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Apologies for the slight cliffhanger with the last chapter - please enjoy...

Chapter 26: Trial and Tribulation

Waves of sickness washed over Rachel as Gary's words ran on a continuous loop in her brain. It's time she found out what it feels like to lose something.

"Do you like the sound of that, Rach? Or should I say Mandy," Christopher snarled, pressing the blade into her neck that little bit further, "such a shame Adam couldn't be with us. But I think Gary is a suitable replacement, don't you?"

Rachel flicked her eyes to Bianka's dad, "stop this Gary, let Bianka go. She's your daughter for god's sake."

"I think you'd better listen to your brother, instead of making demands of me."

Rachel gulped, remaining silent as Christopher leant forwards.

"That's better. You've always pissed me off less when you're silent."

She closed her eyes, willing for this to be a nightmare. Just so that she could wake up to find Eddie snoring gently next to her, or Darcy climbing over them to snuggle in between them. The thought of them both brought a wave of tears to Rachel's eyes. What about Eddie? What about Darcy, Philip and Michael? Would she never get to see them again? Never tell them how much she loved them?

A second cry from Bianka tore Rachel away from her thoughts, and she found herself yet again searching for a way to bring some form of comfort to the girl. Rachel realised that her coat had fallen so that it was covering the small gap between them. She shifted her hand closer to Bianka's, glad when she found the girl's, and gripped onto it. She squeezed back, wrapping her hand tightly around her teacher's.

"So here's what's going to happen," Christopher jabbed a finger under Rachel's chin, ensuring that her gaze was fixed on his, "you're going to drop these charges, against our dear friend Adam. Tell them you lied, tell them you wanted where it was going just as much as he did," his mouth was at her ear now, and Rachel shuddered when she felt her brother's breath against her skin, "tell them that you asked him to hit you, abuse you. Frankly, I couldn't care less what you say. Just that you do it."

"Or… or what?" Rachel managed to blurt out, stifling a sob.

She didn't expect it when Christopher laughed, tilting his head back before craning it to glance at Gary.

"Have you heard this mate?" he sneered, and the other man laughed, "'or what' you'd think she was the one with the knife."

Gary merely laughed, his evil chuckle strikingly similar to Christopher's. The thought sent a shiver down her spine. Here her brother was, manipulating Gary just like he had done Adam.

"I'll tell you what's gonna happen, sister dearest. If you don't call 101, right this second, telling them you need to speak to them asap. And I mean asap. Then I swear to god. I will end you."

Rachel's head was pounding, her vision off kilter. She felt as though her world was spinning. And there was only one person's voice she wanted to hear at that moment. She just wasn't sure if she was brave enough to risk it.

"DO it!"

….

Eddie just felt useless, and incredibly worried. His heart sank further with every time that Rachel didn't pick up her phone. He tried to tell himself that she may have simply left it at the school, but he was sure that Kim had told him she'd rang. Either way, it didn't stop Eddie from worrying.

He had ended up venturing to Waterloo Road, almost feeling bad for demanding that Kim tell him everything she knew. Eddie could tell that she was obviously reluctant to, probably knowing that he would be straight on the case. There was no way that he could just sit and do nothing.

The police had already left for Helmsley Forest, but again, that didn't stop Eddie's palms from sweating or his heart from racing whenever he thought about Rachel alone in a caravan with Christopher and whoever this other bloke was. Not to mention the student. The young girl and Rachel were both in danger.

So Eddie didn't think twice about getting back in his car and keying Helmsley Forest into his satnav. Even if the police had it all under control by the time he got there (which Eddie prayed they would) he knew that Rachel would need him - whatever had happened.

No radio presenter or music could distract Eddie from reality as he drove. The guilt about him not being there by her side physically was eating away at him once more. Yet that just made him long to be by Rachel's side now even more.

So pushing those feelings to the back of his mind, Eddie concentrated on putting his foot down; driving at a speed which was probably slightly over the limit. He didn't dwell on that too much, Rachel was too much of a priority to him.

….

Rachel shook with fear as Christopher's weapon moved down her body, stopping to press into her stomach lightly.

Her hands shook violently as they went to her pocket, where she knew her phone was. To her surprise, Christopher leant back, rather than peering over her device like Rachel had expected. Maybe that helped her to make a decision. If she just ignored the fact that the knife was still pointing very much in her direction, then she would maybe pluck up the courage to call Eddie - rather than the police.

"Rachel?" Eddie answered almost immediately, his tone etched with worry and distraught. He already knows something.

Out of the corner of her eye, Rachel could see both Gary and Christopher eyeing her suspiciously. Crap. What made her think that this was a good idea?

"Yes erm… I was wondering if it would be at all possible to talk to DI Hampton?"

"Rachel… what's…"

She realised that it had clicked with Eddie then, that she had called just to hear his voice, that she was unable to speak herself. Not in the way she wanted to anyway. Rachel swore she could hear Eddie's heart thumping, his mind racing.

"Oh absolutely yes, that's fine by me."

"Look, Rachel. I think I know where you are, I'm at Helmsley Forest. I've just pulled up in my car."

Rachel was unsure about the feelings that crashed through her in that moment. Relief? Hope? Concern for Eddie?

"Hi, DI Hampton. It's Rachel Mason speaking. I would like to give you some information regarding the Adam Fleet charges."

"Sweetheart, just hang on in there, I'm sure that the police are only moments away."

