A/N: Thank you so much for the few wonderful reviews I received for the last chapter. You have no idea how much they mean to me.

This took a little longer to write as baby has been poorly, but hopefully I'll have more time to write soon. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

The Unexpected Acquaintance

Chapter Thirty-Eight
The Man Who Comes Around

Part II

Freddie gave a dazed groan when he finally stirred. His mouth was dry, throat bittered with a metallic taste. His head throbbed so hard, he was sure his eyes were going to pop from his skull.

He was slouched against the side of the bed and when he tried to move, he found he'd been handcuffed to the radiator.

Gabby's face loomed above him from the bed. 'How are you feeling?' Her voice was barely above a whisper and when she glanced at the door, he saw a raw fear in her features.

'Sore,' he muttered, sitting up as best he could to relieve the ache in his arse. He looked around; besides a small double bed and a bookcase, the room was bare. Metal bars had been placed over the window. This had been Gabby's prison for the last month, and the thought of spending any time alone in this desolate little room sent a chill down his spine.

He looked at her carefully. 'Where's Craig?'

Again, she glanced at the door, before uttering a reply. 'Getting ready to go out. Says he has some important stuff to do.'

In the next room, there was the bang of a closet door and bootsteps on the landing. They thumped downstairs and moments later the front door slammed shut. The imprisoned pair remained silent until they heard the car reverse off the drive and speed off down the street.

'We need to get out of here, Gabby.' His words were firm as he fruitlessly yanked at the metal cuffs binding him to the bed. Gabby instantly looked anxious, wringing her hands together.

'He's got the key. How am I supposed to free you?'

'Find something! Anything that can pick the lock!' He gave a growl of frustration. 'There must be something!'

At this, Gabby looked furious. She climbed off the bed, her fists balled at her sides as she stood before him. 'Don't you think I've tried? I've done everything I can to get out of this place!' Her eyes were brimming with tears and she angrily dashed them away. 'You don't know the half of what I've been through, Freddie Roscoe.'

He stared at her, not daring to speak as she paced to the window and peered out through the bars. 'There's no escape. I've tried.'

'There's always a way out, Gabby.' She didn't reply and Freddie sighed, shifting a little to try to ease his achy limbs. 'You know, Joe never gave up searching. He's the reason I'm here.'

At this, Gabby looked relieved, as if she were afraid his brother had completely forgotten her. 'I was worried in case he got hurt. Craig has told me some awful things...' She fell quiet, moving across the bedroom to sit down on the floor beside him. She rested her head back against the radiator, shoulder leaning against his. It was quiet for a moment before she glanced at him.

'I'm glad you're here, Freddie. I thought I'd never see anybody else again.'

The silence was sombre as the four sat in the front room; Sandy and Holly on one sofa, Ziggy perched on the arm of the chair. Jason hovered by the door, hands in the pockets of his grey joggers.

Ziggy had barely said a word after Holly's revelation, though there was a tick in his jaw and his fists kept clenching. And then, finally, he looked up at her with black eyes and asked, 'why didn't you tell me before? Why've you been covering for him?'

Holly swallowed hard, looking down at her balled hands. Jason stepped forward. 'Tell 'em, Holly. Tell 'em what he did to you.'

She refused to look up as she spoke, forcing the words out her mouth. The truth had to be told. 'Finn... He forced me to give him oral sex.' The words sounded disgusting, almost dirtying the air around them and Holly sobbed as Sandy pulled her into a tight hug. The older woman shot Ziggy a horrified look, unable to believe what this poor girl had been through. So traumatised she didn't dare speak out about the crash.

Ziggy got to his feet. He'd stayed silent after her words, but now he was pulling on his jacket and heading out the front door.

'Ziggy, get back here!' Sandy cried out, but it was no use. 'Oh, Jase, don't let him out of your sight!' She watched her youngest flee after the enraged man, before trying to comfort the upset girl in her arms.

Emmy walked into the house, the smell of spices greeting her as she stepped into the heated hallway. Shutting the door and turning the lock, she kicked off her slushed off shoes and yanked down the zip of her jacket.

