Hollow Love(Dark)

Abraham's torturous family history made him the perfect man to help the FBI solve a series of brutal murders. Unfortunately, he had tendencies of his own that kept getting in the way of his work.

One

He should have been watching the snowfall outside on the already recorded 10 inches from yesterday. He loved to watch the snow come down. You could hide so many things in the white powder that no one would discover until summertime. The usually quiet man seemed preoccupied today at the small coffee house that he frequented. Something else had all of his attention today.

Why did she have to be so lovely? Abraham watched her through his long dirty blonde hair that covered his eyes. She was everything that he desired to dominate. She was virginal, beautiful, young, intelligent, friendly, and had strained family ties due to skipping out on a wedding. The wait staff loved to talk, and everyone here knew him.

"Nice weather today, huh?" Police Captain Ichabod Crane stood beside his table watching the snow.

Abraham did not look at him but nodded. The officer was always in the diner because it was two miles from the police station. The workers here liked seeing him every day. The officer's presence made sure no trouble would to their place of employment. Ichabod Crane was a no-nonsense type of man. He had one motto, it was his way, or he would bury you. He always spoke to Abraham whenever he saw him.

"Looks like I am going to have to wing it for lunch." The Captain sighed and walked away from the mysterious loner's table and back to his seat.

"Abraham,"

The gruff voice of Agent August Corbin snapped Mr. Van Brunt out of his trance. His blue eyes shifted to the two Agents that were his handlers sitting across from him.

"What," His voice always sounded disinterested, but this time they could hear a little pitch change.

"Look, we let you come here because it's close to your house, and everyone knows you here. If Abigail turns up missing, I'm coming to your house."

Abraham's sly smile always made the agents weary. Once he did that smile, it took them three weeks to find him again. "I like Abigail."

"We know that you like her. We hear the way that you talk to her. We think that she is a beautiful and intelligent woman that is trying to make a better life for herself."

Abraham frowned." She is hiding from her family and that man that she was to marry."

He spent way too much time in this place. That was how all the serial killers started. They made everyone think that they were approachable, and then they would not see the ax coming for their heads later. They did not know the violence just under the surface as the two agents did.

Abraham Van Brunt had a family history that made everyone a victim to him. All the problems started with his paternal grandfather, Peter. He killed his next-door neighbors and kept their heads in his garage so that he could talk to them because he said that they never listened to him. So he had to make them stay and listen. His grandmother, Viv, committed suicide when she found out that he had killed her best friend. She could not live with the shame. She left Abraham's father, Pep, alone at the age of eighteen. He was a good husband when he married Victoria, Abraham's mother. He was an even better father to him and his older brother Nicholas.

However, one night he just snapped and started beating his mother and his brother in front of him for no reason. Pep was not a drunk. He did not do drugs. He said that he wanted to make a man out of his seven-year-old son because he was too soft. Abraham never cried or said a word as his father punched and stomped Nicholas until he screamed. He would stare into his father's black eyes until Pep stopped the beating due to exhaustion. His father wanted to show his family his power to tear them apart, but all it did was bring them closer together.

They were ready for him by the third night of the senseless beatings. Abraham just kept his eyes on his father, as his mother told him. Pep was staring at his son when he started kicking Nicholas in the ribs. He forgot about his wife, Victoria, and her favorite meat cleaver in the kitchen.

Life with his mother after his father's death was a struggle for normalcy. She bounced from one man to another. All of them were good men, but she was looking for someone just like their father. When she found him, there was another meat cleaver murder. She went to jail for that one because she had a life insurance policy out on him. Abraham then lived with his uncle, and his brother Nicholas struck out on his own. He was doing fine until he went to the doctor one day and found out that he had cancer. Instead of having sympathy for him, their uncle laughed in his face. Their father was his brother, and he blamed Nicholas and Abraham for his murder. He said that he beat his son and wife, and they were okay with it.

Nicholas's psyche began to loosen. He felt as if their family was the scourge of the world. They were nothing but evil people, especially the men and the women that bore them. He bought two rifles and went about destroying their seed from the face of the earth. He started in two towns over and wiped out all seven of their relatives that lived there. Then he went to Texas to kill their mother's family of six people. He then returned to their uncle's house, killed his aunt, waited for Abraham and their two cousins to walk in the front door, and killed his two cousins. He did not even look at Abraham. He just walked into the living room and waited until his uncle came home.

Abraham went to the phone and picked up the receiver as their uncle's truck pulled into the driveway. The frightened teen dialed 911 and asked for help as their uncle walked into the door. He did not even warn his uncle as Nicholas took aim and shot him seven times. Abraham talked to the operator and then set the phone down on the counter as Nicholas threw the rifles on the floor.

"You don't have to worry about them now, Abraham. I got them all. You are a good one in the family. Just don't listen to the voices, and you will be alright."

The courts put Nicholas in a mental institution. He found out that he did not have cancer, and they treated him for a viral infection. He never acted out while in the hospital and was given privileges that other patients were not. Abraham went to see him every other Friday after work.

