As promised, here is the next chapter! I love imagining and writing fight scenes so I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do!
A man in a long, beige trench coat walks into the room and looks around his surroundings quickly, assessing any threats. He didn't get this far to get caught now. As soon as he's completely in, he turns and locks the door behind him. Turning once more, his eyes meet Riley's and they stay locked for moments until Riley breaks contact and looks to his feet.
He's here. He's here for Wren. How did he find us? Whatever, doesn't matter. He's here now and I need to handle this.
Droning voices near her ear remind Riley of what she was doing before this man entered. She announces into the device, "Yeah guys, I, I gotta go... See-ya in a few?"
Ignoring their persistent questions, Riley hangs up and sets the phone down beside her. She puts her arm around Wren as the man limps to the center of the room. Hmm, he has a limp. A lot of blood, remember? He was injured in that car accident Bad. She looks him up and down once more. Exploit his weaknesses before he can exploit yours Riley. Come on, you have to protect Wren.
At the touch of her arm against his back, Wren looks up to see an all-too-familiar figure standing before him. Memories and emotions overwhelm him as he looks into the face of his father. He tightens his grip around Riley's abdomen making her grunt and squirm with pain.
Looking away from the man briefly, Riley strokes Wren's head and whispers, "Wren, listen to me. I'm not going to let anything happen to you. Got it?"
"Riley, he's going to hurt me again! Don't let him hurt me!" Wren sobs.
"Shh, it'll all be alright. Do you trust me?"
"What? Of course, I trust you, Riley. But, but..."
"Shh just listen. Now, when I get up I want you to get under the bed and stay there Then, when you hear me say 'Run!' I want you to run to the door, unlock it, and get out of here. Got it? Hide, then run. Don't even look back alright?"
"But, what will happen to you?" he whimpers.
"Don't worry about me, just run when I say so, okay? I promise I'll be alright. Just do as I say."
"But, but, but..."
"No buts. Do you understand what you're going to do?"
"Hide then run."
Riley strokes his hair once more, "Good, bud. That's good." She glances over her shoulder at the impatient man behind her. "Alright, I'm going to get up now. Just, just do as I told you and you'll be fine. I promise."
He nods grimily and Riley knows it's time to go. Turning, she looks at him once more. There's just something about him that keeps catching my eye, but I can't put my finger on it. Wait... Her gaze falls upon the man's coat pocket. The corner of his pocket comes to a sharper point than the other. He has a knife in there.
Panic rises in Riley. She knows she's no match for this man, not in this condition; she can barely sit up let alone fight a grown man with a knife. She shakes her head. It doesn't matter. I have to protect Wren. Riley moves the sheets away from her body and stands tall, determined not to show her weakness to this man.
Wren does as he's told and slips off the bed on the side facing the window. He slides under the bed and settles into a position where he can see everything and make a quick get-away when Riley gives the go-ahead.
The intruder speaks for the first time in his deep, gravelly voice, "I don't want to hurt you, little girl. Just give me the boy and I'll be on my way."
She shakes her head, "If you want him you'll have to get through me first."
The man snorts his disgust, "Why are you even trying to defend that?"
"Excuse me?" Riley replies indignantly.
"That child behind you is nothing to fight for. He's useless, whiny, and a nuisance. Just hand him over to me and I won't have to hurt you anymore than you already are," he spits venomously, looking her up and down.
"I'm not sure to whom you are referring because I don't know anyone like that around here. The only nuisance I see right now is you."
Anger boils up inside the man and he gruffly yells as he draws the knife out of his pocket and points at Riley. "What did you say to me?"
"Are you hard at hearing? Maybe you should have that looked at, we are in a hospital, you know. I'm sure there's a doctor around here that would gladly help you out with that," Riley returns, amused. A small smile stretches across her face as she hears Wren stifle a giggle below her.
The man's face turns as red as a lobster recently submerged in boiling water. He can't take any more of this scrutiny. Gripping his knife, he steps forward and lunges at the pesky girl.
