Disclaimer: Fox Family owns all rights. I'm using the characters for entertainment only.
Hostage
Part Four
By: SparksJSH
"Juliette, untie us. We have to go after Shelby and Daisy." Scott urgently pleaded with the girl as soon as Thompson and the two girls disappeared down the path. If they hurried they might be able to still follow them.
But the thin teenager just sat there shaking. It was almost as if she hadn't heard Scott at all. Finally she looked at him and shook her head. 'He might be able to still see me. You heard him say he'd shoot me if I moved."
"He's gone Juliette! Come on, he can't shoot you now. But while you are sitting there shaking in your hiking boots, that madman is getting further and further away with Shelby and Daisy." Scott was practically screaming at her. He knew he was being rough on the frightened girl but he was more worried about Shelby.
"Yo meat, leave her alone. Can't you see she's scared?" Auggie would have slugged Scott if his hands were free. Then he gentled his tone. "It's okay, baby. You're safe now, Jules. He won't hurt you now. Come on over here and untie us and I'll protect you."
Glancing back to where Thompson had disappeared, Juliette finally nodded. Refusing to stand and make herself a larger target, she started to crawl toward the tree. She inched slowly forward – to slowly for Scott.
"Why'd she do it?" Ezra shook his head amazed. "Why did Shelby help him?"
"She was protecting us; getting him away from us so he wouldn't kill us." Scott rested his head against the tree, looking up at the sky. "If anything happens to her…"
A branch snapped in the woods behind the boys. Juliette screamed and flattened herself on the ground. She was certain Thompson had returned despite the fact the sound came from the opposite direction. As she continued to scream, Curtis and Peter rushed in to the clearing.
"Jule? Shh, it's okay. You're safe." Peter pulled her up and held her close. Glancing around he saw Curtis untying the boys. He gave them all a quick once over; glad to see they were relatively unharmed. He was alarmed, however, to see Sophie lying unconscious on the ground and no sign of Daisy and Shelby. As hard as it was to do so, he held his questions as he comforted Juliette.
As soon as the boys were free, Curtis went to check on Sophie and Auggie came to take Juliette from him. Only then did Peter ask his questions. "Where are Shelby and Daisy?"
"With Thompson." Scott answered thickly, ready to start searching. "We have to find them, Peter. There's no telling what he'll do to them."
Peter had no trouble envisioning exactly what Thompson had planned for the girls but he pushed those images aside for the sake of the others. "We will Scott. Do you have any idea where they went?"
Ezra nodded. "Shelby's taking him to this place she found when she first came here. She said she ran away and was gone for two days and that nobody found her hiding spot."
Peter smiled. His kids were getting good at thinking fast. "Two days, huh? I found her two hours after she ran. I know where she's talking about though. Curtis, how's Sophie?"
"She's lost a lot of blood but I think she'll be fine. Hank is bringing the big four-wheeler in here. We'll load her on the back and meet the ambulance at the school. As soon as he gets here, you and I can go after Thompson. Hank can get Sophie and the kids back safely."
"I'm going with you." Scott insisted.
Peter shook his head. "No way. Scott, I need you back at the school where I know you're safe. Please don't fight me on this. Curtis and I can move faster and quieter on our own. That's Shelby and Daisy's best chance."
"But Peter…"
The headmaster shook his head. "Scott, I know you are worried about them. I'm worried too. Curtis and I will find them and rescue them but I can't do that if I'm worried about you at the same time."
Before Scott could protest further, Hank appeared with the four-wheeler. Peter looked at his kids. Juliette was no longer hysterical but only marginally so. Auggie was holding her tightly, whispering reassurances in her ear. Ezra and David were standing around, looking for the world like they didn't know what to do.
"Ezra, do me a favor." Peter pulled him aside as Scott angrily went to help with Sophie. "Keep an eye on Scott. Don't let him do anything stupid."
Ezra nodded. "Yes, sir. Peter, please take care of Daisy – Shelby too."
Peter nodded. "You got it."
*****
Daisy stumbled over a stone and cried out in pain. She thought she was in shape. She never complained about the quests like Juliette did but Sophie and Peter never worked them at this pace. For the last twenty minutes, Thompson had practically been dragging her by the arm to keep up with Shelby.
