Chapter Fifteen!

Eric sat in his car, gripping the steering wheel tightly as he stared at the old farmhouse. He could feel his heart hammering against his chest, almost hearing it. He could hear Chad nervously tapping the car window, and Eric wanted to look over at him, but he didn't dare take his eyes off of the house. This was where Luke had held Ronnie for the last day, and he knew in a few minutes, he would see Ronnie, and he was terrified to see what the kidnapper had done to her. She said yesterday that he hurt her. How badly? Eric rubbed his eyes roughly as Chad's voice pierced through the silence.

"You're sure the cops are hiding around here?" He asked. Eric nodded, not letting his eyes leave the front door of the house.

"I'm sure. They parked at the end of the street and snuck up to the house before we got here." He explained as he sighed deeply; wanting nothing more than to get Ronnie, as well as Chad, home safely.

"What if this doesn't work, Reverend Camden?" Chad asked. Eric turned his head long enough to see that Chad's eyes had fear swimming in them. Eric tried to give a reassuring smile.

"It will, Chad. It has to." He turned to look at the house again, unsure himself if the plan would really work. He couldn't see any of the police officers, not one. He assured himself they were well hidden, but he had half expected to see at least one, to reassure himself. He was going on nothing but faith now.

Eric jumped when he saw the rotten wooden door on the old farmhouse open slowly.

"Let's go." Eric said as he unbuckled his seatbelt and jumped out of the car. Chad obeyed, feeling every part of his body shaking as he and Eric stepped up onto the front yard of the house. Luke emerged from the house, gripping Ronnie tightly by the hair, holding a gun to her head with his free hand. Eric's heart leapt into his throat, as his fatherly instinct nearly threw himself forward to grab Ronnie from the monster's grip, but he knew better. Luke was, after all, holding a gun against his daughter's head.

"Eric, you're early." Luke shouted across the yard, as he eyed Chad with narrow eyes. Eric swallowed hard and nodded.

"Sorry. Listen, I have Chad. I want my daughter back." Eric felt fear overwhelming him as he saw the tears streaming down Ronnie's cheeks as she stared desperately at him. Luke only laughed.

"Patience, my friend. You'll get her back, but first, I want Chad to come here." He said. Eric felt his heart skip a beat. It wasn't going to be a fair trade; he had a bad feeling already.

"Luke, I'll send Chad when you send Ronnie. How do I know you won't run off once you have both of them?" Eric asked. Ronnie wanted so desperately to tell Eric that was exactly what Luke was planning to do, but Luke had told her right before they left the house that if she so much as said one word, he wouldn't hesitate to kill her, right in front of her father.

Luke laughed again.

"Eric, I'm in control here. I have the gun, and I have your daughter. I won't hesitate to kill her. So, you do as I say, or she dies. Send Chad up here!" He yelled out, pulling harder on Ronnie's hair, causing her to let out a quiet shriek. Eric prayed quickly that the cops knew what they were doing, as he turned to Chad, who stared back at Eric with very frightened eyes.

"Chad, I know this is scary for you. I don't know what's going to happen, but Officer Matthews assured me they will do everything they can to get you kids safely away from your father. Try to be brave, okay?" Eric couldn't believe this was actually happening. He felt like he was putting both of the kids in danger with this plan, especially because Luke had a gun; something he hadn't expected, but nothing else seemed to make sense.

Chad took a deep breath and started heading forward toward his father and Ronnie. Eric became very aware of the sweat brewing on his forehead, as he kept his eyes on Ronnie and Luke, afraid to shift his gaze for even a moment. Chad was walking slowly, and Luke seemed to be growing impatient.

"Hurry up Chad!" He yelled, and Chad's steps quickened. Finally, he was standing in front of his father, staring at Ronnie with sad eyes.

"I'm sorry." He whispered to her, as he saw the tears in her eyes.

"Shut up!" Luke yelled before Ronnie could say a word. Luke pushed Chad out of the way as he stared at Eric with a confidant grin.

"Nice doing business with you, old buddy." He started pushing Chad toward the old Chevy, still in the driveway, dragging Ronnie with him. Eric started running toward them, but Luke stopped and put the gun under Ronnie's chin, making Eric stop dead in his tracks.

