Disclaimer: Fox Family owns them and I do not. I am not making any money off this story.
Hostage
Part Two
By SparksJSH
Curtis hung up the phone, a look of revulsion and disgust on his face. Hank, on the other side of the desk, knew the news couldn't be good. "What did you find out?"
"Let me put it this way; we've got trouble. Marshals Andrews and Johnson, the two men killed in the crash were indeed transporting a criminal at the time of the accident. Not just any criminal but Jake Thompson. You remember that name from about year ago?"
Hank did remember that name. His stomach turned over in disgust. The news had only told a portion of the crimes the man was responsible for, but even they knew that the majority of the information was too horrendous to report. Only the police wire had told the full story. "Jake Thompson is out there in those woods?"
Curtis nodded. "I'm afraid so. We'll have reinforcements here within the hour to begin a full-scale manhunt. Until then, they said for us to do what we can. They also warned us to be careful. He's extremely dangerous."
"Sir, shouldn't we call Mt. Horizon and warn them? I would hate to think what a man like Thompson could do if he made it there." Hank was glad for the first time since she left last week that Kat was out of town visiting colleges with her parents.
"I'm going to call Peter now. I want you to take a couple of guys up there and make sure the school is secure. I don't want to even think about what would happen if Thompson took those kids hostage."
Hank nodded. "I'm on my way."
Curtis picked up the phone. As much as he knew he had to warn Peter, he didn't want to make this call. With a sigh, he dialed the familiar number. It rang two times before it was answered.
"Mt. Horizon." Peter answered in a polite clipped tone.
"Peter, Curtis here. We've got a problem. I have some men on their way up to the school. Before they get there though, I need you to round up everyone and get them into a secure area like the lodge. Don't let anyone out of your sight."
"What's going on Curtis?"
Curtis sighed. "There was a MVC on Hwy. 7 near the school. Two U.S. Marshals were killed and the prisoner they were transporting escaped. He's in the woods somewhere near you."
Peter swore. "Tell me you are joking, Curtis."
"I wish I were. Don't worry, Peter; I think you will all be safe in the lodge."
"Curtis, Sophie and the Cliffhangers aren't here. They left several hours ago for an overnight quest."
This time it was Curtis who swore. "Now tell me you are joking, Peter. Do what you can; I'm coming up there as well. We need to find Sophie and the kids and make sure they are okay."
Peter was silent for half a second. "Curtis, how dangerous a criminal are we talking about? What did he do?"
"I'd rather not get into that on the phone, Peter. I'll explain everything I know when I get there. But Peter?"
"Yeah, Curtis?"
"I'd say a prayer if I were you."
*****
Shelby screamed as Sophie hit the ground. The man holding her turned the gun on her. "Shut up little girl or I'll shoot you next."
Sophie groaned and clutched her bleeding shoulder. Looking at Shelby and their assailant, she frowned. "Do as he says, Shelby."
"SHELBY?! SOPHIE?!" Scott called as he approached the area.
Shelby's eyes widened as the man's grip tightened. She looked at Sophie afraid of what would happen if Scott found them. All of the others were probably trying to find out what had caused the shots.
"How many of you is there?" Thompson growled. Shelby was too frightened to answer until he shook her hard enough to rattle her teeth. "Answer me or I'll shoot the next person who comes into view."
"Eight." Shelby's voice was just audible enough to satisfy her captor.
"Shel? Sophie?" Scott ran into the area. He drew up short when he saw Shelby's predicament. Then he noticed Sophie. "My God, are you okay?"
"I'll live, Scott. Please be careful."
"Yeah, be careful. I'd hate to fill you or the pretty girl with holes." Thompson warned.
"What do you want?" Scott slowly knelt down beside Sophie.
"My freedom. Perhaps this girl. Not much."
"Yo meat! Did you find them?' Auggie joined them. He froze when he saw the gun.
Thompson shook his head. "We're halfway there. You two help her up. We're going to join your friends."
*****
Peter stared at Curtis in disbelief. "So this guy raped and murdered over twenty women before he was captured?"
Curtis nodded. "He also killed two federal agents investigating the case. That's why he was being transferred to the federal prison."
Peter ran his hand though his hair. "And he's out there in the same woods as seven of my students and their counselor."
Curtis nodded once again. "Peter, we need to get Sophie and those kids back here. From what the Marshall's office told me I don't think he'd hesitate to kill the guys but I'm more afraid of what he'd do to the girls if he finds them."
"Sophie has a radio. I just hope she has it turned on."
*****
"Sophie, please stay awake." Juliette pressed a gauze pad against the wound on Sophie's shoulder. She avoided looking across the fire to where the man with the gun was standing guard over them. So instead she concentrated on tending to Sophie.
