Hey, just a quick note to avoid confusion, Adam is holding Ricky hostage, not Lily or Darcy. Lily is still with the boys in Summer Bay and Darcy has gone back to her gran's in Mangrove River...
"Are you sure I can't come with you?" I question lightly, watching the boys and Bianca get ready to leave.
Brax turned to me and sighed "Lily, we've been over this, you're staying put" he told me firmly
"Worth a try" I grumble, folding my arms "Decided where you're sending me yet?"
As if in reply there's a knock at the door and Roo is stood smiling round at us
"Ready to go darl?" she questioned, looking right at me
"Guess so" I mutter grabbing my bag while giving Brax the death stare
"I'll wait outside" Roo said quickly dismissing herself "Enjoy your trip folks"
I turn to Brax "Really?"
He shrugged "I figured you'd want to be with Maddy, if you couldn't be with us"
I raise an eyebrow "Not a bad decision"
He smirked and grabbed his keys off the table.
"I take it you didn't tell Roo why I'm actually spending the night at hers?"
He snorted "Course not, that woman can't keep anything quiet"
I bite my lip before throwing my arms round him
"Promise me you'll be careful" I whisper
He squeezed back "I'll try" he murmured into my hair before releasing me.
I hugged each of them in turn before rushing out to where Roo was waiting.
We waved goodbye as the four of them drove off, a stray tear finding its way down my cheek.
"You okay darl?" Roo asked softly, noticing
I nod quickly, brushing it away as we begin the walk to her house.
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When we get there, Mr Stewart is sat at the table reading a paper
"Hello Lily" he greeted, rustling the pages
"Hey Mr Stewart" I replied quietly
Roo rubbed my back reassuringly, not realising my quietness wasn't down to homesickness
"Why don't you go and relax in Maddy's room?" she suggested "She'll be home soon"
I look at the clock on the wall and frown, it was quarter to ten, why was Maddy out so late?
Shrugging it off, I wander down the hallway and push open the door to Maddy's bedroom. A sleeping bag is already set out on the floor and I drop my bag on top of it with a sigh.
My phone buzzes, and I pull it quickly out of my pocket, but the caller ID is not the one I was hoping to see.
Hey Lil, sorry Roo only told me an hour ago that you were staying tonight – I'm actually at a party with a couple of kids from school so I won't be back till late...You should come join us! Or you could stay at mine, no biggie Xx
Shaking my head I shove the phone back in my pocket and stretch out on the sleeping bag to think.
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About 15 minutes later, Roo stuck her head round the door
"I'm guessing Maddy's text you by now?" she asked with a disapproving tone
I nod silently
"I'm sorry love, I just presumed she'd be here to keep you company"
"Don't worry about it" I tell her monotonously "I'm fine"
She nodded, not really believing me
"Well Alf and I are going to bed now, if you need anything just come and find me okay?"
I nod "Thanks Roo"
She smiled and left the room, gently shutting the door behind her.
Once she's gone I count to 500 before getting up and crossing to the window.
A previously written note is left on my sleeping bag, explaining that I missed my family too much and went to stay with my Mum in Mangrove River. Even if they do ring her when they find the note, she won't pick up so that's fine.
I hold my breath and slide the window up, hissing as it creaks on its hinges.
Once it's wide enough I pull my leg over and sit on the ledge before dropping swiftly to the ground below.
"Thank God for first floor bedrooms" I mutter, picking up my bag and swinging it over my shoulder.
I check the time on my phone – ten past ten.
"50 minutes to go" I sigh, creeping round to the front of the house before breaking into a sprint along the cliff path.
It's a good job I went to the lock-up with Brax during the week, when he checked it out for anything suspicious, otherwise I wouldn't have a clue where I was running to.
25 minutes later, and I skid to a halt looking at the silhouette of the building from my spot on the roadside. I can't see the Ute so I guess they've hidden it from plain sight. Even so I find a place behind a tree to sit down and wait to see if Brax or any of the others appear.
I must have dozed off because next thing I know, a Mercedes is pulling into the space below me, lit up by the powerful headlights. A figure climbs out and heads straight inside – must be Adam. He's closely followed by 2 other men before everything falls silent once more.
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From my new hiding place, behind a couple of petrol barrels just inside the doors, I can see Adam stood leant at ease against a pillar, while Brax is stood opposite with his arms folded.
"I'm truly surprised at you Braxton" Adam began "I really didn't think you were one to abandon family"
Brax visibly bristled at this statement
"I'm not abandoning them. I'm doing this so you leave them alone"
Adam laughed coldly and clicked his fingers, causing an echo throughout the lock-up.
The two men that followed him inside appeared, each holding one of Ricky's arms as they led her across the room.
"Brought my sister along, thought she might like to watch your final moments" Adam sneered
Ricky struggled against the two men, but it was no use.
"Alright?" Brax asked her calmly, nodding in her direction
Ricky smiled weakly at him before directing her gaze to the floor.
"So Braxton" Adam said, clearing his throat "What will it be? Gun or knife?"
Brax paused as if thinking about it
"Neither" he answered smoothly, clearly taking Adam by surprise.
It was at that moment that Heath ran in, using a metal pole to knock the two men unconscious.
Brax moved forward to catch Ricky as Heath turned to Adam, when said man yelled at them to stop.
