Chapters 20-22 are updated now, and I forgot to replace 20 before I posted that last chapter lol
Sorry about that.
I'll update some more this weekend ^^
XOXOXOXOXOXO
Chapter 46
James
I stared out the airplane window with Sophia's playlist blaring in my Airpods.
Every song reminded me of her, but I had a newfound appreciation for the screams.
I don't have to scream.
They do it for me.
That must be why she loves it so much.
It was another way to escape reality.
I can't stop the tears, though.
Will she hate me after this?
Will she blame me for letting her slip away?
She told me she loved me on the phone, but can she now?
How could she ever trust me again...?
The four-hour flight seemed to drag on forever, and my hopes got higher every mile closer we got.
Four hours with no way of knowing if the police had her yet.
Four hours of not knowing if this was another dead-end trail.
I closed my eyes, trying to lose myself in the noise.
I've never been so afraid, and I can't imagine how scared Sofia must be right now.
"I love you, James; I'm so sorry!"
"He's going to tell you I'm dead, but don't believe him!"
Why did she apologize?
None of this is her fault.
And I would never believe she was dead.
I'd feel it if she was.
I'd die.
We landed in Birmingham at eleven and were quickly ushered into a police van.
"Have you found her?" I asked hopefully.
"Not yet," the deputy shook his head, turning the siren on and speeding down the highway, "We're having some trouble securing a warrant, but we're going to wait with Sherriff Nielson down the road from the property until it comes through,"
"Why can't you get the warrant?" dad growled, "There's a good chance Sofia's there!"
"The property is in escrow," the deputy sighed, "The judge has to track down the new owners. We have all of our forces ready to go in a soon as we get the word,"
"That's bullshit!" I balled my fists.
"I know," he nodded, "But we have to follow protocol,"
Fuck protocol.
My wife is in danger.
We've been wrong twice now; this has to be the place.
We've wasted so much time.
A handful of cop cars, ambulances, a fire truck, and a black S.W.A.T. van surrounded the entrance to the dirt road, and we parked among them.
I could see a large wooden farmhouse and a long barn on the other side of a thin tree line.
She's here.
She's got to be here.
I'm on my way, princess. I swear. Wait for me.
I swear if that asshole touches her...
"We've got the warrant! Let's go!" the Sherriff announced forty-five minutes later, and we all ran down the road.
"Stay with officer Dobson," the S.W.A.T. Cheif instructed, pointing us to the side of the barn.
Sure.
Unless I fucking see my wife.
I watched the S.W.A.T Team separate.
One team busted inside the house, and the other entered the barn.
Come on, Sofia.
Be here, baby, please.
"Get these doors open!"
"We've got hostages!"
"And two casualties in the sixth room on the right!"
Casualties.
No.
My head began to spin as I ran to the door.
It's not Sofia.
She's not dead.
SHE CAN'T BE DEAD!
"STAY BACK, CIVILIAN!"
"IS IT MY WIFE?!" I screamed as the black-suited officers began pulling tied-up men from the building.
"Negative, she's not here!"
Thank God.
But DAMNIT, WHERE IS SHE?!
The team that went inside the house returned with Mrs. White in handcuffs.
"Where is Sofia?!" I yelled, running up to her.
Her eyes darted to the field as a gunshot rang out, and I started running as fast as possible toward the sound.
Please don't tell me he shot her.
My girl is a fighter.
She's fine, James!
Just get to her!
I saw her on the other side of the fence, limping away from Tyler.
"SOFIA!" I screamed, running faster.
I'm coming!
"JAMES!" she screamed back, but I watched in horror as Tyler picked her up, put his hand over her mouth, and ran in the other direction.
SHE'S HERE!
PUT HER DOWN!
I vaulted over the fence, trying to close the distance between me and the sick fuck.
"FUCK!" I heard him scream and watched as he fell on top of my wife.
"GET OFF OF HER!" I pulled Tyler off and pushed him away, moving to help Sofia up.
"She doesn't belong to you, boy!" He pulled me back and threw me on the ground.
"She's my wife!" I jumped up, balled my fists, and prepared for the fight I've been waiting for, "You're just her damn kidnapper!"
