Chapter 14 – Phase III

A soft cry was heard as James rubbed his knee. "Now how did this happen?" a caring young woman's voice had come. He sniffled some more,

"Gouge and I were just playing tag but I fell over and scraped it." He looked up to see his mom bandaging him.

"Well, you have to be careful running around here silly; this is concrete flooring not carpet." She chuckled and smiled at him. "There, all better!" She gave it a little kiss as he smiled.

"You're so smart mommy! How do you know how to make things better?" She chuckled a little.

"Well Jimmy, you can just say I've had a few lessons…" They smiled at each other.

"Mommy…why do you only call me Jimmy?" Ruth raised an eyebrow. "Everyone else says James."

"Well, you wouldn't know it, but you have an uncle and that was his nickname too but I haven't seen him in a loooooong time. When you were born…you just reminded me of him." James stared intently. "You just smiled so big and your eyes gleamed just like his used to, I knew then that you were my whole world. That whatever happened in the past didn't matter, as long as you were safe, I would be okay." James looked down.

"Dad scares me sometimes…" Ruth scoffed.

"That man scares everyone, but not me." James looked back at her. "No, I used to be afraid of your father but not anymore."

"Why not?" Ruth smiled.

"I'm just…not."

"RUTH!" Alex suddenly said loudly, they both looked at him. He saw that James was in the room and lowered his voice. "We need to talk…" Ruth nodded.

"Ruth…that's your real name isn't it mommy?" James asked. She nodded. "That's such a pretty name." She smiled as she walked outside his room and closed the door.

"Derick says you tried convincing him to bring home school supplies."

"I won't deny that."

"Why?"

"Our son needs education, he is 6! He needs to know his ABCs and 123's!"

"You want to teach him? Heh, you barely have a middle school education."

"I would've had more if I wasn't abducted." Alex stared her down.

"Don't you give me an attitude."

"Or what? You'll rape me?" Alex glared down at her. "Whatever you plan to do to me, I don't care – I've been through it all." She said sternly. "I'm not scared of you anymore." Alex shoved her but with a quick movement she pulled out a knife and stabbed him in his side. Alex buckled to his knees but pulled out his gun and shot at her. He missed as Ruth ran back into James' room and locked the door. She ran to James and talked fast, "Jimmy, listen to me. I love you with all my heart and don't you ever forget that."

"Mommy? What's going on?" She shushed him as tears rolled down her face.

"I love you." She kissed his forehead as Alex, Derick, and Martin barged in and started to drag her away. She kicked and fought with them, scratching all the way. They tied her arms behind her back and put something over her mouth to quiet her. They were finally able to get her in the trunk of Derick's car and drove off. It was quiet for a really long time. Ruth laid there in the back of that trunk, knowing that these were her last few moments alive. She heard Alex and the others talking in the car and then there was a song playing in the background. O green world…Ruth began to remember her hometown and all her friends, she wondered if they were still looking for her. Don't desert me now…Ruth thought about everything she had been through and her son, oh how she prayed her son would be okay without her. Bring me back to fallen town, where someone is still alive. Ruth let a tear escape her as the car finally came to a stop. Fighting for something new in this…they opened the trunk as Ruth kicked at them. When no one needs the heart of me…they pushed her violently away from the car and next to some trees. And I'll get out somewhere other than me before...she saw a train station a little bit a ways and in the far off distance could hear one coming. O green world, don't deserve me now. They made her get on her knees. I'm made of you and you of me, but where are we? She slowly closed her eyes. Oh no...There was a single shot.

A/N: I know this chapter is short compared to the others but I just thought it best if this be it's own chapter, next chapter is gona have you on the edge of your seats though!