HEY :)
SO HERE'S THE CHAPTER. I TRIED TO MAKE IT REALLY INTENSE. HOPE YOU LIKE IT! :D
PLEASE R&R!
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End Of Previous Chapter.
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Jo jerked an arm free and slammed her fist into Ramsay's chest. The gun flew out of his hand. It clattered across the floor and came to a stop about six feet from Mac.
She tried to get away, but Ramsay yanked her viciously back toward him.
He started to drag her to the back of the warehouse."You bitch You ruin everything!" He shouted.
Finally Mac got to the gun. He grabbed it and swung it at Ramsay. His heart stalled when he saw Ramsay pressing the knife to Jo's chest.
"If you shoot at me, I'll stab her Mac. You wanna risk losing her?" He growled.
Mac hesitated as Ramsay pulled her to the back exit.
Danny, George and Owen jumped out of the vehicle, drew their weapons and sprinted toward the second warehouse.
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CHAPTER 10.
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"Mac! Shoot him!" Jo struggled against Ramsay. "Shoot him now . . . " Her voice was rusty and fragile and her throat hurt like hell from the choking he'd given her.
Mac swore under his breath. Ramsay was using Jo as a damn shield. He couldn't get a clear shot.
With his arm still rapped tightly around Jo, Ramsay felt for the door handle.
Mac noticed the knife drop away ever so slightly from Jo's chest and Ramsay turned his body, momentarily taking his eyes off Mac as he wrenched open the door.
George, Danny and Owen ran up to the warehouse and tried to get the heavy doors open. George cursed under his breath. "Dammit! They're locked!"
Owen turned around and saw the eight other guys in their team jumping out of their cars and hurrying toward him. He smiled to himself. "Ramsay hasn't got a chance in hell . . ." He was interrupted by the dreaded sound of a gun shot. He turned, his eyes widening as he stared back at the warehouse.
God No! Danny whirled around and ran toward the back of the building, his fear obliterating all known rules of procedure.
"Danny wait!" George cursed loudly and took off after him.
Danny saw the back door up ahead. He raced toward it and dashed inside. He slowed to a stop and glanced around, the sudden shock bolting through him when he noticed the heavily blood stained floor.
George skidded to a stop behind him. "Dammit! Where the hell did they go?"
Danny whirled around, pushed passed George and moved quickly back outside. Suddenly he noticed the footprints in the snow. "George!"
George jogged up to him. "What?"
Danny pointed at the footprints."They headed into the woods." He answered anxiously
Owen and the rest of the search team raced around to the back of the warehouse, but before Owen could ask what was going on, Danny and George had taken off in the direction of the woods. "Hey George! . . What the hell . . ."
George skidded to a stop and turned quickly back to the team. "They've got to be in these woods somewhere. Split up . . ." He stopped mid-sentence, his mind so jumbled with emotions he couldn't think. God, he could hardly string two words together. He released a shaky breath. ". . .Just find them!" he shouted. He turned back and sprinted after Danny.
"Well you heard him, let's go!" Owen shouted. The team quickly checked their weapons, turned on their flashlights and raced toward the tree line.
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Mac still couldn't believe what had happened back at the warehouse. The damn bullet had ricocheted off the door frame. It had missed Ramsay by mere inches. Then Mac had stalled for a split second, as a sharp, excruciating pain shot through his ribs, and by the time he'd gone and aimed the gun to shoot at him a second time, Ramsay had already disappeared out into the night.
Mac had chased Ramsay into the woods, but Ramsay was getting further ahead now and the fear and despair began to race through Mac's heart. If he lost Jo, he would never forgive himself.
The sharp branches battered his face and a large tree stump jabbed his thigh as he moved deeper into the woodland, but he ignored the pain and increased his speed, channeling all his energy into reaching her. A moment later, he saw a clearing up ahead. He stumbled through the trees and slowed to a stop, pushing himself up against a tall Oak. He tried to breathe, but all he could manage was a few shallow breaths. Willing himself to stay on his feet, he gripped Jo's gun tighter in his hand and peered around the tree trunk. There was no sign of Ramsay. Terror tightened his chest. Jo where are you?
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Feeling panicky, the urge to scream at him to beg and plead at him to let her go drummed through her, but what good would that do? His large hands were pressed tightly to her mouth and all she'd been able to manage was tiny muffled sounds. She blinked back the tears, frantically struggling for control. She had to stay calm and wait for the opportune moment to escape.
Ramsay tightening his grip on her as he dragged her further into the woods. "I'm the Game Master Jo, and no one will stop me from finishing what I started." He growled venomously.
His Icy, harsh voice sent a shiver up her spine, but she gulped back the fear and started to visually assess her surroundings once again. She glanced up at the huge hulking trees and the isolation of it made her tremble.
