(A.N) Another crucial update! Here is the penultimate chapter where the action comes to a climax. Dont worry it's not the end of the story, more to come and if i get some more good responses maybe a sequel...

Anyways enjoy! xxxxxxxxxxxxx

The Shot In The Dark

Seth bolted around the back of the house, ignoring his mother's cries. He scanned the walls, searching for a way in.

He headed for a broken patio door with a rotting wooden door in front of it. Seth threw the door to the other side of the yard and quietly slid the door to open it.

The apartment was a mess, empty pizza boxes and take out cartons littered every table or counter top.

A damp smell hung heavily in the air.

Seth glanced over at a pile of papers. It was a letter addressed to a Mr. B Milford. Seth reached over and screwed it up in his palm, the anger inside him steadily building up.

He paused to listen for voices.

He heard Bailey's smarmy English accent from below, the basement. Seth gasped as his footsteps started to climb the stairs.

Seth gulped and ran to the kitchen, hiding in the small closet meant to be a laundry room.

He crouched down and held his breath as Bailey called into the bedroom for his accomplice.

The tall fat guy emerged, a large black briefcase in hand.

"Well, this is it! Now, come into the bedroom, we need to work out where's the best place to go next. I was thinking maybe Australia… " Bailey said, hushing his voice.

The windows had been boarded up, casting a dark shadow over the house and he ushered the other guy into the bedroom.

Seth sighed heavily as he heard the door close and lock.

He opened the door quietly and tiptoed into the back hallway, where he'd heard Bailey emerge from the basement.

Sure enough, a grimy staircase led down into the deeper catacombs of the filthy house.

Seth took a deep breath.

He heard a sniffle from the darkness downstairs and proceeded in going down into the basement.

Summer's head was pounding and her heart was in pieces.

This was it. She was going to die, she knew it.

All the things she'd ever wanted to do, not a chance.

And Seth, Seth who she'd yelled at the last time they spoke.

The guy that she loved so much it hurt. The guy that had warned her to watch out for Bailey.

He'd been right and she had just brushed it off.

Did he even know what had happened? Or was he still with Anna? She began to cry again.

All hope was gone. She flinched as she heard footsteps.

Well this would be it, Bailey was here again, or that big fat guy that always wore a black balaclava.

They were back to torture her again.

She bit her lip and closed her eyes, preparing for the worst…

Seth reached the damp basement.

He saw a small figure, strapped to a chair.

It was Summer. Seth bolted towards her.

He stood over her, looking at his bloodied and beaten girlfriend her hands and feet bound to the chair, her gorgeous face scratched and bloody with a long strip of thick tape covering her mouth.

Summer's heart beat faster, she felt the presence of someone, but kept her eyes closed.

She actually thought it was Seth for a second, but it made her feel worse.

'No,' she told her heart, 'don't make me think of him like this, not now, its making it harder."

She felt a tear roll down her cheek.

A soft hand brushed her skin and she opened her eyes reluctantly. There before her was her knight in shining armour.

Seth. Summer started to weep as he looked into her eyes.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered.

"It's okay, I'm here to get you outta here," Seth replied, hushing his voice. He leant over to the back of the chair and untied her hands. He knelt down to her feet when she blurted out.

"Cohen you gotta be careful, he's got a gu…"

"Well isn't this romantic?"

Seth and Summer turned to see Bailey stood at the foot of the staircase. Seth felt his lungs close up as he saw a black handgun poking out of his pocket.

"Looks like the knight is also a trespasser," Bailey smirked coolly. Seth slowly rose to his feet.

"You've got a nerve calling me a criminal," Seth spat.

"Seth, don't he'll hurt you…" Summer whispered.

"Oh, Seth, when will you learn? Acting tough and being tough are two different things. So are you gonna be the tough guy or the true nerd that you always will be?" Bailey smiled and his eyes flashed at Seth.

Seth's face was motionless, the anger flooding through his body, his heart pulsing.

Suddenly he charged towards Bailey, knocking him to the ground. Summer screamed, hurriedly untying her legs as the two guys grappled on the floor.

Seth furiously punched Bailey, finding a strength that he never knew he had, but then again, he'd never been this angry.

Bailey grabbed Seth and threw him into the wall. Seth felt very dizzy but rolled back onto Bailey, his hands closing around his neck.

"Seth! Don't kill him, wait for the cops!" Summer cried, trying to pull him away.

Seth turned, his face a deep shade of scarlet, and looked at Summer. She was a mess and the fear in her eyes was clear.

Seth let go and backed away. He walked over to Summer as Bailey lay unconscious on the ground.

He held Summer in his arms and never wanted to let go. He felt her heart pounding in her chest and was glad that this ordeal was over.

Summer looked at Seth lovingly but her eyes looked in horror behind him as she saw a very beaten Bailey, brandishing the gun.

"Say goodbye to your knight Summer!" he yelled.

His finger rammed the trigger and everything seemed to go in slow motion.

The bullet sank into Seth's back and he grasped Summer's arms.

Bailey looked on, smirking before collapsing again.

Seth fell to the floor.

The last thing he heard was Summer screaming in horror.

And then the darkness fell.