Her mind was still caught up in the argument with Robbie; declaring his love hadn't really bothered her. The fact that he didn't know she was planning on aborting their baby did. If he knew...

Well he couldn't, she told herself firmly. He'd run mile at even the inkling of a pregnancy. He was young and carefree, and she couldn't blame him.

What he doesn't know won't hurt him, Emmy tried to reason with herself. And once it was over, everything could go back to normal. But, even she couldn't blot out the stab of guilt in her chest for getting rid of a life that hadn't even had a chance to live. She'd never imagined herself in this position, and it terrified her-

'Emmy?' Mel appeared in the kitchen doorway; her blonde hair was tied back in a bun, her soft blue eyes full of concern as she noticed the young girl's expression. 'Is everything okay?'

She burst into tears, surprising even herself. Mel strode to her, pulling her close without hesitation. 'What happened? Are you hurt?'

Emmy shook her head miserably. 'I've really messed up, Mel. Robbie's going to hate me and Dad's going to be so angry.' At the idea of disappointing her dad, fresh tears fell. 'I'm only seventeen!'

Mel gave a soft sigh, rubbing her back soothingly. 'You're pregnant.' The teen nodded, looking down at the floor between them and wiping her eyes. 'It's hard not to notice when somebody is sick every morning for two weeks running.'

'What am I going to do?' Emmy allowed Mel to lead her into the kitchen, taking a seat at the breakfast bar as her dad's girlfriend began to serve up a chicken curry.

Mel glanced at her over her shoulder. 'Perhaps you should tell Robbie. He deserves to know.'

Emmy stared back, horrified. 'I can't do that! He'll never speak to me again.' She was shaking her head, already coming to her decision. 'No. I'm going to have an abortion. It's the only way to fix this.' Mel moved to the table and set the plates down.

'You know, abortion isn't an easy thing to go through. I was young once, and I made what I thought was a mistake. I was nineteen, ready for University when I fell pregnant to some bloke who I'd met on a night out.' Mel sat as she spoke, fiddling with her fork. 'I never told a soul, not even Gabby. I was so ashamed of myself that I booked an abortion for the following week.' She shook her head. 'I went into surgery afraid and alone and ever since, I regretted what I did. I wonder how different my life could have been with a child.'

'I can't keep it, Mel, I can't! How am I suppose to look after a baby? My head's a mess as it is.' She was adamant that this was the only way she could fix things, if she just got rid of it, life could just carry on.

Mel said nothing for a moment, spearing a piece of chicken on the end of her fork. 'I'll book you an appointment at the clinic tomorrow, if that's what you want.'

'Yes, please.' Emmy turned back to her own plate, allowing the silence to stretch between them as they began to eat.

Finn stood alone in his bedroom, staring into the mirror. Downstairs, he could hear Sinead chatting with Diane about some man-problem or other, and Katy squealing happily at the TV. He stared at his reflection, gaunt and strained from the constant fear of being caught out.

Holly was going to pay. He was going to crush her, destroy every she had, make her feel pain like she'd never felt before. He'd done it once, he could do it again. That blonde slut would be sorry she'd ever laid eyes on him- 'Finn! Tea's ready!'

Diane's shout snapped him out of his irate mood and he flung open his bedroom door and walked out. He jogged down the stairs, already thinking of a late-night visit to the Cunningham's. He appeared in the front room, where Sinead was already sat eating. 'Smells good,' he said, snatching a chip off her plate as he passed.

'Eugh, Mum! He touched my food with his dirty fingers!'

There was a loud hammering at the front door, a man yelling, 'open this door; I know you're in there!' Finn froze on the spot, grabbing Diane's arm as she passed to investigate the commotion. 'No, don't!'

She frowned at him, shaking him off and moving to open the door. Ziggy stumbled in, face red in his anger and veins popping, Jason following quickly behind. Finn barely had time to run as Ziggy charged into the room, grabbing him by the shoulder and spinning him around. 'I'm sorry!' He babbled, but the older man silenced him with a punch to the nose.

Diane and Sinead were screaming, Katy crying, but Ziggy didn't care. No, this was revenge, this was what he'd been waiting for. His fist kept connecting with Finn's face, until the teen was slumped to the ground, Diane and Jase hauling him off.

