Before I continue I'd just like to apologise if anyone thought the storyline came on a bit too strong in the previous chapter, I did put a warning at the beginning. I do try to make the situation as believable as I can and to do that I have to try and get into the characters head, which in the case of Barry does not always give nice results. I'm afraid this chapter contains some more unpleasantness, just to give a heads-up. While I'd love it if you'd read on please don't feel obliged to if it's too upsetting.

Chapter 28

Daylight had come just over two hours ago, the sun sending its narrow rays through gaps in the cloudy sky over Emmerdale village and the last bit of inky darkness fading from sight.

Of course this went unnoticed by Aaron and Jackson, who as expected had not even attempted to sleep the night before, and who couldn't tell the difference between minutes and hours as time seemed to have ceased to exist or matter.

Eight O' clock came and went with no calls to Aaron's phone. While they knew it was early in the day yet part of both of them greatly feared that it wasn't going to ring at all and that this was just another sick game Albeck had gotten them into.

Jackson had gone to the kitchen to get a drink of water. When he returned he saw that Aaron had moved from the couch to stand at the window, hands on the sill, the rest of his body completely stationary, eyes looking outside but not seeing anything.

Jackson joined him and for a brief while nothing was said. After all what could be said? No amount of words could make this situation better.

Then Aaron spoke, his voice broken with the combination of the amount of tears he'd cried the night before and his sleepless night.

"The first twelve hours."

Jackson turned to him in startled confusion "What?"

"That's the average time. They say that in most cases the best chances of a missing child being found alive are during the first twelve hours after they've been taken. After that…." He stopped, unable to bring himself to continue.

Jackson put an arm around him "Don't think like that! We will find him and everything will be alright."

Aaron nodded slowly even though he knew Jay wasn't totally convinced by his words either. "How could he do it, Jackson?" he whispered "It's disgusting enough for anyone to do, but as much as it makes me feel sick to the stomach to admit it Kalum's his son. How can he be so cruel towards his own flesh and blood?"

"Because he's a self-centred, wicked, inhuman monster." Jackson replied woefully "He was like that to begin with and now…." He stopped.

"Now that he's pretty much lost his marbles he's even worse." Aaron finished softly and bluntly. Jackson didn't know what else to say, so he just pulled his husband gently into his arms, trying to offer him what little comfort he could. While it didn't work Aaron was grateful for the effort all the same and regretted that he couldn't find it in him to attempt the same for Jackson, who he knew was hurting just as much.

"I'm sorry." He croaked "I just can't help fearing the worst. He could have left him in a ditch overnight in the freezing cold, or thrown him in a river, or…. " he paled "Jackson, he doesn't have his inhaler! What if he has another attack and suffocates or…"

"Shhh he'll be ok, I promise. Everything's going to be alright in the end. Our Kay's a stubborn little fighter."

Aaron snorted "What, like his father?"

"No, like his dad." Jackson managed a weak smile, which given the circumstances took a great effort. Aaron too managed a small one in reply and clung to Jay a bit tighter. Although it wasn't coming to much he knew Jackson was trying his best and he was grateful for it.

They heard loud thumping noises as footsteps came down the stairs; Cain.

Nothing was said as he slumped into an armchair and rubbed his face with his still oil-stained hands, yawning. He clearly hadn't slept either.

Then he grunted "Still no calls?"

Aaron grunted back in reply "No."

There was more awkward silence before Cain began "Look Aaron, about your mum…"

"Cain, now's not the right time…" Jackson tried intervening but to no avail.

"…she hasn't slept all night and she was still crying when I left her. She's in a proper state, lad."

That's when Aaron saw red.

"And what, am I supposed to feel guilty? What do you want me to say, "I'm sorry mum for getting annoyed over you losing my only child to a fucking nutcase?"" he shouted.

"Lad! Keep your flaming voice-" Cain growled.

"And she hasn't slept has she? She's in a "proper state" is she? In case you haven't noticed Cain it's not a stroll in the park for us either!" Aaron continued sarcastically, still keeping his voice at the same volume.

"Aaron he's her grandson-"

"And he's our son!" Aaron nearly screamed, not believing what he was hearing.

"Aaron, this isn't going to help things!" Jackson firmly tried to calm his husband down. Aaron looked at him in disbelief "Do you not hear what he's saying? His flaming priority right now is my mum's bloody feelings!" He turned angrily back to his uncle

"Our son, our little boy, has been taken by a deranged monster, we don't know whether he's alive or dead, neither of us have slept or eaten in over 24 hours and every time we hear footsteps going past the house it feels like a stab in the stomach because we're sure each time it happens that it's going to be a police officer at the door with his cap in his hand! So don't you dare try and suggest that my mum's in a worse state than we are!"

