A/N: Sorry it's been a while but two chapters for your perusal. These are the last two pre written chapters, although I am not desperate to get the ending onto paper. Hopefully I will be able to update next week!

Thanks for your wonderful reviews and your patience. I'm trying not to let you down.

Chapter 58- Numb

Unsure of quite how she was managing it, Christine was somehow beginning to fall to sleep. She was in that small space between being fully awake and fast asleep. Aware of what was around her yet unable to interact with her surroundings.

It had been a long day.

Her breathing had slowed and, although she hated the thought, she felt relaxed. Exhaustion could be a wonderful thing, she thought, as she felt Raoul's warmth beside her. She knew that she should fight to remain awake so that she could care for him but her body seemed unwilling to cooperate and so, there she was, eyes closed, breathing gently, as she began to sleep.

Unfortunately for her weary body, Gabriele Aiton had other plans.

Just as she was descending into the darkness of complete and glorious slumber she heard the loud creak of the door opening. Despite the fatigue, her eyes flew open and she instinctively threw an arm over Raoul. When she glanced at him, she noticed that his eyes had opened too. He sat forward, attempting to alter their positions so that he was the one protecting her but Christine knew that he was still hurt and she held firm.

She turned her eyes upon Gabriele. He had changed, looked refreshed. At least someone had found sleep that night, she thought, although she had no idea how his conscience allowed it.

'Get up,' he demanded, his shadow casting over them from the doorway.

Christine scowled, tired and aching, and said, as firmly as she could: 'No,'

She could just make out the sight of Gabriele's frown and, perversely, it pleased her. 'I'm not asking, I'm telling you to get up, I don't have time for you to mess me around,'

She shook her head. 'Not until you get Raoul some help,'

Gabriele laughed, 'He won't need help,'

'It's fine, Christine,' Raoul whispered, 'Do as he says and I will think of something,'

Christine stared from Raoul to Gabriele and then, finally, though not completely willingly, she pushed herself to her feet. Her knees wobbled as Gabriele reached out and grabbed her by the elbow.

'What time is it?' she asked, sounding a lot more casual than she actually felt. Gabriele looked at her with some amusement in his eyes before throwing her into the well-lit corridor.

'It's coming up to five am,' he answered, as he stepped aside so that Gerry could go in and retrieve Raoul. When he dragged her fiance out she was horrified by what she saw. In the light, she could make out his injuries properly. He was covered in cuts and bruises and caked in dried blood. His eyes were both bruised, his hair matted with his own blood.

His shirt was torn.

She didn't want to know what they had done to him when they had locked her away with Erik. Couldn't stand the thought of their fists descending onto his defenceless body, leaving him looking the way he did now.

She thought of Erik, the violet red welts and bruises that had covered his face as well. She wondered where he was and if he was still alive. He had promised to find her and she still thought that there was a chance, albeit small, that he would.

'Bring them both to the barn,' he instructed his two goons as Benjamin grabbed her and Gerry shoved Raoul ahead.

Gabriele walked off in front.

'What are you going to do?'

Gerry turned and smiled at her. 'We're waiting for word from where they're keeping your little friend then we'll deal with you,'

'Why are we going to the barn?' she pushed and Raoul looked at her, horrified and worried.

'Well,' Benjamin began to explain. 'You'll see...'

They walked along the corridor until they were at a door at the far end. Gerry opened it and pushed Raoul through, Christine felt a knock in her back and she stumbled into a large barn.

Gabriele was standing in the middle of it, waiting. 'It's something isn't it?'

'It's a barn,' Christine said simply.

'I'm so glad you still retain your sense of humour,' He smiled, making Christine cringe. 'That will make this part much more fun,'

Raoul stepped forward. 'What part?'

'The part where we torture you both until Erik Lambourne comes up with some cash,' His smile widened to a sick grin. 'Of course, we'll still have to wait for word from one of the guards, they're nearly an hour away... it could be a long morning for you two,'

Christine swallowed but was determined not to show her fear. Raoul leapt forward and tried to grab at Gabriele but Gerry punched him hard in the spine and he crumpled to the floor. Benjamin kicked him, as if for good measure, and Christine dropped to her knees to make sure he was alright.

She wasn't allowed to comfort him for long as Gabriele grabbed her hair and pulled her, roughly, to her feet. He stared into her eyes. 'Now, what can we do to squash your spirit?'

'You can't,' she spat.

'Really,' he scoffed, 'We'll see,'

He dragged her by her hair across the barn, she could hear Raoul shouting and fighting behind her. She wanted to turn around and tell him to stop, that she would be alright, but her stomach was churning. Without thinking she kicked out and caught Gabriele on the shin.

He jumped, loosing her hair.

'That was silly,' he said, as he rubbed his shin.

'Stop pulling my hair,' she growled. 'I'll follow you, there's no need to drag me,'

'You really do need the spirit knocking out of you,'

'You can try,' she knew that she sounded a lot more courageous than she felt, it was a matter of wills now.