Surprised but not unsuspecting, Riley knocks the knife out of his hands with the cast on her right hand. She smiles to herself; I guess this thing does come in handy. Clutching the opposite side of her abdomen with her left hand to keep herself steady, she sticks her right arm out - ready to defend her brother.
The knife hits the linoleum floor and bounces from one end to the other before settling flat. Riley sees his intentions before he moves. Prepared, she kicks his hand away as he bends to recover the weapon. Her right leg throbs from the effort but returns to its' calm state as it touches the floor again. Reaching for the blade again, the man gets the same result.
Agitated, he attempts retrieval once more only this time with a new plan. As Riley sticks her leg out to kick, the man winds back and slams his fist into her knee. She cries out as she loses her balance and crashes to the floor. Her shoulder blades hit the cold, hard floor and bruise quickly. Riley gasps as waves of pain wash over her swollen knee. It throbs as she feels it swell to a whole new size.
She closes her eyes, concealing any tears that want to escape. Get yourself together! Stop this, Riley. Come on, you don't have to beat him; just stall him long enough for the team to get here. They said like 15 minutes, it's been about five. Come on Riley, ten more minutes.
Opening her eyes, Riley sees the man standing over her with the knife in his hand and a smirk on his face. Thinking quickly, she kicks his knee with her left foot. He falls to his right knee, kneeling to the right of Riley. With a deep fire blazing in his eyes, he swings with the knife and cuts through her sweatpants. A crimson stream of blood trickles down Riley's right leg.
Cringing, she realizes how close they are to Wren. Riley scoots back to the wall in front of her bed, hoping the man follows her. The man stays down on the ground, inspecting his left knee. She looks at him and understands why; that's his weakness! He was limping when he came in here, remember? Smiling, Riley uses the wall to help her stand and faces the man below her.
He looks up at her as shock registers on his face; he didn't expect her to get up and fight back, no one has ever done this to him before. Leaning heavily on her left leg and supporting her upper body with the hand across her stomach, Riley swings her cast down and strikes the man in the head, sending him collapsing to his side. He drops the knife as he reaches up to feel the goose-egg appearing on the side of his forehead.
Riley stands between the man and the bed as she speaks through gritted teeth, "I'll give you one chance; leave, now."
The man grabs his knife and stands up, determined to complete his mission. Not wasting another moment, he rushes forward, aiming his knife at Riley's abdomen. She steps to the side and he lands on the bed, stabbing the mattress. Enraged beyond measure, the man pulls his weapon out of the bed and rushes toward Riley.
Unable to move fast enough, Riley feels just how angry he is. He pins her against the wall with his left forearm across the base of her neck. She struggles to breathe as the man finally gets her where he wants her - under his control.
With a devious smirk slapped on his face he leans in close and whispers, "You were a tricky one. I've never had to fight anyone like this before. They were all just so... compliant before. Why are you different?"
Spluttering, she replies, "Because I'm not afraid of you. You prey on innocent people; first your own immaculate family then other innocent families. You can't stand to face a challenge like me, you're nothing but a coward!"
"Shh," he murmurs as he slowly sticks the knife into the flesh of her stomach. Riley grunts as the tip pierces her skin. Methodically, he drags the blade along the front of her abdomen, tearing flesh as he goes. Crimson streaks appear on her T-shirt as he finishes his arts and crafts session. Her body flinches and she closes her eyes to compose herself as he nicks the stitches covering her bullet wound.
"Am I a coward now?" He whispers in her ear.
Riley turns her head away and replies bitterly, "I don't see how hurting a defenseless teenage girl makes you any less a coward. Just wait until someone your own size comes along."
"Oh, I don't think we have to worry about that, now do we?" the man murmurs as he slices a line down the right side of Riley's cheek. She grunts but makes no remark about it. Stay strong, only a little longer.