"I'm not! I'm just saying that she feels bad enough about what happened as it is without you making her feel worse!" Cain shouted back, getting to his feet but Aaron still didn't bat an eyelid.

"Well you know what you can do-"

Aaron's comeback was cut off as his ringtone suddenly rang out, silencing the room. Aaron stared at it uneasily, unsure of how he'd react if it wasn't from the person he was expecting. Hazel had already been in a right state before she had even entered the house last night and had all but collapsed once it was confirmed by the boys themselves that what she was told by Cain was in fact true. Somehow Bob managed to usher her home and it would be a safe bet to assume that they hadn't slept either. But as devastated as she was Aaron didn't know if his nerves could take it if it was her calling instead of Albeck.

But he had to answer it. The number was unknown, which steadied him a bit. Putting it on loudspeaker mode he said a quick prayer in his mind before hitting the green button.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Albeck cracked open an eye and winced in the sunlight. Glancing at the car clock he grimaced and swore; it was far too early.

While trying to determine the cause of his early awakening he heard a small gasp behind him. He ignored it but frowned as he heard another one a few minutes later. Scowling he turned around in his seat to face his little hostage in the back.

Kalum had been awake for some time, his breath catching every so often. Thankfully it didn't seem nearly as serious as his first attack, probably because it was being treated regularly, but all the same if given another few hours….

Not that Kalum understood this. He was more concerned about the mild pain in his chest and that his small wrists were getting quite sore in their bindings. Nor did he understand the deeper meaning of Albecks next statement.

Sighing, Albeck glared at his son and rolled his eyes before commenting drily "You just always have to spoil everything don't you?"

But before Kalum could even begin to reply he was startled as Albecks eyes suddenly widened in shock, gazing at the space beside Kalum.

"Who's that?"

"What?"

"Him! Right there! Beside you, you little numpty!" he pointed at the empty seat on the left hand side.

Kalum was scared by this. What was he on about? There was nobody sitting beside him, nobody he could see anyway.

"Is it a ghost?" he stammered, trying to push himself as far away from the seat as possible.

"No you little twat, it's not a fucking ghost! He's as real as you and me! How did he even get in? Did you let him in?"

The warning tone in his voice frightened Kalum even more than the fact that this man was seeing invisible people. Then Albeck spoke again, this time his face relaxed and voice softer, eyes still glued to the vacant seat.

"No, no. It's ok, I know him. It's my friend from prison. It's Eli."

If Kalum was confused at the beginning he was well puzzled now; surely this man was too old for an imaginary friend. But whoever Eli was Kalum was indeed grateful to him as he seemed to have made Albeck calm down a little. His facial expression now seemed almost… human.

Knowing he was probably about to make another big mistake but deciding to give it a shot anyhow he attempted once again to take advantage of his biological father's civil mood.

"I want to go home."

Even as he mumbled it he shirked away, expecting more nasty comments or even a physical blow but instead

"We'll be heading home soon enough Kalum. We'll both be going home soon enough."

The words were spoken almost like a whisper, with a glazed expression, as if the speaker hadn't realised he'd spoken out loud.

Kalum was shocked. After all this, this strange man was going to take him home just like that? He didn't know whether to be happy that he was finally getting what he wanted or scared in case it was a trick. While he was young he certainly wasn't that gullible.

But he didn't have time to question it because as quickly as it had come Albecks mellow mood had disintegrated and he barked at the child

"Stop making that stupid noise!"

Kay couldn't even begin to explain that he couldn't help it before Albeck had opened the car door, gotten out and slammed it shut behind him, tinkering with his mobile.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

"Well? What do you want?"

Albeck sighed over the phone "Again Walsh a bit of manners would do yo-"

"Cut the bullshit and just tell me! We want Kalum, what do you want in return?" Aaron snapped, patience fading already.

Silence on the other end which caused the three men alarm that Aaron might've pushed too far, but then

"….here's where we'll be at twelve O' clock sharp…."

With that the men's jaws went slack in amazement as Albeck rattled off the name of a place out in the countryside a few miles away and a series of directions of how to get to it. Had they not known any better, it almost sounded as if he was giving up.

"… we're miles away from that place at the minute so there's no point in sending your little search party out there now. Which reminds me, bring no police. If I see any sign of your uniformed buddies….." he made a harsh clicking noise with his mouth, followed by a soft boom.

