The people came and Erik started to play. I couldn't believe the beauty of his music. I was soon lost in it. I hadn't heard anything like it. It was like a life line but then I realized it was coming to an end. Now I would see Erik for who he was. He finished and the crowd clapped. Then Coco came forward and said,

“Now, you will who's music you have enjoyed so much.” He grabbed Erik masked and ripped it free. I stifled a gasp as I saw Erik for who he was. His hair was white with a slight streak of black. It did nothing to cover his face which looked like a skull. The skin was pulled so tight across his features that every bone was visible. His face was the same color as his hands. That same sickly yellow. He had been cut on his face and the cuts had scared badly. Some hadn't healed. And those golden eyes glowed from their sockets. The really strange thing was his nose or lack thereof. His nose was sunken into his skull and almost gave the impression he had none. He didn't move from his place. I could easily see that he was used to it. Scream erupted through the crowd and they fled. Erik seemed frozen in place and so was I. At last he looked up at me. I couldn't help but stare at those golden eyes. At last I smiled. Suddenly Erik was yanked to his feet and flung back into his cage.

“HOW DARE YOU! Do you think that I am that tone deaf! I told you to play this!” Coco roared and held up some music. “Did you think I wouldn't notice!” He grabbed an iron bar and beat Erik with it. The man didn't move. And it dawned on me. Erik had given up. He let himself be hurt. He had no other choice and was living with it. When Coco was done he left Erik and I alone. I think he had forgotten about me. What I noticed was the keys that were sitting on the piano. In his rage he had forgotten them too. I walked toward the pile that was Erik.

“Erik, can I help?” He whimpered and I knew he was hurt, badly. “Erik, can I help?” I repeated. He moved and looked toward me. His mask wasn't on his face and I was slightly glad.

“What can you do? NOTHING!” He roared. He had been in a half sitting position but finally collapsed to the ground. I heard a soft sob. And for the first time in our acquaintance, I touched him. I mean, he had by accident touched my hand while I was handing him his slop but that was the only time. Now I reached through the bars and touched his shoulder. He winced and I drew back.

“Did I hurt you?”

“What does it matter?” He whispered.

“Can you stand?” I asked.

“Why?” He turned toward me and his golden eyes were confused. I walked away and picked up his mask and the set of keys.

“I thought we might escape. I don't want to be a slave here any longer and you should never have to go through that again. We could run away.” He looked at me like I was crazy.

“Don't you know what happens when you run? I tried twice. I wish never had. If you think this is bad then you should have seen what happened after I was found. I gave up in the end. It was easier just to accept it.” He turned away.

“Erik,” I snapped, “you should be ashamed of yourself for that. I have been a slave for ten years and do you know how many times I ran?” After I said that I mentally counted how many times I had run.

“How many?”

“Over twenty. I tried at least twice per new owner. I never gave up. And trust me those beating were nothing to what you just experienced. And it wasn't just beatings. It was torture. So don't tell me about running away. I know the pain but I am willing to try again. I can't leave you here. If it wasn't for you I wouldn't run away. Coco has treated me well so far. But I have to get you away.” Erik looked at me and pulled himself to his knees.

“I can't walk let alone run. There is no way we could make good time.” I smiled. We were among gypsies. They had horses.

“We will steal a pair of horses. I have ridden a horse before.” Erik smiled and nodded.

“Get me out of here.” I took the keys and found the one the opened the cage. Erik dragged himself from the cage and laid down on the ground. The beating had taken all his strength. I leaned down and reach to touch his face. Suddenly he moved away.

“Erik, why did you do that?”

“Why did you try to touch my face?”

“Because I need to see if there is something I can do about those cuts. They are pretty bad.” He turned back towards me and closed his eyes. I laid a hand on his cheek and felt the bones just under the skin.

“I will have to put some weight on you, my friend.” I laughed and examined the cuts. They were not healing right and I would have to do something about them.

“Come, Erik. We have get away from here.” He choked and, dragging himself to his feet, I realized he was crying. A tear had slipped down his cheek. I reached up and brushed it away.

“Is something wrong?” I whispered.

“No one has ever seen me, then touched me and called me friend.” I smiled and took his hand.

“I think this new life will hold many different things for you.”