Lucas sighed as he placed three more quarters into the meter. He thought tonight would make things better, or at least a little easier between the two of them, but things hadn't exactly gotten off to a roaring start. Did she really mean what she said…or rather what she didn't say? Did she really not feel anything for him, did she not love him? After everything they'd been through, it had come down to this? He wasn't going to give up on her yet.
He was pulled from his thoughts but a sudden shout, he frowned and turned around…squinting through the darkness.
"Stay Still Bitch!" He heard and suddenly he felt his heart stop, across the dark parking lot he could see a tall figure, his arms grabbing a struggling Peyton…A sudden rise of protective anger overtook him, his hands shaking as he began to sprint across the parking lot, his heart hammering loudly in his ears.
He drew closer and roughly pulled the back of the man's jacket, yanking him from Peyton. She stumbled back with the sudden release and her eyes widened as she saw Lucas in front of her, beating the guy who had grabbed her.
Lucas felt like he had lost control, he let the anger take over as he threw another well-placed punch hitting the man squarely in the jaw and sending him reeling backwards. He quickly pushed him down, his body hitting the ground with a dull thud as he kicked him swiftly in the abdomen.
"Stay off of her you asshole." He spat angrily as the guy scrambled quickly to his feet.
Peyton's eyes were quickly drawn to the shining gun that lay by the man's hand, it felt like her heart had leapt into her throat as she looked between Lucas and the gun…
"Lucas!" She cried but it was too late, the man shoved Lucas hard causing him to fall back onto the ground with a thump. She watched in slow motion as he picked up the gun and got shakily to his feet, pointing it straight at Lucas, both men panting heavily. The man's nose was bleeding profusely and he wiped it on the back of his hand, looked down at it and then back at Lucas, his face twisted into a menacing glare.
"You're gonna pay for that." He said lowly and Peyton bit back a whimper as she looked down at Lucas, his lip bleeding as he lifted up both hands in surrender and got unsteadily to his feet. How could this be happening? She thought panicked.
Lucas looked up at the gun as it glinted in the moonlight before looking back at Peyton, still catching his breath. He tried shoot her a reassuring look but she just stared back, obviously terrified. They stood there for a few seconds, the only sounds echoing through the empty parking lot were their heavy breathing and Peyton sniffing…she looked back at Lucas who was simply staring up at the man, his hands now at his sides. She couldn't let this happen, what if he killed Luke and she would be totally alone…she couldn't lose someone else. She just hoped this was some horrible nightmare she would wake up from. Shakily she stretched out her arm, holding her purse out to the man who was standing there, the gun still trained on Lucas.
"Please…please sir, just take my purse. Just take it. You don't need to hurt him." She said softly, her voice breaking as tears stung in her eyes. Lucas looked up at her, the fear in her voice breaking his heart, it hurt that he couldn't do anything more to protect her from this maniac.
The man looked at her suspiciously, careful to keep an eye on Lucas as he snatched the purse from her hands, he quickly emptied it of her money and her cell phone before throwing it back to her. She didn't even make an effort to catch it, her eyes never leaving Lucas' face. She felt tears building in her eyes as the man turned back to Lucas, a sick smile on his face as with his spare hand he shoved the money and the phone into his jeans pocket.
"I gave you what you wanted now please let him go." She pleaded desperately, but the man didn't move. Lucas swallowed hard and looked across at Peyton, all to aware there was a gun pointed at his face, his heart was racing as he looked into her tear-filled eyes.
"It's okay Peyton, just get out of here…go, I'll be okay." He pleaded, his voice trembling as he looked back at the gun then back towards Peyton, his heart hammering with anticipation and his blood rushing in his ears. He didn't want to die, but he had to protect Peyton first, she was more important. Peyton stared at him but didn't move…
"Peyton, Please." He begged softly and she shook her head deftly, her vision blurred with tears.
"I'm not leaving you." She cried her voice breaking with emotion.
The guy looked between them and laughed causing them both to look at him.
"Aww, how sweet." He remarked sarcastically. Peyton glared at him in disgust as he pointed the gun back at Lucas and took a step closer, edging nearer to Lucas.
"You." He said flicking the gun in Lucas' direction.
