"Erik!" Antoinette shouted, storming into his home. He placed the piece he was working on aside, before facing her, wondering what she was so upset about. "Erik where is she?"

"Where's who?" he asked, genuinely confused. "I've been right here, at my desk, composing all night! Anything that's happened is completely unrelated to me."

She looked around his lair, as though she was expecting someone to appear from nowhere. "But if she's not here, then where is she?"

"Antoinette, who are you looking for?"

"I thought when Meg couldn't find Ella last night that perhaps she was with you, but when she didn't turn up at rehearsal this morning…"

"Ella's missing?" Erik cried in horror. "Why didn't you tell me? How long has she been gone? When was the last time anyone has seen her?" he demanded as he ran upstairs, Antoinette on his heels.

"You didn't want me to interfere in your love life, remember?" she replied. "Meg said they went out shopping last night, but Ella was supposed to come back first, but no one saw her return. I just assumed she was with you."

They reached Ella's dressing room, and like he feared, it was exactly as it had been when she left the previous afternoon. "She disappeared on the streets of Paris at night and no one was concerned?!" Erik roared. "Anyone could have taken her! She could be anywhere, anything could have happened to her!" He took a deep breath, trying not to lose all control. "Has anyone contacted the police?"

"The managers didn't want to cause a scene."

"I'll kill those insolent fools," he snarled. "I don't care what they say; I want every officer in the city searching for Ella until she's found."

"Do you really want the police crawling all over the opera and risk them discovering you?"

"Whatever it takes to get her back safely," Erik answered. "Besides, I don't plan on staying here. I won't rest until I find her."

"And just how do you plan on doing that?" Antoinette demanded. "We don't know anything other than the fact she's missing!"

"Somebody somewhere knows something," he replied. "And I will stop at nothing until I find out who knows what."

Ella stirred and slowly forced her eyes open. She was lying in a soft bed, wearing nothing but her thin chemise. "Where am I?" she groaned, realizing she had never seen this room before in her life. It was sumptuously decorated. Wherever she was, she was with someone with money.

She sat up cautiously, still slightly dizzy. "Good morning love." Ella screamed and yanked the blankets up to her chin, surprised that she wasn't alone. "Shush Ella," Archer said soothingly, sitting down on the edge of the bed and putting what was supposed to be a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You're safe now."

"Where am I?" Ella repeated, pulling away from him. "Archer, what have you done?"

"I brought you here where you'd be safe," he replied.

"Where is here? Where are we?"

"We're at my country estate," he finally answered. "About half a day's journey from Paris. Don't worry, no one will find us here."

"Why have you brought me here?" she demanded.

"You were in danger there. Here I can protect you."

"Protect me from what? I'm not in danger from anything! The only one who's done anything to me is you! You had me drugged and dragged me from Paris to God knows where! I have to get back! Please! There are people there who will be looking for me!"

He moved to caress her face, but Ella shied away from his touch. Archer sighed then stood. "I'll send a maid in to help you dress and to bring you breakfast. I'm sure you're hungry."

"Archer!" she cried, trying to follow him but the door closed behind him. She grabbed the knob, but it was locked. "Archer!" Ella banged on the door repeatedly, screaming for him to come back. "Archer, open the door!" She sank to her knees and began to sob. "Take me home."

"Ella?" Archer walked into her bedroom and found her staring blankly out the window. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her breakfast lay untouched where the maid had left it. She looked beautiful in the blue gown she wore, but she seemed so sad. He took her chin and tried to gently turn her away head towards him, but she twisted away. "Look at me love."

"Why are you doing this to me?" she whispered, still refusing to even face him.

"I'm doing this for you," he replied. "I have to save you."

"Save me from what?" Ella cried. "I wasn't in any danger!"

"I had to save you from the Phantom."

Her face drained of color. "How…how do you…how do you know about him? No…nobody knows about him. It…it was supposed to be a secret."

He thought about mentioning the girl, but he decided it didn't matter. "Listen to me; he won't be able to hurt you ever again. We're leaving for America in three days."

"NO!" she screamed, her already pale face growing even whiter. "Archer I have to go back now! Oh God, when he finds out I'm gone…"

"You don't have to worry about him now. He'll never find you. You're free from him forever."

"Archer, please take me home, I'm begging you!" she pleaded. "I want to go back. I need to go back! You don't understand! I can't go to America!"

"I understand you're scared, but I'll stop at nothing to keep you safe. You know that love." Archer took her in his arms and kissed her with as much conviction he could muster. She shoved herself away and backed into a corner. "Ella what's wrong?"

"I don't want to go to America!" she shouted, tears beginning to stream down her cheeks. "Archer, I don't love you! Why can't you understand that?"

"Ella he can't touch you here."

"I love him!" Ella suddenly screamed. "I don't love you because I love him!"

"What?" His eyes grew wide. "El…Ella..." His heart felt like it was being ripped out of his chest. He took a deep breath trying to calm down. It wasn't her fault. "He's got you under a spell. You're not thinking straight."

She shook her head. "No, he hasn't done a thing to me! I'm thinking perfectly clear! He's given me music, taught me to sing! He's my guardian angel and I love him!"

He pulled her against his chest and rocked her gently. Ella was sobbing uncontrollably, and she flinched when he touched her. "You just need time," he said trying to convince himself just as much as her. "You're obviously still traumatized. It'll just take you some time. We just have to leave France, then, then you'll get better."