"Goodnight, God bless." He whispered menacingly, causing the hairs to stand up on Aaron and Jackson's neck.

"If you want him be there at twelve, no sooner no later. I'll be waiting."

Before he could hang up Aaron blurted "Hang on! You didn't tell us what you want-"

"You know what I want." Then there was a click, and there was no more.

For a few minutes nothing was said as they all gazed at the phone, stunned, as if they'd just imagined the conversation. It all seemed too surreal, too easy, to be true.

Cain began "This all sounds fishy to me…"

Aaron interrupted "Cain, phone the police and tell them all the details. Make sure they know exactly what his terms are. Jay, go to the bank and withdraw the money. That has to be what he's looking for. I'm going to find out on the internet exactly where this place is, or if it even exists…"

"Whoa, slow down lad! You can't honestly be thinking of going to this place!"

Both Aaron and Jay, who was just starting to throw his jacket on, stared at him as if he were stupid.

"Of course we are!"

Cain couldn't believe what they were saying "Do you two prats actually think he's just going to hand you back the kid, simple as that? We're dealing with a 24 carat loony here! It's suicide! He probably has one of his grubby mates waiting there to take you out and-"

"What choice do we have Cain?" Jackson cut in "If it's only a one in a million chance that he's actually telling the truth then we'll take it! If it's the only hope we have of getting Kalum back then we're going to have to risk it!"

Cain started to argue but Aaron silenced him with a solemn "Would you do the same if it were Debbie or Sarah? Despite the risks?"

Cain couldn't answer that. Giving in, he grunted "I'll call the station" and went begrudgingly into the kitchen to make the call.

Before going out the door Jackson leant in to give Aaron a quick kiss. "We will get him back." He muttered "Whatever it takes."

Aaron nodded slowly "Whatever it takes." He agreed.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Kalum's mood at this point had given misery a new dimension. He was tired, he was hungry, he was sore and above all he was terrified. He wanted to go home. He wanted his dad, he wanted his daddy, hell at this stage he'd settle for just a hug from anyone. Anything to bring him the slightest bit of hope that he wasn't going to be stuck with this horrible, mean man forever.

At the minute his abductor was flicking through some CDs that were stored in the cars glove compartment, whistling almost merrily. Kalum wasn't sure which part of this strange person unsettled him more; the horrible part or the mellow. Kalum didn't understand how he could swap one side for the other at any given moment.

He had been mumbling to himself earlier; not the sort of mumbling to oneself that was normal, but full on conversation with himself. Right now Kalum would almost prefer the abuse-giving man yesterday to the genuinely unpredictable creepy man today with his invisible friends.

Albeck stopped on a CD and smiled to himself as he slid it into the player. As he fiddled with the buttons on the radio he muttered half to Kalum and half to himself "You probably won't know this song. It was playing in a restaurant when I first started seeing your mother. I used to joke with her that my surname was really Manilow and I wrote it especially for her…"

Kalum sat in confusion as song lyrics came out over the speakers.

I remember all my life,

Raining down as cold as ice

Shadows of a man, a face through a window,

Crying in the night,

The night goes into morning….

"We're going to take a little drive now." Albeck grunted just loud enough for Kalum to hear before revving up the engine. Kalum just nodded, his breath catching suddenly before going back to normal again, which it was starting to do a lot more frequently now.

Looking in their eyes,

I see a memory

I never realised,

How happy you made me….

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Midday could not come fast enough for Aaron and Jackson. They found the quickest and easiest route to the meeting place, had emptied the bank account containing Kalum's inheritance and had spoken with the chief inspector face to face.

They knew it would be a long shot to request that there be no police involvement, and they were right. The chief inspector was with Cain on this one; the situation sounded too simple to be genuine. But knowing she could do nothing to deter them, she requested that there be police in unmarked cars parked at a distance away to take control of the situation if and when necessary. The men still didn't like it, but nothing else would be accepted.

As they got into the car, their nerves were already taking a beating, not solely because they knew that they would be subtly followed by unwanted police officers, but that one slip could cost them everything.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

It was starting to spit rain by the time the black Mercedes pulled into a remote area some miles off from its original spot. There wasn't much difference in the two areas except this one was even more badly sheltered than the first and was a lot more mucky and damp.

Albeck got out and opened the door on Kalums side. "Out!" he barked.

