Chapter 38:

It'd been two days since Peyton vanished and everyone was on edge, fearing something terrible.

Thankfully, Addie was checked out at the hospital, and pronounced fine. They tried distracting her, which was working out so far.

The police had put out missing person alerts and were investigating evidence and scouring the area. Test results from the traces of blood had yet to return.

All they could do was wait, but Lucas would have none of that. He took things head on and looked for her himself. Starting with a search through her laptop. The police had ignored it, but he believed he'd find something on there, even if she didn't want him to.

Luckily, it was still logged in. Her inbox was overflowing with new messages. But nothing looked suspicious. Then his eyes flew to a message from someone who called himself I.B. Then he found another, and another. All containing a few threatening or mysterious words. The last one was sent 2 days earlier. It said simply, "I can't wait to be with you again,"

That was all he needed. He called the police station, where he'd been for much of the two days, or if he wasn't there, he was in contact with them.

Luckily, they found this could be of importance, and sent someone down, someone who could hopefully trace the source of the emails.

Leaving the laptop on, the officer took it to the station as evidence.

OTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTH

"Please, please let me go!" Peyton begged. She was in despair, bound to a chair, the scarf that was tied around her mouth had fallen around her neck.

Her kidnapper just smiled, cruelly. "But Peyton, I can't do that. Don't you remember what happened last time?"

"And there's no one around to rescue you now,"

"I haven't done anything to you!" she yelped as he ran his rough bony fingers across her pale face.

"Oh but you have, walking around in that wardrobe of yours, swimming, kissing other men," he hissed in her ear. "But now, you're mine,"

"I just want to see my baby, please!"

"Pretty girl you have. She looks just like her mother."

Peyton wasn't going to let him get away with that and she managed to push her chair closer to him and give him a firm kick to the shin.

"What the fuck?" taken aback, her captor backed off.

"Don't ever talk about my daughter like that,"

He noticed a slight bulge in her pocket and decided to investigate, finding her cell phone. And flipping it open, he saw her background, a photo of Lucas and Addie.

"Oh my god, tell me it isn't true. She's Lucas'. How could you?" he started to break down in his pathetic signature move.

Peyton knew full well what he was capable of, and his act didn't fool her. But she realized that he looked smaller and more vulnerable, since the last time she'd seen him. Maybe, just maybe if she could free herself from what bound her, she could get him when he was weak. Then again, how could she be sure? He looked harmless enough before, and then he struck.

OTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTH

"Mama?" Addie opened her eyes and looked hopefully at the door frame.

Brooke sat on the bed beside her,"Sorry sweetie, it's just me,"

"Brookie, where's mommy?"

"Uhm, your mommy had to do something for a few days, but she'll be back soon. And until she's back, you'll be with your dad and me." she hated lying to the little girl. But she couldn't tell her the terrible truth, she couldn't hurt someone so innocent.

"Okay. Where's daddy?"

Brooke didn't know what to tell her. Addie was a smart kid, and despite her age, she didn't let much get past her. "He's out, but I promise he'll come up when he gets home. Now, go back to sleep hun,"

Yawning, Addie put her arms around Brooke's neck and gave her a peck on the cheek before falling back onto her pillow and shutting her eyes.

If it wasn't for the fact Peyton being missing and all, this would be an absolutely perfect time in Brooke's life.

"Any news?" Brooke rushed towards Lucas, barely giving him time to get through the door.

"Actually, yes. But can you give me a sec?"

'Yeah of course, oh and I promised Addie you'd see her when you got home,"

"Thanks baby, I'll be down in a minute, and then I can tell you everything," he kissed her.

OTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTH

"Okay, she's fast asleep, but I think we should call Haley and Nathan to fill them in. It's not late."

Brooke called them, and they left James with Deb, as they were staying with her while they had remodelling done to the house.

OTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTH

"We're here!" Haley called.

"Shhh, Addie's sleeping," Lucas put his finger to his lips.

Nathan sat on the recliner, "Sorry bro, so what's the scoop?"

"Everyone better sit down,"

"Oh my god, what is it? Is it bad?" Haley gasped.

"Well yes, and no. No, because they're following a lead that might take us to Peyton, and yes because she's with Ian,"

"Who?" Nathan looked puzzled while Haley and Brooke looked horrified.

"Ian, you know fake Derek?" Haley tried to explain.

When it clicked, he too looked shocked, "Oh god, we have to find her!"

Lucas nodded, "I know, but anyway, I found a bunch of e-mails on her laptop, and they managed to trace them to a computer, which is his. So they're trying to trace him now."

Haley was now in Nathan's lap, clinging to his neck and Brooke's head was nestled in Lucas' shoulder. It was the only way they all felt secure, but even then, they pictured Peyton in some dark, damp space, bound and scared.

OTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTH

Addie was scared, she lay awake in the oversized bed. Her surroundings were unfamiliar. But she wasn't about to just stay there. She made her way to Brooke and Lucas' room, and found the door open and Lucas and Brooke asleep, but she got in between them and slid under the covers, finally finding her safe place.

A/N- I finally finished this chapter! I've had most of it done for a week, and I just kept adding little bits whenever I had inspiration or time. Will try my hardest to get another chapter out soon! As always, PLEASE REVIEW!!

xo-Sasha