The bullet had lodged itself in Sophie's left shoulder. While the wound was not life threatening by itself, Juliette was worried about the blood loss and shock. Already the blonde counselor had briefly lost consciousness twice. Juliette was afraid if Sophie completely lost consciousness; she may never wake up again.
Sophie groaned. "Sorry, Juliette. Is everyone okay?"
Juliette glanced over to where the boys were tied to a tree. They weren't happy but at least so far the four hadn't been hurt. Daisy was sitting next to Shelby on the ground. Shelby had a bruise forming on her cheek but that was it. Juliette forced a smile. "We're fine, Sophie."
"SHUT UP!" Jake Thompson warned. "So all of you are from a school? I ain't never heard of no school that takes kids hiking in the woods in the middle of the week."
Shelby rolled her eyes; her fear coupled with her already bad mood made her especially belligerent. "Sounds to me like you've never heard of school, period."
In half a second, Jake launched himself on to Shelby, knocking her backward. He backhanded her across the mouth and then shoved the gun brutally against her temple. "Shut up little girl. I could kill ya as easily as looking at ya. You wouldn't even be the first one I done it to."
Though she was inwardly shaking, Shelby refused to let him see she was scared. She stared at Thompson in defiance. For a moment their eyes were locked together in almost a duel for control.
"Leave her alone!" Scott ordered from his spot tied to the tree. With a grin, Thompson turned and fired a shot directly over the boys' heads. Bark from where the bullet lodged in the tree showered the boys. The warning silenced Scott.
Thompson turned his attention back to Shelby. With a wolfish grin, he caressed her cheek with the barrel of the gun. "I wouldn't want to kill you though until I had my fun. You know how long it's been since I been with a girl? I bet a sweet little thing like you would taste mighty good."
Shelby's stomach turned and threatened to dislodge its contents when he leaned close and licked her bruised cheek. She closed her eyes as he nibbled at her ear and then began to whisper in brutally graphic detail what he'd like to do to her. A single tear fell down her cheek.
"Peter to Sophie. Do you read me?"
Thompson sat up, pulling Shelby to a sitting position. "Who's there? Where is that coming from?"
"It's the radio." Juliette was too scared to either lie or ignore him. "It's in Sophie's backpack. If we don't answer him, he's going to know something's wrong."
Of course if Sophie answered in her condition, he would definitely know something was wrong by the sound of her voice. Thompson seemed to realize that because he pointed to Daisy. "You answer it. Convince him that nothing is wrong or…" He pulled Shelby close and shoved the gun in her ribs. "I kill her first."
Daisy nervously retrieved the radio and took a deep breath before pushing the transmit button. "Go ahead, Peter."
"Where's Sophie?"
Daisy thought fast. If she said anything that would obviously clue Peter in, Thompson would kill Shelby but she had to try something. Maybe there was a way to make Peter realize that all was not right without Thompson realizing what she was doing. "She's tied up right now. She caught Shelby and David making out again. She's giving them one of her famous 'no inappropriate touching' speeches. They've heard it so many times I don't know if it will do any good but you know Sophie."
David laughed at the idea of him being caught making out with Shelby until he caught the glare Scott was giving him. Shelby didn't react at all. That scared Daisy more than anything. She must be really traumatized. Any other time, Shelby would be looking daggers at her for even suggesting that she and David had been together. Daisy hoped Peter caught on.
"Sound's like business as usual. Tell her I checked in and that I'll talk to her when you guys get back tomorrow. Peter out."
Daisy's heart fell. Hadn't he caught on? Wasn't he going to come charging to their rescue? When was this nightmare going to end?"
"Smart girl." Thompson shoved Shelby away. "Now give me the radio. I don't want any of you getting any ideas about calling for help."
Daisy reluctantly handed him the radio. On her way back she stopped where Shelby was lying on the ground. Reaching her hand out she helped Shelby to sit up. Daisy was worried. Shelby's eyes never left Thompson as if she were afraid he would attack her again at any second.
"You okay?" Daisy whispered.
Shelby didn't reply. She didn't even bother to wipe the bead of blood that had formed at the corner of her mouth where she'd been slapped. Daisy touched her shoulder. "Shel?"
"What part of shut up do you not understand?" Thompson suddenly appeared right in Daisy's face. Her eyes got wide. For a moment Daisy thought he was going to hit her as well. Then he laughed. "The fear. That's what I like to see. Fear turns me on. Just wait until I kill the guys and I take you four ladies with me. I'll teach you whole new levels of fear."
TO BE CONTINUED…