A Journey of Love
Disclaimer - I own nothing
Summary - A Changelo story starting from the beginning of 2010, but I have changed the events to suit my story!!
Chapter One - A Fight for Survival
Charlie stirred and tried to open her eyes. She blinked a couple of times when met with a fuzzy outlook, but eventually her vision returned to normal.
Charlie could not work out where she was. All she knew was that her head was thumping. Hugo. His name flashed at her and she remembered what had happened. Charlie tried to sit up, but realised her legs and wrists were tied up. Charlie looked around her and realised she was on a boat. She looked to her right and saw Hugo driving the boat.
"Hugo! What the hell do you think you are doing? You need to let me go Hugo, kidnapping a police officer is not a good idea"
"Charlie, shut up"
"Hugo, what has happened to you? All this time Angelo has had his suspicions that you were involved in all this people smuggling, but stupidly I stuck up for you. I couldn't believe that you could be involved. But I was wrong wasn't I?"
"Charlie, I'm warning you, if you don't shut up, I might do something I'll live to regret" Hugo pulled a gun out and pointed it towards Charlie.
"Ok, I'll shut up, but only for now. If you think you are going to get away with this you have got another thing coming"
Charlie closed her eyes and took some deep breaths. She didn't want to show Hugo how frightened she was, give him the satisfaction of knowing he was really getting to her. Charlie was trained for situations like this, but she was struggling to cope with it. Thoughts of Ruby kept swimming around her head. It was only a few hours ago at the Surf Club Christmas party, that they had shared a hug and Charlie had seen that their relationship was slowly healing. It had been a tough few months, and Charlie had almost lost hope that life would ever be good again. With Ruby slowly coming round to the idea that Charlie was her mother, and Angelo becoming an important part of her life, Charlie started to believe things were changing for the better.
As the engine ground to a halt, Charlie opened her eyes and saw Hugo staring at her. She could feel her shoulders starting to tremble, and tears started to form in her eyes. Hugo began to walk down the stairs towards Charlie.
"I never wanted this to happen Charlie. I like you. But you couldn't resist getting your nose stuck in could you?"
"I'm a police officer, what did you expect me to do? Ignore it? All I can be thankful is that I found those refugees in time. That's if anyone comes to their rescue, since I'm assuming you just left them there to die?"
"Charlie, you are so self righteous. I'm not even going to begin to explain my role in this, other than to say I wanted to get out of this. I didn't want to be a part of it. I love Martha, and I don't want her harmed"
"Then why didn't you come to us? We could have protected Martha"
"Charlie, no amount of police protection would have stopped Suzy. Why the hell do you think I'm out here with you?"
Charlie ducked as Hugo started to wave his gun around in anger. He knelt down beside her and started to untie the rope around her ankles. Once that was undone, he untied her wrists. Charlie instinctively rubbed the area where the ropes had burnt into her skin. Hugo pointed the gun at Charlie.
"Get up"
Charlie pulled herself up. She still felt dizzy from the earlier blow to her head, but she knew she had to stay strong for a little while longer if she was going to get herself out of this.
"What are you going to do? Shoot me and toss me into the water? And then what?"
"You are not going to talk yourself out of this one Charlie so I wouldn't waste your breath. Get into the water"
"What the hell are you talking about? Why?"
"I'm not going to kill you Charlie. I want you to get in the water, and swim to that Island. Once I am safely away, I'll let the authrities know where you are. This should keep you going for a day" Hugo thrust a bottle of water into Charlie's hands.
"Hugo, you don't have to do this. Turn yourself in, the police will be more lenient if you do that, and you can still have a life with Martha"
"I told you, I am not going to bargain with you Charlie. Either you get in, or I shoot you, it's your choice"
Charlie took off her boots, whilst trying to think of a plan quickly. She threw the bottle of water overboard, and prepared to jump in. Hugo watched as Charlie slipped on the side of the boat, and landed on the floor with a crash.
"Nice try Charlie, get up!" Hugo shouted, and got no response.
"Get up Charlie, or I'll shoot you" No response.
"Charlie? Charlie?" Hugo knelt down beside Charlie, after removing his gun to a safe distance. He knelt down to listen for Charlie's breathing and cursed when he could not hear anything.
"Charlie, it's not supposed to end this way" Hugo prepared to do mouth to mouth when Charlie reached out to grab his gun. It was not there.
"Oh, so it was a little trick. Nice one Charlie, shame it didn't quite work though" Hugo hauled Charlie up to her feet then picked her up. He threw her overboard into the water. Charlie let out a scream as she hit the ice cold water. She felt herself go under, and struggled to move to the surface. Once at the surface, Charlie could see Hugo starting up the engine on the boat.
"HUGO! Don't do this! Don't leave me here, I'm begging you" Charlie shouted, tears running down her face, the adrenaline from trying to outsmart Hugo was slowly disappearing. Charlie watched the boat start to pull away, and started to focus on the task ahead. She could either fight for survival, or give in to the temptation of the sea. She chose survival.