Miley's Ranch House
7:45 p.m.
Miley and Theo are prepared to leave for the journey ahead. Normally, the 'old' Theo would have had a problem with what Miley asked of her, but Theo was a changed man and no longer seethed revenge against any wrongdoers who did him wrong.
He was going to bring Luanne Stewart to justice. He wasn't going to murder anymore.
Miley was almost done with the kitchen and was ready to leave.
Theo however had to do one more thing.
Theo's POV:
I still have to do one more thing before I go. I check the number on my laptop and take a few breathes in contemplation at what I am about to do. The phone in my hand and the words in my brain, it seems easy enough, but then I remember my sins, who I was, and who I would be speaking to.
I muster the courage to dial the number and wait as the rings seemed to go on and on.
"Hello" the voice at the other end of the line snapped frantically.
The problem was that now I was speaking to the only man in the world who could love Miley as much as I did.
I clear my throat.
"Robbie Ray Stewart?"
"Yes!" he replied recognizing me as a player in the ordeal due to my natural Oriental tone of voice.
"Robbie Ray Stewart, have you paid the ransom yet?"
"I…I tried and I was almost there but…it was returned back to me…what's going to happen to my daughter?"
I held back emotion as I replied.
"There was originally a change of plans, but you may still pick up your daughter if you redeposit it into a specific account. But time is of the essence…"
"What do I have to do?" he asked intently.
"First, make you're way to your old house in Crowley's Corner, Tennessee right away…"
And on I went telling him my specific instructions. And the more and more I talked, the more he realized something odd. First, I sounded genuinely concerned for Miley…mainly because I was.
"Are you sure this will be honoured"
"Sir, you have little reason to trust me, but why else would we be arranging these circumstances, if we had any ulterior motive?" I covered finishing smartly.
Then he realized.
"You're not the person who I spoke with all the times before…"
Then I had to tell a bit of the truth.
"Sir, I highly suggest that you follow my instructions. As long as you follow, there will be minimal risk to you and Miley. I will go point on this one. I'm the man who actually has your daughter. Although I must demand that after this, you have nothing to do with any law enforcement or with our organization."
"Who are you?" he asked me, knowing that the radically different nature of the set up must've meant something different was going on.
I pause and replied.
"A changed man."
And with that we agreed and kept each other to our words.
"I never wanted any of this to happen. It's out of my hands, just as much as it is out of yours. Just…don't think we're (men of Chinese ancestry) all this way."
This last thing sticks profoundly to both Theo and Robbie Ray.
As much as it ached in Theo to have Miley possibly soon leave him for her father, whether by force or otherwise, he knew it had to be done.
An abandoned warehouse
Nashville, Tennessee
Day 7 of 7 in the Ransom Time Limit.
12:45 a.m.
In this dark and abandoned warehouse, filled with rats and rotting garbage, Theo is hiding out in the large warehouse. Fortunately for him he is sitting on the second story, on the overhead steel walkway away from the decaying mess below. Yet while waiting he can't help but remember what to him was a landmark conversation.
Flashback: Theo on the phone in the parked SUV sitting with Miley.
Theo's POV:
My phone rings…
"Hello?" I ask thinking it's Tom again.
"Theodore…"
His senses were shocked. Out of all the people in the world that could have done called him, this was the last man who should've.
"Dad?"
"Son" my father replied back to me.
Words didn't have to be said. Each knew the other's position well enough.
"Do you intend to do what I ordered you to do?"
For the first time in his adult life, Theo disrespected his father by saying…
"No"
I could hear him silently breathing on the other end.
"Where is she?" he asked.
"Right beside me," I replied.
I looked to Miley who gives me a supporting smile back. I squeeze her hand before moving the conversation outside the car.
"Do you plan on using the men I'm sending?"
"No," I replied.
"And what will you do then?"
"Fight them"
"Fight them?"
"Yep," I replied.
"Why?" my father asked me, not understanding.
"Because they come to destroy the one I love," I replied.
William was about to burst into anger over the phone, until he calmed down remembering…
"I not entirely convinced that you know whether or not you're doing the right thing…" he began.
"No, Dad, for the first time in my life I actually do. And this time, it's my turn,"
Silence.