Diane was sobbing, sinking beside the groaning and barely-conscious form of Finn. 'Look at what you've done! I'm calling the police!'

'You do that,' Ziggy snarled, glaring at her. 'I'll gladly do time for this. He killed Ruby. He was driving the car that night, he killed her!'

Diane sobbed, pulling Finn against her; his face was a bloody mess, left eye and nose swollen. His stomach turned as he saw the aftermath of his actions.

Sinead moved in front of Ziggy, shoving his shoulder. 'Just get out!' She sounded brave, but even he could see the fear in her eyes. He stepped back, before turning and fleeing the house. His trainers skidded on the damp floor as he hurried down the stone steps.

And then he ran.

'Do you know what I miss?' Gabby asked, as they sat beside each other in the cold bedroom, huddled for warmth. 'A hot cup of strong sweet tea. I've been on a bread and water diet since I got here.' She gave a weak laugh. 'At least I managed to shift those extra pounds.'

Freddie smiled, shaking his head. 'You look like a skeleton.'

'Cheers! I thought the starved-model look was in?' They chuckled between themselves, only stopping when they heard the sound of an approaching engine. Gabby jumped to her feet to check. 'Oh, no.' She hurried away from the window, wringing her hands together. 'He's coming back. I knew he wouldn't be long.'

Freddie heard the sound of an engine in front of the house; he knew the house was just on the outskirts of a town and knew that if he was going to try and ecape next time Craig nipped out, he'd have to be quick about it.

The thought of Lindsey at home, wondering where he was, pained him greatly and when he thought of his daughter, his beautiful Lily, he felt a physical ache he couldn't describe. He had to get back to them.

The front door slammed shut, heavy boots on the stairs. Craig unlocked the bedroom door and entered; he was carrying a beer, and without looking at Freddie, he grabbed Gabby by the arm. 'You're coming with me.'

'Leave her alone!' Freddie shouted, straining against the handcuffs. 'You sick bastard!'

Craig released her, only to turn and kick him hard in the chest. Freddie cried out, a burning heat rushing to his ribs and winded, he couldn't breathe. Craig did nothing, but take a swag of his beer. Then, he glared at Gabby.

'Downstairs, now.'

Gabby didn't dare look at Freddie, as she hurried out the room. Craig followed behind her, slamming the door shut and locking it. At his dark expression, she went downstairs, trembling at the thought of what he had in mind. He was close behind her as she stepped into the front room and he shoved her towards the sofa.

Something glistened and caught her eye; by the table leg, there was a set of three small screwdrivers, discarded from a Christmas cracker. Gabby's heart leapt to her throat, but before she could ponder a way to sneak them upstairs, Craig's bark brought her to the present.

'Take your trousers off.'

Gabby did as instructed, refusing to look at him. He approached slowly, draining his beer bottle and setting it down on the cluttered coffee table.

His hands were cold and rough when they touched her skin, travelling up her arms to cup her face and force a kiss. 'You will love me again one day,' he murmured and she could smell stale smoke and beer on his breath. 'We could be happy again, like we used to be. And once I've disposed of your friend upstairs, we can leave this place, my beautiful Elena.'

Gabby stared at him, unable to stop the words spilling from her lips. 'I'd rather be dead, than be with a monster like you.'

Craig's jaw tensed, fingers gripping her jaw tightly. 'Be careful what you wish for.' He shoved her back to the sofa and she sat, trembling. He smirked as he looked her up and down, as a cat would a mouse. And then he was pushing her back and climbing above her with his trousers loose... And Gabby endured Hell once more.

It was in the early hours of the morning by the time Gabby crept back into the bedroom, fully dressed and freshly bruised. Freddie was dozing, but he jerked awake at the sound of the door shutting. The key turned in the lock, but she didnt say a thing until Craig's footsteps disappeared downstairs.

'Are you okay?' Freddie whispered, surprised to see a smile on her face when she crouched down beside him.

'I'm fine. Brilliant, in fact.' She reached into her pocket and slid free the screwdriver kit that she'd snatched as Craig was searching for his baccy pouch. 'Today's our lucky day.'

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