He began to clap slowly
"Nice try boys, really, nice try. But did you really think I wouldn't have a backup plan for such an occasion as this?"
Heath wiped the sweat from his forehead as he shot a look at Brax who had his arms round Ricky.
"You're bluffing" Brax panted eventually "You're a liar"
"Oh am I?" Adam asked, pulling out his phone.
He tapped away for a few seconds before a familiar voice flooded the lock-up, bouncing off the walls.
"Dad!"
It was Darcy
Heath looked up at Adam in anger and shock at the sound of his daughters voice.
"Dad help me! Please Dad help me!"
Her voice was desperate, and gave me goosebumps.
"What the hell have you done to my daughter" Heath snarled taking a step forward.
I peered even further round the barrel to see Adam chuckling to himself.
"Don't worry Braxton, I haven't done anything to her...yet. She's just waiting with a couple of friends of mine that's all. She'll be released once Brax here has kept up his end of the bargain. So again Darryl. Gun? Or knife?"
It goes silent, until the sound of another car outside causes me to turn round.
Another man appears, dragging Bianca with him.
"Look who was waiting a little way down the road" he grinned, pulling Bianca upright.
She had a split lip, probably from where she tried to fight back.
Adam laughed "Even better, another one to watch the show"
Heath reached out and grabbed his wife as she drew near, pulling her to his chest.
"They've got Darcy" Bianca told him
"I know" Heath replied as if in pain.
Clearly bored of how long it was taking, Adam whipped round and punched Brax in the jaw before gripping him by the neck of his shirt.
"Time's running out for you Darryl" he warned, reaching to his belt where I saw the gleam of a blade.
Not thinking at all, I grab a stone from the ground beside me and chuck it inside, hearing it roll across the floor.
"GO!" Adam roared, obviously sending the one remaining conscious member of his backup to come and find me.
I hurriedly get to my feet and run round the other side back to the tree I hid behind before.
Seconds later, the man appeared, gun in hand.
"I'm gonna die" I breathe screwing my eyes shut and pressing myself even harder against the tree trunk.
I can still hear the voices from inside as Adam warned the others that Brax would die if they 'tried anything funny'
The sudden pain of cramp in my toes catches me off guard and I let out an involuntary squeak.
The snap of a twig to my left, tells me I may have minutes to live, and sure enough the man appeared and I hear the click of his gun as he prepares to fire. So without another thought I wrap my fingers round a nearby rock, and whack him over the head. Out cold.
"Well? Did you get them?"
I hear the impatience in Adam's voice as my footsteps draw closer to the lock-up entrance.
"Sorry, they must have got away" I smirk, my frame casting a shadow
Brax, Heath, Bianca and Casey looked up at me in surprise, but I stand my ground.
"Well well, if it isn't baby Braxton" Adam cooed, letting Brax stumble backwards into Casey.
"Some family friend you are" I sneer, referring to the night on the beach when I first met him.
"What can I say" he shrugged "I have a tendency to...bend the truth"
I nod calmly "So...Where do we go from here?" I ask airily
He chuckled "Well, I'm gonna kill your brother and the rest of your family here, and you get to watch" he told me with false excitement.
I laugh, attempting to distract him, as I see Heath sneaking up behind the man.
"What's so funny?" he demanded
"Oh you'll see" I reply, just as Heath tapped him on the back, punching him square in the face as he turned round.
In an instant, Brax grabbed the gun and the knife, aiming both at Adam as he lay bleeding on the floor, laughter still escaping his mouth.
"Now this is how it's gonna go" he began, while I make my way over to them "You're gonna tell us where Darcy is, then we're gonna ring the police...and maybe an ambulance if you're good" Brax teased.
I look up at Heath, his arm round my shoulders as he pulled me tightly to him. Casey had his arm round Bianca as we watch the scene unfold.
"I won't ask you again Adam" Brax warned, shooting a quick apologetic glance to Ricky. Seeing her discomfort I slip my hand into hers and she squeezed it gratefully.
"Where's Darcy?" Brax repeated, pressing the blade even closer to the man's face.
"At home" he hissed "We never moved her anywhere"
Heath frowned "Then what was the message you played?" he demanded
"I said we didn't move her" Adam smirked "Doesn't mean we didn't pay her and her gran a visit"
Heath lurched forward but Casey and Ricky held him back
"He's not worth it" Casey groaned, barely managing to restrain him
"If they've hurt her you're a dead man" Heath threatened, falling back at the sound of sirens.
"Who called them?" Adam asked, wincing in pain
"I did" Ricky told him sweetly "Have a good life in prison bro"
Brax laughed and took a step back, allowing both weapons to clatter to the floor as he embraced his girlfriend in a tight hug.
Police flooded the lock-up before Adam could even get to his feet. They slapped handcuffs on him and led him outside, closely followed by the two other men, once unconscious and now just dozy.
Once they'd gone, Brax turned to me, and whacked me upside the head.
"D'ya ever listen to me?" he teased
I shrug with a smirk on my face
"Nice entrance though" Casey laughed ruffling my hair.
"Guys I think we're forgetting someone" Ricky told us quietly.
Heath looked up "Darcy!" he cried before sprinting from the lock-up at full speed.