Thompson looked down at her and tugged her arm trying to get her to stand up. Daisy tried but her ankle protested. She must have twisted it when she fell. "Please," she begged. "I can't go on."
"You will or I'll kill you." Thompson warned. Shelby stopped and looked back at him careful to hide her fear.
Daisy groaned. "You're killing me anyway. My ankle is hurt; I can't walk on it. Just give me a moment."
"We don't have a moment." Shelby insisted. She expected Peter to burst through those woods at any second. She knew if he did, Thompson wouldn't hesitate to kill Peter, Daisy and her. She couldn't let that happen. "Leave her here. She won't be able to follow us and she doesn't know where we are going. She'll have a hard time making it back to the others."
Shelby bit her lip and hoped he would do it. She didn't like the idea of just leaving Daisy out here but she knew her friend would be okay. She was careful not to look directly at Daisy. She'd made the mistake of doing that a couple of times since they left the others and the confused look Daisy gave her was almost too much for her to handle. Forcing a smile she stepped close to Thompson and touched his sweaty shirt. "Besides, she's slowing us down. Without her we can get to the hideout in no time and have fun."
"Shelby, don't do this." Daisy pleaded. She didn't know what her friend was doing. She knew as well as she knew her own name that Shelby was as repulsed by this man as she was. The idea that Shelby was coming on to him just to save her was almost more than she could stand.
"Shut up, Daisy." Shelby warned. As she edged closer she noticed the gun in the waistband of his pants. If she could get it away from him, Daisy could get away. She said a silent prayer that Daisy's ankle was just twisted and she could run. Forcing herself to get closer and closer to Thompson, Shelby ignored the stench his sweaty, unwashed body was producing and kissed him.
Before he knew what was happening she had grabbed the gun. He grabbed at her wrist but not before she slung the weapon several feet away. His face darkened as he twisted her arm behind her brutally. Shelby cried out in pain but as she was turned toward Daisy, she saw the girl hadn't moved.
"Daisy, run! Get away from here."
Daisy didn't want to leave. She didn't even know if her ankle would let her but she realized the risk Shelby had taken to help her. She couldn't waste the opportunity. Her face white, she turned and ran, forgetting the pain her ankle caused with each step. She couldn't bring herself to look back at Shelby.
With a curse, Thompson shoved Shelby to the ground. The blonde teenager landed on a rock and cried out again as it dug painfully in her ribs. She curled up in a ball as Thompson retrieved the gun. It was fortunate that she did because in his anger, Thompson kicked her as he passed by her. Curled up the way she was, his foot connected painfully to her shin instead of breaking ribs if she hadn't been. She watched him run after her friend. With a groan and a grimace of pain, Shelby pulled herself up and followed.
Daisy ran blindly. She could hear Thompson closing in on her. She screamed when she heard the rapport of the gun being fired and felt the bullet whiz by her head. She turned to look back and didn't see how close she was to the edge of the path. When the ground suddenly gave out beneath her feet, she screamed again. She began to roll down the embankment.
Thompson stood at the top and smiled when she came to a stop and lay there barely moving. He turned back and was surprised to see Shelby coming. She was holding her side and her face was devoid of color. He grabbed her roughly before she could look over the side. "Don't look. It ain't pretty. That was stupid for both of you. Your little friend is lying down there with a bullet in her head. Ain't nobody gonna help her."
Shelby swayed as if she were about to pass out. Thompson laughed as he caught her. He pulled her close. "Well, little girl, you got your wish; it's just you and me now."
*****
Peter stopped short when he heard the gunshot and Daisy scream. Curtis touched his arm. The sheriff knew what this was doing to the headmaster and he wished he could spare him some of the pain. "Come on, Peter; it came from over that way."
Peter nodded and followed him. They had been cutting through the woods instead of following the path in order to cover the distance faster. When they finally reached the path, they were dismayed to find no sign of either girl or Thompson.
Then Peter heard a groan and saw a slender hand grabbed a rock on the edge of the path. With a cry to Curtis he rushed over. Daisy was pulling herself up the edge. Her clothes were a mess and she was covered with bruises but she was alive. He helped her up the rest of the way and hugged her tight. She clung to him gratefully.
