Another chapter! Happy Reading! Thanks again for the reviews!
Emily answered Hotch's phone as she pulled out of the parking lot, "Hello?" She didn't want to sound to presumtious, just in case it wasn't Harvey that was calling.
"Emily." The sinister voice came through the phone.
Emily cringed as chills ran up her spine, regardless she went straight to the point "Let's end this. Where can I meet you?"
Harvey laughed, "You're making this too easy."
"I just want this to stop." Emily felt too exahusted to beg, plead or even talk, it took every ounce of effort she had just to attempt a conversation. "Please Harvey." She felt her body wearing down and giving up.
"Okay, fine. Tell me where your at and I will give you directions to an isolated location..." Harvey paused for heavy breathing as his excitement builded, "...where no one will be able to hear you scream."
"What makes you think that I won't kill you when I see you?" Emily hated that he underestimated her.
Harvey laughed again, mocking her. "I know you won't, from what I've seen the past day and half I've broke you down pretty good, leaving you hollow." An arrogant laugh penetrated her ear. "Oh and one last thing before I tell you where your going."
"What's that?" Emily asked breathing deeply through her nose, clinching her teeth with an already aching jaw.
"You are going to get there before I do."
"Your giving me the advantage?" Emily questioned a little surprised, what plan does Harvey have stuffed up his sleeve?
"I think when I arrive you'll see I have the advantage." Harvey was already putting together his sinister plan, one even Emily couldn't predict.
Emily disconnected the call with Harvey as she pulled onto a long dirt road. Towering hardwoods branched over the pothole path, creating an arch that finally opened up when she reached a two story cabin.
The cabin stood solitary in a desolate hole, deep in the woods. Shingles had been ripped off by passing winds, the stairs onto the porch were warped and the flooring of the porch was dilapidated. The front door creaked on its hinges, opening and closing into a pit of darkness. An oil lamp flickered through an upstairs window tainted with cobwebs. The house screamed run away and never come back.
Emily looked to the sky, through the front windshield, above the cabin, dawn was begining to break as she came to a complete stop. Solemnly she turned the vehicle off, geared it into park and rested her head on the steering wheel. She fought off sleep for a moment and then forced herself outside into the open air.
Hotch's cell began to ding, making Emily aware the battery was almost dead. The phone was now useless. She threw it from her trembling hand, into the driver's seat before slamming the door closed.
As she walked to the front steps of the porch, she slipped her hands in her pant's pockets and shivered in the early morning chill. I have to make a plan. Just as she placed her first foot on the steps she paused, this could be a trap for all I know, obviously it's a trap but he could have something rigged. Emily backed off the step and decided to look around the house before entering while contemplating not entering at all.
Alone, lonely wandering around the edge of the house, Emily became overwhelmed. How did it get to this? First JJ, then Garcia and Rossi. It all got out of hand. Her breathing quickened and she leaned her back against the side of the house, looking up to a purple sunrise. "Why!" She yelled up towards the sky, sliding down to a damp seat on the mossy ground.
Emily felt the moisture soak through the bottom of her jeans, she pulled her knees up to her chest and sighed heavily before resting her head, against the splintering wood, on the outside of the house and sobbing uncontrolably. A point came where her body could no longer hold her weight and she let herself slowly fall to the ground, laying on her side, where she was overwhelmed with the need to sleep. Conciousness faded away as the first gleam of sunlight warmed her tear stained cheek.
Birds began their morning song and dew could be heard dripping onto the crispy leaves below. Squirrels began scampering for forage to winter in the ground, while chimpmunks chattered about defending their territory.
Emily lay still on the ground, breathing peacefully and soundly for the first time, in a long time. The woods blanketed her, keeping her safe as if it knew the turmoil she had suffered. The leaves of the oaks, walnuts, hickories and maples spread out, allowing all the sunlight that would pass to give it's warmth to Emily. The dew dried as the hours ticked by and when the leaves had all they could stand they curled up in an fall breeze, as it came sweeping into the late afternoon. The clouds covered the sun and the day became dreary. An intense dread started to nest in the shawdows, lingering like a bad omen.
Emily jumped awake. Her heart raced as she tried to catch her breath. An evil feeling began to suffocate her. The woods abandoned a peaceful protection. The birds had gave up, the squirrels scurried away to their homes and the chimpmunks deserted the fight for food. Emily stood to her feet as the evil loomed around her. She turned circles looking and waiting for something to attack.
Tires in the distance, could be heard approaching.
Emily abruptly knelt down slendering herself against the house, watching and waiting for his arrival. Sleep had stolen what advantage she had and now she was left defenseless. She took deep breaths to calm herself as she worked up a plan.
The car could be seen arriving on the horizon at least a hundred yards in the distance.
