Erik~

The familiar building loomed ahead. It's aged sandy stone standing out against the skyline.

Erik strode towards the building, his cape billowing behind him. Cindy rushed after him catching him by the arm.

"Hold on just one second Erik! I get the feeling we're walking into a trap." She frowned.

He fairly growled at her as Nadir finished paying the taxi driver and caught up to them.

"She's right Erik." Nadir exclaimed. 

Erik took a deep breath.

"And just what exactly do you propose we do?" He asked sardonically.

Nadir rolled his eyes. "We have to be smart Erik. My guess would be that they've taken her to your lair."

"How would they know where the entrance is?" Cindy cut in. 

"Alex." Nadir frowned. 

Erik's fists clenched.

"So we must go in a way that Alex doesn't know..." Erik's mind worked.

His eyes flickered over to Nadir.

"Absolutely not, how am I to get out?!" Nadir exclaimed. 

"You got out just fine last time!" Erik exclaimed

"Fine! I'll take the back entrance. The Torture chamber is probably where they're keeping her anyways..." Nadir agreed grudgingly.

Cindy patted Nadir's arm. "What about me what can I do?"

"Nothing Cindy, you'd only get in the way." Nadir sighed. 

"EXCUSE ME?!" She exclaimed. 

"I can't watch your back in there." Nadir frowned. 

"I can take care of myself!" She replied obstinately. 

Nadir pinched the bridge of his nose. 

"We don't have time for this." Erik exclaims, throwing up his hands. "God only knows what they're doing to Alex as we speak!"

That shut them both up.

Erik continued quickly. "If you come in Cindy you're coming with me. I can watch out for you but you must get a weapon of some sort... Nadir you go in through the entrance to the torture chamber. I presume you remember the way out..."

"I do." He replied.

"Excellent." Erik nodded. 

Cindy scanned the alley in which they stood and picked up a discarded metal baseball bat.

"I'll be fine Nadir." She smiled cheekily as she swung it up to rest on her shoulder.

"Then there's no time to loose." Erik replied.

"Godspeed Erik." Nadir called. 

Erik nodded and stalked towards the opera. Cindy went to follow him but was stopped by a gentle hand on her arm. She turned to face Nadir, and gasped in surprise as he kissed her.

After a moment he pulled away, clearing his throat. "Be safe."

"I-I will." She replied, blushing as Nadir ran off.

"Cindy come on!" Erik called impatiently.

Alex~

I stumbled down the stone stairs down into the cellars of the opera. The Romanian woman had a death grip on my arm.

"Andrei take the lead." She barked.

"Wait!" I exclaimed

She glares at me.

"There are traps. You must be careful to avoid them." I warned. 

"Very well then girl, you can go first." She nodded. 

I walked to the front of the path and led the way. I didn't want to see anyone die today. But perhaps I should have let Andrei lead... Ah well.

We were now standing at the edge of the water and the boat was nowhere to be seen.

"Andrei find a way across this lake. Lucian bring down the others." She ordered, waving the men off dismissively. 

"Others?!" I exclaimed, watching the two men go their separate ways.

"Yes, you didn't think I'd come to challenge the angel of death alone did you?" She raised an eyebrow at me. 

I bit my lip.

"No matter, after today this whole mess will be over with."

"And then what do you plan to do?"I asked meekly. 

She looked at me, her eyes widening slightly.

"I-I don't know." She remarked softly. 

"Do you truly think this will bring you peace?" I nearly whispered. 

She looked down at the ground.

"Is this what your son would want?" I asked urgently. 

"My son is dead, he would want his revenge." She met my eyes.

"Not at the cost of his mother's life." I responded. 

She glared at me as Andrei returned.

"This way Madame, I found the room that you told me of."

"What room?" I asked. 

She smiled devilishly, dragging me towards the familiar house by the lake.

"What room?!" I exclaimed. 

I shortly found out what room as a wall slid open and I was tossed into a pile of sand.

"This!" The woman smiled madly. "This is a recreation of the room my son died in! How fitting that the Shah's, angel of death's woman, should die here too." 

 She stalks into the room looking about dispassionately. 

"It is rather genius how it works you see... It's as much a mental torture as it is a physical one. There is a little window right about there that has a spot for a candle, and as the candle's heat bounces off the walls... you will be cooked to death." She leered.

My eyes widened.

"Ah but little girl that's not the best part. I am no monster, so I leave you with this..." She threw a rope at me.

"I do hope you know how to tie a noose~" She cackled, slamming the door behind her.

"NO!" I exclaimed, rushing to where the door had just been. My fingers felt the smooth glass but there was nothing to mar it's perfection. No way to tell where the exit was. The room suddenly flooded with light. So much so that I had to shade my eyes with my hand.

I knew Erik had to be on his way, but as I sunk to the ground and looked over at the looming Silver tree... I worried he may have walked right into a trap.