"Dad, I have been by your side for the longest time, doing everything you asked of me without even a whisper of defiance. But if I had to beg anytime in my life, it would be now. I beg of you to spare Miley's life. She doesn't deserve this."
"But what about the money? We already returned it…"
I resisted the urge to get angry.
" I fixed that, you'll get you're $2.5 guaranteed plus whatever I can get from Iris."
"$2.5?" he said disgusted.
"And Iris'll pay,"
This stunned William.
"Iris? You're going to kill her instead?"
"No Dad, I'm tired of killing. Either she cooperates with us, where she will be in prison, or she dies. Either way, I'm not involved and you'll have your revenge."
"Iris' is celebrity remember? We sent you a picture…"
"Dad, Iris' real name is Luanne Stewart, and if you listen to any of her sound bytes closely, you'll find out that she's not Hannah Montana."
"Than who is she"
Having to think fast to be convincing…
"Just…a look alike, hired by Hannah Montana, to do…you know stuff for security"
"A celebrity look alike?"
"That's right? How else would you explain it?"
Fortunately for Theo, his father never called his bluff.
"Why the hate?"
"Jealousy of how Robbie Ray Stewart couldn't make her a star, but could do it with Hannah Montana, so she went after Miley,"
"The exact same reason why we chose her…"
I knew I had to convince him…
"Dad, there's no sense in keeping Miley all this time just to kill her in the end, especially when that's not what you really want."
(A/N: The conversation is slow paced for dramatic effect, not to induce boredom.)
"But what about you? You lose the money we were about to give…"
"I don't care about money. You hear me. I don't care about your money. All my life has been about your money…and status…and power. Makes me sick…"
My Dad stops me because he's heard me tell him this time and time again, so I finish him off.
"Dad, what was mom to you?"
"What?"
"Answer my question, what was mom to you?"
A long pause.
"Your mother was my everything."
"…well Miley's my everything…you and mom came from different worlds and found each other…well, Miley and I are from different worlds and we found each other too. At least give me that much. Let me fight for her."
Yet William insists on trying one more time.
"Theo, do you have any idea what you have gotten yourself into to…why? Why Miley? At your mother may have been a mainland peasant girl, but at least was still Chin…" William tried before being interrupted halfway by an indignant Theo, not wanting his dad to finish that prejudicial thought.
"Dad, if love was a choice. Who would choose such great pain?"
...proving to his father that what he had with Miley was real. And his father then realized it was real.
This hit William hard. Regardless of his crimes and faults, he loved his family deeply. Most of all he deeply loved, cherished, and respected his wife more than anything in this world. And Theo was just like him, minus 30-40 years. So he had to relent.
But William's traditional Chinese upbringing prevented him from apologizing and instead he offered.
"Son, I've fought for security...respect…and status…but I guess fighting for love does make so much more sense. I guess you really are my son. Both of us fell for women we shouldn't have, and it became the happiest thing in our lives thus far.
For the first time in either of their lives, William had developed a rapport with his son. William understood exactly where Theo was, for he was the exact same love struck idiot who fell for a 'different' girl. Theo couldn't help but smirk…
William urged on, only half serious.
"So am I gonna see her for Lunar New Year in February or what…
"What?"
"… am I gonna be calling her my new daughter in law any time soon?"
"Slow down Dad…"
But William urged on. Being the traditional man he was, he expected things to move quickly in a relationship.
"Well? How do you know she's right for you?"
"I said she's good for me right now. Is she right for me, I don't know?"
"Right now? Maybe what if it turns out to be a mistake?"
I think about how Miley gave me my life back…
"Then she'll be the best mistake I will ever make."
Sighs.
"Alright, son, good luck…if all goes well, you'll be free…just remember that we don't have much that can help you in Tennessee. I'll take care of the men I sent."
Theo breathes the biggest sigh of relief.
"Bye, Dad."
Pause.
"Goodbye son...tell Miley…tell her...I'm sorry"
Theo was stunned at that as William hung up the phone. For the type of person William was, Theo knew that this was the equivalent of William finally him and his decision.
And I'm so very joyous happy at that…I laugh.
A/N: Readers, you should be too for Theo ;). Review for comment.
