Chapter Seven
Abi stared at these blue eyes for a minute. She had hoped she was mistaken about the identity of that person, but no. "Josh," she said, "your bed manners really need some improvement."
He raised his hand and slapped her across the face. "Still the same sarcastic bitch aren't you?"
She felt a great pain goes through her body again.
"I thought you loved me Joshua, I gave you everything I could. Why are you doing this to me?"
"Well, you know Abi, you might have been able to fool all your "friends" into thinking you are the sweetest creature alive, but you never fooled me. Well actually when I left after your mother's death I was thinking about your virginity and I thought that maybe I misjudged you. That Maybe you really are not a slut like everybody said. But the more I thought about it the more I knew I was right about you. You fooled everybody, you knew exactly what you want didn't you? You couldn't have dad so you took the next best thing, me. You wanted the Hirsh seed in your blood. That's why you didn't let anybody in your pants, isn't it?"
Abi was amazed at these crazy words, and the hatred she heard in his voice. "I have no idea what you are talking about Joshua" she whispered.
Oh, don't play dumb with me bitch. You know. You also know why I'm here." He slapped her again. The pain was almost too much for her to bear.
"When my father died, he left everything to you and your mom, and that's what you wanted. You wanted the money to stay yours. That's why you seduced me when your mother died, you needed an heir. You knew I will not contest the will if you had an heir who is all of the Hirsh blood. But by the time I came to my senses about who you really are, it was too late. You were already a mother."
Abi was shocked. She couldn't believe his twisted mind. She lay there not able to speak.
He leaned closer to her, his face almost touching hers. She stared into his eyes then she said, "I always wondered why father didn't leave you anything. I did offer to sign 50% of everything to you. You refused. You said it was dad's wish and we will keep it. Now I understand. He knew you were crazy. He probably figured you would throw me and mom out. He tried to protect us."
"Of course he knew. They both knew. That's why they asked you not to follow your heart. Get a life they said. Mom and dad's little precious fragile baby princess."
He leaned closer to her, grabbed her hair and pulled it hard. She felt her eyes filled with tears. He suddenly let go of her. She stared into his eyes again, not sure what will come next.
Surprisingly he left her alone.
She way lying on the filthy bed, her whole body in pain. She did not know what happened to her. She remembered seeing him outside the Cohen's place. She was so thrilled to see him. She remembered the dogs greeting him. Then they went towards her car and he put and locked the dogs in. Then she remembered him hitting her more and more. Then, she remembered nothing. She did not know how long it has been since then. How long has he kept her here, or how seriously she was injured.
She suddenly realizes just how blind she was about him all these years. She didn't understand why her parents didn't warn her about his true nature. Why have they kept her in the dark? All they ever told her, as he said, was get a life of your own before you settle down. Have fun explore, experience, only then if you decide josh is the one, go for it. They probably thought it was a foolish teenage crush. Why didn't they just tell me the truth? And why did I, with my ability to read into people's minds and emotions did not see his true self then?
She fell asleep still bothered by these thoughts.
Back at the legacy house -Abi's office.
"So Alex, what else have you found?" asked Derek.
"Well besides the one I already told you about it seems there have been some unexplained disappearances and a number on suicides as well over the past 70 years. That's as far as I could track down. There are at least 12 suicides mentioned in the police reports Abi got. The strangest thing is all the letters begun the same way. I didn't want to do this but they left me now choice."
"Do you have any idea who they are?" asked Nick.
At that moment Ben came into the room. "They, I think I know what it means. The legend says this house was built on a forest. A forest which was inhabited by ghosts and fairies. The stories are that the restless spirits bothered the people who lived here, and some took their own lives. I have a book at home about these creatures. Some author gathered all the stories and descriptions and wrote about the haunting of this house. The book even has images of these so-called fairies. I can ask my mom to bring it by."
"That would be a great idea thank you Ben, we can compare these descriptions to the ones mentioned in some of the letters and see if we cam make a match" Derek sat in Abi's chair and put his hands on his face.
Ben called his mother and asked her to send the book to the house ASAP. As soon as he finished talking to his mother his cell phone rang. He listened for a minute then hung up and said "Derek, Nick, they found Abi's car and dogs. Do you wanna come with me check it out?"
"Sure," said Nick.
When they arrived at the scene they saw they were in an industrial zone. Plants and warehouses all over.
"Have you taken a look at all these facilities?" asked Derek.
"We are doing that now. Hopefully finding the car here might give us some clues" replied Ben.
"But it's possible they stole the car when they left her in the ally, maybe they heard you coming and escaped with her car. If Joshua was driving then the dogs wouldn't cause him problems."
He looked around and saw policemen with dogs looking all over so he said to the other two men, "We have nothing more to do here. If they find anything they'll let me know."
Derek couldn't move. He suddenly felt Abi's presence. "She is here somewhere" he said. We have to keep looking."
+++
Abi suddenly felt a rush of energy flow through her body. "Father" she whispered. "You're here. Please hear me, come to me."
Joshua heard her, he came rushing in. "No one will save you" he said. He started hitting her over and over till she passed out from the pain.
+++
Derek felt frustrated. He knew she was around there somewhere but he could no longer feel her.
"Damn" he shouted. "She's gone again."
"Maybe we can recruit her dogs to the search?" asked Nick.
"They will do us no good at the moment after being locked in that car with no food or water for nearly 24 hours. They're lucky to be alive. One of my man is taking them to the veterinarian" answered Ben.
Nick looked at Derek who seemed a little lost. "Derek, we better get back to the house and check with Rachel and Alex if they have more news. Maybe we can find something that will lead us to her."
Derek followed then into Ben's car and they drove back to the legacy house.
They went back into Abi's office.
"I found out something" said Alex.