You stalked Sofia for two years.
You were the reason she was alone.
You took her away from me.
I'm going to kill you.
Come on, you son of a bitch, let's fucking do this.
Tyler's face was already covered in thick blood, and I smiled proudly.
I hope it fucking hurt.
"You stole her from me!" he swung, but I ducked and slammed my fist into the gash on the side of his head, sending him staggering back.
You may be bigger than me, but I'm faster.
"She didn't even know you existed, you fucking creep!" I uppercut him in the jaw and slid to the side before he could grab me, "And even if she did, there's no way she would have gone with you!"
"Shut the fuck up!" Tyler growled, pulled a small red and black button out of his pocket, and pushed it before I had time to react, "I told you not to come!"
"STOP!" Sofia screamed, and I whipped my head toward her.
She was clawing at something around her neck.
"NO ONE FUCKING MOVE OR I'LL KILL HER!" Tyler roared, holding the button up.
"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO?!" I screamed, scrambling to Sofia's side.
"GET AWAY FROM HER, NOW!" Tyler demanded, but I ignored him.
I'm getting Sofia out of here.
"PUT IT DOWN!" one of the S.W.A.T. members ordered.
They'll get him.
All that matters is getting Sofia safe.
"It's okay, baby, everything is going to be fine," I whispered, pulling her up.
She was covered in blood, her face was swollen, there was some kind of collar around her neck, and she was holding a gun.
Tyler tortured her.
Is that a shock collar?!
That sick fucking bastard put a shock collar on her!
"JAMES!" Sofia gurgled, slamming her face back to the ground.
"FUCKING STOP!" I roared, running full speed towards Tyler.
"Not till she's dead," he snarled, keeping his fingers on the button and trying to push me back with his other hand.
I grabbed his arms and tried to pry the button out of his hand.
He's too fucking strong.
I need to stop him from hurting her anymore!
A gunshot rang out, startling Tyler enough for me to take the button from him.
I punched him in the nose, feeling the satisfaction of it breaking under my knuckles.
"Burn in hell, you motherfucking pedophile," I growled lowly as he fell backward into the line of the S.W.A.T. team's fire, "Fuck you,"
I jumped back and ran to Sofia, kneeling in front of her.
She was on her back, and the gun was lying beside her.
My brave girl.
Oh my God, I'm so sorry.
"Are you okay, baby?" I cried, picking her limp body off the ground, "I'm so fucking sorry,"
She rested her bloody head on my shoulder, and I gently carried her back across the field, quickly getting her past Tyler's hopefully dead body.
"I don't blame you if you hate me," I trembled, "I should never have let this happen. You trusted me and I-"
She silenced me with her lips, and I closed my eyes.
Stop feeling sorry for yourself.
You have your girl back.
Finally.
"Miranda and Sam are dead," mom ran up to us, kissing Sofia's bloody forehead.
Good.
I hope it was a painful death.
"How is she?" everyone crowded around us.
"Sofia?" Vivian cried, caressing her swollen cheek, "I'm so glad we found you,"
"Oh my God, are you alright?" Garth gasped, moving her hair out of her face.
"Is that a shock collar?!" dad growled, running his hand over her neck, "It's locked!"
Sofia's gaze didn't leave my face.
She wasn't responding to anything.
"Baby, can you hear me?" I asked, but the dazed smile on her broken face didn't fade.
"Put her down over here!" one of the paramedics demanded, and I laid her on the stretcher.
"Can you tell me your name?"
They shined the light in her eyes and snapped their fingers in front of her blank face.
"She's in shock; we need to get her to the hospital. Someone take this collar off of her, now!"
"Sofia, please say something," I held her hand and put the other on my mouth, "Please,"
She squeezed my hand and stared at the sky.
What is she thinking right now?
Why isn't she talking?
"I've got the key!" one of the officers ran over and unlocked the collar.
They began peeling it off of her, but the metal part stuck to her neck.
There was a significant burn mark under it, and I could smell her burnt flesh.
"He took the rubber off," the other paramedic stated, horrified, "Get her in the ambulance!"
"What does that mean?" Nick yelled, looking at dad.
