Author's note: I don't know anything about history but the plot I'm working on are just made to make things interesting.

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, Christine or the Phantom. The rest of the characters are from out of my imagination. If they resemble someone be it by name or description I don't own them.

Chapter Four

There was only darkness and pain everywhere as if the raindrops pelting on his skin had turned to sharp crystals. Maybe it's not rain. More like needles as if every pore in his body was being prodded.

A strange aroma like that of boiled herbs flew into his nostrils. It was the only thing he could remember after being dragged into oblivion. And he didn't like it one bit.

"Do not resist.." A voice had said, and a sound much like a groan answered back.

A wet cloth was placed against his face. Cool but felt like suffocating. Where was he? He made a sound. Another groan. And this time he finally recognized he was the one making it.

"Tie him up.." He tugged and cursed. Trying to break the hold of what seems like a thousand hands was pointless. He didn't have much strength to fight off a bug and the pain almost overwhelmed his senses.

"Give him another dose of those but not too much.." There were sounds of metal clinking as if steering something from a pan. Footsteps. A chair being moved and dragged. And The smell of the medicine was getting stronger. He took a deep uneven breaths. Morphine.

"Can I just beat 'ïm in the head?"

"No! He got enough wounds as it is."

"This one's got a mighty strength of a bull, he is, Naan."

"And the wall of your hut is going to fall down if he threw another man-"

"And takes us wif 'im to the afterlife."

"Do not say such things! He can hear you, you foolish child."

Odd, but he could not hear a child's voice in the room. They were men and with a very scot like accent. There was one voice he seems familiar with.

You will not die…

"Miss Daae! Miss Daae!"

"Yes, John?" Christine rushed down the steps, nearly tumbling over her long robe. "Calm yourself first and tell me of this urgent news."

"M'Lord bade me to give you this letter." Christine took the brown envelope and was about to open them when the young footman took hold of her arm. "He said we need to leave right away."

"Alright, just let me prepare a few things." She made a step back but the young man wouldn't let go. Christine tensed. "What is going on, John? Did something bad happen?"

"We need to leave right away, M'lady. You're not safe here. I'll tell you what happened once we're in the carriage. Mercy, your maid, is already there."

They left the house. Christine finally noticed the limp in the young man's walk, but didn't inquire about it until they reached the carriage. "Wait, you're going to drive with that injury? Where is your father?"

"We left him. He's dead, M'lady." Christine gasped. "I'm sorry. What happened?"

"We were ambushed. M'lord Sebastian went to the mansion and ordered me to get you."

"Then let us go." But before the boy could climb up at the seat Christine grasped his arm and half knelt in front of him. "M'lady, what are you doing, there's no need-

"You're going to bleed to death if we don't at least take care of that wound." Ripping a strip of cloth from her dress, Christine wrapped it around his injured leg and made sure the knots won't loosen. "Now drive fast, John."

The air inside the mansion seems light as they walked through the halls of the Westmount. It looked like that nothing terrible happened. Westmount's wife was endowed with a light and lively personality that even her house seems to reflect that characteristics. Yes, it seems peaceful.

But the silence was piercing.

The sense of apprehension seemed to ignite every hair in her body to stand up. And her eyesight hurt as she tried to perceive the walkways in the dark.

They stopped in front of a door. A flicker of light came from the small gap between the floor and the door. "I'll leave you here, m'lady."

"Alright, put something on that wound and take a rest."

As she knocked on the door the feminine voice of Lady Westmount came near. "Christine is that you? Open the door and come inside."

"Oh, dear, I was so worried about you." Lilian, Lady Westmount, threw her arms around her and gave a fierce hug. "My husband said that they might go after you."

"They?" Lilian took hold of her arm and let her sit down at the soft cushions of the sofa. Christine took a deep breath to calm her nerves but it helped only a little. "Drink this, it'll calm you." Lilian said as she noticed her trembling.

"They could be the ones responsible for the arrest of your husband but we still don't know."

"Who are they?"

"Sebastian's investigating right now. The stakes are on Lord Denville, Lord Cornwall, and Lord Burton."

Christine frowned. "Burton? Isn't he a relation of the Chagny?" After being a part of the ton when she married Raoul, Christine still had a hard time coping with all the rules that she must remember. And she was taught of the many bloodlines of her husband's family.

Edgar Burton was on the list.

He was a distant uncle of Raoul. A man with a thick mustache and wide forehead. Intimidating dark eyes and balding head. She remembered one family gathering how he had looked at her with contempt.

"Yes, he is. And that is why Sebastian wanted you to leave the house immediately. He might pay you a visit."

"But shouldn't I face him? They might take my disappearance wrongly."

"No, m'dear." She opened a few drawers of her husband's desk and delved through the stack of papers and letters. "One of Sebastian's source found a letter of utmost importance. It's supposed to be sent to the advisory of Spain.."

"But isn't that dangerous?" Christine interrupted.

"Yes. Well, it might be worth it." Lilian took a letter and gave it to her. "Because your husband's name was written in the letter. Sebastian was on his way to give you a copy this night. But some men attempted an ambush. Apparently it seems that we're also being spied on. Those cunning bastards.." It was quite surprising to hear those curse words from the Countess of Westmount. But with such an outstanding husband an equivalent spirited and strong headed wife was Sebastian's best match.

"Thank goodness you're here." Sebastian walked inside and went around the desk to give Lilian a peck on the cheek. "Is my little princess asleep?" At her short nod, he took a seat.

"Christine, do you recognize the one who sent that letter?"

"Yes, he's another relative of Raoul's."

"You might have to leave the estate."

"But won't they think it odd now that the authorities are tight on us."

"They will not think it odd if you say that you're a widower who needs time to mourn her husband."

"But Raoul is not dead yet!"

"He is not. But they are going to send him to the gallows on the next eve." Christine gave a few sobs and fought him when he tried to put a supportive hand on her shoulder. "Don't lose hope."

She looked at his face and saw for the first time why he was named "savage" among the ton.

"They will not kill him yet. They will just make it look like they killed him."

"But why would they do that?"

"Your husband has something that they want. And that's what we're going to find out."

Author's note: I'll make the next chapter interesting. Christine and the Phantom will soon meet and this time with no Raoul to stop him from getting what he want.. and the Phantom definitely still want the lovely Christine Daae. What say you guys? Reviews are welcome! So please tell me you opinions. Thank you! :)