Chapter Four

"You know, I just couldn't help overhearing your frustration," Jack said.

"Oh, yeah and what exactly do you plan to do about it?" Austin asked, still suspicious about Jack's intentions.

Jack shrugged again. "Help you out, just like I said." He gestured to Alana. "That your daughter?"

"Yeah."

"Looks like she's ready for the Olympics."

"That's the plan," Austin said proudly.

"And what about her?" Jack asked, gesturing towards Sabrina.

"She's a student of mine."

"The competition seems pretty fierce, if you ask me. Looks like she's got a good chance too."

"Yeah, sure," Austin bit off.

This is just too easy. Jack thought, as he laughed to himself.

"Isn't your daughter already at the head of the competition?" Jack asked.

"She's climbing to the top, but it's never enough. Nothing ever seems to be enough anymore." Austin sighed.

"So, Sabrina keeps stealing the spotlight, which leaves your daughter in the dust."

Austin nodded. "Yeah, pretty much. Listen, buddy. Are you gonna help me out or not, I don't have all day here."

"Whoa. Take it easy, man," Jack said, giving Austin a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "You see that girl?"

Austin followed Jack's gesture. A slim young woman who looked to be in her early twenties with shoulder length brown hair sat on a bench talking with Sabrina.

"Yeah, why?"

"She works for the city morgue and she has a tendency to be a little crazy."

"What do you mean? How do you even know her?"

"She used to be an old neighbor of mine. Personally, I think she takes her job a little too seriously. She's always talking crazy and I'd hate for Sabrina to fall for her silly little ploys. You know how gullible kids are these days."

"So, what do you want me to do?" Austin asked.

"Just get her out of the way. That shouldn't be too difficult now, should it?"

"Okay, then what?"

Jack smiled again and then his conversation with Austin continued.

Tru only watched Sabrina walk away. She was tempted to follow her, but she didn't want Sabrina to think she was stalking her.

Suddenly.....

"Excuse me, Miss?" a voice came from behind Tru, startling her.

Tru spun around, only to find herself face-to-face with a big, burly security guard. Tru looked a bit surprised.

But before she could protest or say anything at all he said, "I'm sorry but you have to come with me."

Sabrina had walked away and now Tru found herself being escorted out of the large building.

Great. This is just great.

"Listen! You really don't understand!" Tru tried her best to protest as the security guard practically hauled her out of the center.

"Yeah, that's what they all say," said the security guard. "Have a nice day, Miss." And with that the security guard headed back into the building, leaving Tru outside.

Now what am I going to do?

Tru returned to her car, only to find her brother asleep in the passenger seat.

Figures.

"Harrison!" Tru gently nudged her brother. "Harrison, wake up!"

Harrison groaned as he awakened from his deep sleep. "Aw," he moaned. "Is it morning already?"

"No, Harry."

Harrison rubbed his eyes and looked up to find his big sister staring down at him, a worried expression spread over her face.

"So, did the good Samaritan do her good deed for the day?"

Tru sighed. "I'm afraid it's not that simple."

"What do you mean?"

Tru re-capped the events as her brother listened intently.

"So, I need your help," Tru said.

Harrison raised an eyebrow at his sister's request, and then he burst out laughing.

"Wait. Let me get this straight. You want my help?"

Tru nodded. "Yes, Harry."

He laughed again and then caught himself and regained his composure.

"What do you need me to do?"

"I need to distract the security guard."

"This place has security guards?!"

"This isn't exactly the safest part of New York City, Harry."

Harrison got out of the car and they stood at the side of the gymnastics center building. Harrison came out and stood at the entrance. He saw the security guard and he knew exactly what to do. Tru had described Sabrina to him as well and he spotted her from his place at the door.

"Holy shit," he breathed.

"Harrison!" Tru hissed from her place at the side of the building. "You're drooling."

Harrison looked over at his sister for a moment before wiping his mouth self consciously with the back of his hand.

"I can't help it!" he hissed back. "She's so fine."

"Focus, Harry." Tru reminded him.

"Right." Harrison drew a deep breath and entered the building.

Tru waited a few minutes before she approached the entrance of the building. Inside the building, off somewhat in the distance, Tru saw Harrison conversing with the security guard.

She then saw a frazzled looking Sabrina head out of the practice room and out of her range of vision.

Only minutes later, she saw a man, who she assumed was Sabrina's coach, follow her.

She then saw Harrison making small gestures at her, as if to urge her to follow. She also saw that the security guard was bent over, apparently picking up something he had dropped so he hadn't seen Harrison's gestures.

Tru acknowledged Harrison's gesture with a sharp nod and proceeded to follow them.

