Chapter 4: Killing Hope

"Chloe, you have to tell me."

"I already said that I can't! I've put too many people at risk and I'm not adding you to the list!"

Horatio sighed and turned to Calleigh. But Wolf leant in.

"How could he know you're telling us?" He asked. Chloe bit her lip. Horatio gave her a look that made her shake. She reached behind her head and pushed away some of the black hair. Right between the joining of her neck and skull was a horizontal scar. Calleigh grimaced. She was about to say something, but Chloe put a finger up and gave her a stern look.

"When did you get that?" Horatio asked, looking slightly disgusted.

"Few months back." Chloe replied. "Look, please. He can see you and hear you. You have to get out of here before he kills you!" Horatio looked upset.

"A few months back?" He said quietly. "Chloe, you've been attacked over the period of a few months and your parents haven't even come to us? Why?"

"Because I told them not to!" She replied.

"How many times have you been attacked?" Calleigh asked suddenly. Chloe looked sadly over to her and dipped her head.

"I don't know. I, I lost track of the number." She whispered. Horatio looked sadder than ever and he slumped slightly in his seat.

"Why did you put your self through all of this?" Wolf asked.

"I hate seeing people getting hurt because of me." She muttered. Her fist clenched tightly, so tight that her finger nails starting cutting into her palm. "That's why you have to get out of here!"

"Chloe, we can't just let you run off. You'll just get caught…"

"Sooner, that's the reason why. If I get caught by myself, no one gets hurt." Chloe replied, finishing Calleigh's sentence off.

"We rather get hurt than see you dead." Horatio said. "Look, once you're out of here, you will come and stay at the Miami Lab with us. You'll be under protection."

"Yeah, but then social services…"

"Social services know. You're staying with the Miami CSI, its final."

Saturday 28th June

10:18am

Chloe sat on top of the bed, crossed legged in jeans and a long sleeve examining some stuff out of her bag. There were loads of clothes in there, a few photo frames and some gaming equipment. But among them was a letter. Chloe looked scared. Horatio and Calleigh were outside, talking to Dr. Grant. She didn't want to open it until Horatio was here. So she tucked it tightly into her bag pocket and looked up as he came in.

"You're free to go. You have to come back every two weeks, to sort out your dressings, but apart from that you've made a good recovery." Calleigh said, smiling. Chloe simply smiled back. She stepped down. It suddenly grew on Horatio how tall she was for thirteen. She was probably up to half of his chest, but she was nearly as tall as Calleigh. She slipped on a pair of Vans trainers and slipped on a jacket.

"Chloe, at the house, we found a slip with some information about a dog on it. Do you have one?" Horatio asked as Calleigh walked in front.

"Oh, yeah." She said.

"What breed would the dog be?"

"Um, it's a Husky."

"Where is it now?"

"Err, Beach Bay kennels. He was meant to be picked up last week. Great, they're going to be angry now." Chloe murmured.

"It doesn't matter; we'll explain a different reason why you weren't there to get it." Horatio said, gripping her shoulder.

"What, you mean…"

"Oh yeah I mean, we're going to get her."

"Him, actually." Chloe corrected. "His name is Jason."

"Jason." Horatio said. "Odd name for a dog."

"He's been trained to, well, find me. If it had ever happened, he would, well, react weirdly." Chloe said.

"So, this dog can find you, dead or alive?"

"Yeah." Suddenly a feeling of sudden cold made Chloe stop dead in her tracks. They were outside the doors. Her eyes were wide.

"Run." She whispered, staring into a bush.

"Chloe, what is it?" Calleigh said. Suddenly cans flew into the air. Chloe knew what was happening instantly and she pushed into Horatio, who crash landed in Calleigh. A hissing noise came out of the cans and smoke began blinding their eyes. Chloe began to run, even though Horatio was calling. She heard the familiar sound of heavy thuds behind her and picked up speed. Meanwhile, Horatio heard the sound of gunfire. Calleigh drew out her gun and Horatio did the same. They could see nothing, white smoke was blinding them, but then there was a yell."Don't let her get away!"

Horatio growled. Calleigh pointed, yelling, "It came from over there!" They both ran, Calleigh contacting CSI as she did. Horatio squinted and saw a black shape in the mist. He ran toward it, leapt and felt the struggle of a body underneath him.

"GET THE HELL OFF ME!"

"You're under arrest for association in a kidnapping!" Horatio roared and he felt someone push him off.

"Go and help Chloe, I'll take him!" Calleigh's voice cried. In the corner of his eye, Horatio saw the flash of the handcuffs before he took off. The smoke began to clear as he ran and finally saw the cars, all breaking before they got to the cloud. Suddenly he saw Chloe, dashing furiously through the traffic while four men followed. He followed, calling her name out again. He suddenly felt someone grab him from behind and heard a scream. He struggled madly and felt a sharp pain in his neck. His arms felt weaker and his struggles grew less and less. Suddenly he heard a gunshot before he lost conscious.

Personally, I think that is very good, but it's up to you my good reader, so please review! Chp 5 will be up in teh next fewdays or less.

From TheNextTitan