Kalum gave him a puzzled look and it took a minute for Albeck to remember. Sighing, he went to grab Kalum under the arms, causing Kay to immediately cross his arms tightly over his chest. He had understood ages ago that Albeck was not taking him home and had something else in mind but whatever that was Kay was determined to not make it easier for him.

"Uncross your arms!" he growled. Although Kalum was scared out of his mind he still held firm and shook his sandy head.

Albeck half-sneered as he said "Do as daddy tells you, you little brat!"

It was out before Kalum could even think it over "You're not my daddy, so I don't have to!"

At this reply Albeck furiously raised his hand at an alarming speed, causing Kay to yelp and cover his face with his arms, knowing he'd said the wrong thing and he was going to pay for it now.

But the hand just came to rest on the front of his jacket, gripping it hard but not coming in contact with the skin beneath, forcing Kalum to look at his father's grimly smiling face.

"You're definitely no son of mine. You're no child of anyone's; the devils spawn is what you are."

The weird tone of his voice increased Kalum's fear as he continued "Now, are you going to do as you're told or will I have to drag you by the collar like a dog? Don't think I'm joking."

Knowing when he was beaten Kay reluctantly uncrossed his arms, little knowing he was about to be hauled into the final part of Albecks sick game.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Aaron and Jackson trudged through the mud and grass, rain falling lightly on them. Why Albeck had chosen this particular place was beyond them but that wasn't their main concern at the moment. Less than a kilometre away was the unmarked police vehicles and both were wearing a wire which seemed to dig right into their chests in the current state they were in. Nothing could be afforded to go wrong in this, absolutely nothing.

They seemed to be going uphill, the April showers still falling on them and their feet slipping in the muck. The hill seemed huge and getting to the top seemed to take an eternity even though they ran as fast as humanly possible.

Finally they made it and didn't know whether to be relieved or sickened by what they saw.

Standing almost casually close to the opposite edge of the hill, looking like a character from Wuthering Heights in the wind and rain and holding a trembling bundle was Barry Albeck.

"'Bout time boys!" he sneered "We were so bored waiting for you we were nearly going to play a little game of Russian roulette to pass the time."

But the men ignored his jibe because they only had eyes for the small bundle in his arms that had whipped his head around to see who it was.

"DAD! DADDY!" he shouted, overjoyed and relieved to see them. Everything would be alright now, they were here, he was safe. They wouldn't let anything bad happen to him.

But that's the problem with children. They're innocent to how cruel and unfair the world can be.

Aaron took a few steps forward, eyes fixed on his frightened son. "Kalum!"

Jackson hurriedly stopped him "Don't!"

Aaron looked at him in surprise before Jackson nodded to what lay right behind Albeck, and it took Aaron several seconds to realise what it was.

Nothing. That's what was behind him. This was no average hill.

It was a cliff.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

"Nice place isn't it? Used to come out here often when I was married." Albeck drawled, enjoying the unease of the men in front of him.

But they weren't in the mood for petty chat or arguing. Eyes constantly drifting to the edge of the grassy cliff where Albeck was dangerously standing close to Aaron began "We have what you want. Give us Kalum and you can have it."

Albeck cocked an eyebrow "Do you now?"

"Yes." Sticking a hand into his jacket he pulled out several thick wads of notes and tossed them to him, landing near his feet "It's all there. Every pound."

"How generous." Albeck murmured with a smirk that Aaron really didn't like.

"That's what you wanted all along in the first place isn't it? Now you have it. Now give me my son."

Their hearts sank as Albeck tutted mockingly "Only half-marks I'm afraid, Walsh. Yeah I wanted it in the first place, but what use is mere money to me now? I'm a man on the run from the police. It's not like I can just waltz in anywhere and buy myself a Ferrari or something, is it?"

"Then what do you want?" Jackson almost screamed "Name it! If you want to go free then fine, go! We'll drop the case, tell them you just left the child and fled! Just tell us!"

Again Albeck shook his head and sighed, the frightened child in his arms looking uncertainly from him to them, not knowing what was going on.

"You still misunderstand me. I've been getting what I want since yesterday, this is just going to be the icing on the cake…"

Their expressions were blank, either not understanding what he meant or their minds were currently just refusing to understand.

"Do you know what it feels like having your whole world stolen from you? Do you know what seven hellish months in a prison feels like?" Albeck whispered, danger steadily creeping into his voice "All that kept me going in those seven months was the thought that someday, somehow, I was going to make you feel even half the pain I experienced in my life. This was never about money…"

With that horrified looks came onto the men's faces as Albeck slowly withdrew a shiny, black revolver out of his pocket and laid the muzzle to rest just below the terrified child's chin.

