Chapter 25

Hi guys, sorry it has been a long time. My apprenticeship has taken up a lot of time. I'm also planning a season 2 sequel.

Fear consumed Ash as Lara sped along the road, Ash looked behind them and saw that Denman wasn't giving up she was gaining on them.

"This is so fun!" Lara said and laughed.

Ash's fear increased at Lara's words. Lara was driving way too fast and she was enjoying it!

"How can you say that? You need to slow down; you are going to get us killed!"

"Relax Ash I know what I'm doing, and I can't slow down Denman will catch us if I do. I can't let her take you away from me".

"Lara please listen to me-" Ash was cut off by gun shots. Ash ducked down and quickly checked that Lara hadn't been shot thankfully the bullets had missed her. Despite what Lara had done to him Ash didn't want her dead.

"What is wrong with Denman! She tried to kill us again!" Lara shouted.

Ash knew that Denman only wanted to kill Lara, she needed him alive for her experiments, but he was afraid of how Lara would react if he told her.

"Denman is calling me answer the phone", Lara said as she gave Ash her phone.

Ash wanted to protest, he never wanted to talk to Denman again. But Lara threatened to kill him if he didn't answer.

"Denman please let us go", Ash said when he answered the phone.

"I know what Lara has done to you; I can protect you from her if you persuade her to surrender".

"So, you can experiment on me! Even if I wanted to surrender, she won't listen to me".

"I'm offering this for your safety, I won't hesitate to kill Lara to get you back. But I don't want you to be caught in the crossfire. Lara loves you I know you can persuade her". Denman said and hung up.

"What did she want?" Lara said.

"She wants us to surrender".

Lara scoffed, "There's no way that's happening".

"Lara, I don't want to surrender any more than you do, Denman will torture me remember? But this is too dangerous, you could get killed".

Lara was about to argue but she screamed and lost control of the wheel. Lara had been shot.

"Lara!" Ash shouted in concern, he tried to gain control of the wheel but couldn't in time and the car crashed into a shop. Ash checked on Lara she had been knocked out in the crash. Ash scrambled to get out of the car and tried to rush to Lara so he could help her out of the car, but he was grabbed from behind. "Let me go! Lara has been shot!"

"I'm suprised you care Ash after what she has put you through", Denman said as she walked over to him smiling triumphantly.

"I once loved her, there will always be a part of me that cares for her", Ash said sadly looking away from Denman.

Denman grabbed Ash's chin and forced Ash to look at her. "You know given that Lewis wiped everything from my records, I will have to do all the experiments I did again". Denman said her smile widening.

"No please don't do this", Ash said unable to keep the fear out of his voice. Ash tried to struggle but the man holding him was too strong.

"Let him go!"

Ash turned in shock to see the one he loved. "Emma?" Ash said in disbelief, how had found him? Ash's friends had joined her too and he was so relieved to see them. Though he noticed that Cleo was with them too, he was grateful that she had helped them escape the lab. She must know their secret, he hoped she was okay with them being mermen.

Denman pulled out her gun and pointed it at Ash terrifying him, "I can't do that Ash is too valuable. Leave or I will kill him".

"You won't you need him alive", Lewis said.

Denman glared furiously at Lewis, "How could you betray me Lewis? We're family!"

"I was never working with you I was pretending, and after what you have done to Ash you are no longer my family!"

Denman's hand shook with fury, "No! You can't believe that! I can't lose my son". Denman froze when she realized what she said.

"What? I'm not your son", Lewis said in distress.

"You are Lewis I'm so sorry", Ash said. He had overheard Denman talking about it with her friends when she was experimenting on him.

Denman backhanded Ash with her gun making Emma scream in fear for Ash and try to save him, but Zane and Rikki held her back.

"Don't you dare tell him what I said!"

"Let Ash go Linda or I will tell them everything".

Lewis jumped in fright at the new voice, how could his mother be here. "Mum, what's going on what are you talking about?"

Jessie moved to stand protectively in front of Lewis, "I need to give Linda chance to take my deal, I can't tell you yet. Linda I will not only tell them everything, but I will tell everyone, it will ruin your career if everyone finds out. I don't want to ruin you, but I will to save Ash".

"You promised you wouldn't do this to me", Denman said furiously.

"You aren't giving me a choice".

"But Ash is so valuable you have no idea-"

"Actually, I do, I know that Ash is a merman".

"You know?" Zane said in shock trying to hide his fear that she could use this against Ash and that she could know about him and Lewis too.

Rikki noticed Zane's fear and hugged Zane to comfort him.

"How do you know?" Cleo said also fearing that she could know about Lewis too.

"I have always known but there is no time to explain, Linda what will it be?"

Denman glared at Jessie but after a tense silence she lowered her gun, "Let Ash go", Denman said to the man holding Ash. The man pushed Ash harshly away and Emma caught him before he could fall.

Emma hugged Ash tightly, "Ash I was so afraid I would never see you again".

Ash hugged back, "Me too, thank you for coming for me. I love you Emma". During his time with Denman Ash realised that he loved Emma and had thought he would never get the chance to tell her. Now that he was with her again, he couldn't waist another second, he had to tell her now.

Emma gasped in shock but then smiled beautifully, "I love you too", Emma said and kissed Ash. The kiss was wonderful and even more beautiful than Emma had imagined. Emma didn't want to stop kissing Ash but given the situation she had to. She brought Ash over to their friends who all hugged him grateful that he was safe.

"If you try to come after Ash again or hurt Lewis, I will tell everyone the truth. Leave now before I change my mind and leak your story".

"I will never forget you did this to me", Linda said angrily and reluctantly left. But she knew she would never stop until she had Ash again and Lewis loved her. Linda was willing to do anything to find a way to stop her sister from exposing her darkest secret.

"Lara is hurt we need to help her", Ash said.

"Where is she?" Rikki said. She didn't know who Lara was to Ash, but Ash was concerned for her, so she wanted to help.

"In the car".

Emma took Cleo and Rikki with her to help Lara knowing that the boys needed time alone after their traumatic experience. And they needed to talk to Jessie. Emma didn't want to help Lara after what she did to Ash, but she would feel terrible if she didn't try to help.

"Ash I'm so glad you're safe", Lewis said, he and Zane hugged Ash.

Jessie moved away slightly to give Lewis and his friends a moment, she had some very hard things to tell them that would change their lives. They needed this.