Eric glanced to his left a man tall and lanky sat next to him. He had black tattoos covering his entire body he was much taller than Eric. "Are they wearing off?" he asked kindly. Eric nodded.
"I'm sorry young man." The woman said again. Eric saw a kind faced older woman she was very short and plump.
"Where am I?" Eric asked leaning his head on the cold wall. Right now, out in the middle of the sea. Eric looked up at the man in disbelief.
"how long was I out?" The man looked at the older woman both of them thinking hard. "About three days."
"Where are we going?" Eric asked afraid of the answer. "Everywhere" the two answered.
"Oh god no." He cried thinking of who he was leaving behind. Eric slammed his head against the wall trying to wake up and escape this new hell.
"Are you leaving anyone behind?" The woman asked placing her fat hand on his shoulder.
Eric nodded painfully "Christine and my baby Rosa."
"Was Christine your wife?" The tattooed man questioned concerned.
Eric thought for a second, "no. she was a good loyal friend." The two apologized.
"My name is, Annabelle." The older woman announced offering a firm handshake. Reluctantly Eric introduced himself and returned the handshake.
"Where are we going?" Eric asked thinking of any possible ways to escape.
"America!" The tattooed man exclaimed his dark eyes lighting up. "Henry." The man introduced kindly.
Eric was in awe at these people they were outcasts like him, chained to him going to God knows where yet, they weren't bitter or angry. "Why are you two so happy?" He finally asked needing to know their secret.
"Well," Annabelle started "everyone down here hates the world and what it has done to them, we don't want to be like that."
Eric was confused she didn't answer his question. Sensing what he was thinking Henry continued "It didn't do any good to be bitter and angry, the masters don't care the people who see us don't care. But it eats us up alive, if you are to someday escape you need a clear head to do so."
Eric was still confused but he nodded slightly.
Eric spent the whole trip thinking of a way to escape. Nothing seemed to sound right to him.
It had been a few weeks of living in this hell hole, it smelled like a sewer. Several other freaks like him had died most of infection or malnutrition.
"We have docked!" someone yelled the crowd cheering. "Just wait Eric, you thought this was bad just wait till the shows start." Henry whispered into his ear.
The doors opened as people started unloading the 'cargo'. A tall heavyweight man grabbed Eric's suit jacket that he was still wearing. "Come in demon," he grumbled his voice cruel and hard.
Eric fought against the man's grip on him. Another man even bigger than the other came throwing a sack over Eric's face. "I can't stand your wretched face." The second man hissed.
Eric fought like a starving lion kicking and squirming. Eric prayed they would just end his miserable excuse for a life.
Eric's toe found the bigger mans shin, he heard a hair raising 'crack' in his toes when he kicked the man with all the force he could.
Eric screamed in pain as he realized he broke his toes.
"Damit demon." The two hissed throwing Eric to the wall "you will pay!"
Eric was lead into a cold dark room. Eric screamed to the men to let him go but it did nothing. "The beautiful woman that sold you to us said to make you suffer, we are doing just that." The two men laughed taking off Eric's jacket and shirt.
Eric felt his arms being chained above his head. The room was so cold, he was use to the cold of under the opera house but this was different it was freezing.
"You think 6 hours is enough?" one man said with a chuckle. "Ya I think that will be fine."
Once a heavy door was slammed Eric shook off the bag covering his head he looked around. An ice house, he was in an ice house.
"Wait! I forgot something." the smaller man yelled opening the door.
The big man walked down the stairs, carrying a bucket of water. With a quick motion the man threw the ice cold water on top of Eric.
Eric's lungs closed up from the cold the man watched Eric gasp for air as he struggled to breath.
Paris France- Nadir's Apartment
Christine bounced the screaming baby singing gently to her trying to get her to sleep, eat, or do anything other than cry.
"How is she?" The Persian asked walking through the door carrying a few loaves of bread and a container of milk. Christine shook her head, "She misses Eric." Nadir said sullenly putting the items down.
Christine switched from bouncing to swinging from side to side. "Have you found anything else?" Christine asked hoping that the Daroga found something more to go on on Eric's location since she last asked 20 minutes ago.
Nadir grabbed Rosa from Christine so she could rest her tired arms. Nadir shook his head, "I have looked in all the prisons, isaliams, checked shipping records, hotels, and asked everyone. He has disappeared without a trace."
Nadir looked at Christine who had lay on the divan she was usually so perky and happy but now, her hair was a mess dark bags were under her eyes she looked sick and overtired.
"Christine, go to the Giry's and sleep, you are not doing Eric or Rosa any good in your condition." Christine opened her mouth to object but closed it again, he was right. Christine agreed and left after giving the hysterical child a kiss and promising she would be back.
The day was abnormally warm the sun felt relaxing on her back,Christine walked to the Giry's and knocked on the door.
"Christine!" Meg gasped shocked at her sorry condition. "Could I crash here Meg?" Christine asked leaning against the door frame threatening to collapse. "Of course, you know you don't need to ask."
Christine stumbled up the stairs to the spare room. Laying down Clumsily christine buried herself in the warm sheets and began to cry. "Eric, where are you." Christine closed her eyes and cried herself to sleep.
"She looks terrible mother." Meg announced sadly grabbing a cup of tea and sitting across from her mother.
Madam Giry nodded sadly. "He never hurt anyone, why did they do that to him? How could Raoul be so cruel?" Meg cried thinking of that terrible night several weeks ago. "He killed Pangi." Madam Giry reminded Meg.
Meg sighed "I know, but still why?"
Sad chapter I shed a few tears writing this, its going to be tough for a while but they always get through it.
Next Raoul.