"This is about making you hurt." He whispered.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

"You can't!" Aaron screamed in horror at the strangely calm figure in front.

"Why not?" Albeck shrugged like it was no big deal.

"He's your son!" Jackson pleaded desperately "He's your child!"

Again Albeck shrugged carelessly prompting Aaron to add "He's Mandy's child! Do you think she'd want you to kill her son? Do you? She loved Kalum, you know that!"

"This creature is nothing to me or Mandy!" Albeck roared "This here is a devil-child! A Damian! He's evil!"

For a brief spell Aaron and Jackson were speechless. They knew he was mentally unstable but they never imagined it was this bad; this man was completely bonkers.

"He stopped Mandy loving me." He babbled on "He drove a wedge between us and turned her against me. Then he killed her! Why else would he survive the crash and not her? He's a changeling!"

"Kalum don't listen to anything he's saying!" Jackson yelled to his still shaking son "He's crazy!"

Albecks lips turned back into a sneer "Crazy, am I? At least unlike you I haven't let him poison my mind. The only crazy thing here is that I'm actually doing you a favour; I'm stopping him before he has time to harm anyone else…"

There was a split-second of slight relief as he lowered the gun only to be replaced by fresh terror as Albeck turned and dangled the small boy by the arms over the side of the sheer drop.

As both Kalum and the men were too sick with shock to react as of yet Albeck mumbled "You like nursery rhymes Kalum? Have you heard this one? Humpty dumpty sat on a wall, humpty dumpty had a big…"

He loosened his grip and the petrified child screamed as gravity took over…

xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Just before all was lost Albeck grabbed hold of the child's wrists and brought the fall to a sudden stop. Aaron was trembling and retching with the impact of it all and Jackson had dropped to his knees, his face turning a deathly shade of green.

Kalum himself was crying silently at this point, out of shock more than fear as he still dangled over the cliff edge, gazing down at the foliage and grassland a good few metres below. Albeck remained motionless.

Then Jackson with a trembling voice croaked "Don't hold him like that, you're hurting him!"

At this Albeck underwent another change and with a cruel smile he replied "He's paralysed, he hasn't got any feelings!"

Obviously this wasn't the case as Kay's little face was starting to screw up with the pain that the combination of the tight ropes and the force of gravity as he dangled were having on his wrists.

"Let him-" Jackson began before stopping, realising too late what effect his next sentence might have.

"Poor choice of words, Walsh." Albeck chuckled but all the same to their relief he pulled the boy back onto land, Kalum's unsteady breathing now going at an alarming rate.

Aaron just couldn't help it. "You're a monster." he breathed "You're a sick, twisted psycho. I should have put you in the ground when I had the chance."

"Whatever I am, it's what you two and he made me." Albeck replied in a weirdly melancholic tone "You call me a monster, but my wife gave birth to the real monster."

Jackson shook his head "He's no monster. He's loved and wanted which is more than anyone can say for a worthless bit of scum like you. Why couldn't the police have just done the world a favour and let them finish you off in prison?"

"Dad?" a scared uncertain little voice cut in.

"Everything's going to be fine baby, I promise!" Aaron called to his son. It was torture being so close to him and not able to touch him or hold him or comfort him.

Albeck shook his head "I told you they were liars." He mumbled before reaching back into his pocket and retrieving his revolver, causing further dread and alarm to rise in the two men.

"Enough." He muttered, again more so to himself than anyone else. "That's enough. It's time for us to go home now…"

Pure cold numbness filled Aaron and Jackson as he placed the mouth of the gun right against the left side of Kalum's head, just above his ear, and then shockingly placed his own head on the other side of the completely baffled and frightened child's head.

"Let's go and see mummy, will we Kalum?" he whispered, eyes far away and glazed over, finger trembling dangerously on the trigger.

Then Jackson made a sudden, desperate lunge forward…..

Then there was the sound of a gunshot…..

And then the real screaming began…

….TBC

I'm so sorry for doing this to you all but I will try and get the next chapter up ASAP. To keep you tide over till the next chapter I will reveal only this; the bodycount will be 2.

Valere001: Aw thank you! :) College is going fine so far bar the mountain of work and the government's plans to increase our fees, which led us to take up pickets and protest recently. But other than that, it's going great thank you. :)

Song belongs to Barry Manilow. I know, totally original song choice for Kay's mum yeah? :P And kudos to those of you who get the link between Barry's "friend" Eli and Emmerdale;) "Damian" reference belongs to The Omen. Thanks for reading!