~*~Chapter Ten~*~

About a week had passed since Kristina had came to stay on the Haunted Star with Ethan. One evening, Luke had to send Ethan out on an errand. Ethan didn't want to leave Kristina, but he needed to take care of a small matter for his father. After he returned, he hoped to spend the rest of the night with Kristina. He came down below to his stateroom to find Kristina reading a book. "I have to go out," he told her. "I won't be gone long, then maybe you and I can go out to Kelly's for some dinner."

"Where are you going?" she asked a little bit worried.

"Mmmm... yes, dinner at Kelly's would be great," Kristina agreed.

"I am getting a shipment for Luke," Ethan said as he walked over and kissed Kristina. Her lips tasted so sweet; Ethan wanted to linger.

"Be safe please," she said against his lips.

"I promise I will come back to you in one piece after picking up Luke's liquor shipment," Ethan said.

"Just stay inside while I am gone. Keep all of the doors locked," Ethan warned. "I worry about you."

"I will," Kristina promised him as she watched him go. She got up and locked the door behind him after he left.

With one last glance, Ethan left the Haunted Star. He wanted to get his business done and over. He couldn't wait to return back to Krissy.

Kristina had been sitting on the bed, reading the book for awhile after Ethan left. She placed the book aside. She was starting to get bored. She wanted to go for a walk. She was longing for fresh air.

She left the state room. After leaving the Haunted star, she went for a walk down at the docks. A short walk would be good for her. What could possibly happen in just a few minutes time? She would be back before Ethan returned; she was sure of it.

Anthony Zacchara had been waiting for that perfect opportunity; when the little chickadee flew the nest and was all alone, unprotected. He smiled. It was time to get his revenge.

Kristina stopped at the edge the dock. She was looking down at the water, watching it move slowly in small, shifting movements flowing in one direction. It glistened on the surface.

Anthony walked up behind Kristina, an evil gleam in his eyes. This time he had the little birdie trapped. She wouldn't be escaping him. He had always wanted a piece of such fine, young flesh.

Kristina was unaware of Anthony standing behind her as she gazed at the water thinking of her evening with Ethan. Anthony pulled a knife out of his pocket and pressed it against Kristina's throat. "Well, if it isn't pretty little Miss Kristina Corinthos," he crooned in a creepy voice. "I have been waiting and waiting to get you alone. We're gonna have ourselves a little fun, sweet thing!"

Kristina froze in fear, she couldn't even move.

Ohhh God...Ohhh God... Help! Please... where is Ethan?!

Anthony drug Kristina toward a warehouse, the knife still pressed against her throat. He cornered Kristina up against a wall. "You're such a sexy young thing!" he said, blowing his disgusting breath on her. "I can't wait to see how you taste!"

"No!" The word came out of her mouth in a squeak. She wanted to scream louder and spit in his face.

Anthony laughed evilly as he ripped away Kristina's clothes. He tore her blouse and cut away her bra with the knife. "Such nice firm breasts. So young and ripe," Anthony said. "I can't wait to wrap my lips around those pink little nipples. Yummy!" He began to slobber all over Krissy's chest. He smelled of old booze and body odor.

She tried to push him away. "Eewwwww! STOP!" She screamed at the top of her lungs. "HELP ME!"

He was licking her nipples and heavy breathing all over her chest. When she tried to get away, he sliced her skin, just above her breast. It wasn't a deep cut, but it was bleeding. "Ohhh look what you made me do," he said with fake regret.

Kristina let out a blood-curdling scream so loud that all of Port Charles should have been able to hear it. At that moment, Ethan had returned to the Haunted Star and couldn't find Krissy anywhere. She wasn't in his stateroom with the door locked as he warned. She was out there somewhere and he had to find her. He was searching for her frantically. "Where are you?" he called out. "Kristina!"

He was walking along the docks when he heard the dreadful scream. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him to the source of the sound. What he saw put terror into his heart.

Anthony Zacchara was threatening Kristina with a knife. She was only half-dressed and bleeding from a cut on her chest. "Krissy!" Ethan yelled.

Anthony turned around swiftly, planting the knife deep into Ethan's chest. Ethan stood there in shock for a second, bleeding, then he fell to the ground.

"No!" Kristina screamed, tears coming to her eyes when Ethan collapsed. "HELP! Please... someone!"

Sonny was on the docks to pick up a shipment when he heard his daughter screaming. "Kristina!" he yelled as he rounded the corner and came running in her direction. He saw Anthony Zacchara fleeing the scene with a bloody knife. He didn't hesitate. He withdrew his gun and shot at Anthony before he could escape.

"Kristina, are you okay?" Sonny asked, seeing his daughter sobbing over Ethan's fallen body.

Tears rushed from Kristina's eyes. "Save Ethan please," she sobbed. "We have to save him."

Sonny wrapped his daughter up in his coat. He made an urgent call on his cell phone for an ambulance. "Hang on, Ethan," Sonny said as he knelt to put pressure on the wound.