"That collar is deadly without rubber on the live points," dad trembled, "He could have electrocuted her,"
"I'd rather her be dead than back with you,"
She could still die.
"Are you coming?" the paramedics asked, and I jumped in the ambulance before they shut the doors.
"We'll meet you at the hospital!" mom yelled as we started moving.
I watched him put the IV in Sofia's arm, waiting for her to start protesting, but she didn't move.
I put my hand on her leg, and I noticed her left foot was swollen.
What happened to you, baby?
What did he do to you?
We got to the hospital, and they pushed her inside.
She still wasn't responding.
"James!" dad called, and everyone ran over, "How is she?"
"They're going to have to remove the collar surgically," I growled, "It's embedded in her skin,"
"Has she had a seizure?" mom asked, grabbing my arm hard.
"No," I scrubbed my face with my hand, "But they said something about Ventricular Fibrillation. They had to shock her, and it seemed to fix it,"
We all sat in the waiting room, staring at the door impatiently for someone to tell us she was out of surgery.
Tyler stalked her.
Threatened her family.
Kidnapped her.
stuck her in a barn.
God knows what else he did to her while she was there.
And now he's put her in the hospital.
The fucker better be dead.
"James," Sherriff Neilson motioned me over to him.
"Is Tyler dead?" I huffed.
"Yeah, and we had the surgeon administer a rape test on Sofia," the Sherriff put his hand on my shoulder.
My heart stopped beating.
I stopped breathing.
Please say it's negative.
"It came back negative. Tyler didn't sexually force himself on her, but there's something you should see," he handed me a ziplock bag with a phone inside, "Why don't we sit down,"
I looked at him in confusion as he led me to the chairs away from the group, but as I watched the video of Sofia in the room with Miranda and Sam, I understood.
"She didn't kill them," I whispered, wiping the tears from my eyes.
But that must have killed her.
She didn't want to hurt anyone.
Even after everything Sam and Miranda did to her, she didn't want them to die.
"No, she didn't," the Sherriff shook his head, "But I'm sure that is going to haunt her for a long time. It also turns out that the men Tyler and Sarah had trapped there were men that had abused Sofia when she was a child,"
I looked at my knees.
What the fuck is wrong with people.
She never asked for any of this.
All she wanted was to put them in jail.
"It's a good possibility he was going to put her up against them as well, but we won't know for sure until Mrs. Talbert wakes up from her surgery,"
I nodded and went to sit back with everyone.
Sofia watched them die.
And Tyler made it seem like it was her fault.
If Sofia will still have me after this, I'll help her through it.
God, I hope she's not going to leave me.
I'm nothing without her.
A surgeon appeared outside the door two hours later, holding a clipboard "Family of Sofia Talbert?"
"That's us!" we all surrounded him.
"How is she?"
We were able to get the metal from Sofia's neck, and luckily the shock hasn't done any permanent damage. We want to keep her overnight, just in case any issues arise, but she should be good to go home in the morning,"
She's going to be fine.
Physically.
"Oh, thank God!" everyone hugged each other.
"Can I see her?" I asked quickly.
"Follow me," he smiled.
"I'll come and get you guys in a bit; I want to talk to her first," I held my hand up and followed the surgeon through the door.
"Of course," they all nodded.
He led me to a room, and I took a deep breath before opening the door.
Sofia was lying on the bed, sadly staring out the window.
My bruised angel.
My broken goddess.
She's still the most beautiful girl in the entire world.
"Hey, Sof," I whispered, kneeling next to her.
"James," she smiled weakly, "I missed you,"
"I missed you too, my love, so much," I kissed her hand, "How do you feel?"
"Is Tyler dead?" she asked, staring at me.
Her usually bright, dark blue eyes were a shade of almost grey.
I'll do everything I can to bring them back, baby.
I swear.
"Yeah, baby," I nodded, "He is,"
"What about Sarah?"
"She's in jail,"
"Are you okay?"
I nodded, and she smiled brighter.
"Then I feel great,"
Oh, my sweet girl.
You went through so much.
I know you're strong, but be honest with me.
"Honestly, love, how do you feel?" I laid my head on her chest.