"Daisy, what happened?"
"I wasn't watching where I was going and I fell. Luckily several rocks and bushes broke my fall though." She quipped. Peter couldn't help but smile. Her dry wit was intact if nothing else. He quickly checked her over. He was surprised and pleased to discover nothing was broken. She still needed to see a doctor but she would be fine. "Peter." Daisy continued when he was through checking her out. "Thompson still has Shelby. She helped me get away and I don't think he was too happy with her for it. He's going to hurt her if you don't find her soon."
Peter nodded. "I know where they are heading."
Curtis clipped his radio to his belt. "I just radioed for a helicopter medvac. It should be here in twenty minutes. Peter, tell me where to find Shelby and you stay here with Daisy. Hopefully I'll be back with Shelby before the chopper gets here. If not go without us and I'll call for another one."
Peter shook his head. "Give me your gun. You wouldn't be able to find the cave even if I told you exactly where to find it. I'll go and you stay with Daisy."
Curtis was about to protest but knew it was just a waste of time. Finally he nodded and passed the headmaster his revolver and the radio. "Be careful, Peter."
*****
Thompson shoved Shelby to the ground inside the cave. He looked around and nodded. "Nice place you have here. I can see why no one found you. Too bad your friend didn't live long enough to see it."
Shelby didn't bother to hide the tears now. She drew herself up into a ball and called him a few unladylike names. Thompson laughed. "Now that's not the way you were talking earlier. I thought you were looking forward to all the 'nasty little things' I had planned for you."
"Go to Hell." Shelby had no more reason to pretend. Maybe if she pushed him hard enough he would just go ahead and kill her like he killed Daisy. It would be the best thing for her.
Thompson knelt beside her. "I've been there and I'm about to take you there. Don't think you fooled me for one minute. I know it was all an act. Don't matter none. We both got what we want – sort of. Most of your friends are still alive and I have a plaything and a safe place to hide out. Not a bad trade really."
Shelby tried to slap him but he grabbed her wrist. He was about to kiss her when a noise at the entrance of the cave startled him. He stood and squinted in the dim light. "What was that? I thought you said nobody knew about this place."
Shelby narrowed her eyes. "News flash. I lied."
Thompson cursed her as he drew his gun. Shelby closed her eyes tightly but the shot never came. Instead she could hear the sound of two people fighting. She opened her eyes and saw Peter grappling with the larger burly man. Though Peter had surprise on his side and was in good shape, it was obvious the convict was stronger and more accustomed to fighting. Then Shelby saw Thompson's gun lying at her feet. All the anger and fear that had been building up in her snapped as she picked up the gun.
Her hands shaking, she trained the weapon on her tormentor and waited until his back was to her and there was no danger of hitting Peter. Without saying a word she cocked the gun and fired. The rapport of the gun echoed and reverberated in the small cavern.
Thompson's body went slack and he fell to the ground. Peter stared at him in shock and then looked to Shelby. She was staring at Thompson's dead, bloody body in disbelief. She still held the gun tightly in her shaking hands but she was losing the last remnants of control very fast.
Peter ran to her and took the gun from her. Tossing it to the ground he held the girl tightly in his arms and maneuvered her so that she couldn't see Thompson's body. He was worried at how stiff she remained in her embrace. Both Juliette and Daisy had almost melted against him when he had held them seemingly needing his strength to hold them up. The poor girl must be in deep shock. It was no wonder with everything she'd been through.
"Come on Shelby, let's get out of here." He started to guide her out but she stopped, looking at Thompson. A hard shudder went up her whole body. Suddenly realization of what she had done dawned on her. Bile rose in her throat. She turned from Peter and crouched down as she vomited. Peter rubbed her back gently until she was finished. Then he helped her up. "It's over, Shelby. It's over."
Shelby said nothing as the two left the cave. Peter kept his arm around her the whole time. He expected the adrenaline that was keeping her going to give out at any minute. He hadn't lied to her. The immediate danger was over. Everyone was safe. But he knew as well as she probably did that the emotional aftermath wouldn't be over for a long, long time.
TO BE CONTINUED….