When I had managed to bring myself to move, my eyes wandered around the dark, cold space I was in.

The room was nearly empty except for a small mattress, and a table with 3 chairs. The walls were made of bricks and were windowless so that no one could see out and nobody could see in, at the far corner, I saw a crack of a door open to reveal a small bathroom and tub.

I took a shaky breath as I shakily stood, resting my hand against the wall as I tried to compose myself, I needed a clear mind to think of a way to escape.

I looked up the stairs towards the door, it would be useless to try it, I knew it to be locked.

I also knew that was my only exit, there was no other way out of here.

I turned my head sharply towards the door as I heard the door open, and footsteps soon followed.

"Now, Susanna, I know we got off on the wrong foot earlier, but if you just gave me a chance I'm sure I could make you happy, after all as long as you're in this predicament you might as well make the most of it." My Uncle spoke as he descended down the stairs.

Once he was close to me he smiled as he tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear and I shivered at his touch.

I wanted to kick him, push him to the floor, and run away, but I knew I couldn't overpower my uncle. He was far stronger than I and it would only make my situation even worse than it was.  I hated even to think about it, but I knew what I had to do, somehow I had to gain my uncle's trust, just enough so that I would be able to escape without him noticing till I was far away from here, which meant that I would have to do everything he might ask me

I fiddled with my fingers, taking a deep breath and it took everything in me to bite back the series of unfriendly terms I wanted to call him.

I nodded my head.

"Smart girl, the more you begin to accept me as your husband the easier it'll be for you, and eventually, when I see it fit, we can be married."

I'd rather marry a rat.

Instead of expressing this thought, I stayed quiet knowing that eventually there would come a time for that, but I had to wait.

For now...

----------------------

2 Months Later

Slowly the months passed, and the first couple of weeks were painfully difficult as I had to adjust to being a proper woman, by strictly following my Uncle Henri's ideals. In my Uncle's eyes, women were to be seen and not heard, unless spoken to, they should cook, clean, and please their husbands, I despised it. Getting acclimated to holding my tongue was severely difficult, especially with the way he would touch me. I could handle his words, no matter how demeaning and disgusting they were or how much they made me want to throw up, but the way he touched me I couldn't handle. This only resulted in consequences, I had bruises on my body that were constant reminders to not get on my uncle's bad side again. Now though, I was used to it and I hated that.

It's been to my advantage to be used to the situation as I've had more freedom. Where previously I would have chains wherever I went in the house and at night would be locked in the basement, but now I was free of the chains and the cold dreary basement. As my uncle had stated I had earned it for being a good girl or at least his definition of one.

As the usual routine of the morning, I was making my Uncle his breakfast which consisted of black tea and hardboiled eggs. Meanwhile, he sat at the table reading the newspaper in the dining room.

I watched the water begin to boil and carefully took the eggs from the pot and into a bowl occasionally I would glance over my shoulders and over the wall that separated the kitchen from the dining room. My eyes gazed through the entryway into the dining area and towards the hallway that was right across from my view. I could see the front door and the familiar urge to rush towards it and burst out running away from here once again came over me, as it had been for the past months of being here, but I always forced it back, knowing that I would be caught. I've avoided punishments the past couple of weeks so far I didn't want to give my Uncle any reason to hurt me or worse and I needed my Uncle to trust me, his trust was the key to my escape and the only hope of ever getting back to my family again.

"You about done?" My Uncle called and I could hear the impatience in his tone.

I took a deep breath before responding, knowing if I didn't quickly it would lead to dire repercussions.

"Oui, just finishing up."

I set the eggs on the plate, pouring the tea into the white mug before taking another deep breath, picking it up, and bringing it over to him.

I set it on the table, careful not to spill the tea. My hands were sweaty with anxiousness as I heard the sound of my Uncle folding up his newspaper, feeling his gaze set upon me.

I sat down in the chair next to him, knowing by now the usual routine and the way he wanted me to act.

I picked up my cup of tea, trying to distract my nerves, which usually helped as I could feel his fingers going around my leg, I knew better than to pull away and forced myself to endure it no matter how uncomfortable or sick it made me feel to have him touching me.

"I was thinking since things have calmed down, and the police are no longer suspicious of me, I would take you with me to the Opera Populaire after all today I am being introduced as the new manager, besides you look awfully pale some sunlight, and getting out of here will do you good."

I could almost smile, would this be the chance I had been waiting for to finally be free from my uncle and find my way back home? The anxiousness of anticipation filled me up, and it was almost too much to hope that this would be that opportunity.

I only nodded as I set my cup back down, trying to hide the hopefulness from showing in my expression to not create suspicion.

"Have you ever been to the opera before?" Henri asked as he deshelled his egg on his plate, releasing my leg from his grasp.

I once again nodded.

I remember coming to the Opera Populaire with my parents before we moved too far away that we wouldn't be able to see it again. We would watch the opera from the boxes above the stage. The voices of the singers sounded more beautiful than anything I had ever heard, but what had intrigued me most of all back then, even as a child were the whispers of rumors that I would hear from the people around us about a mysterious opera ghost. It had sparked my curiosity even to the point of asking my Father about it, who only shook his head telling me that sometimes people just like to make up stories for things they can't explain, and I accepted that as the truth.

"Very good, you'll have to change before we go I have a dress that I think will suit you quite well, after breakfast, you can get changed and we will go."

I once again nodded my head and clenched my hands tightly, knowing that this could be the chance for me to escape.