End Flashback.
1:00 a.m.
As soon I snapped out of the flashback I heard the front personnel door of the very large warehouse very loudly open and shut. Right on time
And in came the person Theo was waiting for. She slowly walked in and took out a flashlight and began shining it around. The flashlight also allowed Theo to see her. She was wearing dirty jeans, a plaid shirt and a straw cowgirl's hat. Dead tired after her trip from her farm outside Memphis, she took off her cap and wiped her brow.
Theo was struck by the girl. Other than her clothes and a prescription glasses, she was none other than Hannah Montana.
Luanne's POV:
All I see is darkness, however dark it was outside, it was nothing compared to in here. The only light that helps me are the distant streets lights from outside the building.
I walk three steps, frantically trying to find anything I recognize with my flashlight.
"Stop right there!"
I freeze. A booming voice came out of nowhere. I could tell that he could see me but I couldn't see him.
"Who are you?"
"Luanne Stewart" I replied.
She isn't stupid. Luanne wants to be Hannah full time. After this, she no longer needs her old life. She was ready to both figuratively and literally steal Miley's identity as Hannah Montana.
A pause.
"Alright, talk into the microphone to your right."
I stumble to the right of me and make it to a small computer microphone.
"Now what" I asked into the microphone.
"Tell me what you're here for."
"What? Why?" I asked not sure of what he was doing.
"So that we are both in agreement and understanding…"
"But what about Miley Stewart?" I asked.
"I have her," the voice replied.
I smiled in anticipation. At first I wasn't so eager to meet this man, but when he offered that I could do the honors of killing Miley myself, how could I resist?
"Alright," I began into the microphone, "I hired you, Teddy, to offer to kidnap Miley Stewart for me, so that I could kill her. And you told me that if I wanted her that I'd have to come here. You weren't the only one either, in fact I was able to use contacts that an old 'sugar daddy' of mine knew and I used a very powerful laptop that I got for my birthday. I say this because I want to get to the action, and I would not hesitate if I had to do it again, so this time it wouldn't be this messy or f-ked up,"
…
"Hello?"
…
…
…
FLASH.
In an instant I have several blinding search lights turned on and pointed at me. It is so strong that I struggle to get up after the brightness knocked me down.
I frantically try to look up at the light but the lights are arranged so that I only see them and nothing else.
This isn't right.
This isn't right.
This isn't right!
I almost cry out in hysteria, but bit my lip and got up to bolt for the door.
I got two steps before…
Click (Revolver cocking)
I hear the deadliest sound to the right of me. I slowly turn my head and at first only see darkness. And as if on cue, another light turns on, this time shining from top to bottom so it doesn't blind the person or me.
And I see exactly who it is.
Miley.
"M...M...Miley" I try.
No answer. Miley just raises her head to glance at me, but doesn't look right at me.
Miley's disgusted at the woman she once called family. The woman who used to be her cousin, her flesh and blood.
She turns to the side to show what she stuffed in her jeans…
(A/N: the .357 Magnum revolver which formerly belonged to Troy Bolton)
But still nothing…
"Luanne Stewart, we have you, and there's nothing you can do now…" the voice boomed some more.
I try to reason with Miley.
"Is this some kind of joke?" I faked with a laugh.
Miley still doesn't answer. Only now she focuses on Luanne, while readying her shooting hand in anticipation.
"This is no joke," the booming voice answered for her, "we have you recorded on a laptop with a live feed to a remote hard drive, the police will be called and you will be arrested. With the evidence and testimony we can give, you'll be put a way for a long time. Your life is over…"
I give a pleading look to Miley…I mean she's really a good person at heart….right?
"Cousin…"
Miley still doesn't reply.
"You're no longer her family now, you're now just a nobody in her eyes, and after this…will be a nobody in your family's eyes," the voice continued.
I'm hit too hard by this. A nobody? That's what I'll become?
"Why Luanne?" Miley finally asked me.
I snap to Miley…
"Why? You're family. I loved you (as family). Everything that was mine was yours. Why?" Miley continued.
I give her an incredulous look.