Rachel's breath felt ragged as she flicked her eyes between Christopher and Gary. She was obviously a better actress than she'd expected. And her phone's audio output was luckily rubbish. Because they didn't look suspicious, not anymore.

"This evening at 5? Yes, that should be fine. Thank you."

"I love you, Rachel."

She bit her tongue to stop herself from saying it back, even though she'd wanted to with all her heart. Rachel just hoped she'd be back in Eddie's arms, able to say those words to no end.

She cut the call off, allowing the phone to drop to her side.

"See? Wasn't that hard was it?" Christopher commented, still motioning the knife around, to Rachel's horror.

"Dad! Let us go!"

The girl's plea broke Rachel's heart, but one look towards Gary and then back at Christopher had her feeling sick.

"Your mum needs to learn that things don't always work in her favour, princess."

The man's eyes wandered to the side door of the caravan, where Rachel was drawn to a pipe that had obviously been broken. Alarm washed over her, only accentuated as Christopher pulled a lighter from his pocket.

They were planning on blowing this whole thing up. Christopher and Gary were going to kill them all.

….

Eddie was running now, cursing himself dramatically when he turned yet another corner without spotting the lake or caravan that Kim had mentioned. Rachel's phone call had made him feel sick to the stomach. He couldn't bear the thought of losing her, and she was quite obviously in danger.

Eddie silently begged for the police to get the situation under control. He could hear the sirens, knew that they must be close. Eddie just hoped that it wouldn't be too late.

Rachel had filled his every thought in the car, but now even more so. His heart broke thinking about how he may never get to hold her again, kiss her or tell her that he loves her.

And what was her 'contacting the police' about. Was it something that Christopher or the students' father had forced her to do? It was quite probable, and Eddie exhaled quickly as he thought about what they were threatening her with.

He took a deep breath - he needed to focus on finding the caravan.

Eddie had to blink a couple of times as he spotted a caravan in the fairly near distance. This had to be it, Eddie thought to himself.

Upon scanning the environment, he spotted the police and quickly picked up pace once more.

Eddie's heart dropped as the full scene came into view, with Rachel nowhere to be seen.

All of a sudden the same feelings from the fire and the gun incident washed over him. That was only matched with his actions.

Eddie surged forwards, only to be held back by two officers. He noted that they were also restraining a woman, who he guessed to be the student's mother.

He fought against the police, only wanting to run to Rachel's safety. She needed him, and he wasn't there.

Eddie's vision blurred as the tears filled up his eyes. It might have been why he thought they were deceiving him upon seeing two figures dashing out of the van.

He gasped as Rachel shielded the girl, and they both collapsed to the floor as their previous location went up in flames.

A harrowing realisation settled in the pit of his stomach, and Eddie felt as though he had been sucker punched. He'd almost lost her. Two seconds later and…

He swallowed thickly as the bile rose rapidly in his throat. Eddie just knew there was a haunted expression fixed on his face as one thought circulated in his brain. Rachel could have lost her life.

Eddie's breathing all of a sudden felt extremely restricted, his limbs like lead even as he shook himself mentally to return to the present.

Rachel needed him.

The thought had Eddie keying into action, surveying his surroundings once more.

He noted that the two officers who had been holding him back, were no longer at his side. It was when Eddie's gaze moved that he witnessed Bianka and her mother being whisked away, followed by a figure he would never not recognise.

Even from a distance, Eddie could tell that Rachel's body was stiff. And even as her back was turned to him, eyes solely fixed on the blazing caravan - he knew her expression would be tortured.

Eddie merely stood next to Rachel for a few moments after approaching, for fear of startling her if he reached out.

"Sweetheart," he whispered, still conscious of making Rachel flinch or jump.

Her head whipped round to meet his, and Eddie's heart broke even more - if at all possible.

Rachel's features were distorted, her eyes brimming with tears, as she looked at Eddie as though she didn't recognise him.

Now he did reach out for her, linking their hands; somewhat delighted when Rachel gave his fingers a light squeeze.

It was expected but unexpected at the same time as Rachel effectively collapsed against him. Her limbs were floppy and her head bowed as she allowed Eddie to take her entire weight.

He felt the tears prickling in his eyes, but fought against them. Rachel needed him. Eddie had to be strong for her - no matter what.

"My brother…"

Eddie was somewhat shocked to hear Rachel speak, her voice was barely audible, face buried against his chest as he supported her to walk.

"Eddie… is he?"

"Is he what, darling?" he spoke softly, stretching across to brush a lock of hair away from Rachel's eyes.

"Dead."

She spoke with fear, her voice terrified and shaky. And Eddie was reminded that no matter how evil Christopher Fenshaw was, no matter what he did to Rachel - he was her brother. And Rachel wasn't the type of person to erase the love she felt for her family.

"I… I don't know. If he was still in the caravan…"

"Then he will be."

Rachel's hand closed around Eddie's jacket, clutching on to it as if he were about to disappear. He noted that her knuckles were completely white, and he brought a hand up to brush across them gently.

"That's the thing though. I… I can't be sure I… he might have gotten out the back way. I don't…"

"Hey," Eddie spoke, his tone coloured with love and tenderness, "just let me look after you, Rachel."

She pulled back slightly then, gazing into his eyes with pure emotion.

"Just let me look after you," he repeated.

A silence evaded the atmosphere - despite the murmurs of police, the licking flames from the caravan; it seemed to be eerily quiet in their little bubble.

Rachel nodded, only a minimal amount of tension leaking out of her features as she buried herself in Eddie once more.