Accidentally Lost ((Castagne))

[Roselin A. Soulle]

Roselin was walking through the garden. She smiled and breathed in deeply, smelling all the different and wonderful scents the flowers put out. It was crazy, the last time she was here with her friend, Kimberly, the garden was most completely dead and filled with weeds. And now it was quite nearly flourishing and bountiful with green and multicolored flowers. It was beautiful here and smelled so good. And though Roselin had been to the garden a million times... there was a place near by that she had never been to before.

Roselin walked to where the forest began. It was evening, the sun sat closely to the horizon and the sky was filled with oranges and yellows and pinks. She had convinced herself to go into the forest, just in and out real quick. She promised herself that she would be out before nightfall. And maybe she could go in and meet up with Erik, though she realized now that it would be much more difficult then she thought before since she found that the place was absolutely huge. Or maybe meet up with someone else when going into the manor. Either way, she would most likely go into the manor... it wasn't like her dad wanted her home anyways.

"Okay Roselin... its now or never. Don't be a wuss... you'll be in there for no more then a half an hour. Just a short walk really." She told herself, trying to keep her coaxed up to go into the forest. She sighed and began walking in. She was so glad that she hadn't worn her black ballet flats today, they would have gotten too dirty for her liking. Instead, she wore tan boots with dark brown laces. She wore dark blue jeans with the bottoms of each leg, tucked into the boots. She wore a light blue shirt that really was a short sleeved dress that went above her knees and a thick brown buckle around her midsection. Not the best top to ware when going out into a forest on her own when it was getting dark.... but it would have to do. Though, she didn't even bring a flashlight. Oh well.

Roselin walked farther and farther into the forest while it got darker and darker. She didn't even look back. But she was really enjoying the walk, the setting sun continued to make the sky soft warm colors and the clouds, there was even a cool breeze blowing. But then, when she had realized that it was getting really dark, she turned around to go back to the manor and found that she could no longer see the manor. "Uh...oh...." She said out loud. She turned around again and it all looked the same. Her heart began to beat harder as she looked around, the sky was nearly completely dark and the stars were visible. She walked a little ways in a random direction and saw a boulder as a place to sit. She stood by it and looked up at the sky and took in a deep breath. "HEEEELLLLLPPPPPPPP!!!" She yelled out. She then sighed and sat down on the large rock. She might have to camp out here for tonight... amongst the spiders. She shivered at the thought. Roselin began to hum loudly to herself. She wasn't going to walk anywhere alone through these woods, not while it was dark.

[Erik Castagne]

Erik had left the Manor after wandering about a bit. He was totally confused and disoriented. He had appeared in the room that looked like a man's den, with mounted animal heads on the walls and many books of male interest. After carefully surveying the halls outside the doors of the den, he had left and walked down several more corridors and finally found a winding marble staircase and he took it down to the lowest floor he could find. He spied a door that could be an outside door, and he looked about him carefully and sprinted to the door.

He opened the door and it was dark. Strange, he must have been wandering about for quite some time, for on the upper floors, the sun had shone brightly through the windows. This just added to his confusion. He hesitated, then realized there was a lantern on a sideboard next to the door. He opened the top drawer and found matches. Lighting the lantern, he exited the mansion and started walking through the garden. The sweet smell of the roses and other flowers was everywhere and in other circumstances, it would be a lovely place to stay. But Erik was determined to find his way out of the place.

He continued on and the night grew darker. Clouds started to cover the sky and blocked out most of the stars and the moon. The lantern was only sufficient to see just in front of him. Suddenly he heard a scream. It came from the distance and sounded like someone had cried, "Help!" He stopped in his tracks. There was someone else out here on this night? Erik was undecided. He had no wish to meet anyone. It sounded like a child or young woman. It had been so long since he had really had contact with anyone except Christine.

Deciding to see who it was, Erik approached the sound of the voice and nearing a clearing, he put out his light so he could observe whoeveer it was without being seen. He stood behind a tree and peered out in the darkness. There was indeed a little girl, looking slightly scared. She was humming to herself.

The girl looked about the age of some of the girls in the corps de ballet at the opera house that he had enjoyed frightening, keeping up the legend of the Phantom of the Opera. A bit of fear never hurt at all when there were things that must be done.

However, Erik was still undecided. She obviously couldn't hurt him, but he hated to approach anyone face to face these days. He had become even more of a recluse in recent years with the building of his home under the Paris opera. The girl looked lost. She probably couldn't help him find the way out of this woods. He could show her the way out of the woods. And when he appeared she would probably scream and run and she would be more lost then ever.