Emily breathed deeper and worked her way behind a bush, concealing her location. Placing her hand in the twisted, prickly branches she pushed them outward making a space to see where the car would come to a stop. The anticipation was almost unbearable. Part of her wanted to flee into the woods, but that still wouldn't resolve the issue because Harvey would still be out there. The only good thing about fleeing was she could run back to Hotch and see him once again, if she didn't make it out alive.
The car honked as it came to a stop.
Emily struggled to see through the car's windshield and for a moment she thought she saw two people. Her hand forced itself further sideways to make a bigger hole in the bush, there was two people. What the...Emily literally felt her heart stop and her stomach dropped...no. She pulled her hand out of the bush and stood to her feet in plain sight. The point of hiding would no longer be useful, the tables had turned.
Harvey stepped out of the car with a gun in his hand, "Is that all you could come up with after all this time, hiding behind a bush?"
Emily had no idea what time it was or how long she was out, how long had it been?
Harvey's eyes were beaming at Emily only Emily's eyes were not on him they were on Hotch.
Hotch had independently got out of the car and was standing next to the passenger door as Harvey walked around, jamming a gun in his back. Hotch was significantly taller than Harvey and Harvey had to stand on his toes, to look over Hotch's shoulder as he spoke to Emily, "Who has the advantage now?"
Emily walked towards them, eyes now sighted in on Harvey, "This was just supposed to be between me and you. Let him go!"
"Not a chance my dear Emily, he is my leverage."
"That's not fair." Emily said, realizing how nieve that statement sounded, but she couldn't take it back.
"Life's not fair." Harvey retorted.
Hotch made a small grunt, as if clearing his throat to gain Emily's attention so she could read him.
Emily caught Hotch's glance.
Hotch had a remorseful but confident look on his face, as if no matter what happened everything would be okay while also apologizing.
An unspoken comfort was found in his eyes. Emily could never understand how Hotch could bring her so much peace with just one simple look. He made her feel that they would perservere. More confident than before Emily tried to barter with Harvey, "You can do whatever you want to with me, if you'll please just let him go."
"Emily, no..." Hotch started to walk towards her, trying to stop her from making a trade as if Harvey might actually accept the offer. He couldn't bare to see Emily trade her life for his, besides the endless agony of knowing she would be dead, he would never be able to forgive himself.
Emily would have no such luck with a selfless trade. Harvey swiftly stepped in front of Hotch to keep him from approaching Emily. He now shoved the gun in Hotch's chest, yet he didn't look upset he seemed to be exhilarated by this display of affection between the two agents, "I just love this!" he said excitedly.
"What, torturing people?" Emily blurted Harvey, holding herself back from attacking him.
"No...you and him, its so sweet. You would both give your life for the other and that's why this is the perfect scenario. I can make both of you suffer by torturing the other. That's what made it so easy for me to get Agent Hotchner to come here. I told him I'd spare your life if he would give me his."
Hotch took what he thought was an opportune moment to gain the upper hand and went for Harvey's gun, while his eyes were on Emily. With one quick motion he brought up his hand, to grab Harvey's wrist, while stepping to the side of the gun, out of it's aim.
Harvey sensed Hotch moving for his gun, quickly he retracted his hand from Hotch's chest and stepped behind Emily, hitting her in the ribs with the butt of the gun, to render her momentarily defenseless before jamming the barrel into her temple, "Nice try, but no cigar. Try it again and your going to wish you hadn't" Harvey told Hotch.
Emily's focus was on the weapon aimed directly Hotch's chest, distracting her from the un-anticipated attempt at a take down. Caught off guard she didn't react quick enough to aid Hotch, in gaining control of the situation. Suddenly she doubled over in pain, from the force of the blunt object connecting with her ribs. The air escaped her lungs, she couldn't breath from the throbbing surge in her side and before recovering, Harvey pulled on the roots of her ebony hair. Emily moaned as she was forced backwards, heightening the pain in her side as he forced her to straighten her stance, just before the barrel of his gun was shoved into her temple immediately causing a blinding headache.
Harvey put his lips in the crevis of her neck and kissed her. Emily tried to jerk away and he pulled harder on the strands of her hair, clinched in his fist.
"If you touch her..." Hotch started to threaten.
Harvey smiled slyly, he moved the gun down Emily's side, tracing the outline of her curves, before reaching around and rubbing the gun between her legs, "You mean like this, Agent Hotchner?"
"It's okay Hotch." Emily said, trying to breath through the pain.
Hotch couldn't stand by and just watch this. Emily was suffering, struggling, grunting with every breath and visibly cringing and trying to back away from the touch of Harvey's gun between her legs. She was now standing on her toes, but it was to no avail only making Harvey rub her more vigorously. There was no warning as Hotch bolted towards him to fight Harvey off of her. Harvey pushed Emily to the ground and pummeled himself towards Hotch, slamming the gun across the front of Hotch's head, knocking him out cold.
Things are getting ready to take a turn for the worse. I'd love to know what you thought, good or bad!