Chapter 13: The Escape
Very late that night Speed was still awake anticipating when he and his wife would be freed by Racer X. As he tried not to think about how hungry he felt he became upset that Zain didn't at least bring something for Trixie to eat. I hope it's because Racer X distracted Zain, Speed thought. Disturbing his thinking, his sweet wife began to stir in her sleep. She then slowing blinked open her eyes to see Speed leaning over her with concern on his face. "Trix. Are you alright?" he asked with concern.
"Yes," she said as her hand, which was handcuffed to his, moved to cover the baby. "This little one's movement woke me up."
Speed looked down and actually saw that their baby seemed to be getting comfortable as Trixie's whole belly shifted.
"Wow," he said in awe as his hand moved to feel the movements as well. He smiled back at his wife in amazement.
"I'm sorry I fell asleep on you," she said with a yarn.
"Don't be. I know the baby is taking all of your energy." He remembered reading that in one of her pregnancy books.
About ten minutes later, the two of them were still awake when the sound of the key in the door made their heads spin to it.
"Shh," Speed said as they stared at the door.
The door began to ever so slowly open and then Racer X walked in. He very softly closed the door as Speed and Trixie stood up.
"You two are still awake?" the Masked Racer whispered walking over to them; not really wanting an answer.
"Where's Zain?" Speed whispered back.
"He's asleep in the den with everyone else."
"They're all sleeping?" Speed asked surprised, wondering how that had happened.
"Ben passed out from drinking. That's how I got the key to come in here," Racer X said like it was so simple. "Zain and Conrad stayed with me thinking I passed out drunk. They were so tired they fell asleep since they didn't have to worry about me anymore."
"We can sneak out of here now?" Trixie asked thinking it was too good to be true.
"Yes," Racer X said thinking that was exactly how he wanted to get Speed and Trixie out of there; while everyone else was sleeping. Lord knew he would have loved to knock Zain around for a while but he didn't want Trixie to get too excited in her condition.
"I guess we should go now," Speed said anxiously.
"Yes," Racer X said dropping his eyes to the handcuffs that bound Speed and Trixie together. "I just wish I knew where the key to the handcuffs are so Trixie doesn't accidentally get pulled down."
Before Speed could say he had the key, Trixie turned to him and dove her free hand down deep into his front pocket.
Racer X was taken aback not knowing what the heck Trixie was doing as Speed actually blushed. "Trixie," Speed said embarrassed in a loud whisper. "Stop it. I'll get it myself."
"Got it," she said pulling the key out of Speed's pants. Even though Trixie was nervous about their escape, the look on Speed's face made her crazy hormones kick in as she he leaned to her husband and whispered, "Much more than that to come after the baby is born." She then winked at him when she backed away.
Speed's eyes widened as he looked back at his once innocent, now very flirtatious wife. He loved being the only man she acted this way towards but this was definitely not the time or place to put him in the mood.
Racer X could only imagine what his sweet, little sister-in-law had whispered into his little brother's ear. "Come on. Get the cuffs off," Racer X said commandingly not caring where the key came from. They didn't have time for Speed to be thinking of his desires at the moment since they had to escape.
"Oh, yeah," Speed said shaking his head back into reality as Trixie gave him an innocent smile.
Her innocent smile was brief though as she turned serious once again. Slipping the key into the handcuffs, she unlocked them causing the cuffs to easily snap off of their wrist.
Speed took the cuffs and put them into his pocket along with the key.
"Okay. Now listen," Racer X said looking at the both of them but then he focused on Trixie. "God forbid if one of those fools wakes up while we're escaping. If that happens, Trixie. You keep going through that front door. Speed and I will take care of them."
"He's right," Speed said making Trixie turn to stare into his eyes. "You just worry about yourself and the baby and get out."
Trixie hated feeling useless; knowing she wouldn't be able to help them. However, their baby meant the world to her. "Okay. Unless I hear one of you yell to me to stay, I'll keep going."
"That's right," Speed said putting his hand on her face to caress her cheek. "I won't let them follow you."
More emotional now, Trixie hugged her husband and he hugged her back. After a few seconds he glanced over her shoulder at Racer X who was ready. "Let's go, Trixie," Speed said releasing her.
She backed away from Speed giving him a brave smile. "I'm ready."
"Alright," Racer X said more than ready. "Let me make sure that they're still sleeping." Racer X then opened the door and slowly moved down the hall leaving them in the room.
Speed peeked out to see Racer X unlocking the front door. The Masked Racer then came back through the den, down the hall and to the room. He bowed his head signaling that it was time to leave the cabin.
Speed turned to look at his wife as he took her hand and gently began pulling her out of the room. As quietly as they could, they began walking down the hall headed to the front door.
The three of them continued through the den, but is was nerve racking seeing the sleeping men's breathing. They were breathing slow and easily but at any moment one of them could wake up very suddenly catching the prisoners in their attempted escape.
Conrad was dreaming. He was dreaming of the huge fight that had happened after the Zodiac's first race when Speed won. An image of Racer X racing to Speed's side to help him fight against the Zodiacs woke Conrad up. He opened his eyes as he realized that Racer X was on Speed's side. In this realization he caught sight of Speed and Trixie trying to escape. "Zain. They're getting away!"