Suddenly, Ramsay tripped on a tree stump and his grip loosened from Jo's body.
She jerked away from him and started to run. "Help!. . . Mac! . . Anyone! Help me!"
Mac skidded to a stop. "Jo!" He heard her cry out again. He spun around and stared through the trees. Oh God No! He cursed loudly and started to run toward the river.
Danny slowed his speed.
George tore passed him.
"George Wait! I heard Jo!"
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Jo raced through the trees and risked a glance up at the night sky. The heavy clouds had totally covered the moon and the constellations. She felt so disoriented now. "I'm here!" She cried frantically.
Her arms and legs pumped, but the waterlogged ground pulled at her boots, slowing her considerably. Suddenly she heard the sound of water raging over rocks. A River. "I'm near the . . ." The blow came from behind, a solid tackle that knocked the breath from her body and sent her flying forward. She landed face down with a cry of stunned pain, a crushing weight on her back and unbearable burning in her chest. Snow surrounded her and she dragged in a mouthful, choking and spitting.
"It's your turn now, bitch!" Ramsay spat bitterly. He grabbed her wrists and dragged her back to a secluded spot by the river, shrouded by bushes and trees. She tried to pull her wrists free, but his hold was too strong. She started to shout out frantically. "Stop! Get off me! . . Let me go!" Suddenly the weight of his body slammed down on top of hers. "NO!" She screamed.
His fingers bit brutally into her arms. He turned her onto her back and straddled her. "I was hoping I'd have longer with you." He leered evilly at her, his eyes skating over her body. "I'll just have to make this quick."
Terrified, she tried to kick, but his knees clamped her legs. Tried to wriggle away but his hold was too strong. Tears stung her eyes. "Please! . . . Stop! Don't do this."
With a look of savage satisfaction, he drew back his fist and slammed it into her face.
Her body went limp and darkness circled her vision.
He yanked off her scarf and tied it tightly around her mouth. Then he straightened up and glared viciously down at her. "And now for the finale."
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George raced through the trees, forcing himself to go faster. He turned the corner and noticed Danny up ahead. He was shouting for him to stop. It was too late. He'd seen the partially collapsed wooden fencing right in front of him and he had no time to get out of the way. He slammed into it and tried to stay on his feet, but his foot got caught in some wire and he fell forward crashing head first into the rotting wood.
"George!" Danny raced back to him. "You okay!"
George cursed under his breath. "Yea. No problem." He went to pull his foot out of the wire and winced in pain. "Dammit!" He shouted furiously and released a long, frustrated breath. "I can't move my leg!"
Danny's eyes widened. "Is it broken?"
"I don't know." His eyes flashed back at Danny. "Get the hell out of here and go and find Jo!"
Danny met George's anxious gaze.
"GO!" George shouted.
Danny swallowed hard. "Okay. Hang in there. I'll come back for you!" He turned around, pushed off from the ground and sprinted off to find her.
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With a depraved grin, Ramsay pulled out his knife and ripped through her coat.
No! She fought to stay conscious and thrashed weakly at him.
He laughed mockingly. "Is that the best you can do?" He squeezed his big hand around her wrists and slammed them back onto the biting, cold snow. "How pathetic am I now bitch?!" He brought the knife toward her again and continued to cut through her sweater and shirt, violently rending the fabric with big, jagged tears.
She screamed out from beneath the gag and fought frantically to get free.
He leaned toward her with a devilish grin and jammed the point of it against her larynx.
Jo stopped struggling and swallowed reflexively as she felt the tip of the steel bite into her skin.
"Watching your blood flow from your body is such a turn on Jo. I think I'll need to cut you a little more before I rape you."
She blinked back the tears as he pressed the blade deeper. Terror tore through her. Instinct told her to jerk away. Logic told her not to move.
She closed her eyes and tried not to swallow again, holding herself rigid as he eased the pressure and glided the blade down her body.
She cried out in pain as the tip of the knife bit into her breast several times, then skipped along her belly and nicked the point of her hip.
He grinned maliciously down at her. "I better not cut you any deeper. I don't want you bleeding to death before I've finished with you." He brought the knife to her Jeans and sliced away the button.
Terror tore through her heart. She screamed frantically and struggled to get free of him once again.
Danny sprinted toward the river, the fear and fury raging through him at the thought. If Ramsay hurt her, he'd not only arrest the bastard, he'd make him suffer first. Finally, he heard the raging waters through the thicket of the tall mesquites and oaks. He noticed movement up ahead. He slowed his pace slightly and inched through the woods toward it. His breath stalled in his chest when he saw him. Ramsay! The sonofabitch had Jo pinning to the ground. Suddenly, he noticed the large knife clutched in Ramsay's hand and he aimed his weapon at him. "Put the knife down and get the hell away from her or I'll shoot!" He shouted furiously.
