A/N: I am so sorry for the two week delay. Major computer drama…crashing, losing data, spyware…it's not pretty. Anyway, I'm at work now and find myself with an uninterrupted block of time in which I can write Chapter 29 again. Oh yes, my stupid computer lost both Chapter 29 and 30…NOT happy about it…hopefully I can remember what I wrote and get this update out as quickly as possible. :)
BIG THANKS to everyone who is reading and those of you who left reviews (and for the patience!)…I really, really appreciate it. It truly makes my day.
Four Times Too Many
Chapter Twenty Nine
"There!" Nancy said suddenly, "there's the mile marker!"
Frank searched frantically for any sign of Joe's car; his panic over the situation seemed to be rising with every minute that passed. His nerves had taken a tremendous hit when they had driven across the bridge and seen that the river was starting to rise, which could only mean one thing: flooding.
Searching for anyone in the dark wasn't easy, but when you added the rain, potential for flooding and the vast miles and miles of forest they would have to search…Frank shook his head, he couldn't let himself think of the overwhelming odds stacked against them.
Nancy must have sensed his growing pessimism because she quickly reached over and rubbed his shoulder, "it's going to be alright," she murmured.
Frank didn't have the heart to respond, he just swallowed and kept his eyes glued on the road and his hands tight on the steering wheel.
He saw the sign for the campsite just as Nancy pointed it out, "Frank, let's check in there."
"Okay," he nodded and eased the car off the road and onto the gravel road, gritting his teeth at the many potholes his car bounced over.
He rounded the corner past a huge boulder and brought the car to a jerking stop to avoid colliding with the rear end of Joe's.
"Joe!" Frank yelled as he and Nancy climbed out of the car in the pouring rain. Frank quickly assessed the situation, taking in Biff's smoking truck, its front end wrapped around a giant tree trunk. Joe looked up at the sound of the car and his brother's voice.
"They're not here," Biff growled looking into the passenger side of his truck. He turned and looked into the woods, the rain soaking his clothes. "She doesn't have her jacket," he murmured. His mind seemed to have latched on to that one fact, that Maggie was somewhere out there in the rain cold and wet.
"How long have you guys been here?" Frank asked and pulled the hood up on his jacket and subconsciously checked to make sure Nancy was doing the same.
"We pulled up about a minute before you did," Joe replied and wiped a hand over his face.
"Okay, we'll need to call Con," Nancy pulled out her cell phone, "set up search parties for the area."
"We can't wait for them," Biff insisted, "We have to find her now!"
"We know, Biff," Frank said in his placating voice, "but we might need all the help we can get, it's a big forest."
Biff didn't seem to be listening to Frank at all; he was already lurching unsteadily toward Joe's car and the flashlight that lay on the front seat.
Frank's concern mounted when he noticed the dark patch of blood on his friend's arm, it seemed to have gotten bigger since the first time he had seen him. "Wait!" he rushed over to put a restraining hand on Biff's good shoulder. "Biff, your shoulder is getting worse."
Biff shot a careless glance at his blood soaked shoulder and shrugged, "I can't even feel it," he murmured.
"Maybe you should stay…" but Frank didn't get to finish his suggestion before Biff ripped his arm out of Frank's grasp.
"No," he said angrily.
"Biff, at least let me wrap it up for you, to stop the bleeding," Nancy walked forward with the First Aid kit she had grabbed from Frank's trunk. Before he could protest Nancy hurried on, "you won't be helping Maggie if you pass out from blood loss," she narrowed her eyes and fixed him with her most stern expression.
Biff looked like he was about to try and protest but his face suddenly went ashy and he swayed drunkenly against Frank, "fine," he grumbled and slumped against the hood of Joe's car with Frank's help.
Trying to ignore the rain Nancy quickly eased Biff's injured arm out of his coat and pulled up the sleeve of his shirt. Pursing her lips at the ugly gash she fought hard not to let her concern show. When she was finished she stepped back and watched Biff grimace as he shrugged his jacket back into place.
"Okay, let's go," he said through clenched teeth and struggled to push himself up off the car.
Frank grabbed his arm for support, "It's okay buddy, take a minute."
"No," Biff shook his head stubbornly, "Maggie may not have a minute." No sooner had the words left his mouth when a piercing scream broke through the night air, "Maggie!" Biff said desperately and pushed himself upright. "Let's go!"
He stumbled off into the trees leaving his concerned friends to follow quickly behind him.
Maggie had no idea where she was or where she was heading, she only knew that she could hear John crashing through the trees behind her. He sounded far behind her but she didn't want to take any chances and she clutched the flashlight in her hand like a lifeline. She had debated whether or not she should risk turning it on, afraid that John would be able to see it in the darkness, but after she had run into the third tree branch she knew she had to take the risk.
She wanted desperately to cry and almost did when she slipped in the mud and fell to the ground but her newly formed spine wouldn't allow her. Taking a deep breath she shoved herself back to her feet and lurched quickly forward. 'Run faster! Escape! Run harder!' she repeated the words in her head over and over willing her protesting lungs to take in more air and her aching legs to take her just a little farther.