Zain abruptly opened his eyes and saw Conrad jumping up and digging in his back pocket for his gun. Conrad had no idea that Racer X had gotten rid of it.
"Trixie!" Speed yelled strongly. "Go!"
"Stop her!" Zain yelled now on his feet.
"Like hell you will!" Speed yelled as he charged towards Zain ignoring his pain from Conrad's earlier punches.
Trixie had been somewhat frozen till she heard Speed telling her to go; making her remember that she had to leave him for the safety of their child. She made her way to the door while Racer X was letting Conrad have it just as Speed was doing the same to Zain.
As soon as Trixie was out of the cabin, she ran into some very familiar faces. Though she was so happy to these those faces, she was very upset that Speed was still inside the cabin with Zain.
Speed was about to punch Zain again, till Zain was finally able to pull out a gun from the back of his pants that Racer X hadn't known about. Zain then lifted the gun and pointed it directly at Speed. Still breathing heavily from the fight, the wicked man fought to gain better control of his breathing before he acted with the gun.
Racer X had a hold of Conrad around his neck; trapped.
As for Ben, he was still passed out on the floor not having any idea of what was going on.
"Speed. It's time that you die," Zain said more than ready to use one of his bullets or more if necessary.
Outside and panicking, Trixie exclaimed, "Speed and Racer X are in there fighting with the Zodiacs!"
"What!" Mom Racer asked worried for her son.
"I'm going in," Pops said not scared as all as he disappeared inside leaving Sparky with the women.
Suddenly a sound of a gunshot made Trixie and her mother-in-law jump. They then held each other in silence fearing who may have taken the bullet.
After a minute or so the door opened. Speed and Pops walked out; followed by Racer X with Conrad under his control.
To say Trixie looked relieved to see the love of her life was an under statement. Happy tears poured out of her eyes as she felt relief wash through her.
Smiling back lovingly at her, Speed handed the handcuffs to Racer X for Conrad, and then moved to take his wife into his arms.
The Masked Racer was happy for the young couple as he thought of how he was going to enjoy cuffing Conrad to a drunken Ben.
"We heard a gun shot," Trixie said still in her husband's arms.
"We won't ever have to worry about Zain again," Speed said so glad that he didn't have to worry about the wicked man wanting Trixie any longer.
"You…you shot him?" Trixie asked still nervous from the events that had taken place.
Still holding his wife, but moving to see her face, he said, "No. I had thought it was the end of my life, till Zain's sister showed up."
"What?" Trixie asked remembering the food the speechless woman had cooked.
"She said she couldn't let her brother take our baby's father away even though their parents were taken away unfairly by a fire." Still shocked over it, Speed said, "She shot him to save me."
"That must be the first time she has spoken since her parent's died," Trixie said remembering what Tim had told her about Zain's sister not speaking since their death.
With that the two pulled each other very close once again. As Speed held the woman carrying their child, he noticed his own Mother smiling happily at them.
"Mom, Pops, Sparky," Speed said just before releasing Trixie. "How on earth did you find us?"
"It was easy," Mom Racer said. "I found the map in your house with the four cabins circled."
Pops took over as he began to brag about how they found them. "This was the first cabin we decided to go to."
"Only because you flipped a coin," Sparky said just before wishing he had kept his mouth shut upon seeing the look on Pops's face. Sparky then smiled at his buddy Speed. "We knew you were here because of my car being so near the cabin. Seeing Racer X's car here made us realize that he had to be helping you like he normally does."
"I'm just sorry we weren't here sooner," Pops said disappointedly.
"No," Speed said; his arm securely around Trixie's shoulders. "You walking in just when you did distracted Zain from shooting me, and then gave his sister time to...take care of him."
Looking very serious, Pops said, "He could have taken you way from us, Speed."
"But he didn't," Speed said strongly.
"Where's Zain's sister now?" Mom Racer asked looking around.
Racer X was walking out of the house when he heard the question. "She's kneeling over her brother saying good-bye."
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A half hour later the police showed up after being alerted by Racer X. After filling out a report on what had happened, the police took Zain's sister, Conrad and Ben with them. Zain's body was taken away from the scene as well.
Away from Pops, Mom, and Sparky, Racer X was telling Speed and Trixie good-bye. "I must be going now," he said smiling as if he had finished his job.
"I don't know how to thank you," Speed said remembering how the Masked Racer had saved him from his self destruction when Trixie first disappeared.
"I too can't thank you enough," Trixie said smiling back at him.
Racer X continued to smile at them. "The two of you can thank me by taking care of that baby."
Speed lifted his hand to shake Racer X's. "We will. Don't worry."
As Racer X shook Speed's hand he realized once again how proud he was to have Speed for a brother. Speed had truly turned into a great man, obviously a great husband, and there was no doubt that he'd be a great father.
When the Masked Racer began to walk away from the young couple, Sparky and Speed's parents walked up to them.
"Come on, kids," Pops said ready to go. "Mom's mini van will get us home."
They then all turned and headed to the van except for Mom Racer, who was staring at Racer X's back as he walked away. Tilting her head a bit as she continued to watch him, she thought, I don't know who you are, Racer X, but I will be forever grateful to you for always watching over my son.
Once back in their city, Speed insisted that they go to the hospital to have Trixie checked out and everyone agreed unanimously that it would be wise to do.