Erik came closer, not realizing that he had walked into the clearing where he was partially visible. He stood silently observing her.

[Roselin A. Soulle]

Oh you big... Big... BIG dumby head! How could you get yourself so utterly lost Roselin? What happened to just a half an hour? A quick walk? But no... oh no! You just HAD to get yourself lost didn't you? Lets hope that this forest is small or else you'll be in BIG trouble! Roselin scolded herself. Really, she wasn't being very harsh on herself. She growled slightly at herself and became silent. She was so utterly alone.

Roselin crossed her arms and looked around. She wondered how far into the forest she had wandered and what time it was. She glanced up at the sky, hoping that it wouldn't rain tonight. Oh what a disaster that would be! She sighed heavily for a moment and suddenly had a shiver run up her spine. Roselin had a strange feeling like she was being watched... she shook her head. Its probably just some owl or something.... She told herself in her head. She then began to wonder... what creatures did live in this forest? There could be wolves.... which she loved wolves.... but didn't quite like the idea of being eaten.

Her imagination began to run away with her... starting to see things in the shadows. Oh what if there was a gang of bandits or something here? I might be captured! She thought to herself. Then she began to think of the stories her bother use to tell her about bandits and hunters that lived out in woods. Roselin then scolded herself once more. I am not lost for more then one hour and already I am driving myself crazy. Maybe I should try to go to sleep or something... She told herself in her mind. She then stood up at the thought of going to sleep and there being spiders around her! She brushed her back off from dirt that she might have collected from sitting on the rock and then she looked up and saw a person standing there.

A bandit! Was her first thought and she inhaled sharply and covered her mouth. She then realized that it might have been someone who had heard her call for help... it might have even been someone form the manor! She let her hand drop to her side and she breathed out heavily. "Oh sorry... I didn't see you... well until just now. I sorta... got lost." She smiled sheepishly. "I am Roselin... Roselin Autumn Soulle, who might you be?" She asked with a smile on her face. The moon let down some light... well... not that the moon gave off light but reflected off from the sun of course..... anyways. There was slight light so she could just barely see. She could tell that it was a man... in fact... he seemed kind of Erik like. But not the Erik she had met at the manor that had offered her to stay... no... this guy kind of looked like one of the other Phantoms. She couldn't tell but it looked like he might have been wearing a mask... but she couldn't tell for sure.

[Erik Castagne]

Erik watched the girl as she sat on the rock. She started acting as if she thought someone were watching her. Well, he was...

When she finally caught sight of him, the girl introduced herself as Roselin Autumn Soulle. Erik paused a moment. She had already seen him and hadn't run from him ... at least not yet.

"I am Erik," he said, touching his breastbone with his fingers flat to indicate himself as he said it. "Are you lost?"

He assumed she was the one who had screamed. He looked up at the heavens, to see that some of the clouds had disapated and the stars were obvious again. "Where are you going? The mansion?" Erik pointed in the direction of the way he had come.

He noticed the girl was staring at his mask. They usually did that...anyone he met up with. If he wanted to frighten them, he took it off, but in these kinds of meetings, which didn't happen often, who could tell ... Christine had been afraid when she saw the odd mask. He had not been able to persuade her not to b e afraid of him. So he expected nothing less from this girl.

He awaited her shrinking away from him...

[Roselin A. Soulle]

When she heard him say Erik, she smiled wider. It was strange... she didn't exactly recognize his voice, definitely not the Erik she knew though. He then asked her where she was going. She smiled and nodded when he mentioned the manor. He then asked her if she was lost and her smile turned into a slightly embarrassed smile. She should have brought a compass and flashlight, then she wouldn't have needed any assistance.

But oh well, she was happy for the assistance, instead of having to stay out here alone in the dark and with the nasty bugs and spiders. "Yeah I am lost... I was just going to take a short walk through here but... as you can see, didn't go as planned." She said, snickering a little but more like a embarrassed laugh. She could talk to any person happily under any circumstance... except if she was lost and needed someones help. It made her feel slightly useless and childish but it was bound to happen sometime... after all... she was a child. Well... teenager really... but.. yeah.

Roselin took a few steps closer to the Erik in front of her and could now see the mask clearer... she kept herself from gasping. She recognized that mask... she would know it from anywhere! Her smile grew wider and wider and she took a few more steps and now stood in front of him. No... it couldn't be.... but it was his mask! Sure, anyone could have that mask but... but she knew this was different! She knew it was different because she had met Erik with the half mask and Christine and Carlotta and even Raoul! And they were all so like themselves! And so she had been quite convinced... call her a child with an active imagination.. but she could just swear that the people who seemed to be who they were.... really were! "Pleasure to meet you by the way Erik." She said happily.