"Gimme your wallet, your cell and the keys to your pretty little Porsche over there." He said with a smile exposing his mismatched teeth. Lucas froze, unable to take his eyes from Peyton…he needed her to get away from here, she needed to be safe. He couldn't stand her being in danger. He didn't respond to the man who was growing angrier by the second, tired of waiting he kicked Lucas hard in the ribs, causing him to drop to his hands and knees, winded by the blow. He could hear Peyton whimpering and calling his name as he struggled to draw breath, pain searing in his ribs. He coughed, wrapping an arm around his ribs and using his other to empty his pockets, his hands shaking violently as Peyton tried to edge nearer to him.
"Okay, okay." He said weakly, dropping the wallet, cell and keys at his feet.
The assailant glared at Lucas as he bent down and scooped up the valuables, his precious gun, his only source of power and control still fixed on Lucas as he straightened up and stood next to Peyton, his eyes looking her up and down, a twisted smile on his face as he licked his lips. Peyton looked away, her stomach turning.
He drew closer to Lucas who getting slowly to his feet before shoving him back down, hard.
"On your knees." He said gruffly as Peyton let out another whimper, shaking in fear, her heart racing and blood rushing through her ears. Deafening her as the man raised his gun and pressed it hard against Lucas' temple.
Lucas swallowed hard, the gun felt cool against his sweating forehead as he looked up into the cold eyes of the man in front of him, he felt a surge of indescribable hate...He could hear his own breaths loudly as he breathed heavily in and out, his blood pumping with adrenaline and fear whilst Peyton could barely breathe at all, she couldn't let this happen, not like this. This wasn't going to happen, another person can't leave her.
They stood there for a few seconds, the guy obviously thinking of what to do now. She prayed he would just take the stuff and go and then no one would get hurt. But he turned back and began looking her up and down, his eyes lingering on her breasts before looking back up to her face, the look on his face making her feel sick.
"Please leave him alone." She whispered, taking his silence as an opportunity to plead with him. He swallowed, licked his lips and smiled again, looking from Lucas back to Peyton.
"Okay, I'll leave Blondie here alone…if you do me a favour." He said raising an eyebrow and licking his lips again. She balked, paling as she realised what he meant and Lucas shook his head.
"Peyton, don't you don't have to…just get out of here, you don't have to do this." He said slowly. How could he be so calm? She thought, he had a gun pointed to his head…and things wouldn't stay that way, no matter how much she didn't want to she had to get him out of this situation.
Before she even had a chance to fully make up her mind the guy had launched himself on her, his hands grabbing her, all of over her. She wanted to scream as she felt his hot breath on her neck and his lips crashed against hers, she struggled but he was too strong as fear gripped her, she tried to push him away but her attempts were futile as he grabbed her…
Suddenly it was over as soon as it had began, just like before the man was pulled off of her by Lucas and all she could do was watch as Lucas threw him to the ground, the gun clasped in the assailants hand as Lucas gripped his wrist, pulling it away from him.
She felt tears rolling down her cheeks as she began to cry, she couldn't do anything to help him! They rolled over again on the ground, both of them struggling to gain control of the gun. She could see the rage in Lucas' eyes as he punched the man in the face, still unable to get the gun.
They rolled over again, this time Lucas on the bottom as the psycho with gun began punching him hard, hitting him in the chest and abdomen as Lucas bucked, trying to throw him off. Peyton watched in horror, her heartbeat quickening as she edged forward, trying to think of a way to pull this maniac off of him. Lucas managed to get on top again, turning around, his face red with anger and exhaustion he locked gazes with Peyton.
"Run…Peyton Run. Get help…Go!" He yelled throwing another quick punch as the other guy tried to throw Lucas off, their hands both gripping the gun. She shook her head, tears dripping from her cheeks.
"Please Peyton, please!" He begged his voice hoarse as he was elbowed in the stomach, the air being forced from his lungs again as he struggled to breathe. She reluctantly started to stumble away, her eyes not leaving Lucas…every piece of her heart telling her to stay but her head telling her to move, get help for Lucas so this can all be over…She could vaguely hear Lucas yelling at the other guy above the rushing in her ears and she turned and broke into a sprint, her legs feeling like jelly as she willed them faster.
As she ran she could still here them scuffling behind her, she felt the wind in her face making her eyes water as she ran…she had to get help.
She willed one foot in front of the other, not wanting to turn back. She gasped in surprise as her foot struck a pebble and she crashed down to the ground, throwing out her arms to break her fall she hissed in pain as the asphalt scraped the palms of her hands. As she hit the floor she heard a sound that made her heart stop…
Two gunshots…
A/N
Hope that was okay, action writing isn't my strongpoint so if you have any tips? Please tell me what you think!