"Don't move, Reverend! Come one step closer and I'll kill her. What would you rather have? A missing daughter, or a dead daughter? I'll send her back soon. I'm not finished with her quite yet." Luke kept the gun held against Ronnie as he kicked Chad toward the car. Eric looked around nervously. Where were the police officers? What were they doing? Just as Luke opened the car door with his free hand, Eric heard a shot echo through the air, and Luke dropped his gun, grabbing his shoulder, screaming. Ronnie had fallen to the ground, and Chad had scrambled over to her, afraid she had been shot. Police officer after police officer had come running out of their hiding places, holding their guns down at Luke, shouting at him not to move. Two cops had come running out and grabbed Ronnie and Chad quickly, pulling them away from Luke, who was bleeding on the grass. Ronnie looked around desperately. Where did Eric go? She couldn't see him anywhere now, as the policeman led her further and further from the house and from Luke. Everything had happened so quickly and as the officer was trying to talk to her, asking her questions, she saw him in the corner of her eye, running toward her.

Eric.

She released herself from the policeman and ran toward Eric, with tears running down her face, desperate to be in his arms. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up, hugging her so tightly, as she cried and cried.

"Dad, I was so scared!" She kept saying, as he held her close. He was so happy to have her back; he barely noticed that she called him 'dad' for the first time.

"Are you alright?" He asked, as he pulled away to look at her. He noticed the left side of her face was bright red. Ronnie sniffled and wiped away her tears.

"You got here just in time. He was going to…" She remembered his hands and his lips, exploring her body. Eric puckered his brow.

"He was going to what?" He asked, feeling anger filling up inside of him as he looked over at the monster, who was being cuffed at that very moment. Ronnie felt sick to her stomach as she thought about it, and she looked at Eric with sad eyes. She didn't want to talk about it right now. She knew the cops would question her eventually, but for now, she just wanted to be with her family.

"Can we talk about it later? I just want to go home." Ronnie wrapped her arms around Eric's neck and he hugged her tightly, worried about what had happened during the last day she was missing.

"Ronnie. The police brought a paramedic with them, just in case you were hurt. I'd like it if you let her take a look at you, just in case. Will you do that for me?" Eric asked, feeling relieved but worried at the same time. Ronnie sighed, but nodded. It was already beginning to get dark and she knew the drive home would be at least an hour, and she really wanted to see the rest of her family, but she obliged. She took Eric's hand and he led her over to a police car, where a young woman was waiting with a kit.

"Hello, and you must be Ronnie. My name's Kim. Would it be alright if I looked at that bruise on your face, and make sure everything else is okay?" Kim asked, as she smiled. Ronnie nodded shyly, but before she could approach Kim, she heard a voice.

"Ronnie!" Ronnie turned and saw Chad running toward her. Ronnie started walking toward him, knowing her father and Kim would respect the moment she needed with her best friend. Chad stopped in front of her and just stared at her with sorrowful eyes. There was a moment of silence, where nothing was said, before Chad finally was able to open his mouth again.

"I'm sorry Ronnie." He managed to say, as his voice shook. He could feel tears coming on, but he had never cried in front of his best friend before, and the moment was a little awkward for him. Ronnie shook her head.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, Chad." She said.

"He's my dad."

"But you didn't tell him to do this."

"I know, but…"

"Chad, it's okay." She paused. "I'm the one who should be sorry." Chad puckered his brow.

"Why? For being kidnapped?" He asked. Ronnie shook her head.

"No, for breaking my promise to you. I told you I wouldn't tell anyone and I told my dad. I'm sorry Chad. I didn't know what to do. I was just trying to do the right thing." She lowered her head.

"You did do the right thing. I was mad at first, then I wasn't sure. But when I heard that you were kidnapped, that all changed. I saw my dad for the criminal he really is. Besides, the group home I'm staying at is pretty cool."

"Are you happy Chad?" Ronnie wanted to know that more than anything else.

"Yeah, I am. I owe it all to you. You're my best friend." Chad smiled, and Ronnie smiled back, feeling tears brewing in her eyes. She had been worried all this time that she had lost her best friend, and now he was standing in front of her, and he was still her friend.

"You're my best friend too." She couldn't help herself. She threw her arms around him and hugged him. He hugged her tightly, as Eric and Kim watched on. Eric smiled. It was so good to have Ronnie back, and to see the two friends reunited.