Chapter 3

There was the light sound of a bump when the boat Erik was in hit against the raft. He held his breath as the young woman stirred and started to sit up.

"Ohhhhh… Hangover central." She rubbed her head and slowly opened her eyes.

"Umm, excuse me Mme. But are you alright?"

She turned her head when she heard a voice and started to acknowledge her surroundings. After looking around for about 10 seconds she finally made eye contact with the mad who found her.

"Hi, Who are you? Where am I? How did I get here?"

With a slight laugh he replied, "Do you always ask so many questions?"

"Those are the usual questions that someone asks after a drinking Halloween Party. Looks like you just came from one your self." She said gesturing towards his mask.

He was slightly taken back be her remark and marked it as rude.

"I think Mme. That I should be the one asking you how you got down here and why you are dressed in such a fashion?"

Looking down at her costume she realized that she probably look ridiculous.

"Well look at you. What are you suppose to be? The Phantom of the Opera?"

"I have been called that for many years Mme., do you not believe your own eyes?"

Taking in a deep breath she looked around.

"Well let us get on solid ground before we continue shall we?"

"Very well. Allow me to help you." He said holding out his hand to help. She grasped his hand timidly and allowed him to help her into the boat. After reaching the shore she jumped out on her own.

"Okay, where are we?"

"We are under the Paris Opera House Mme.. Do you have a name that I may call you by or just Mme.?"

Looking up at the masked man she replied "Danny…errr…Destiny. Danny is what my friends call me."

"Allow me to call you Destiny, a strange name it might be but it unlike the other is feminine."

"Ummm okay. I will take that as a compliment… WAIT! Under the PARIS OPERA HOUSE?"

"That would be correct Destiny." 

Taking in several deep breaths she started to pace around.

"Okay Danny you can handle this. You are just dreaming, or God just has a twisted sense of humor. WAKE UP!"

During her pacing she wondered onto a loose stone. With a slip and a scream she fell. On the way down into the water she hit her head on the edge of the stone knocking her out cold. Before he knew what he was doing Erik had shed himself of his cape and dived in after her. The freezing cold water stabbed at his body like thousands of sharp knives. The air was sucked out of his lungs, as he got deeper and deeper. He finally caught a glimpse of her blonde hair. He caught her by her arm and dragged her back to the surface.

When he breached the surface with the small woman over his shoulder he swam towards the shore. After coughing a bunch she began to breath regularly again. Once back on dry land he started to strip her of her garments. (It was winter and the water was cold, she could get hypothermia). When she was stripped to her under garments her immediately scolded himself, for she wore no corset or other accustomed clothing for women of his time. He quickly covered her shaking body with his cape.

Everything in his mind screamed at him to leave her up in the Opera house for someone to find. But a small feeling inside him told him no to, to take care of her himself. She had to be brought back inside and warmed up soon. So he slowly turned toward his house with her in his arms.

For if he was correct in his assumption and this woman was sent to him by God, he would be damned before he let her go.