Agent Frank Irving frowned at the off-the-books profiler. Abraham had solved two cases for them already. His brother Nicholas had directed them to him because he could ignore the voices and see the scene firsthand instead of what the demon in his head wanted him to see.

"How do you know that she was to marry some guy?"

"That older waitress Bee talks about cutting whoever comes in here looking for her all the time." Abraham looked over at the well-dressed black man in the corner table, spying Abigail as she made her rounds. He was not a regular customer.

"Like that guy in the corner. I have never seen him here, and who would wear those type of shoes in the snow."

The agents looked at the man's feet and saw black Docker Gordons without a trace of snow on them. They even wore boots in the winter. "He does not have snow on his shoes. You think that he stayed the night, Frank."

Abigail walked toward their table and smiled with dimples at Abraham as he looked up at her. "Well, you better get something hot now before Hank closes the restaurant. That storm is moving faster in our direction."

Abraham raked his hair back away from his eyes and stared up into her eyes. "What would you suggest I take from you?"

Abigail shook her head and smiled. "Nothing,"

The two agents' faces showed worrying expressions. His talk only had two meanings to them, sex and kidnapping.

Abraham smiled at her soft smile. She needed protection from all other men, especially the man watching her not wearing boots. She was the only human that made him want to venture from his home. Abigail needed his security to keep him sane and reasonable.

"Did you bake anything?" His voice was deep and sweet-sounding to her ears, but to the agents, the menacing message of a predator targeting his prey.

Abigail's smile deepened. " I made an apple pie."

"I will take the whole pie." Her laughter made his body violent as his thought were.

"Mr. Van,"

Abraham shook his head at her words. Abigail laughed again and then corrected herself. "Abraham, you can't buy the whole pie. What if someone else wants some?"

"Fuck them,"

She suppressed a giggle and shook her head again. Abraham continued staring at her. She was so close he could grab her and run out the door, but he calmed that urge. His eyes slowly shifted to the man watching her from the corner of the coffee house.

"How are you going to make it in that little car of yours," Corbin asked as he looked out the window to see the heavy snowfall.

"Betsy never lets me down," Abigail said with a smile. Abraham stared at her and then looked past her and saw the man still staring at her.

"Who's your friend in the corner?" Agent Irving asked as Abigail turned around and looked at the man. When he saw her look in his direction, he got up and went to the counter to pay his bill.

"I don't know?" The lights flickered, and everyone in the place gasped. Hank came out of the back.

"Sorry, folks, but I am closing her down. The weather report says that the storm will be here in an hour, and I want to get a head start on getting my people home."

~0~

Agent Corbin and Irving stood outside in the falling snow with Abraham staring at him, all bundled up in his survivor man gear. "Go home, Abraham; she does not need your help. That man left twenty minutes ago."

Abraham stared at his two handlers." I have four-wheel drive, do you? I suggest that you two leave now while the roads still exist."

Abraham walked to his truck and started it up as the agents watched him pull out of the restaurant parking lot. "You know that he will double back."

Ichabod walked outside the restaurant and towards the agents while putting on his gloves. "Is there something wrong that I should know about with Mr. Van Brunt?"

Corbin shook his head. 'No, he is fine."

"I like him; He causes no problems despite his family's history."

Frank nodded. "He is different."

"All that killing in the next town over makes me worried that someone will come here and start killing women. If you hear of anything, let me know."

Corbin nodded. "Will do,"

Ichabod nodded and walked away from them and towards his squad car.

Irving looked at his partner." He did solve those two cases that no one else could. I don't care if he talks to the woman, but that is it."

Corbin nodded. "Alright then, let's go wait for him."

~0~

Abigail pulled her hood down over her ears as the snowflakes grew substantial as they fell. She walked out to her car and noticed the flat tires. She walked around her vehicle until she saw the man from the diner approaching her. "I am private investigator Hill, and people are looking for you. Your aunt could not keep quiet for long. She gave us your address, and I found you."

Abigail stared at the man as he pulled out handcuffs. He was not a cop. Luke Morales wanted her back. Her father had sold her for the sum of fifty thousand dollars because that was all that Morales said his eldest daughter was worth. Of course, her father took the money because he wanted it to buy Christmas gifts for his mistress and not his wife and daughters. Luke gave her father the money for her, and now he wanted his prize. On the day of her wedding two months ago, her mother, sister, and aunt helped her escape by subduing Morales's family in the bridal room. Abigail ran to the hidden car in the woods, discarded her wedding dress in the trunk, and drove as far as the full tank of gas would take her. She then bought a bus ticket and ended up in Sleepy Hollow. They had threatened her younger sister Jenny, who would never tell even if they threatened to kill her, but her aunt was not as strong.

Abigail reached into her purse and pulled out her mace. The man screamed as she sprayed him in the face and began running through the parking lot. A massive suburban suddenly pulled into her path. The door swung open, and she looked up and saw Abraham in the driver's seat. She hesitated for a second until she heard the man screaming her name. Abigail climbed into the suburban and closed the door.

