The noise of the gun fire echoed through the house for what felt like an eternity. The noise of shattering glass and screams was like something out of a horror movie. The tension in the house was unbearable. Ducked down behind the couch Geoff, Nicole and Ruby huddled down as close together as they could possibly get. All three of them terrified at the nightmare they were living out. From his standing spot, Derrick stood laughing. Laughing the laugh of a twisted mad man.

"Haha. You're making this too easy", he said, a grin on his face as he spoke.

Just then from outside he could hear the screams of a woman, a woman who was sobbing. He made his way over to the back door of the house with quick, quiet movements, making quick glances over his shoulder to make sure the three hostages were going to try any heroics. When he got to the door he peered out through a gap big enough for him to get a proper glance outside but small enough that he wouldn't be seen.

To his horror he could see an entire police force outside, blue lights flashing from squad cars, police officers everywhere and a policewomen who looked hysterical, just a few feet away from the house. He heard her shout..."My daughter's in there"...as she struggled against the grip of another officer that was holding onto her from behind. At that moment the penny dropped for Derrick. Somebody had made the call from inside the house. But who? He could feel his blood beginning to boil as he looked over at the couch. As he finally began to lose control he made his back over to his three hostages. He flipped the dining chair over as he knocked it out of his way with blunt force and stood hovering over them, pointing his gun over each of them, back and forth.

"So which one of you made the call, huh?", he asked with a cold tone. "ANSWER ME!!", he shouted, But he got no answer.

He looked at the couch and say a phone sitting on it. He picked it up and opened and looked at them again. He opened up a message on in the phones inbox that read 'Hey Ruby, need to talk, Charlie x x. When he saw the name Ruby he swallowed hard. He flung the phone against the couch and bent down.

"So which one of you is Ruby then?" he said, glaring into their faces. "Is it eeny, meany, miney...moe", he said through gritted teeth as he grabbed Ruby by the wrist and pulled her up onto her feet. "So you thought you'd get away with it did ye? Well tough luck sweetheart, your luck just ran out".

Ruby winced in pain as he gripped her wrist as tightly as he could, almost snapping it. She cried, tears streaming down her face. The fear apparent all over her face. Derrick flung her across the floor. Nicole and Geoff screaming at Derrick to leave her alone, but there words falling on deaf ears. As Derrick made his way over to the kitchen Geoff suddenly bounded over the couch and ran straight for Derrick. But Derrick turned at the last second and pointed his gun directly at Geoff. Laughing at him.

"Haha, aww look at the knight in shining armour, out to protect his princess", he said. From behind he heard Ruby get to her feet and he turned and looked at her. He moved back a couple of feet so that he had both of them in his sights.

"Please, just let us go" Geoff pleaded with him.

"See I can't do that because your friend here called the copers and now I've got no way out of this", he said, the anger building up in his voice.

"Look just let her go if you want to make someone suffer then do it to me", Geoff exclaimed.

"No", Ruby yelled.

Derrick looked at Geoff, then looked over to the couch where Nicole was now standing, watching what was unfolding before her. Then he turned back and looked at Geoff and saw him staring at Ruby. He he ket out a large breath.

"Alright, you wanna suffer?" he said as he raised his gun, "your wish is my command".

Derrick cocked the hammer of the gun and at the last second turned...bang..........

"NO", Nicole screamed.

Geoff stood there stunned, his breathing intensifying. He looked at Ruby and watched as she collapsed to the floor. He dove for her to break her fall. He wrapped his arms around her and cradled her in his lap. He put his had over the wound trying to stop the blood. He began to shake her.

"Ruby, Ruby, come on stay with me...Ruby", he said over and over.

Ruby lay in Geoffs arms, She could feel pressure on her chest and could feel a rush of blood at that one spot. She felt herself getting sleepy but she forced herself to stay awake. She began to cough and splutter blood. Her lungs were filling up. She wanted to scream but it felt like allt he energy had left her body.

Derrick stood there laughing down at Geoff as he held Ruby in his arms. Nicole felt to her knees and began to sob. Clasping her hands over her mouth. Out of the corner of her eye she was startled to see two heavily suited figures appear throught the front door. They walked in, making no sound and rounded the corner to Derrick, who's back was turned. The first man held a gun to Derricks back.

"Don't move", he shouted at him. "Your under arrest, drop your weapon, get down on your knees and put your hands behind your head" he ordered.

The second officer passed by him and rushed over to the spot where Geoff was holding Ruby. He knelt down to check her pulse.

"The culpret had been aprehended. We need the paramedics in here right now. We have a gun shot victim, I repeat we need emergency medical assistance", the officer ordered over the his walkie talkie.

The first officer cuffed Derrick, pulled him up onto his feet and led him out the back door, passed Geoff and Ruby out to the waiting police van.

Ruby coughed again. Pain was beginning to set in. She could feel herself drifting in and out of consciousness. She closed her eyes. She could hear a familar voice...Ruby, Ruby, come on wake up, baby wake up...She opened her eyes. Staring down at her was Charlie. Her eyes bloodshot, welling up with tears, worry lines creased across her forehead. She placed her arms under Ruby, relieveing Geoff. She pulled her daughter into her embrace and held onto her tightly. Removing one arm and placing it firmly over her wound, She kissed Ruby on the forehead. A long kiss that was marked with fear for her daughters life.

Ruby began to move her lips as if trying to speak,

"Ssssh", Charlie said "don't try to speak, just stay with me".

But persisted. She tries once, twice, three times to form what she wanted to say but couldn't. Then with one big painful breath she uttered one word.

"Mum".

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More chapters to come tomorrow. Hope you like this chapter.