Note: Alrighty y'all...here's the next chapter! I hope you guys like it! We have reached the slight climax in the story! Yes, this story is almost done, I know you are all sad, but I will be writing another one! Do not worry! Unless, of course you guys say no, then I'll just write it anyways and not post it. Anywho, I hope you enjoy this chapter! Now rose cookies for all!


Chapter 30

Madame Giry kept calling Ana's name, but apparently the young woman didn't hear her. She watched as Ana turned around a corner, she was about to follow when someone stopped her to talk about the excellence of the ballet. Madame Giry listened as patiently as she could before she told the person that she had something of a rather pressing matter. The stage was starting to clear, and Erik would appear soon wanting to see Ana. Madame Giry rounded the corner and was surprised to not see Ana's form walking down the hall. Granted she would be a good distance ahead of her, but this path lead directly to her room. She should see her shadow or something.

"Maman! There you are, I was looking all over for you. Have you seen Ana?" Meg questioned her.

"No...yes, well I have. I just saw her disappear around this corner a good five minutes ago. Would you mind running down to her room to see if she is there. If she is, can you send her to the stage, I wish to talk to her." Madame Giry stated.

"Sure maman. But what if she is not in her room, then what shall I do?" Meg asked.

"Then come directly to the stage." Meg nodded and headed down the hall. "Oh, and Meg don't get sidetracked. It's urgent for me to know if she's in her room." Once again Meg nodded and Madame Giry headed back to the stage. Now she needed to think what to tell Erik for a seed of fear had been planted in her heart and she hoped that it wouldn't grow.


"Simon, where are we going? I believe we have just passed the park." Ana said, her sense immediately prickling.

"You will see. Just sit back and relax." Simon's voice was now dull.

"I demand you take me back this instant!" Ana shouted, her voice raising in pitch.

"Nonsense my dear. I have to get you safe and sound to the docks." Simon was now looking out the window.

"The docks, but why...Simon please tell me you are not working for Alex." but he didn't need to say anything, it was written plainly on his face. "You are! I knew there was something that I couldn't trust about you! Please Simon, whatever Alex has told you it isn't true! Please, just take me back, I don't want to go with Alex! He'll try to kill me and he may even kill you! I..." but Ana said no more for a rag was instantly pressed into her face. Ana struggled, clawing at Simon's hand as he held the rag into place, but slowly her body became sluggish as the salts took their effect. Her eyes drifted shut and the last thing she heard before she was lost to unconsciousness was Simon's voice.

"I'm terribly sorry about that Ana, but I can't have you screaming and drawing attention to our carriage." Then darkness settled into her mind.


Erik stood off in the darkness of the wings waiting for Madame Giry to bring Ana out. The stage had been cleared of all stage hands, actors, actresses, and dancers for some time. He, himself, just came down off the flies once he was sure that no one was around. Just then, he saw Madame Giry emerge from the right side of the wings, but where was Ana?

"Erik, come out please." her voice sounded tight. Slowly he made his way out, not understanding what Madame Giry was up to. He wasn't supposed to come out until Ana showed up.

"Antoinette, where is Ana? I thought you were bringing her here." Erik tried not to growl, but he couldn't suppress the little growl that came through.

"I..." but just then, Meg showed up.

"Maman, she...Oh!" Meg started to say, but stopped once she saw Erik.

"It is okay child, he won't hurt you. He just wants to talk to Ana, please continue." Madame Giry said.

Meg nodded. "I check her room, she isn't there. And she never returned her costume, because her regular dress is still there."

"Right, then we'll have to assume she's been kidnaped." Antoinette softly commented.

"What do you mean 'kidnaped!'" Erik practically roared, then thought of where he was.

"Jammes hasn't returned since last night's little trip to Alex's apartments. And when I was trying to get Ana's attention, I was stopped for no more than five to ten minutes. I go around the same corner that Ana did and she's gone. She simply couldn't have disappeared into thin air and there were no curtains for her to duck behind. It's a straight shot to her room." Madame Giry explained to both a horrified Meg and an upset Erik.

