Austin’s POV

As soon as I turned onto Secred Avenue, I felt something go off in my mind. It didn’t seem like anything was right. I had a twist in my gut that I could get out. There was this breath caught in my throat that seemed to get stuck.

No, I only needed some groceries.

I turned onto the street. Two large trucks trailed behind me. I scowled hard as they tailgated me. They were riding pretty close behind. Increasing my speed a little, I focused my attention back onto the road ahead of me. The traffic seemed to increase. I hoped to lose these two trucks soon enough.

I made a turn downtown and pulled into the local supermarket. The two trucks weren’t nearby, or from what I could see. Getting out, I had my keys clipped to the lanyard on my belt. I fiddled with the fabric.

Then I saw the two trucks at the far corner of the lot. Great. Now I would have to deal with them going home!

As I grabbed a shopping cart, I started to hum a little and waved to a kid as I passed by. Going into the grocery store, I reviewed a list of what to get. There wasn’t that much to grab.

That knot never left my stomach the entire time. I decided to give Rae a call to make sure that little Beth wasn’t acting up and she was doing okay.

As I held my phone to my ear, there was no answer. Only dial tones. Her phone must surely be going off. It didn’t answer. I laughed a little and put it back in my pocket. Oh, I forgot! Rae must be asleep. She looked like she was going to pass out. My girl must’ve been deep in dreams.

I pulled cereal down from the shelf. Lucky Charms were Arabelle’s favorite.

Raelyn’s POV

The window exploded, sending shards of glass flying through the airs as killer projectiles. I whipped up my arms to protect my face just in time. Little glass slices snagged my arm, tearing slices in my skin. I heard the door close upstairs. Good. Arabelle must be hiding.

She was never the fighter, always the hider.

A figure in dark clothes burst through the shattered window. I got up and ducked behind the couch. There wasn’t any more shots fired. Glass and spatters of blood littered the floor.

“Raelyn…come out…” A dark voice cooed. I knew that voice. I knew it from anywhere. I had faced that voice when I had faced my dad. It was horrible. It was dark.

My hand silently grasped for the large book we had on a low shelf. Taking The Dragonlance Chronicles, a thousand page book in my hand, I got up and hit the intruder over the head with it.

I saw his face long enough. It was Hex. He was reeling as a bruise started to form on his forehead. I chucked the book at him, but he swatted the weapon away. I was backed in the corner of my home.

“Come on, Rae. Let’s just go outside for a little chat.” Hex snarled. I saw his stormy eyes flash with sparks of malevolent intent. His blonde hair looked dirty and tussled. I had no response.

“Where’s the other kid? That little Arabelle of yours? Upstairs?” He made a way for the stairs. I shook my head.

“She’s with the sitter. Thank goodness.” I spat out. It was enough to make him whip around and turn with a smirk. He was a rattlesnake waiting to strike.

“Oh really? Well, we’ll just have to grab the other one then.” He chuckled. My eyes went wide.

No. Not Beth.

“No!” I yelled and leapt for him. He shoved me against the wall, easily blocking my meager attacks. I stumbled and hit the wood with a hard whack. Sliding to the floor, I sat in a dazed and numb state.

Please, Arabelle, stay in your room…I silently begged.

Hex reappeared from Aus and I’s room with the baby carrier. Beth was just starting to wake up from all the noise. Her face contorted into a bundle of confused expressions. I whimpered for my child.

Hex shook his finger and clucked his tongue, as if I was a disobedient child. He held the carrier in one hand and his gun in the other. I stumbled to my feet as he put it to my shoulder.

“Let’s go for a ride, shall we?” He chuckled. I walked to the door, feeling a little light headed. Fumbling for the handle, I finally got it pushed open. The warm air seemed just a bit colder. The open sun seemed darker. Everything seemed more brutal.

We walked down the steps until I got to his car. He opened up the passenger seat and threw in the child carrier roughly. Beth started crying. I scowled at him.

“Don’t hurt her.” I growled. He raised an eyebrow, as if amused by my petty arguments. Silently, he opened the back door and pushed me in. I sat there, unwilling in his presence. He got around to the front and before I could make a dash for it, he got behind the wheel and locked the door. His eyes caught mine in the rearview mirror.