Gabriele said nothing else but instead of grabbing her by the hair he clasped his hand around her wrist. She felt that this was a small victory and only hoped that she could hang on for a little longer.

Laurent was tired and cold, the rain had finally stopped but the throbbing in his shoulder continued to ail him. Philippe looked no worse or better then he felt as they climbed over yet another hill to see into the distance.

'There's a farm someway towards the horizon,' Philippe said. 'A house a little closer… there's smoke coming from the chimney,'

Laurent placed his hand over his eyes as the morning sun began to peek across the top of the trees in the distance. 'I see them,'

'What do you think?' Philippe asked, sitting on the wet earth, for once in his life not bothered about his appearance.

'I know the farm, I think I've been there before,' Laurent answered simply.

'Is my brother there?' Philippe asked, a hint of desperation creeping into his tone.

'There's a chance…'

Philippe turned away and looked off into the distance/

'We should go by the house first,'

'Down there?'

Laurent nodded. 'The people living there might have seen something,'

Philippe pushed himself to his feet and did not argue. Instead he gestured for Laurent to continue their trek and followed him quickly down the other side of the hill. It took them almost twenty minutes but they arrived at the cottage in time to catch a young woman walking out into the garden.

She took one look at the two men and began calling for a man name Michael. As they got closer two burly looking gentlemen walked out of the house behind the woman and stood watching them.

Once they were in ear shot the older man said, 'What do you want?'

Laurent moved closer. 'We're looking for some people who might have come through this way, we were just wondering if you had seen anything,'

'I've seen nothing,' the man replied quickly. 'You've given my daughter-in-law and fright… be on your way,'

'Monsieur, please,' Philippe said, stepping in front of Laurent. On this occasion Laurent was happy to let the aristocracy take control.

'Who are you men?'

'My name is Philippe,' De Chagny answered. 'This is Laurent,'

'Be on your way,' he repeated.

'Please, we're looking for my brother…' Philippe took a deep breath. '… my brother and his fiancée,'

'Why might they be coming this way?'

Philippe shook his head. 'You might not believe this but I am Comte Philippe De Chagny, my brother is Vicomte Raoul De Chagny. He and his fiancée his been kidnapped,'

At those words the young woman's had snapped up and stared at the two men behind her. The men didn't move, however, and they did not look back at her, instead the older man asked, 'You're trying to rescue them?'

Laurent nodded his head, noticing that Philippe was doing the same.

'What is the fiancées name?' The younger man asked.

'Christine,' Laurent replied. 'Her name is Christine,'

The men looked at each other and then, the older of the two said, 'You'd better come in,'

Hard and fierce desperation clung to Raoul's stomach as he watch Gabriele tug and pull Christine into the centre of the barn. He jumped forward again but there was a hard kick in his back, which sent him tumbling back towards the hay covered floor.

He hit it hard.

'Just stay still,' Benjamin hissed at him.

'What is he going to do to her?' Raoul asked.

'Not sure,' Benjamin replied. 'Anything he likes,'

Raoul jumped to his feet and lunged for the other man, sending them both falling back to the ground, Raoul hit him twice before he felt hand son his back, pulling him away. For his efforts, Gerry hit him in the side with a long, thick piece of wood.

He groaned in pain and rolled over to clutch his side. As he looked up he could see Christine staring back at him, dismay plastered across her lovely face. He wanted to get to her, to save her from these monsters, but all he could do was roll on the floor in pain.

He felt so weak.

Her face in the distance was enough to keep him awake but he wondered how long he could cling on for. His body was aching and raw, his mind hurt and his emotions were laid bare.

'You shouldn't have done that,' Benjamin told him, as he stepped closer. Raoul looked up at him just as Benjamin's foot came down in a vicious stomp.

He heard Christine yelling above the commotion but he couldn't find the strength to look up, though he wanted to, and instead his head lolled to the side and his eyes closed involuntarily. He forced them to open again, only to see the two henchmen staring down at him with malicious grins struck to their faces.

Struggling with his own pain he rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding another kick.

'Leave him!' Christine screamed, her words clear this time.

Brave, strong Christine fighting not for herself but for him. It made his situation seem all the more pathetic and helpless. He needed to help her yet all of his energy was long gone and all he could do was look on powerlessly.

Gabriele reeled back his hand and let it fly, catching her in the cheek and sending her spinning to the ground. Raoul did everything he could to get up but the two guards simply shoved him back to the floor, kicking him again as they did.

To his surprise Christine leapt back to her feet and shouted. 'You're pathetic,'

Raoul wanted to tell her to stop but the words could not find their way to his mouth and he was forced to watch as Gabriele pushed her back to the ground again.

He remembered what she had said to him whilst they were being transported in the carriage and he clung on not to a hope he never thought he would have.

He clung frantically to the hope that the Phantom of the Opera was on his way and, if he didn't save Raoul, at least he would save Christine.

And really, her safety was all that mattered to him.