A/N: Thanks again for the reviews! I'm trying to get this chapter and possibly another as I have no idea how long it will be before I update again. I imagine things are slowly drawing to a close with this now and I'm starting to consider how I would like it to end.

Amber: As always! Thank you! I'll be looking out for your chapter shortly!

Modesty: Thank you… where are your updates!

Lost: Uni's tough but I figure three and four (maybe five) chapters in one day is good going.

Glad I haven't quite lost the plot!

Thank you all!

Chapter 33- Freedom

Christine ran to the corridor at the end of the room and slid into the corner, as Erik had told her to when he returned from checking that it was safe. He had instructed her on how to use the sword but she sighed now as she carried it along. It was heavy and made it difficult for her to move, he said when she wasn't moving that she should keep it at her side but not let go of it.

She was waiting for him, staring down the corridor when she heard the crack in the room behind her. Bile rose in her throat and she choked back a gag. The crack was probably the sound of the man's neck breaking as Erik dropped him from the railing, rope taught around his neck. She knew what he was going to do, she didn't want to see it happen and she knew there was no talking him out of it. But the more she thought about it the less she actually wanted to.

It was a minute before Erik was beside her, he had put his sword back and was walking with confidence. He glanced up at the staircase and then followed her eyes along the corridor.

'Follow me,' he said as he plunged himself into the darkness of the hallway.

Christine did as she was told and followed him carefully, her eyes dealing with the darkness poorly. She tripped and there was a clank as she nearly fell to the floor. Erik turned around and headed back to her, he held out his hand and she took it gently in hers. He gave her a nod that he wasn't even sure she could see and carried on walking, this time hand in hand with Christine so that she knew where she was going.

All she had to do was follow him.

'I thought we were going upstairs.' She whispered and he glanced over his shoulder briefly as he moved swiftly along the corridor.

'We are.' He said, short and sharp. 'Soon.'

When they reached the end of the corridor there was a door ahead and he opened it carefully, flicking a switch she heard the hisses of gas and suddenly lights began pop up around the room, illuminating it much brightly that she had expected. Christine pulled her hand from Erik's and covered her eyes. As they adjusted she scanned the room and was horrified by what she saw.

There were rows of cages filled with what, at first glance, looked like poor animals but suddenly she realised that they were not animals at all.

They were people.

Erik took one glance back at Christine and jogged down the stairs, heading straight for the first cage. When he reached it he grab the bars in his hands and stared down at the middle aged lady inside. Her beard was barely trimmed and it had dirt and bits of food stuck in it. As her eyes opened she looked at him with surprise and then that surprise was quickly replaced with fear.

His knuckles were white on the cage as he looked down at her and forced a smile.

'Bonjour, francais?' he said, cutting his sentence short. He had no time to fool around.

'No,' she said. 'English.'

'Okay' he said and stared at the lock on the door. He dug around in his pocket and pulled out a thin piece of steel he always kept for special occasions. He went to work on the lock as the woman looked on, tears springing from her eyes. In a few minutes the lock opened and he gently eased the door ajar.

'Thank you.' She said softly.

'You need to find the keys.' Erik said glancing around the room. 'Then you need to release these people.' He took the woman's hand and pointed at Christine with his other. 'She will help you and when you find the keys you need to take her to where your boss keeps his prisoners, do you understand?'

'Okay.'

With that Erik ran up the stairs to Christine who was standing, welded to the spot, staring at the horrors around her. He could see tears in her eyes as she watched and all the humanity he had missed in his childhood was there with her. When he made it to her he pulled her into his arms, kissing her cheek softly and holding her tight. He nuzzled his nose softly into her hair, his lips moving down to her ear as she pulled him to her.

'You'll be ok now.' He whispered gently. 'These people will help you, you're safer now with them than you are with me.' He saw her terror spread across her face as she opened her mouth to protest, he stopped her by placing his finger softly on her lips. 'There's no more time for argument. Go and find Raoul.'

'Oh Erik…' she said, her voice barely audible.

'I'll be fine.' He said and looked in her eyes. 'Go.'

'Be safe, Erik.' She said quietly as he brushed past her and left her in that room.