End

The termination of life or existence; death

Chapter 7

"Abby!" I screamed down the street as I pitifully ran after the black car. I had to help her. I thought fast and raced back into the ER.

"Susan!" I shrieked running up to her legs. She was the first one I saw as I skidded into admit.

"What is it Carmella?" she asked detaching me from her.

"Abby! Abby! They took her! They took Abby!" I cried.

"Who took Abby?" she asked.

"I don't know! We have to save her!" I screamed.

"Honey, you're just sleepy. I'm sure Abby just went for a walk," Susan said. I could tell by her tone of voice that she was still angry with Abby and wasn't going to help me. Susan went back to work as I desperately looked around for Sam. I knew she would believe me.

"Sammy!" I cried, relieved, when I finally found her in the suture room with an elderly women. She was stitching up her hand.

"Well aren't you the cutest thing!" the lady exclaimed overdramatically.

"What's wrong Carmella?" Sam asked continuing to suture the women.

"They took Abby!" I cried tugging at her arm.

"Carmella!" she cried. I could tell I had thrown her off when her suture kit fell to the floor with a loud clatter.

"I'm so sorry Mrs. Brink," Sam said picking the kit up off of the floor. I didn't give Sam any time to chastise me. I ran out of the suture room and dove under an empty gurney to make sure Jerry was still busy before I dashed back out of the hospital. I was at a loss. I didn't know which way to go. I quickly raced off into the direction the car had gone.

"Abby!" I continued to cry as I raced down the street. "Abby!" I had no idea where I was going. But I was determined to find Abby.

I don't know how long I had been running. I had cried away all of my tears and my throat was raw from screaming Abby's name into the night. There was never an answer. I sat down on the sidewalk and buried my face into my arms. I had seen more of what I wanted to on my journey. A dead cat lay in the street with blood still seeping out of its head. It looked like somebody had shot him. I wanted to cry.

'What have I gotten myself into?' I wondered. Once I had caught my breath I lifted my head and took in my surroundings. It was dark and wet. The gutters were overflowing even though it wasn't raining. I tucked my boots underneath me so they wouldn't get dirty. I soon realized I had no idea where I was. I decided to find somebody that could take me back to the ER. The problem was the street was completely empty. I was scared and cold and I didn't know where I was.

I got to my feet and looked around. There was a small amount of light coming from somewhere in a nearby alley. I wandered into the alley and, to my relief; I noticed a car at the end of the small road. I approached it quickly. A man was standing at the back of the vehicle. The light that I saw came out of the dome lamp in the back of the car.

"Excuse me," I whispered tugging at his coat. He turned around abruptly and I quickly realized he was holding a gun.

"Carmella?"

"Abby!" I screamed rushing past the man with the gun and jumping into the back of the car where Abby was sitting on her knees. I couldn't believe it. It was really her. Abby held me tightly and started to cry into my hair. I cried too.

"Let go of her now!" the man snarled jabbing his gun in between Abby and I. I refused to let go.

"Let go Carmel," Abby whispered. She had to pry my hands off of the back of her neck. The man grabbed me from behind and yanked me out of the car.

"Who are you?" he snapped pointing the gun at me. I felt the same overwhelming feeling of dread I had when Mickey was questioning me about my dad. My reaction was the same too. I looked pleadingly at Abby who slightly nodded her head.

"Car-Carmella," I stuttered continuing to cry.

"You her kid?" I saw the little boy in the back of the car. He was the same one I had seen force Abby into the SUV in the ambulance bay. I wasn't sure how to answer.

"Well!" the man with the gun snapped. I flinched.

"I-I don't know!" I cried and totally broke down right there on the street.

"Please let her go!" I pleaded. I saw Abby attempt to get to me. But the man quickly pointed the gun back at her.

"Are you her kid yes or no squirt?" he pushed the gun to my head. I couldn't control my level of hysteria.

"She's mine, Loose," I heard Abby reply from the back of the SUV. I couldn't help but wonder why anyone in their right mind would name their child Loose. Then again, Carmella wasn't all that normal either.

"You shut up and help CJ," Loose snapped. It was the first time I noticed the gunshot victim in the back of the car. Then it all clicked in my head. That's why they had abducted Abby. They wanted her to help this guy. They were obviously hiding out in the alley to avoid police. I may be six but I'm not stupid. In a sharp motion that startled me, Loose grabbed me by the back of my jacket and shoved me into the back of the SUV, into Abby. He closed the door and climbed into the driver's seat. The little boy climbed into the backseat.

"How's CJ?" Loose asked as he started to drive.

"He's going to die if he doesn't get to a hospital," she replied simply, tears dripping off of her face as she held me close to her.

"Let go of her," the boy said.

"Please," Abby pleaded with him. I had managed to stop my tears and was now just holding on to Abby as tight as I could. Her scrubs were drenched in CJ's blood.

"Listen to Little C!" Loose growled. Abby squeezed me tightly then set me down as close as she could, next to her.

"What's the plan next?" Abby asked quietly.

"Once the cops are gone we're taking CJ home," Little C replied. I could see Loose looking at us through the rearview mirror.

"We're going to get some food," he said. I grabbed on to Abby's ankle. I was scared out of my mind, but at least I had found Abby and she was okay. I stared into Abby's eyes. She looked terrified but quickly kissed me on the head before Little C or Loose could say anything. It wasn't long before he pulled up into the drive through.

As Loose was ordering I tugged at Abby's arm and pointed to the latch that opened the back door. She slowly eased over CJ for the door but he caught her hand. I gasped, startled, and Abby sat back down next to me.

Loose pulled out of the drive through. I couldn't help but start to cry again. I thought about all those times my father had beaten me and beaten me until he had nothing left. All those times I had gone days without food. All those times I sat in a dark closet, wondering if I would ever see the light of day again. All those times I thought it was the end for me. But I was finally happy. It didn't seem fair. I looked up at Abby through a wall of tears and wondered if this was truly the end.

Thanks to my awesome Beta reader Starr who read my chapter despite having no hot water :( I would also like to thank everyone who supplied me with a lot of help and infomation on 'Skin'.

Dru

PS. I love all your reviews! Thank you all so very much...

PPS. Despite the name of the chapter I don't hope to end the story any time soon.