"The correct answer here is 'no, nothing to worry about, sir.'" he chuckles as he continues. "I bet I totally had them fooled on that last kill. I barely stuck to my routine, it was gut-wrenching but I did it. And now they have no idea where I am or what I'm doing."
Blood slides out of Riley's neck as he lets the blade dance along her skin. Breathing heavily, she realizes she has to act now to get Wren out of here safely. Riley, ignoring the screams of pain, uses her right leg to trip up the man's left leg and put him off balance enough for her to push him over.
The man slams into the floor, dropping the knife to hold his left leg. Riley jumps on him and presses him to the ground with what little strength she has left. He struggles but she turns his efforts futile for a few moments. Blood drips from her wounds onto his face as she looks up toward her bed.
"Wren, go! Run!" she yells.
Wren, not missing his chance, scrambles out from under the bed and starts to run for the door. He runs past the empty bed, turns to check what's happening and trips over his own feet. His hands and knees bruise as they break his fall.
The obnoxious man below Riley laughs and bellows, "That's the worthless son I remember!" His laughter dies away as he looks up at Riley. "You know, I'm getting real tired of you, girl."
In one swift motion the man frees both of his arms and pushes Riley off of him. She slides across the floor, almost bumping into Wren. Infuriated, Riley stands quickly and in unison with the man across from her. She guards Wren behind her, not letting this man get near him without going through her; just as she promised.
Leaving the knife on the floor, the man takes a step forward and speaks to Riley, "I find it fascinating that you are still trying, girl."
"I could say the same about you." Riley retorts, wiping blood droplets off her chin as they trickle down.
He takes a look at the watch on his wrist for a moment before returning, "I sure did enjoy this meeting, but if you'll excuse me I have some...activities to do with my son." The man goes to take a step around her but she puts a hand up to his chest to stop him.
"Stay. Away. From." Riley begins but is forced to stop as a blow to the head quiets her.
The man swings and punches her across the jaw sending her sprawling to the ground. Her head bangs off the solid floor and she begins to lose consciousness. Migraines erupt around her brain like volcanoes. A thin line of blood seeps out of Riley's head. Only one thing remains on her mind as she eases into unconsciousness. Wren! No, no, no! He's going to take Wren. Why can't I open my eyes?! I, I can't get up! Wren, I'm... I'm sorry...
Wren watches his protector collapse like the Berlin Wall. All of his defenses fall; nothing is going to stop his father from hurting him now. Riley? Why isn't she getting up?
"Riley!" Wren screeches as he crawls over to her. He shakes her shoulders, begging, wishing, hoping she would move and stand up for him like she always does. Her mouth hangs open as blood drips from her neck and cheek. Her T-shirt is soaked with blood as the gash on her stomach oozes more and more with every faltering breath. Wren presses his hand to her bloodied abdomen, willing it to stop. A tug on the back of his shirt makes him leave her on the floor and stand upright. Vibrant red blood covers his hands as he is forced away.
His father holds onto his collar and leans in close to threaten, "If you do anything I don't like I'll kill her. Understand me?"
Wren nods vigorously. He already put her in this much pain, why cause more? Tears spring to his eyes as he imagines what his father will do to him now that no one is here to stop him. Wren forces the tears down. He has to be strong; Riley would want him to be strong. He takes a last glance at his fallen protector as his father leads him out of the room.
The man shuts the door behind him as he leads his son out of the room. Keeping the knife at his side, he inconspicuously walks down the hallway. He breathes a sigh of relief as they reach the elevator undetected. Wren trembles under his grasp. Rolling his eyes at his son's weakness, the man jabs the knife into the boy's side, letting its' presence be known. His hand leaves his son's neck for a split-second as he pushes the elevator button. With every ding of the elevator the man squirms. Every second here is a risk for him and risks aren't exactly his forte. After what feels like an eternity, the doors finally slide open.
A smile spreads across Wren's face.
Thanks so much for reading! Please favorite/review if you enjoyed and as always, reviews are very much welcome! Tell me what you thought or think so far! :)