I just hope I'm not too late.

From across the room, Jack watched as his plan began to unfold before his eyes. He saw Harrison, making his best attempt to distract the security guard. Then, he saw Tru sneak in unbeknownst to the security guard and follow Sabrina and Austin. By this time, Tru, Austin and Sabrina were completely out of Jack's range of vision.

Still, he remained content with himself. Tru was being foolish; she was messing with the natural order. Messing with fate.

Stupid bitch.

Sabrina was still upset over what Tru had told her. It just didn't make any sense. Who would want to hurt her? How did she know? Was she right?

So Sabrina exited the practice room and walked down the long corridor, heading into the trophy room at the end of the hall. This was the place she always went when she was upset. She seemed content there; it gave her a renewed sense of confidence and encouragement. Looking at the trophies she had won and looking at the ones others had won. Pictures, medals and trophies were displayed throughout the room.

She walked around the perimeter of the room, looking at everything around her. Trying to take it all in. Reflecting on memories, her accomplishments, past, present and dreaming of her future. She had accomplished so much in her young life and she still had so much to accomplish, so much to live for.

"Sabrina?" a voice came from behind her.

She turned around and found her coach standing in the doorway.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied.

"You don't sound fine." Austin came forwards toward Sabrina. "Want to tell me what's wrong?"

Sabrina shook her head. "No, really,—it's nothing."

A small smile crept over Austin's face.

"You know, for years you and Alana have always been the ones on top. It's something that makes a couch—and a father—really proud."

Sabrina looked at Austin, studied him. His voice was calm, yet something just didn't seem right. No, not at all.

A horrible feeling of uneasiness spread over her. "Coach?" her voice trembled as she spoke.

She stepped backwards, as he suddenly began to advance on her, like a wolf that was ready to pounce on its unsuspecting prey.

She continued backing away from him, and backed into the large glass trophy case propped up against the wall.

Ouch.

"But now, things are different. You're both training hard. Hard as hell, as a matter of fact. Now, you've shown me you can surpass her; even though you've both worked just as hard. You're going for the gold.... But what about Alana?!"

Austin's anger seemed to reverberate off the walls now.

Sabrina moved left, as she swiftly tried to get away from Austin. Her swift and all too sudden movements caused her knee to flare up, and she cried out in pain. Reflexively, she reached down to her knee.

Austin seized his moment of opportunity and advanced on her once more, until she was backed up against a wall. She was still in pain; all the pain and stress came rushing back like it had weeks ago. Although it was completely unintentional, she knew she had pushed herself too far.

Fear shone in Sabrina's big brown eyes as Austin's icy blue ones seemed to bore through hers.

He put his hands on her shoulders.

"Coach, I didn't know you--..."

"Don't you think it's enough?! Isn't it time to give someone else a chance to shine?" His large hands moved slowly, inching their way towards her neck. As they reached her neck, his grip on her began to tighten, choking her.

Sabrina used every ounce of her remaining energy to try and wriggle herself free, but to no avail. His grip grew increasingly tighter, constricting her breath and her heart went into overdrive as she struggled to breathe.

"NO!" a voice behind Austin shouted frantically. Sabrina saw Tru and her eyes seemed to be pleading for help. Desperate help. And fast.

"You can't do this! Why are you doing this?!" Tru cried frantically. "What did Sabrina do?"

"She's everywhere! She wins everything! My daughter is always one step behind the limelight! Why?! Because of her!" With one hand still firmly around Sabrina's neck, Austin pulled out a gun. The gun that had been hiding in his office for years now. The gun that Jack told him to use.

Tru's eyes widened. He was going to shoot her if she wasn't careful enough. She had to think fast.

"Please! Put the gun down! You don't want to do this! You don't--..."

And that's when it happened. Austin fired and a single bullet rang out.

In the next moment, Tru froze. She couldn't bring herself to move. It took a moment for her to realize that the bullet had hit her right shoulder. It had hit home and hit hard.

Another moment and Tru was on her knees and then she landed hard on her left side. Reflexively, she reached up to her injured shoulder and put her hand on the wound, trying to stop the flow of blood. The blood gushed out and seeped in between her fingers, running down her hand.

She wanted so much to cry out in pain, cry out for help. But she didn't. She seemed to be in a daze now.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the pain subsided as she was enveloped into the darkness around her.

Author's Note: And yet more suspense! What is to become of our fallen heroine? First of all, a big, hearty thank you to everyone who has reviewed. What did you think of this chapter? Parts of this were a little difficult to write, so I REALLY need feedback! PLEASE REVIEW!

Only one more chapter left..... See you all at the final chapter!