Keeping his grip firmly on her, Ramsay turned toward Danny and started swearing one profanity after another at him.
Danny had had enough. He aimed his weapon at Ramsay's arm and fired. The bullet ricocheted off a tree trunk Instead.
Mac approached Ramsay from the opposite direction. He stumbled across the riverbank and tore through the overgrown bushes.
Jo saw the moonlight hit a blinding burst off the blade as Ramsay brought it up. He screamed out in a fit of rage and she watched in stunned shock as the knife plunged through the air toward her.
Her life flashed before her eyes, and as Images of Mac filled her mind a sob escaped her. This is it. I'm going to die.
Danny got passed the last set of trees and finally got a clear shot. He went to aim his weapon at Ramsay again, but suddenly a second gun shot resounded through the air. Danny skidded to an abrupt stop, his eyes widening as Ramsay dropped the knife and screamed out in agony, clutching at his chest.
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Owen shot to his feet and glanced in the direction of the gun shot.
George swallowed hard. "Ah crap!"
Owen whirled back around to Pete and Bradley. "You two! Get George back to the warehouse! The rest of you, come with me!"
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Ramsay's grip loosened on Jo and she just managed to roll out from beneath him, before he collapsed on top of her. She wrapped her coat back around her and stared at him as he lay there motionless beside her and the fear and panic she had fought to keep at bay during the whole ordeal, suddenly hit her in a pounding wave.
Driven by a growing sense of panic, Mac raced across the rough terrain and skidded to his knees beside her, his heart slamming like a jack hammer through his heart when he saw her laying on the ground, the material from her clothing scattered around her. "Jo." He gently cupped her face in his hands and turned her away from Ramsay.
Tears flooded her eyes as she stared up at him. "Mac?"
"Yea it's me "It's okay." Mac reached over and checked for a pulse. Ramsay was dead, thank God. "It's over Jo."
Danny jogged up to Mac and sunk down beside him. He tore his eyes anxiously from Jo and glanced across at him. "Jesus Mac. Are you okay?"
Mac ignored him and continued to stare down at her. My God Jo. Did he rape you?
Danny looked back at her, quickly grabbed his phone from his pocket and called for an ambulance.
Fear tightened Mac's chest when he noticed blood seeping through her coat. "Your bleeding, let me take a look."
She wrapped her coat more tightly around her and grimaced in pain, which didn't go unnoticed by Mac. "It's . . . It's fine." She stammered.
"Jo. You can trust me." He leaned toward her and moisture filled his eyes as he brushed a strand of hair from her face. "I love you." He whispered.
Slowly she loosened her grip on her coat and Mac quickly pulled the heavy material from her body. "Oh God!" Fear tore through his heart and he quickly started to tear away some material from his already blood soaked shirt.
Danny eyes flashed back at Jo and Immediately, he noticed the nasty laceration wounds across her chest. He pressed the phone closer to his ear. "We need that bus down here ASAP!" He shouted urgently. He hung up and pushed the phone back into his pocket. "That shirt's no good Mac." He yanked off his jacket and pulled off his sweater. "Here. Take this."
Mac grabbed it from him and pressed it to her chest and Jo cried out as the sharp, stabbing pain shot through her body. "Shh. It's okay." He lifted her in his arms and held her close. "You're gonna be fine."
Jo leaned heavily against him. "I'm cold . . . and I . . . I cant . . . breath."
Mac glanced fearfully back down at her and terror gripped his heart as her eyes began to close. "Jo! Look at me! . . . Wake up! . . . Jo!" He pressed his fingers to the side of her neck. "Her pulse is steady, but weak."
Quickly, Danny got to his feet. "We have to get her to the ambulance! Let me take her!"
"I've got her!" Mac scooped her into his arms, but suddenly a sharp, intense pain slammed through his ribs and he was unable to get up.
"Mac. You're too injured to carry her! C'mon! Give her to me!"
"Okay . . . Okay." he answered breathlessly.
Danny lifted her out of Mac's arms. "Can you make it back to the warehouse?" He asked him anxiously.
Mac muttered under his breath. "Of course I can Danny." He staggered painfully to his feet and pressed the sweater to her chest. "Let's go."
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OKAY. IT'S A SHORTER CHAPTER, BUT I'VE STOPPED IT HERE BECAUSE I'M SO TIRED TONIGHT. I CAN'T WRITE ANY MORE LOL!
NEXT CHAPTER IS UP FRIDAY I'M AFRAID. IT'S BECAUSE WEDNESDAYS AND THURSDAYS ARE SO BUSY FOR ME AT THE MOMENT.