(This chapter is a little violent but if you've read the original book I don't think you'll have a problem with it.)

 Alex~

It was so hot. My tongue clung to the roof of my mouth and my eyes were so heavy. My head ached and my ears rung. I lay on my back staring up at the canopy of silver trees. I was upset about something and I didn't remember what... My tears had dried up a long time ago.

Erik~

Erik stormed through the smashed mirror, his cape catching and tearing on the shards of glass that still clung haplessly to the mirror's edge.

He had a simple rope in his hand and a sword at his hip. Murder shone in his golden eyes. Cindy followed behind him and frowned as she sensed his tension. She felt pretty tense herself as she watched Erik tie the rope into a functioning noose.

"Stay close to me." he ordered.

Cindy tightened her grip on her bat. Erik turned back to her and put his finger over his lips. She nodded and he made a motion for her to stay where she was. She nodded again and hid behind a pillar, listening to Erik choke out the first man.

After the horrible gurgling noise and the thud, Erik came back to Cindy. "Are you okay?"

She looked shaken, "Is he dead?"

Erik ignored the question and gently pulled her forward.

"Come on." he replied, grabbing her arm and leading her further into the lair.

Further on, there were two men guarding the entrance to the lake.

Erik stopped her just out of their eyesight.

"So here's the plan Cindy. We're to make as much noise as we can."

"I can do that." She replied with a half smile. 

"Who's there?" One of the men called into the darkness.

Cindy stepped into the light, glaring at the man. "Me! Eat bat you jerk!"

The man's head hit the ground with a thud.

"Oh he's gunna have a hell of a headache when he wakes up!" Cindy giggled to herself. 

Erik rolled his eyes as he dragged the two bodies into a side tunnel.

"Thank you Cindy."

"I got your back Erik." She smiled nervously.

Erik's long legs ate up the ground and Cindy had to scurry to keep up to him.

"So how are we gunna cross the ri-"

Erik waded into the lake the water came up to his thighs.

"It's not that deep." He replied. 

"Maybe not for you... is there a way I can avoid the water?"

Erik sighed heavily. "Take this tunnel turn right NOT LEFT. Or you will face an extremely unpleasant end..."

"Thanks Erik." Cindy blinked at him, his scarring was beginning to creep around the white barrier of his mask.

"Go! We have no time to waste." Erik replied his eyes widening. 

Cindy nodded and rushed down the tunnel. Erik slogged through the water and his heart stopped in his chest as he saw who was standing on the brink of his home.

"C-Christine?"

The girl spun around and smiled at him.

"Erik!"

"Christine! What? How?!" He smiled.

She opened her arms as if to embrace him.

He moved faster splashing in the water in his haste. 

Just inches away from her.

Cindy burst out of the tunnel behind her and with a quick glance at the woman knew something was off. She swung the metal bat at her head.

The woman caught it and turned her head to look at Cindy.

Cindy swore.

"You're not Christine." Erik remarked stupidly as the disguise melted off the woman.

"Well observed handsome~" The Romanian woman smirked.

"That was a low blow." Erik muttered.

"So was killing my son." She spat back.

Erik blanches. 

The woman lunges at him a dagger appearing in her hand. Erik blocks her attack with ease. Cindy is preoccupied by some men appearing behind her in the tunnel.

"Do you even remember him?" The woman screeched.

"I remember all of them." Erik whispers.

The dagger slices into his side and he cries out.

"You deserve far worse than this you monster." She hisses. 

Alex~

I gasped as I heard shouting on the other side of the wall. 

"ERIK!" I shout hoarsely. 

My scream echoed hollowly off the glass walls.

I rolled to my side and ran mu fingers through the sand. I jumped as I heard something hit the floor.

"I'm getting too old for this." a man's voice groaned.

"Nadir?" I coughed.

"Alex!"

I felt strong arms lifting me up, and I clung to Nadir's shirt for stability.

"W- Where's Erik?" I gasped. 

"Dealing with the witch. Now let's get you out of here..."

Nadir carried me to a mirror and opened it somehow. To be honest all I remember is bits and pieces, but I'll never forget the delicious coolness of the cavernous air. 

Erik~

Erik growled at the woman as Cindy knocked the last henchman out.

"I didn't want to do this, but you forced my hand! You could have just taken me out and the world would have been better for it. But you went after the woman I love and that was a grave mistake!" He growled. 

She lunged again and they both struggled over the knife. The woman knocked off his mask with her elbow and Cindy gasped in surprise.

The woman's eyes widened as she saw his face, she gasped and clutched at her chest going weak in Erik's arms. 

Erik won the wrestling, and the woman blinked at him in surprise as he wrestled the knife out of her hand, and flung it away. 

She panted as if she couldn't breathe. 

And then suddenly she stopped. She went limp and her eyes rolled back into her head.

"What happened?" Nadir asked coming out the front door, Alex in tow. 

Erik looked over the woman and took her pulse.

"She's dead." He replied hollowly.

 Erik lay her body down on the ground. 

The look on the woman's face was serene, Erik reached out and closed her eyes with the palm of his hand. 

Nadir walked over to Erik, Alex still in his arms.

"Erik..."

"She's with her son now."

"Erik you should cover your face." Nadir said quietly.

Erik met his eyes and nodded, searching for his mask.

There was a splash as Cindy sat down in the water.

"Cindy are you okay?" Nadir asked worriedly. 

"..."

"She's in shock." Erik spoke for her.

"Well I'd say that's allowed." Nadir mumbled not meeting Erik's eyes.

Erik caught a glance of his face in a nearby mirror and gasped.

"M-My nose!" he gasped. "It's... gone." 

"I suppose it was too much to ask that the curse die with her..." Nadir chuckled. "Can you take Alex?" Nadir asked shifting the young lady in his arms.

"She can't see me like this!"

"What do you... Woah!" Nadir gasped looking at Erik's face in awestruck terror. 

"I have another mask that I think might work..."

 Nadir swallowed and turned his attention back to the girls. "Hurry, I'll tie up these goons."

He gently lay Alex on the ground and fished Cindy out of the water.

"Cindy honey I need you to help Alex okay... Cindy?"

"Nadir catch." Erik called, tossing a small bottle to him. 

Nadir snatched the bottle out of the air and uncorked it waving the smelling salts under her nose.

Cindy sneezed and looked over at Nadir.

"Alex!" She exclaimed.

"Take care of her I have things to do."

"Alright." She nodded. 

As soon as the girls were settled on a couch Nadir made quick work of tying up the henchmen. 

And Erik put on his new mask.