[Erik Castagne]

The little girl didn't seem afraid of Erik. It was odd. The ballet dancers had screamed when they had seen his shadow. This was different...The girl was dressed differently also. She wore boots and trousers and some type of long shirt. He had never seen such attire on men, let alone women.

Erik bowed slightly when she introduced herself, to acknowledge the introduction. He would have kissed her hand as he knew was polite in such a situation, but with the mask, it was awkward and he of course would not take it off.

Erik lit the lantern again with a match from his waistcoat pocket. He motioned to Roselin to follow him, with a graceful gesture of his hand. He knew the way back to the manor and decided to try again in the morning to find the way out of the place. He wondered where he would sleep tonight. He supposed it wouldn't matter, although he really did not like sleeping on a cold, hard floor. But he would do it if he had to. Perhaps there was a sitting room or another public room where he could rest through the night.

Erik kept walking in silence, through the woods. It was probably four or five miles from the house by his reckoning. He looked up at the stars again whenever they reached a clearing in the woods. He continued on, the girl at his side.

Then he spoke to the girl, "Mademoiselle Soulle, Erik is in need of a place to sleep tonight. Do you know of any such a room in the mansion?"

[Roselin A. Soulle]

Roselin was smiling the whole time and as they walked, the quite was just to... quiet for her. However, she kept her mouth shut. But really, inside, she was squealing like a little happy school girl. With the lantern lit and his face... er... mask in full view, she now knew for absolutely sure that it was the Phantom from the 1925 Phantom of the Opera! And this HAD to be him! He walked, stood, gestured just as that Erik did! And it couldn't have been the actor that originally played him.... though suppose it could have been someone who could play Erik very well.... nah.

Roselin chuckled slightly when he called her Mademoiselle Soulle but smiled happily. He asked if there were any rooms she knew of in which he could stay in and she nodded her head vigorously. "Yes there is. There is a room for everyone who appears here it seems..." She said, thinking back to when she saw her name written on one of the doors. She still wished she knew how that was all accomplished! In any case, it was super cool... but... kinda creepy too knowing that someone must have gone through her room without her knowing and created a replica of it. But still cool... Roselin then was about to tell him that his domain was were other Eriks had their own domains in... but then thought that maybe she should leave it as a sort of surprise for when they get there.

"Oh!" She exclaimed happily. "If you haven't found your... room yet, then you probably haven't been in the kitchen yet! If you'd like, I could show you there first. After all, it will probably be nice to know where there is food and drinks." She said happily. Sure, there was a chance that he had already stumbled upon it, but why not show it to him anyways? And plus, if Erik agreed to going to the kitchen, it would make their meeting longer and Roselin did want to have a chance to talk more to this Erik. After all, he was one of his favorite Phantom's! Though, a new Erik had been added to her list recently. Her top four, in order, kind of went something like this. 1925 Erik, Andrew Loyd Webber Erik, Charles Dance Erik, and Claude Rains Erik. 1986 Erik was the newest one to go on her list, and he definitely went up there since their meeting. But the list also meant that... she was standing next to her all time favorite Erik ever!

[Erik Castagne]

Erik was surprised that the girl came with him so easily. If only Christine had been so easy to persuade...Well, perhaps if he ever returned to his home under the Paris Opera House, he would take up where they had left off and ...it would;n't be easy, but at least he would have time to think about what to do. He hoped to return as soon as he could find out where he was and find some transportation back to Paris. He hoped it was not too far away.

The girl seemed very excited, although she said not a word. Erik was grateful for that. He wouldn't know what to say in return. Children were creatures of a different sort. Then she said there was a room for everyone who came to the mansion. Erik nodded. That was good. A large number of guest rooms was excellent. He would get a room to himself for the night. He wondered if the place was some sort of hotel then. But how he himself had arrived was still quite a mystery.

Erik carried the lantern so that they both could see ahead of themselves. At night sometimes direct light made his eyes glow yellow. It was one of the things that he used to frighten people away from his dark, subterranian haunts below the opera house. Of course, it was much more effective with his mask off , the death's head that he resembled was good for posing as the frightening Opera Ghost. However, he was not planning to frighten this child, she was helping him. He oped the eyes didn't glow too much.

Erik and Roselin finally, after several miles of walking, found the mansion again, seeing the huge house off in the distance as they emerged from the forest. They walked throught the gardens and appraoched the house. All of this was in silence. Erik had no wish to speak; his thoughts were his own.

