Sorry I haven't updated in a bit… I've been a little busy. But I have been looking forward to writing this next chapter so here it is for you wonderful people!

And I do apologise about the cliffhangers… but how else am I meant to keep you interested? :P

CHAPTER 20 PRAYING FOR A MIRACLE

It had been about ten minutes since the encounter but to Charlie and Joey, it felt like an hour had passed. Joey sat by the wall, her eyes fixed on Robbo watching his every move. She was too frightened to speak or even look in Charlie's direction. It would only make her remember that the one person who could save her was in exactly the same position as her. Completely defenceless.

Robbo stood by the doorway, watching the two girls sit quietly in fear. "I'm really enjoying this." He headed over to Charlie and knelt down in front of her, giving her a smirk. "I wanna see you save yourself." He ripped the tape from her mouth carelessly and Charlie flinched, trying to ignore the pain but still feeling the sting around her mouth.

Robbo laughed throatily. "What will I do with you?"

Charlie plucked up the courage to speak. "How did you get out?" The sentence came out as more of a statement than a question.

"What does it matter?" He stood up and moved towards Joey. "I'm here now. Following you did work to my favour. I knew it would."

"This isn't worth it, Robbo. Just let us go." Charlie kept a calm stature and a steady voice.

"Now why would I wanna do something like that?" He pulled Joey's hair and yanked her to her feet.

"Fine. Leave Joey the hell alone and take me instead." Charlie didn't care anymore. She couldn't let Robbo hurt Joey. Not again. "Come on. I'm sure that's always been a dream of yours. To hurt a cop."

Robbo smiled sarcastically. "Isn't this cute. Sacrificing yourself for your girlfriend."

"I'm serious, Robbo. Leave her alone."

Joey stood beside him, fear gripping her entire body. Just the touch of his hand sent chills down her spine. Robbo gripped her shoulder tightly, his fingers digging in deep.

"You see, that's where you're confused." He slung Joey roughly over his shoulder and made his way to the door. "I don't care about you. I've got what I came for."

"Robbo, come on…" Charlie was almost pleading. Her eyes met with Joey's when they left the room and her heart sank. Joey was pleading with her. She was petrified and Charlie couldn't do a thing. Her entire world felt like it had been crushed. Watching him take her away killed her. It pulled tightly on her heart and it became hard for her to breath.

"Robbo!" Charlie screamed, struggling extra hard against her bound arms and feet.

Charlie heard Joey cry out one last time before the back door slammed and the place fell silent. Charlie listened hard. All she could hear was her rapid breathing and her heart pounding hard against her chest.

That was when she heard car doors slam and a jumble of voices. She recognised them.

"Help!" Charlie screamed. "In here!" The voices stopped and the patter of feet on the verandah was the most welcoming and comforting sound Charlie had heard in a long time.

"Charlie!" It was Ruby.

"Here…" Charlie's voice was one of relief and gratitude.

"Oh my God!" Ruby froze when she saw her sister. Hugo and Steve soon appeared behind her, hurrying in and kneeling down beside her.

Suddenly there was the sound of car tyres spinning on the stone around the opposite side of the house.

Charlie panicked. "Go after that car!" She shouted, looking at Hugo and Steve with fear in her eyes. "Hurry! It's Robbo… he has Joey!" Hugo and Steve paused for a moment trying to comprehend what was happening. "Go!" Charlie shouted with more anger in her tone then she had meant. Hugo and Steve looked at her and then raced out of the room, instructing Ruby to stay with her sister.

Charlie was exhausted. She just wanted to collapse and know that Joey was safe. And she wished Robbo had taken her instead.

"Charlie…" Ruby knelt down beside her sister and struggled against the knots, untying her and then drawing her into a tight hug. "I was so scared… when they said… they said he was out." Ruby choked out her words amidst tears and panic, holding onto her sister and not wanting to let go.

Charlie pulled away from Ruby's grasp. "How did you know we were here?" She looked into Ruby's eyes and realised she had never been more happy to see her little sister.

Ruby wiped away her tears and held onto Charlie's hand tightly. "They called us… the police. They were looking for you. Then they told us that he was out… that Robbo had gotten out and that… that Joey was in danger. And you were with her… and I was so scared, Charlie. I couldn't lose you…"

"It's okay." Charlie squeezed her hand. "But… how did you know we were here?"

"We'd tried everything. And everywhere. So we went and saw Dad… you said you were going to be in the city so I thought maybe you were with him. Or that you had been. I know in his condition he probably wouldn't remember but I hoped." Ruby paused. "Steve was with him when we got there. And he told us. Me and Hugo, that is."

"I just hope Joey's okay…"

"They would've called the police." Ruby tried to maintain eye contact with her sister. "Hugo is such a nice guy. He was so worried…"

Charlie looked up. Obviously Steve hadn't told them about her and Joey. But now wasn't the right time. She wasn't going to load that onto Ruby right now. "Thankyou for finding us. I don't know what…" Charlie couldn't finish her sentence. She saw Joey's pleading eyes and choked up.

Ruby wrapped her arms around Charlie and pulled her back into a tight hug telling her it would be okay. Charlie dug her head into Ruby's shoulder and cried.

He