"That bastard husband of hers, this was his plan! I knew he wouldn't have Jammes kiss me out of the blue. He wanted to break us up then get Ana to go with him. But she wouldn't go willingly with Alex, she hates him. Did you hear a struggle or any yelling of any sort?" Erik asked Madame Giry, his blue-green eyes now developing a ring of gold around the pupil.

"No, I heard nothing. Granted it was loud, but I was pretty close to that corner. I would have at least heard Ana screamed if she tried to." Madame Giry said.

"Then it had to be one of his minions." Erik muttered darkly.

"Was she in contact with any other man? Did she know anyone else outside of the opera, besides her aunt and uncle?" Meg chimed in.

Erik felt his whole body stiffen. There was one other man, one that he threatened oh-so-many-nights ago. "Simon Suffret."


Simon stretched and felt his back crack. He sighed in appreciation and then looked across from him. Ana was still out and they were nearly at the boat docks. His master would be happy. He delivered Ana to him without a scratch and he had only used the salts once. The carriage started to slow down and he looked at the window. They were coming up to the pier and he could see the boat that would take them back to America looming in the distance. To go back home where everyone spoke English and it was a tad bit cleaner was going to be heaven. He couldn't wait to see his mistress Mary. Sure the whores here were good, but none compared to his Mary. But further thoughts of his lovely mistress were pushed out of his head as the carriage came to a halt.

The door opened and standing there, outlined by the street lamp behind him was his master.

"I see you have her, was she difficult to get into the carriage?" his master mused.

"Not at all sir. In fact she came rather quietly until she realized what was going on."

"Good. Carry her to her room and make sure that when you leave her room, you lock her door. We don't want her escaping and asking for help." the cold voice said.

"Yes sir." and then Simon was off to do his master's bidding.


Ana moaned and started to lift her head. She felt as though there were a thousand weights in her head. Deciding that it would better to just remain where she was she looked around. She was in a room, a small cramped room that contained a small luggage case. There was a small, round window across from where she was laying. And oddly enough the effect of whatever Simon had shoved into her face, gave her the feeling of being rocked. Or they were...

Headache forgotten, Ana jumped up to look out the tiny window. By God, they were on a boat...a boat that was surrounded by the large expanse of the sea. A squeaking sound had her turn around to look directly at the door.

"Good morning my dear. I see we are up and about. Are you hungry? We could always go up and get some food if you wish. Stroll around on deck before it get's too warm." Alex said, his voice sounding oily.

"I would rather die and rot here than go anywhere with you. How do I know you won't try taking advantage of me?" Ana said, her eyes glaring at him.

"I wouldn't do such a thing. Besides, there are people above on deck. All I wish is to make sure you are comfortable before we return back to New York. Now, how about some breakfast." Ana was about to disincline when her stomach spoke for her.

"I guess." she grumbled, hating the fact that this man could take away her food and water. She took his proffered arm and let him lead her up to the dining room.

They were the only two that were sitting at the table. The crew must have already ate and they were busy doing their chores. Alex sat a plate of fruit, and some cold meat in front of her.

"How do I know you didn't poison this? It would be easy to dispose of my body here in the ocean and claim that I had been sick for a while and I just suddenly died." Ana said, now voicing her fears.

"My dear, I wouldn't kill you. It wouldn't look right for me to return back home with a dead wife. Now please, eat." his voice was somewhat different. He was talking to her like he had that night when they had fist met. Trying to charm her with his voice, but then that had all changed after her parents left.

Ana hesitantly picked up a grape and put it into her mouth. Tasting nothing out of the ordinary, she continued eating. Twenty minutes later, when Ana was completely full, Alex led her to above deck. The sun beat down upon them as Ana looked over the railing. Quite suddenly she felt the rocking of the ship even more than she had in her room. It sent waves of nausea to her stomach, making her feel like she would lose her breakfast. Her stomach could take no more, and Ana heaved her contents over the side. Alex looked like he didn't care and merely stared out at the horizon. Once Ana had made sure she was completely finished, she wiped her mouth with her handkerchief.