After awhile she had to stop to rest or she knew that her legs would just give out and she would fall down again. She slumped against a tree but refused to give in to the need to sit. Her chest heaved as her body fought to take in enough oxygen to breathe and she was faintly aware of the shivers that wracked her body from her wet clothes.
A minute later she heard the crashing sound of John behind her and she pushed her tired body up off the tree. With a sob Maggie resumed running, hoping she was running in the direction of help.
The darkness was so absolute that Maggie didn't notice the steep drop off to the river until she was sliding down it. Her scream tore through the forest and wildly pounding rain alerting not just Biff and the Hardy's of where she was, but John as well.
John stopped to catch his breath, placing his hands on his thighs and taking deep breaths. The damn woman was long gone, his best option now would be to head back to his truck and get the hell out of this town.
The thought of leaving his wife behind didn't sit well wit him, but chances were she wouldn't survive in the cold dark forest alone. Biff Hooper may not be dead, but he was hurting and there was some satisfaction in that.
John straightened up and wiped his wet hair off of his forehead. If the damn fool woman wanted to run through the forest in the rain well, then he'd let her. He scanned the dark trees ahead of him one last time before turning to head back toward his truck.
His mind was going through his next steps, how he'd get out of town…did he have time to stop by his house and get some more of his things? He didn't know if he should risk it, especially if Maggie was going to die out there in the woods somewhere. The thought sent a shiver of pleasure down his spine and he was sorry he wouldn't be there to see his stupid stumbling wife die because she wasn't capable of taking care of herself.
He chuckled to himself and shook his head. It really was a shame that he couldn't be bothered to chase her anymore, but he was in full on self preservation mode. He needed to get out of Bayport, save his own skin and move on, start over again.
Sighing dramatically to himself John turned back toward where he had left his truck. He couldn't help but feel a little disappointed that he wasn't going to make Maggie pay personally. It had given him such great satisfaction to watch Biff in pain. He knew that watching Maggie in pain would have been so much more satisfying. He sighed again and shook his head; he'd just have to make do with the image of Maggie alone in the woods cold and afraid.
He grinned at the mental image.
Tucking the gun into the waistband of his jeans he kept walking. The scream that broke through the air, surprisingly close had him whipping his head around quickly. Maggie.
Suddenly his plan to escape vanished and his mind laughed at the very idea. What had he been thinking? Leave Maggie alone? She had to pay and he was the only one capable of making sure she paid all of her debts. Mother Nature would be too merciful.
Yanking the gun back out his face broke into a maniacal grin as he walked purposefully toward where the scream had come from.
"Is this the right way?" Nancy murmured to Frank as they followed Biff through the woods.
"I hope so," he replied and quickened his pace to keep up with his friend, Joe crashed along behind them.
"Vanessa and a fireplace, Vanessa and a fireplace," Joe repeated over and over in an undertone.
"Cold, Joe?" Frank called over his shoulder.
"John has many things to answer for, but I'm hoping I get a punch in for my rain soaked leather jacket," Joe said in way of response.
Another scream ripped through the night air, "she's over there!" Biff yelled and took off in the direction of the scream.
A few seconds later Biff came to a halt in a small clearing with a steep drop off. John stood pointing a gun over the rocky ledge; the river flowed quickly past at the bottom of the ravine.
"Don't come any closer," John yelled as Frank and Nancy ran into the clearing behind Biff.
"Where's Maggie?" Biff demanded.
John grinned and motioned with the gun, "down there."
Biff rushed to the edge and what he saw had the fear rising up in him stronger than he had ever felt it. Maggie clung to an outcropping of rock, her feet dangling mere inches above the churning water of the river below.
"Biff!" she cried and there was blood on her face.
"John!" Biff yelled not taking his eyes off of Maggie, "you have to let me help her!"
"No I don't," John said, "now back away or I'll shoot her."
Biff didn't budge, "John…" his voice was strangled with fear and stress, "John, you have to let me help her," he repeated.
"No! Now, I said to back away!" John gestured with the gun for Biff to move back and join Frank and Nancy but Biff didn't move.
Ignoring John completely Biff quickly dropped to his knees, ignoring the pain in his ribs and shoulder. "Maggie, hold on just a second longer."
"Okay," Maggie shivered and silent tears dripped down her cheeks, "but hurry! I can't feel my fingers anymore, I think they're slipping."
"I said MOVE!" John roared and pointed the gun at Biff. He seemed to be shocked that Biff was ignoring his orders, "I'm the one with the gun, now get away from her. I will shoot you! I WILL SHOOT YOU!" He aimed the gun at Biff's head but Biff was oblivious to everything around him except for Maggie.
"It's okay Maggie," he said in as calm a voice as he could manage.
"Biff," she sobbed, "Biff, he's going to shoot you!"
"Shh," Biff said, "don't worry about him." He lay down on his belly and reached toward her, her hands just out of reach. "Frank!" he called desperately, "Frank, I need you to hold my feet!"
"Don't move!" John thundered, "Don't you help him or I swear to God I will shoot you too! Don't think I won't!"
"Frank!" Biff yelled again, "she's slipping!"
The gun blast was loud and deafening and seemed to shake the ground in the small clearing. Biff's body jerked once as he watched Maggie's fingers slowly lose their tenuous grip on the only thing that was keeping her from the raging water below.