"What is it?" inquired Derek eagerly.
"Well it seems Mr. Erickson had some experience in the occult. The records say he swore he will return to destroy the Hirsh dynasty."
"Erickson, I know that name. He had a son. Gordon, that's his name. I'll try and access the police records from Abi's computer. If I'm not mistaken his son had some run-ins with the law" said Ben.
+++
Back at the warehouse.
"Joshua" said Erickson. "If Her father was around and felt her, then we don't have much time. We need to get out of her the information you need and get out of hear soon."
"Shut up Gordon. I know that."
He went over to Abi and shook her. She opened her eyes and looked at him.
"Josh, why are you doing this, please let me go. I will not let anyone know what happened. And you are still welcome to half of everything."
"I don't want half" he screamed. "I want it all. Now are you gonna tell me where they are or do I have to beat it out of you?"
"What do you mean? Who are they you keep talking about?"
"Do you think I'm stupid? Did you think I would not find out? Where are my children?" he yelled.
Abi's face paled. She was starting to panic. Very people knew she got pregnant the night her mom died. And Josh was away. How could he have known?
"I see that jogged your memory," he said.
"I'll never let you know where they are so you might as well kill me" she whispered.
He looked at her, came closer and slapped her again. "You will tell me. And just so you know, you will never be able to have any more children. I made sure of that."
Abi looked at him and said, "you're a liar."
"Am I? We left you because your father and friends almost caught us. You were at a hospital before we got you here. That's how I know."
She tried to get up but couldn't. The pain was too powerful. She realized he was telling her the truth. She fell back on the bed and begun crying.
"That will do you no good. Now I want to know where my children are and I want to know now."
"I already told you Joshua, over my dead body."
"That can be arranged'" he said. "I will find them."
" I will never let you get your hands on them. They are safe and that's where they will stay."
"We'll see," he said. "We'll see."
+++
Legacy house
Ben was working on Abi's computer when he suddenly called out "Bingo."
"What is it Ben?" asked Derek.
"I think I know where she is. According to this Erickson Jr. has a factory in the area we found the car. I think we should go check it out, let's go."
He turned in his chair when his watch was caught on the drawer's knob. He opened the first drawer to try and free his hand and found a dagger. A golden dagger. It seemed quite antique.
"I remember this," he said. "Eleanor gave this to Abi on her 18th birthday."
Derek looked at him and said, "it must be a sign. Bring it along Ben."
He grabbed the dagger and they left for the warehouse.
+++
Back at the warehouse
Abi looked at Joshua a dare in her look. He came up to her and hit her on the face again. She bit her lip so she will not scream. He hit her again, but still not even a moan.
He picked her of the bad, she felt like her insides were on fire. He grabbed her hands and tied them over her head.
He raised his hands into fists and started punching her all over as if she was a punch bag.
She started crying. She didn't know how much more she can take.
Suddenly she felt that rush of energy again. She knew Derek was near. She closed her eyes and pretended to faint. She concentrated as hard as she could to signal her father on her whereabouts.
Derek felt the energy he felt before. "She's here," he said. "I can feel it." The three of them moved into the warehouse.
Nick was the first one to see her. He came quietly behind Josh. Josh suddenly knew he was not alone. He turned around and managed to escape Nick's strike. He stood there for a minute. He saw the rage in Nick's eyes. He knew he could use this rage to his advantage.
He pulled out a knife he held in his belt and jumped at Nick. Nick jumped to the side. Joshua tried it again, but Nick was fast.
Derek and Ben following Nick came in. Derek ran towards his daughter and used the dagger to cut off the ropes.
Erickson came in at that moment. Nick was with his back to him. Abi tried to call him but she couldn't say a word. Gordon Erickson hit Nick on the head with a peace of wood that was lying there.
Nick was stunned and fell to the floor. That gave Joshua and Gordon the break they needed. They all heard josh say as they ran "It's not over yet Abi."
Abi collapsed into her father's arms. Ben went over to help Nick.
"Are you ok man?"
"Yes" said Nick. "I'm fine."
"Guys, we need to get Abi back to the hospital" said Derek. "Now."
They rushed out of the warehouse and Ben drove to the hospital as fast as he could.
Over the next few day's, each of the male house members took turn in watching over Abi. She was not left alone for one minute. They knew it was not over yet, and they wanted her to recover some before they start handling the situation.
Ben's search came up with nothing. There was no sign of Joshua or Gordon. But they all knew they'd be back.
One week later.
Abi opened her eyes, feeling of fear surrounding her. She looked around. She realized Joshua was no where around and that she is in the hospital. She closed her eyes and sighed in relief. She felt a warm hand on her head. Abi opened her eyes and saw the smiling face of Nick above her.
"Welcome back to the land of the living," he said.
She smiled back at him. "How long have I been here?" she asked.
"About a week."
"A week? Oh god." She looked at Nick and said anxiously "Nick, I need a phone, right now. Please Nick, it's important."
"Ok. One phone coming right up."
He brought her the phone and sat back next to her.
"Nick, I need to make this call in private. Do you mind waiting outside for a minute?"
"I don't like the idea of leaving you alone for even a second" he answered.
"Please Nick. Don't make me beg. I really need this call."
He looked at her and wondered what it is she's hiding. Eventually he went to the door, but said, "I'll be right outside."
Abi made her call. She listened to the voice on the other side saying her children are safe and was relieved.
"Nick, you can come in now," she said as she hung up the phone. He came in and saw a big smile on her face.
Nick looked at her and felt a pinch of jealousy.
"I'm ready to go home now Nick. Will you call my doctor so he can sign my release forms?"
Nick looked at her but didn't say a word. He asked the policeman who was outside the door to go and get Dr. Weis.