"I'm just glad to be back with you, James," she closed her eyes, "I'm tired, angry, and sore, but I'm happy it's over,"
"Mrs. Talbert," Sherriff Neilson knocked on the door, "Can I come in?"
"Sure," she nodded.
"My name is Sherriff Neilson, and I was wondering if you could tell me what happened. I know it might be difficult, but we have a bunch of people in custody right now, and we need to know how to proceed,"
"Can you tell me how he got me first?" Sofia asked, sitting up, "I know I was drugged, but I can't remember what happened after I went into the bathroom at the airport."
The Sherriff and I looked at each other, and we both frowned.
"Sarah drugged you...and shoved you in a suitcase," Sherriff Neilson explained sadly.
"Tyler said the method he used to get me wasn't the most comfortable, but a suitcase? Really? God, they're crazy," she rolled her eyes.
Is she still in shock?
How can she accept that so easily?
"When did you wake up?"
"The sedative wore off yesterday afternoon,"
She was unconscious most of the time.
Good.
She didn't have to be scared for too long.
I wish we had gotten that warrant sooner...
Maybe then she wouldn't have had to watch her parents die.
Her parents?
I've never thought about it like that.
"Part of me wants to believe that without all the drug and sex stuff, Sam would have been a good dad."
"I could have bought a car and left a year ago, but I would have had to explain why I was alone. I guess a part of me wished Miranda would come back and fix everything,"
There was a part of Sofia that still thought of them as her parents.
I don't think I'd go as far as to say Sofia loved them.
She got so mad when Miranda told her she loved her, but she also told Miranda that she hated her for hating her.
"How much did you talk to Tyler?" The Sherriff asked, getting his notepad out.
"Too much," she sighed, "He was the one who made Miranda leave me by myself, he threatened to kill her if she didn't leave me alone, and he was pissed that I married James instead of him. He told me to either convince James I wanted a divorce, or he was going to tell him I was dead. I lied to him and said I was fine with telling James I was dead and that I wanted to say goodbye first. That's how I got the phone. He was also the one who destroyed James's truck,"
He really thought she was cheating on him with me.
"I talked to Sofia's grandmother; he showed up out of nowhere and threatened to kill all of them if they didn't leave her alone too," I added, avoiding Sofia's horrified expression.
"You went out there?" she whispered, squeezing my hand.
"Yeah, baby. I'll tell you about it later," I assured her, kissing her hand.
I wonder if they know about Miranda's death yet.
Will Sofia want to go to the funeral?
"Did he tell you why he was pursuing you?"
"Yeah. Tyler had a friend in the Marines who was from my hometown that told him about my situation. He and Sarah have stalked me for nine years, and Tyler decided he wanted to own me," she shivered, "They kept talking about how we were going to be a happy family, and how Tyler didn't want to add to my trauma, so he was going to wait to touch me until I was eighteen like that didn't make him a fucking pedophile. Sarah even talked like he was some kind of perfect gentleman. He seemed to honestly believe I was going to fall in love with him."
NINE YEARS?!
Scott said TWO!
Did they not know, or were they lying?!
"When did Tyler put the shock collar on you?"
"After I attacked him and he deemed me 'uncooperative," she touched the bandages on her neck, "He told me not to make him use it,"
"I TOLD YOU NOT TO MAKE ME USE IT, LYING BITCH!"
Her phone call helped me find her, but it also got her hurt.
"Why did Tyler make you attack Sam and Miranda?"
"They wanted to 'offer' me the chance to kill my abusers without any consequences," she trembled, "It was a fucking social experiment. They watched me so long, and they thought I wanted revenge. But I didn't! I never wanted to hurt anyone," she sobbed, "I didn't kill them!"
"They didn't kill me; why should I kill them?"
"I scared them, that's enough,"
"We know, my love," I held her in my arms, "We saw the video,"
"Tyler and Sarah were awful," she continued to cry, "They wanted to throw me in a room with the others once I was done with...them,"
"And these other men they had trapped there sexually abused you when you were a child?"
She shrugged.
"That's what Tyler and Sarah said, but I never saw any of them. I stabbed Tyler and ran right after he...shot..."