The two FBI Agents drove around the small shopping complex waiting for Abraham's return to possibly kidnap his obsession. Corbin turned the corner and had to quickly jerk the steering wheel to the right to avoid a sliding car. The Agents' screamed in fear as their vehicle slid across the road down and down an embankment.

Captain Crane saw the accident and drove up to the Agents' car. He exited his squad car and saw the two men climb out of the damaged vehicle. He extended his hand and pulled Frank up and then Corbin.

"You two alright,"

Corbin bent over and then straightened. "Yes, what are you doing here."

"I always wait until this shopping center is empty because of this reason."

Crane looked down at their car.

"Let's get you two to the station."

Frank looked into the parking lot and saw Abigail's car. "Is Abigail still here?"

"No, I think Hank took her home. Her tires are flat. Come on,"

August and Frank looked at each other with curiosity because Abraham did not do that to Abigail's vehicle. He was with them the entire time.

The two agents followed Crane to his squad car.

The investigator managed to crawl to his car and sit beside it in the snow as his eyes began to clear up. He pulled out his phone. "Mr. Morales, I found her, but there is a storm coming, and I will be unable to contact you for a few days. Once there is a break, I will resume my tracking. She has no transportation. I will find her and bring her back."

~0~

Snow on the ground, snow on the massive trees, and snow on snow was the only scenery outside her passenger side window as the Suburban easily navigated the snow-covered roads. Abigail paid attention to none of it as she stared straight ahead while Abraham Van Brunt drove her to safety. She knew that this was just the beginning of their incursion. That investigator would bring more of Luke's men here to try to take her back. Maybe even Mr. Morales himself would make the trip to get his expensive prize and take her home.

She had been free of them for too long to let fear paralyze her. Abigail would not go back willingly to her prison. She had prepared herself for violence long ago and was not afraid to dish out some of it if she had to. She was not going back to marry that sadistic businessman. Luke wanted her to be his slave. Jenny had overheard him and their father talking about slavery one day when he came over because he saw them around town with their mother and followed them home.

Abigail lived on her own, but it was a girls' day out that day. Her father's decision to sell her to Mr. Morales did not give him an attack on his conscience. He was still angry with Abigail because she told their mother about his affair. Divorce was in the air, and it would cost him a lot of money to make things fair. He and Luke agreed upon a price and also decided that he would marry her because having her as a slave would not go over well even in his neighborhood. Her mother tried to stop the exchange, but she was not strong enough to do anything that day. Morales's men held her hostage for three months after that while they prepared for the wedding.

Luke agreed not to touch her until then, only because when he tried, Abigail told him that she would kill herself afterward. He saw the conviction in her eyes and released her but kept her under guard. She planned her escape every day with her mother, her aunt, and her sister. They were the only ones that she trusted in the entire world. They had given up their life and safety to help her escape. They would suffer for that until she returned to Luke. Her father had moved on with his life and his mistress. Their fate was none of his business as he had said to her on the day of her wedding. Abigail fretted over the pain and suffering that her cohorts endured, but all the emails that she received from her aunt urged her to keep going. They were strong enough to make it through and that this would not last forever.

Abigail turned her head slightly and looked at Abraham as he drove calmly through the thick snow. She did not know that much about this man, but the people she worked with seemed to like him. He kept to himself and never bothered anyone. He was always nice to her when he spoke to her. He only ordered coffee and whatever baked goods that she had made that morning.

That was why she got into his truck. She knew that he had some feelings for her. She was always curious about the two men that were constantly with him in the morning. She was sure that they were some law enforcement. They seemed to know each other very well, and that helped calm her somewhat. She knew that they would help her if she needed their assistance.

"Thank you for helping me."

Her soft voice made Abraham nod. "Who was that man? Why was he trying to handcuff you?"

Abigail faced forward and stared out the window. "He is gone now."

Abraham looked at her profile and saw the tension in her jaw and the wrinkled brow of her forehead. That man wanted to take her back home to her fiancée, and she was terrified. Abraham could see her trembling even though she tried to hide it.

"Do you live out here in these woods?"

Abraham nodded. Abigail faced him. "I can try to get home…"

"How, with the storm coming?"

Abigail watched the snowfall faster and heavier. "I don't want to impose on you any more than I already have."

That dark place inside of him purred. Abigail was so lovely, and she smelled so good despite being frightened. He would take her into his house and keep her. Abraham had enough room; they could survive several winters in his home. The voice told him that first, he had to disarm her of the pepper spray. The Suburban turned down a previously shoveled road and headed towards a large home with smoke coming out of the chimney. Abigail stared at the inviting structure. The family-style house seemed out of place for the loner beside her.

"I have the room and food to last all winter."

The large garage door rose from the ground, and they waited until it stopped, and then Abraham drove inside. Once inside, the door began to close. Abraham turned off the truck and then turned and looked at Abigail as the darkness began to fill the vehicle's cabin. Her dark eyes showed concern as she stared at him as the light faded. Only the sound of her choppy rapid breathing filled the silence between them.

Author's Notes

Yes, it's dark. I hope that you enjoyed the new story. Please read comment. ~Frostbytefire