'That's odd,' she thought. She had never gotten sea-sick on her way to France. But further thoughts were pushed from her mind as she was once again led below deck then locked back in her room. She was to become a prisoner on a boat and there was no Erik here to save her.


"Are you sure you have everything Erik? Once you go to America, it's not like you can come back. At least not right away." Antoinette said, as she helped Erik pack his necessaries.

"I am positive. I believe I am just forgetting a few things." he went to his organ and picked up the music and the lyrics. Then walking back to his room, he looked down at the little toy monkey. He had another one hidden in the cave, but this was the first one he ever built. It held some sentimental value to it. Picking it up, he took it back and put it in the luggage case that Madame Giry had given to him. "I believe I am ready to go. Tell Meg that she is an exceptional dancer and that she'll go far." Erik said as he opened the door that would lead him to the stables and to his horse, Caesar. Madame Giry just nodded, tears welding up in her eyes. "Oh and Antoinette, thank you for everything you have done for me. You were like the mother I never had." At that point, Madame Giry just burst out in tears. Erik put down the luggage case and walked back to Madame Giry. He once again gave her a hug and planted a soft kiss on her cheek. Then, he went into the darkness to find his true love.


Days slowly turned into weeks as Ana continued to become sea sick. It wasn't just in the mornings that Ana became sick, but sometimes at night she'd become sick as well, waking from a deep sleep and having to empty out her stomach. Alex was kind enough to let her out of her room for meals, and after those meals it was a quick stroll around the deck then back to her room. By then, her chamber pot would be changed and her bed would be neatly made.

"Ana my dear. Did you hear me?" Alex's voice came through Ana's musings.

"Wha? No, I am sorry, I was thinking." Ana meekly commented. Although it was rare Alex would lose his temper, she could feel it slightly boiling underneath his skin.

"Were you thinking about the lover you left behind?" Alex said, sourly.

"No...it was about.." but Ana didn't know what it was that she was thinking. Yes, it had to deal with Erik, and how he would save her maybe soon. But that idea slipped away as the days slipped into weeks.

"Yes?" But Ana remained silent. "Ah, so it was about your lover then. Well my dear, you'll have to get over that. He's back in France and your going to be in America. You'll just have to learn to be lonely that's all." then he escorted her back to her room.

When Ana returned to her room, she started to hum a tune as she brushed her hair. It had been a tune that Erik had been creating. It was a pretty tune and then she thought about what Alex had said. She would have to learn to be lonely without him. Life couldn't go on for Ana without Erik there by her side. Then an idea struck her, she hummed the tune then softly sang the words 'learn to be lonely.' They fit perfectly! She scrambled for her small luggage case and was ecstatic that there was parchment and a quill pen with ink. Slamming the case shut, she balanced the ink pot on top of the case and put the parchment on top of the case as well. Dipping the quill into the ink, she scratched out the words that were slowly forming in her head. This song was to be about Erik, about his times and trials that he had suffered. Somehow, she would find a way to send these lyrics back to Erik along with a letter of apology and love. Once her quill stopped moving and the words to his little tune were finished in her head, she sat back and read them.

'Child of the wilderness, born into emptiness.

Learn to be lonely. Learn to find your way in darkness.

Who will be there for you? Comfort and care for you?

Learn to be lonely, learn to be your one companion.

Ever dreamed, out in the world, there are arms to hold you.

You've always known, your heart was on its own.

So laugh in your loneliness, child of the wilderness.

Learn to be lonely. Learn how to love, life that is lived alone

Learn to be lonely. Life can be lived, life can loved alone.'

With that finished, a single tear escaped her eyes but all tears were held back as she then lunged for chamber pot. Once she was finished, she laid down on her bed and let her dreams take her far away from here, back to Paris where she was safely wrapped in Erik's arms.


Okay guys, time to review! I gave a real subtle hint in this chapter, and when my friend read it, she freaked out. So I know that some how its subtle enough that you may have to read it twice. Mwahahahaha! If you think you know, you can ask me either by reviewing or by emailing me! I may be nice and tell you if you are right. Enjoy it! Ciao!