"Why? Why? Look at you…wasted your Hannah career. I should have been Hannah Montana. I wouldn't have just given up and just surrender to be fresh meat for Jake 'wife beater' Ryan…"
Normally, this would have enraged Miley, but since these words were the only thing Luanne had left, she just felt sorry for how pathetic Luanne's life had become.
"I may have made mistakes and I paid for them, but at least I was big enough to stand up and admit it…"
"…but I have my life, my dignity, my pride…most of all I have my biggest fans…"
Luanne looked up.
"…my family, my friends….my Teddy," Miley finished.
"Your Teddy? Who the hell is Teddy…" I asked.
Miley looks up and around. Luanne realizes it's the voice she can't see.
I tried to look for the man behind the voice and I frantically search with my light but to no avail.
"So what? You took in some bum like a cheap hooker.
Again, was so strong…so cool, composed and mature Miley felt no more need to dignify that with a direct response.
Miley was indeed that new person. She was now whole and better than ever.
"I may have a shady lover, Luanne, but I wouldn't talk if I were you. At least my roommate won't be a woman named Mitch"
I instantly knew what she was talking about.
And with that, Miley simply just walked away.
So incensed at Miley, Luanne charged at Miley. She was about to pull out something out of her handbag when…
"Bang"
Luanne cringed as Miley drew her gun and fired a shot into the ceiling, but before Luanne could realize how deadly serious Miley was, she found herself staring down the barrel of Miley's .357 Magnum.
Realizing the end was near, and not being able to bear the consequences.
Luanne just got up and walked the opposite direction, deeper and deeper into the warehouse.
She pulled out her Walther PPK .380 and before Miley was able to fully react.
"BANG"
She put a bullet into her own head.
10 Minutes later.
Theo met up with Miley right beside her body.
Miley couldn't help but let a few tears fall for Luanne's sake.
After all Miley was such a good person that she still couldn't help it despite what Luanne had done to her.
Theo, much more composed, was there for Miley.
Luanne took her life, not only from being unable to bear the consequences, but because she couldn't bear to have her life ended by her mortal enemy or by her mortal enemy's lover, a man that she not only did not know, but whose face she didn't even get to see.
"How could she do this? How could a person do this…to their own family?" Miley asked out loud to both herself and Teddy.
"Some of us were just wired wrong," Theo replied.
And they left the building.
Together.
20 minutes later
Miley's Ranch House
Miley and Theo arrived back at the ranch mentally exhausted. Yet both were ecstatic that it was over.
It was soon going to be finally over for them.
Theo, being both the merciful and generous person he was took the time to, again, carried an exhausted Miley back into the house.
After bringing her upstairs, Theo had placed her in bed. He carefully yet swiftly stripped Miley down to her lingerie (expertly himself- wink) and put the covers over her.
Miley actually wasn't tired at all, but needed some down time for her emotions, so she settled for a nap.
Teddy, who wasn't tired either, just relax and maybe watch some T.V.
An hour later…
"Ring"
Theo's cell phone rang, interrupting both his and Miley's sleep. Theo got up grumbling, not because he needed his rest, but he and Miley were finally in a comfortable spot.
"Piece of mother fu…" Theo grumbled.
He clumsily rummaged through the dresser until he found his phone, sprinting out of the bedroom…
"Tom, This better be important!"
But Tom was having none of it…this was DEADLY SERIOUS.
"Teddy, get your ass up…their coming, their coming DAMMIT…"
Theo sprung out of bed…
"Who, who Tom?"
"Local Skinheads, we just found out that Luanne hired a last splinter group to come after both of you."
"What? She just killed herself…how could she have hired…"
"It was done way before tonight…and now they found you…"
"Found me?"
"Yeah, you made a lot of noise and that allowed them to track you…"
Theo's POV:
I was razor thin close to s—ting my own pants. A group with nothing to lose, the most feared, violent, bloodthirsty street gang had a contract out for both myself and Miley.They were a splinter group, so the family didn't know, and the family can't help because they have no assets here. And they were coming too soon to flee.
Remember when I asked for enough weapons for a war.
That's exactly how this' going to end. I just know it.
A/N: So what did you think? The conversations were vital, so I hope they were okay. The next chapter will be the last chapter before an epilogue. What do you think? Oh and how did the supernatural aspect go?
Please review.
GFMarshall