“I wouldn’t try any escape attempts, or you may find yourself with another dead kid.” Hex purred. I bit my lip from crying out but felt the tears start to push their way to the surface. I fumbled for my phone to call someone, but it was inside.

Damn, I was stupid!

The car backed out of the driveway. I watched the landscape blur around me. We avoided the town all together as he took back roads. All too soon, we were out in an area where I didn’t recognize, bumping along a road that I didn’t remember. It was a dirt road with a river next to it. A cluster of trees was up ahead.

“Looks like we’re here.” Hex clapped as the car slowed. Beth had started crying. He growled for me to shut her up. I leaned forward and scooped her out of the carrier, rocking her in my arms. Her bright eyes looked up to me, a silent plea for me to save her.

So young and going through this already. I was devastated.

“Okay, out.” Hex commanded when he opened the door. I stepped out as I was told. He held the gun to me as I held Beth closer.

“Now give me the kid.” He commanded, gesturing to Beth. I shook my head.

“Kill me now, but don’t hurt her.” I demanded. Hex rolled his eyes, as if I was some simpleton. With a sigh, he opened the passenger door and got the child carrier. Beth’s eyes widened at the sight of the stuffed giraffe that sat with her. It was her favorite toy.

“I’m not going to shoot her. I’m not some baby killer.” He growled. I wanted to retort about my baby JC, but feared for the both of us. The beating sun pounded on our backs, chanting death and destruction.

“Don’t kill her. Take me instead.” I snarled, holding my child closer. Hex tapped his foot impatiently and pointed the gun at Beth.

“If you don’t give her to me, then I won’t hesitate to shoot her.”

“I thought you said you weren’t a baby killer.” I asked smartly.

“I have a tendency to…change my mind.” Hex stated softly, but with a deadly poison that laced his voice like a viper’s hidden weapon. Unwillingly, I kissed my baby on the head and held her out to my captor. He buckled her in the child seat and gently put the giraffe in her grasp. He had the tenderness that I didn’t know. I saw a loving look in his eyes.

“Good, good. Mommy knows how to play nice.” Hex murmured to my child. I watched as Beth held the stuffed animal closer.

“Here, have your child.” He handed me the carrier. I looked at him with confusion and took the carrier. Before I knew it, the gun was to my shoulder again.

“Now follow my directions or you both will be eating lead.” He whispered. I nodded as he pushed me towards the river. I balked a little and he pressed harder. I heard the trigger start to be pressed and put on a brave face. Continuing to walk forward, I reached the edge of the river by a clump of dried bushes. The sun was hot out here. The river seemed to by drying up by the second.

“That’s good, very nice. Now…put down the child carrier.” He cooed. I froze.

“Why?”

“Do it.” He growled and I obeyed. I had no choice. I set the child carrier down, right by the weeds. The river gurgled as an unhappy witness. The sun seemed to shed tears of burning light.

“Now let’s take a walk to the car, shall we?” Hex asked. I shook my head.

“I’m not leaving my child here.” I stated firmly, turning around to face him. It started to click in my head.

He wanted me to leave her to die here.

He didn’t want a child’s blood on his hands.

He had that boy kill my JC so he didn’t have to.

He had me set down the child carrier so it was my fault that she died.

He wanted me to kill my own child.

“YOU MONSTER!” I screamed and started to throw punches. He shoved me aside and pointed the gun at my crying child.

“One more hit and I’ll kill her here. Maybe she’ll live a bit longer if you just walk away.” He roared. I froze and looked between him and my child. Maybe, if I could get to a phone, I could tell someone where my kid was.

It was now or never.

She might die, just because I wasn’t quick enough.

“Fine.” I stated. Giving up, I sent tears cascading to the parched earth. Beth cried and whined as I started to walk away. I sobbed into my hands as Hex led me back. I got into the passenger’s seat.

“If you even think about going back or jumping out of this car, I’ll shoot again. I’ll tell the others to shoot Austin as well. We’ve got them all covered.” Hex told me, staring me straight in the eyes. I barely saw him because of my blurred vision. I only nodded and watched as the child carrier was disappearing in the distance. The car gained speed as we drove away.

She might as well be dead already.

Notes

OOOOOO>>>>>>>OOOOOOOO


NOOOOOOOO BEEEETTTTHHHH!!!!!!

What will happen!?!?!?! Keep reading to find out! We're starting to near the end, so stay tuned! I plan to have this finished up soon!