At the door, Erik held it open for the girl and motioned elaborately for her to enter. He closed the door behind him and then said quietly. "Erik is grateful, Mademoiselle. And would you show Erik where he may lay his head tonight?"

[Roselin A. Soulle]

Roselin was pretty glad when they had emerged from the edge of the forest. Although it was nice and the beginning of the walk she did enjoy, it was incredibly spooky in there at night and when she had been there alone. She didn't enjoy the silence much from when they were walking, but she realized it was probably expected for a character that was from a silent film.

It was so strange to see the character in real life... it was so strange to see all the characters in person! There was the first Erik she had met, then Carlotta, and Christine and Raoul! And now the Erik from the 1925 film. It was all so strange yet... cool! She absolutely loved it! Though she hated the fact that she slightly thought that there was a possibility of her going mad. Possibly due to the stress from her father becoming a alcoholic zombi and her friend moving away and her obsession with Phantom of the Opera.

Roselin smiled widely when Erik had opened the door for her. However, since the lantern had been put up by his face some and he was looking at her directly, she saw his eyes for the first time. They almost seemed catlike to her... how awesome! She entered and watched as he closed the door behind them. She giggled a little bit when he called her Mademoiselle and she nodded when he had asked her if she would show him where he could sleep. "This way." She said with a large grin on her face and started to lead the way. "By the way, you don't have to call me Mademoiselle. Just Roselin will be fine." She said happily. Then the rest of the time was in a bit of silence and when she realized they were getting kind of close, she asked him one final question before they would go into the elevator. "Oh and... what's your last name?"

[Erik Castagne]

The little girl kept her silence, which was to Erik's liking. She seemed pleasant enough, but he had no wish to say anything really. Not unless it was necessary. Erik glanced a tthe little girl as they walked. She seemed to be thinking hard. What did children think about? He had no idea.

Erik noticed that the girl was staring at his eyes after he opened the door. He hoped he was not frightening her, although he had frightened the corps de ballet on purpose to keep the opera ghost story continuing and fear abounding, he didn't want to put off this girl. She was intent on helping him and he had no one else to tell him what was happening.

"Then Roselin it shall be," said Erik, the bottom of his mask, the part made of a filmy material, fluttered with each word.

The girl led Erik in a long winding walk about the mansion, so much so that he wondered if she knew where she was going. But finally he saw a shiny metal door. He wondered what that was. Then Roselin asked another question...what was his last name? " Castagne, Erik Castagne," he said, tipping his hat a bit to her.

[Roselin A. Soulle]

Roselin smiled and nodded, she had never heard the last name, Castagne, before. When the elevator doors opened, she stepped inside and motioned Erik to come in as well. Once he did, she pressed the button, E. Castagne. Suppose she should have asked him first but it possibly make him feel a little more comfortable to be in a strange contraption, being the elevator, with someone who was well experienced in being in one.

That and Roselin was quite curious to see his home in person. When she had been alone and walking past the elevator, she had always been tempted to go in the elevator and press one of the names randomly and go to one of the lairs and explore. However, the thought of the phantom being in their lair when she goes in to explore would be quite embarrassing as well as creepy depending on which Erik she were to stumbled upon. Perhaps later she could find out which Eriks were here and which were not and explore the lairs that had yet to have an Erik occupy them.

As the elevator moved down, Roselin hummed a bit to herself, completely oblivious to anything freaky about the elevator since she had been in them a few times before. If anything, she found the elevator sort of calming. Oh yes, not many- even modern people- found elevators soothing. But she did, which was also when she was little, she would always fall asleep on car trips. Perhaps it was because of the smooth and flowing, constant movement that made her feel so at ease. Or perhaps it was just because she was a strange little teen girl. Or perhaps both. Finally, when they arrived at Erik's floor, the elevator made one last ding! The doors opened, reveling a place very familiar. Roselin grinned and looked at Erik. "Welcome to your room."

[Erik Castagne]

Erik followed Roselin in to the strange little room with the door that opened seemingly by itself. He looked around and frowned behind his mask. There was nothing in the room except a row of buttons with names on them and a railing to hold on. It was carpeted and had beautiful wallpaper. There was even a light in the ceiling and some sort of fan. All very strange.

When the lift stopped, it opened and there were the stairs that should have led from Christine's dressing room down to the fifth cellar and Erik's home. He looked flustered for the first time. He raised his hands, palms to the ceiling, to signify...what is all of this? If Roselin could have seen the expression on Erik's face, she would have seen puzzlement.

