard was her spoon as it hit the wood floor. Lotte was now very afraid. How could she describe her father let alone keep everyone from seeing his face? Or explain the fact that he was The Phantom of the Paris Opera House and she had just helped him escape after being sentenced to death for murder? "It's nice of you to help out, but I can find my father by myself."
"It's no big deal. Now just describe him for me."
Lotte hated how Pierre wasn't getting the point and she probably wasn't helping either by being stubborn. She was about to answer when Louie began barking outside and Lotte swore she could hear a horse whinnying. Pierre's father, Armand, came from upstairs and grabbed his gun from above the fireplace. "Everyone, stay inside," he said gruffly. Lotte however had dashed past him and was working her way through the bushes towards all the noise.
Erik was busy trying to keep Cesar calm as Louie barked and nipped at the horse's legs. Cesar reared pawing at the air with his hooves. "Get out of here you mutt. Go bother someone else," Erik growled.
Lotte raced up and swiped the dog across the nose. Cesar gave out one last whinny before finally calming down and allowing Lotte to get on his left side and pet him. Erik had climbed out of the saddle and had come to stand in front of Lotte. Knowing she was going to be in trouble she plucked a fresh raspberry and held it out to him. "Hungry?"
"Not cute Lotte. I want an explanation and I want it now?"
Before Lotte could speak Armand raced around the corner his gun raised. "Lotte get back."
"Stop, this man is my father."
Erik's bad side of his face was turned towards the horse, but he looked at the man out of the corner of his eye. Now he was really angry. However there was no way to go without showing his face. He wanted his mask back and hide from everyone that what he really was.
"Are there more of your family hidden in the woods I should know about or is this it?"
"We're all each other has sir," Lotte said.
"And we'll be on our way if you don't mind?" Erik said calmly. Then he noticed that Lotte had the blanket wrapped around her. "Where did you get that blanket?"
"His wife let me borrow it while she fixed my dress. That dog ripped it while I was trying to get some raspberries."
"You're free to come up to the house and get something to eat monsieur. We have plenty to share and we always have raspberry wine."
"Thank you, but we really need to get going," Erik said sternly.
"Lotte, my mother finished your dress. Come back up to the house and get it," Pierre called to her as he ran down the path. He saw Erik and looked up at him. "Is this your father?" Lotte nodded. "Well invite him in for something to eat. Mother just put some chicken in the oven."
Lotte looked up at her father for reassurance. For awhile he frowned, and then finally sighed. "We'll come up sir, but you have to promise that you will not be frightened by my appearance."
"We promise."
Erik straightened up a bit and turned towards them. Inch by inch his infection faced them until it was fully exposed. Pierre gasped a bit, but Armand studied it. "You must have caught some kind of illness when you were younger. It's not uncommon, but I've never seen a case like yours before. I feel there is nothing to fear about you," Armand said calmly.
Erik's face softened and he was confused with their reactions. Except for Lotte no one else had been kind towards his appearance. Then he noticed something grabbing his hand. He looked over to see Lotte standing beside him. He gave her hand a squeeze and she squeezed back.
"Now let's go up to the house and have a bit of lunch. You can house your horse in the stables."
Erik nodded and pulled on Cesar's reins. As they came to the stables Armand pointed out the open stall and said he would go into the house and explain to his wife the situation at hand. Erik thanked him and took Cesar inside. Lotte followed him and sat upon the stall railing.
As he pulled off the saddle he didn't speak. "Father, are you angry at me?"she asked breaking the silence.
He sighed. "Yes, Lotte I am rather unhappy with all of this. What was your intention with all this?"
"I was hungry and you were asleep so I wanted to surprise you by finding and bringing back something good to eat. You've been having a rough time and I thought it best to let you sleep. I'm sorry," she said her voice quivering. "I just wanted you to be proud of me."
Erik picked up a curry comb and began running it over Cesar's side. "I am proud of you Lotte. You have many wonderful qualities; some known and some yet to be discovered. Give it time."
Lotte began petting Cesar's neck. He snorted and shook at some flies. "Father how do you suppose we'll get your mask back?"
"I'm not completely sure. The officers know us too well for us to just waltz in there and demand the mask be returned. The situation has become rather bleak and I may just have to hide the rest of my life like this. But what kind of father would I be if I had you run with me? Maybe you should wait here with these folks until it's safe and then I'll return for you."
"No! You can't leave me behind. You said we'd always be together until I was ready. Well I'm not ready. I'll run when you run and I'll go where ever you go."
"The world is a dangerous place."
"I know it is. I've already witnessed just how cruel it can be. But that's why you need me. I'm the few who sees you for what's inside, not out. Without that small ounce of love you would be nothing, but a grouchy old man."
"At least I would be enjoying every minute of it."
"You would rather be a grumpy old man then living a life of adventure with me? You already know what it's like to write an opera and have no one to share it with. Don't tell me you would much rather go back to that?"
"You just never give up do you Lotte? Fine I like the life we lead, but from now on please tell me when you're going to get lost. I'd rather know then find out later on."
"Deal," Lotte said presenting her hand. He took it and shook it then kissed her cheek.
"Oh you forgot this back on the path," Erik said putting the rose back in her hair. She leaned over and hugged him. "I love you Lotte and don't you ever forget that."
Pierre looked through the stable door. The man seemed strange to him, but Lotte was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Right away he knew he was in love, but did she love him? He watched for a second longer before running inside.