"Shh, princess," I stroked her hair, "Don't think about it,"
"I think that's enough for now, Mrs. Talbert," Sherriff Neilson half-smiled, "I'll let you know if anything else comes up,"
"Thank you for finding me, Sherriff," Sofia tried to smile.
"It was my pleasure," he nodded, "You take care, now,"
Sofia threw her arms around my neck as soon as the Sherriff left and cried.
"Thank you for finding me, James," she sobbed into my neck, "I love you so much,"
"Oh, baby," I wrapped my arms around her gently and slid into the bed beside her, "I love you so so much, and I am so sorry for letting this happen,"
"What do you mean?" she sniffled, pulling back from me.
"It was my fault for not going with you," I hang my head shamefully.
"How can you say it's your fault or even think for a second that I blame you for what happened? The thought of getting back to you was what kept me from getting myself killed back there, and if it weren't for you caring about me and making me train, I never would have been able to outrun them as long as I did," she pulled my chin up and kissed my lips, "They were going to get me eventually. We were all so focused on...the other two..."
Sofia doesn't blame me.
I suppose she's right.
We weren't even aware of Tyler, and we thought Sarah was working for Miranda.
My poor wife.
She couldn't even say Sam and Miranda's names.
"Thank you, Sofia," I buried my face in her hair, "I was so afraid you were going to leave me after this,"
"I won't ever leave you, James," she whispered, "Sarah kept saying how fate brought me to her, but she was wrong. Fate brought you to me so you could save me from them. You take such good care of me, and without you, I would have died,"
All I want to do is protect Sofia.
I've been so hung up on how I let her down, but she's right.
We are soulmates, and I was meant to get her through this and all her other traumas.
We were always meant to be together.
"I'm sorry for what happened to Sam and Miranda," I pulled back, staring into her still grey eyes.
"He killed them so easily," she shook in my arms, "Why did he think I was a monster? He said he expected more from me, and maybe he was right. When I had the knife...I thought about how killing them wouldn't have been the worst thing and how I liked having power over them, but I heard your voice telling me I was better than that and that you were on your way. Is it possible that if I hadn't met you before Tyler showed up that I would have killed them?"
"They hurt you so badly, my love, and the fact that you thought about killing them and didn't means that you are a genuinely good person," I kissed her, "I don't believe you would have killed them, even if you and I hadn't met. You're too compassionate; I hope you can see what I see now,"
"Maybe," she frowned, "Seth wanted me to shoot myself while I was in there,"
Of course, this triggered Seth.
"How much did you see him, baby?"
"The entire time," she admitted, "He kept me company in my cell. I'm starting to think he's a real damn ghost,"
She needs to get back into therapy as soon as we get home.
That's not her brother.
I don't know if ghosts are real or not, but from everything she's told me about him, he would never talk to her like this hallucination does.
I pulled her head to my shoulder and wrapped my arm around her shoulders sadly.
"Did you really go see Julie?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Yeah," I nodded, "I talked to her and Scott,"
And I almost got shot by your other uncle.
"I'm glad you didn't get hurt," she sighed, "I want to go see her after the funerals,"
At least I didn't have to ask if she wanted to go to the funerals.
I haven't even been able to bring up Seth's empty shadow box in three months.
"I'll call Scott tonight," I kissed her cheek, "You need to go see Sasha too; she's really worried,"
"Okay," she nodded, "I feel so bad for shutting her out so hard,"
"I explained that you didn't want to worry her," I kissed her head.
"You've had an interesting few days, huh?" she chuckled sourly.
I've had the worst four days of my life, but you've suffered so much worse than I have.
I never want to be away from you ever again.
I feel like I can finally breathe again.
"We looked for you everywhere," I whispered, laying my head on hers and rubbing my thumb on the back of her hand, "I'm sorry it took so long,"
"It's okay, honey," she slid her hand up my arm, "I knew you'd come for me,"
I wouldn't have stopped looking for you, baby.
I would have spent the rest of my life tracking you down, even if I was afraid you'd hate me.
Your safety is the most important thing.
"Always, my love," I kissed her, "I'll always find you,"
"I love you, James,"
"I love you too, Sofia,"