He repressed the urge he had to lead her down the steps backwards, as he had drawn Christine to his home, putting her into a partial trance as he did so. But Roselin was quite eager to come, there was no need for that. There were gas lights illuminating the steps and passageways and Erik led the way down to the next level, where the white horse Cesar, was waiting. Erik was amazed, to say the least. Silently, he took in the complete scene. He could see the many stairs leading downward and at the bottom, the glimpse of the beginning of the beautiful, cold, shining lake across which led to his home.

When they reached the horse, Erik said quietly, his hands gesturing gracefully toward the horse, "May Erik lift you onto the horse?"

[Roselin A. Soulle]

Roselin and stayed silent as Erik led her into the replica of his world. It was all just the same, just as it was with Erik Lenoir's lair and her room were. It was oh so strange and yet so cool! She still wondered how it was all possible, no one else seemed to know either. So... at least it was good to know that she was not alone! Oh now how she wished to run into a few of the other Eriks and see their homes as well!

It took all that she had for her not to speak. She used her logic skills and figured that he was enjoying the silence much more than some strange futuristic girl rambling his ears off. And anyways, it wouldn't surprise her at all since he came from a silent film. When they approached the white horse, she gasped a little self- what a beautiful horse! Of course though... she had never ridden a horse before. Her mind also momentarily thought back to the original book when it was reported that the Opera Ghost had stolen the opera's white horse, Cesar. She resisted snickering.

She then looked at Erik when he had asked her if he could lift her onto the horse. Roselin was about to protest thinking, Are you kidding? That big beast?!, but then realized how silly that would be. Calm down Roselin! Its just a horse. You like trying new things, plus, its Erik, your safe around most of them. She told herself in her head. Roselin breathed out slightly then smile and nodded. She slightly got the buzz of nervousness in her stomach as he helped her up onto the horse and she settle on it's back. Her heart for a moment fluttered as Cesar moved forward a bit and she heard the hoofs clop a bit. Then as the horse began to move, her heard continued to flutter but she was also more excited and smiled widely. She liked the view from the top back of horse.

[Erik Castagne]

Erik wasn't sure what to think of Roselin. She seemed quite well behaved and if she had not been, he would never have let her come to see his home....or lair...as many in the opera house had called it. Of course, she was showing him where it was, but he was certain he would have found it eventually. He was grateful that she was doing this for him.

Erik didn't know anything about children as his childhood had not been spent with any of them as playmates. He only knew about adults. He had been an adult as long as he could remember, even when his age had been only that of a child.

Erik noticed that the girl seemed to wish to speak but that she was holding back because of his silence, perhaps. She may have something interesting to say, he thought, but it could wait until they had reached his home.

When Erik liftted Roselin onto Cesar, she seemed to enjoy the ride. There wasn't of course much scenery in the cellars, but she seemed to enjoy it anyway. Finally Cesar reached the lowest cellar, next to the shining surface of the black lake. Next to the lake was a wooden gondola and Erik gestured that he wished to lift her off of the horse. His yellow eyes glowed in the darkness, but did not seem menacing. He asked by gestures if he could lift her off of the horse.

[Roselin A. Soulle]

Roselin nodded when he asked to get her off the horse, though did not use words. She really quite liked riding horses, now that she had a taste of what it was like. If she were to ever move away, which she had been planning to do until she came to the manor and realized that all of the Eriks and Christines and others were here, she would want to get her own horse. It was peaceful and beautiful from the back of a horse, no matter the scenery.

But it was true, she had written of her future plans a few times in her journal about moving away when she turned eighteen. She planned to move to America or Ireland. Though of course... she would have to visit Paris some time and see the famous Opera House. Perhaps even be able to talk someone into taking her down into the watery cellars beneath the opera house. To be in the phatom's ideal lair. Though of course now, she didn't really much care to see it anymore, except for the Opera House of course, that she must see. But all of the Eriks lair's are here and she had already been in two, now including this one.

Roselin continued to smile as Erik helped her off the horse. Perhaps on another day she could try to persuade Erik to let her ride Cesar around some more. "This must all be weird, seeing your home within the manor, but at least its cozy still. I know how it feels, my room at my original home was replicated here as well, which is one of the reasons why I live here now, though I was going to live here anyways- even if my room wasn't here. But its nice in a weird way, to be in a familiar place that is really unfamiliar at the same time as being familiar. You know?" She said smiling, trying to spark up conversation. She couldn't help it, she constantly talked, she even spoke in her sleep most of the time.