Disclaimer: Please don't sue. I know the Phantom of the Opera characters are not mine!

A/N: Sorry it has been forever since I have updated. I've been bogged down with three school papers. I'm sure you all know how it is. Because of that, I may be only to update once a week. I hope you understand. Thank you all for your wonderful reviews. Enjoy this chapter! - Alia G.L.

Chapter 20: Voyage to America

I boarded a ship bound for America the next day. Many of you will find it shocking that I was able to find passage on a ship so quickly. Usually you have to book months in advance for a passage across the seas. I was relatively shocked myself. But, Providence was with me and I was able to find a place on a ship. I don't know what I would have done if I couldn't have left Paris.

You are probably wondering what happened after Erik hit me. Well, I ran into my room, grabbed a carpet bag, and packed as many of my belongings as I could into it. Slipping out the broken door, I fled into the night. I do not know where Erik was at the time. He might have gone back upstairs or he may have been out in the night walking his anger off. Either way, he did not hinder me leaving.

I wandered around Paris most of that night, avoiding the drunks, prostitutes, and thugs. I did a relatively good job at that, though, since most people would not have ventured out into the storm. It was really terrible. I hid in doorways as often as I could and tied my cloak around me tightly. I was soon drenched. I'm lucky I didn't catch a cold. It did not help that I was tired. I soon was half sleep walking, trying to keep my body awake.

At dawn, I came upon a small pawn shop and sold the sapphire bracelet. The man who bought it was shocked at the quality of the jewels and gave me more money than I knew what to do with. I'm afraid I rather confused the poor man who had no idea how a valuable bracelet fell into the hands of a woman who looked like a drowned rat. Thankfully, he asked no questions.

I used most of that money to bribe the captain of the ship Nightingale to let me travel in the third class section. He agreed after I handed him the money, which was a fairly large sum. It seemed that he had a few vacant spots opened and was looking for more paying customers. It was also my luck that the ship was traveling to Virginia, my future home, after making a few stops down river.

I still can't remember much of the voyage or how long it took to get to my "future" home. I was in such a state of depression that days flew by without me noticing anything. Even my somewhat rowdy roommates could not induce me to smile or stir far past the room. I only went out for meals and a fresh breath of air every once in a while. My every thought was on Erik.

My jaw hurt for a very long time. I got comments about the bruise he had left and rumors in the third class section abounded. I could care less. The most prominent one was that I was fleeing an abusive husband on short notice. I wanted to laugh. Husband? Hardly. Just some psycho who had rescued me and who I had fancied myself in love with.

Every mile from Paris increased my despair and depression. What had happened to turn him so against me? The obvious answer I still did not believe. Guilt weighed heavily on my heart. I knew I should never have touched the mask. It was something that had happened in the heat of the moment. I had been a fool. I deserved to be on that ship heading away from all that was familiar.

Only one event stood out on that voyage to America. Only one that I actually remembered, though in the long run it wasn't important. The captain, about two weeks into the trip, called me into his cabin. Now, this was rarely heard of since I was a third class passenger. Let's say I was very much respected in the third class after that and my roommates ceased to ask questions. They had been drilling into me since I had boarded and I had done my best to ignore them.

The captain, a Mr. Drafe, was not a cruel hearted man, despite being able to be bought over with money. He was kind hearted and had seen instantly that I was in some kind of trouble. The bruise on my jaw proved it. He called me into the cabin and proceeded to ask me questions. I just sat there like the dumb animal I was slowly becoming. I in no way wanted to answer anything he asked. I eventually interrupted him.

"Monsieur, I thank you very much for your kindest in letting me board so late. I know it was an inconvenience." He shook his head, but I didn't let him speak. All I wanted was to get back down to my room and sleep the evil thoughts away. "But, please, do not ask me any questions. There is nothing I can say as to my appearance, the bruise, and what has happened in the past. The money was come by honestly, you have my word. Please, just let me go back to my room."

I must really have look pitiful, because he nodded and told me to go. I hurried out and back down into my room. I never saw the captain again. I remained in my room for the rest of the voyage, save for my meals. I no longer went for walks on the deck. I was slowly slipping into a despair none could pull me out of.

We landed in Virginia probably four weeks after our departure from France. I'm still not sure about the date though because I was relatively in shock throughout the whole thing (as I'm sure you all have noticed). Virginia was still recovering to some extent from the Civil War and the city had a rundown feel to it. I found, to my great surprise, that I could not understand the English language. This time travel thing must have really messed with my brain.

I ended up getting a recommendation from one of the stewards as to where to board. It was a quiet little place along the water. The landlord, who spoke some rudimentary French, happened to have one vacant room and giving him half of my remaining money, he allowed me to live in the room. For some odd reason, no one asked questions as to why a twenty-one year old French girl was all alone. Maybe it's just the American way.

When asked questions, I replied that I was on a vacation and that I would be staying a few months in their town. Everyone bought this and left me alone. Though, I still got my fair shares of stares as I wandered around town. Most people were friendly, however, and I was able to communicate rather well after a while. All my old English was coming back.

I found the most consoling thing for my spirit, which was still in agony, was to take long walks on the beach. I would just pace for hours, staring at the waters. Sometimes dolphins would swim by and I would watch them, feeling some of the joy of my previous life come back to me. While still living in the 21st century, I had loved dolphins. They were so free and beautiful. I wanted to join them in the water and never see mankind again.

My every thought still rested on Erik. Oh, Lord, I loved him. Even I couldn't escape it by traveling to a new world. My heart just seemed to call to him no matter how much I tried to shut it off. For I knew, or thought I knew, that he would never love me in return. He was probably sitting at home, happy to be rid of the little time traveler who had unraveled his normal life.

Two months in America went by. My money ran out, very quickly, if I must say so. I was soon helping the landlord by being maid, waitress, and cook all rolled into one. My days of helping Louise around the house had served me well. I was still a walking dead, though. My body was there but my mind wasn't. My mind was thousands of miles across the sea, in Erik's house.