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Chapter 2: Freedom
When the fair closed and night fell he heard a soft step from the left of his cage and
spotted a small cloaked figure quietly heading his way. She reached the cage and quietly
unlocked it, creeping inside. She tried to be as quiet as possible as she worked to unlock
the shackles and eventually she’d gotten him free. As he exited the cage he helped her out
as well and they went to hurry off.
“My violin and mask,”he quietly stated and she saw him head off toward the one
large brightly colored wagon where drunken laughs and grunts came from. Loud music
almost covered them but not enough.
Kaitlin hurried over to his side and asked,”How do you plan on getting them?”
“He’ll capture you again,”she finished, her voice revealing a worried tone.
As they passed an empty crate he grabbed some rope from beside it as he turned
his head slightly to face her. Working quickly he simply held the fininshed product out to
show her as he coldly replied,”The Punjab lasso.”
She let out a surprised gasp but dutifully followed him as they approached the door
to the wagon. As they stepped to the side a semi clothed woman stumbled out and Erik
peeked into the wagon. There on Torando’s desk was his mask and his violin. Torando
himself was busy pulling his clothes back on. As they crept inside, so Erik could get a
better angle and she could retrieve his things for him, he prepared to kill the fat man.
Kaitlin was at the desk and about to pick the things up when Torando turned and spotted
her, quickly grabbing the small girl around the throat. At that moment Erik threw the
lasso and snared him around the throat as Torando picked her up. Her hands immediately
went to her throat to try and remove his hands as Erik snapped his neck.
Suddenly she found herself and Torando falling. Her hands went out to grab
something to hold onto and she found Erik who had hurried over. As he helped her to
remove Torando’s hands and stand he noticed her neck now had light red marks. Gently
he touched one of them as she gazed down at the wide eyed dead body. Absentmindedly
her one hand went to her neck and brushed across Erik’s, bringing her out of her trance.
She looked up at him, her eyes holding a slight bit of discomfort.
“Are you allright?” he quietly asked and she merely nodded in response. Quickly
she turned and retrieved his mask and violin. As she handed them over to him he gently
took the mask and placed it over his face.
“Are you allright?” he quietly asked and she merely nodded in response.
Quickly she turned and retrieved his mask and violin. As she handed them over to
him he gently took the mask and placed it over his face. Keeping the violin case in his left
hand he knelt down and scooped her up in his arms for a hug. As his hand brushed her
small neck he saw it deepening from the light purple of her fathers attack to the dark
purple of all she’d experienced. She shuddered involuntarily as she felt him touch the
marks and he quietly apologized.
“I’m sorry you got hurt on my account.”
“I’m allright,”she replied quietly and began to leave the wagon,”We should hurry
and go now.”
He watdched her for a second then followed her out. As they hurried away they
entered the woods on a windy path and heard shortly after, the sounds of drunken shouts
from the other men of the fair. They began to run and Erik had to slow his pace at times
to keep up with her. Eventually they slowed as they neared Mme. Giry’s home and went
to the door. Mme. Giry answered it quickly and ushered them in. As she closed the door
and turned she noted the state they were both in. their breath was ragged and both
seemed on the brink of passing out. Kaitlin’s dress and shoes were beyond repair from the
run through the woods and Erik’s own clothes were in tatters as it was. Little surprise
came when Kaitlin did begin to fall, her eyes closed. Erik though made a quick movement
and caught her gently, placing his violin down as he did so he could hold her.
“The poor girl’s exhausted,”Mme. Giry said as she moved over to her. Erik had
by now calmed, though he was still exhausted.
“Do you think you can carry her upstairs to bed?” Mme. Giry asked and he
nodded, picking her slight weight up.
Mme. Giry led the way upstairs and into a nicely furnished room with a large bed
and a comfy chair. Beside it sat a laarge bookshelf with a few worn books on it. Mme.
Giry pulled the blankets back and as he laid her down Kaitlin seemed reluctant to let go of
Erik but eventually did. Mme. Giry removed Kaitlin’s shoes and cloak and pulled the
blanket over the girl who snuggled down into the bed. As they moved out of the room
Mme. Giry closed the door and turned to him.
“I assumed you’d be coming here so I took the liberty of drawing you a bath and
getting you some of my husbands clothes to wear,”she stated quietly as they moved down
the hall toward another spare room.
“Won’t your husband need them?” Erik questioned and she shook her head.
“No,”she answered,”He ran away a bit ago with a dancer or something of that
sort. He did leave enough money for us to live comfortably though.”
“I see,”Erik replied quietly.
As she opened the door to a less furnished guest room she spoke again.
“I’m sorry the room isn’t as nice as the girls’ but we can decorate more when you
are rested.”
She paused then continued,”There are night clothes on the bed. The dresser has
other clothes suitable for the day time that should fit. I will alter them if need be.”
Erik merely responded,”Thank you Madame. This is quite suitable as I was used
to sleeping in a cage for so long.”
She nodded and showed him where the bathroom was before heading off to bed
herself. Erik took the night clothes into the bathroom and closed the door. He found the
waters was still warm as he stepped into the tub after taking off his old clothes and his
mask. To Erik it was relaxing and he sat for a moment before he began to watsh himself
off. After cleaning himself and watshing his face he let the water drain out as he dried off.
Erik carefully placed the mask back on and pulled ont he night shirt and pants. He turned
off the bathroom lamps and gathered his clothes as he went back to his room to sleep. As
he fell into the sleep that was normally plagued with nightmares, tonight he found it
strangely peaceful.
