(I will name the chapter this time! I forgot to last time!)
Chapter 5: Escaped, Charity, and Beaten
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John-Boy's PoV:
I arrive at home: Walton's Mountain. I get out of my car as quickly as I can and sprint for the house. I barge in, and I see Mama crying into Daddy. I know why, though. Mama looks up to me, strolls over to me, and hugs me. She says, "You heard, right?"
"Yes." I answer. "What are we going to do?"
Mama separates herself from me. She says, "Well, Elwood Dobbs sent us a ransom note. It said he wants $200.00 in 48 hours, in order to let Jim-Bob go."
"Mama! We can't afford that!" I say, worried, but in a mellow tone.
"I know. I'm trying to get your Father to borrow from the Baldwin Sisters, but he's not wanting to ask for charity."
"I can't ask for charity!" Daddy defends himself.
"Well, I'll have to say, Mama, I think Daddy's right. We can't just go asking for charity. I have a better idea, though..."
"What is it?" Mama asks...
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Jim-Bob's PoV:
I get out of bed as quietly as I can, without it squeaking. I tiptoe over to the door that leads out of the room I'm in. I try to turn the doorknob, but the door doesn't open... It's locked! Of course it would be... Why would he leave it unlocked? I tiptoe over to the window that's in the room. I try to pull it up, but it doesn't budge. Crap... Think, Jim-Bob... Think... I don't see anything in the room that I can smash the window with, and quickly make my escape. Wait... I see a lamp sitting on the nightstand beside the bed I was on.
Again, I tiptoe over to the side of the bed and unplug the lamp cord from the wall. I silently bring the lamp over to the window. I'm shaking. I hope I can get far enough away from Elwood... What if he catches me? Would he beat me? Would he... kill me?... Well, that's just a risk I'll have to take... There's a 50/50 chance I'll escape without him noticing me... Well... here I go... I throw the lamp over my shoulder and smash the window with it...
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John-Boy's PoV:
"... We can't just ask for charity. I have an idea, though..."
"What is it?" Mama asks.
"What if Walton's Mountain donates a dollar for the next 48 hours? There's almost 200 folks on Walton's Mountain, and whatever is left, we can donate it ourselves. It also helps that I have my job.
Mama turns around to face Daddy and says, "Oh, John... Could we?"
"I don't know, Liv..."
"Well, it's better than just asking one family for the money. It's better if the whole town contributes."
"Well... Alright, we'll try it."
Mama runs over to Daddy and hugs him. She says, with excitement and relief in her voice, "Thank you, John... Thank you..."
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Jim-Bob's PoV:
The window's smashed, and I crawl through the smashed part of the window, cutting my hands on the way out. I ignore the pain and continue through. As soon as I'm through the window, I run for my life. I run deep into the trees. I don't care how deep it is, as long as I'm away from him. I should run out to the road, though, but this house is in the middle of nowhere! I don't know where I'm going!
I keep running. I make it down to a small pond. I'm so thirsty... So, I run closer to the pond. I kneel down before the pond and wash my face with the water and drink some of it to quench my thirst. I don't notice the other reflection in the water, and suddenly, I'm pulled down to the ground. I shout out in surprise. I'm scared. Elwood's found me... He grins at me wickedly, and I stare back at him with fear. "Thought you could escape from me, huh? Well, I'll teach you a lesson you'll never forget!
Elwood starts kicking me everywhere. I keep shouting, "Stop! Please! Stop!" But, he doesn't listen... He mostly kicks me in the head. I try to protect my head with my hands, but they also hurt, because of cutting them, while climbing through the window. I can't help but bawl. Mama... Daddy... Help me...
When he finally finishes kicking me, he drags me by my foot into the water. I panic and try to get away. I try to get Elwood's grip off my foot, but he's too strong for me... I start screaming for help! He's going to drown me! I'm fully dragged into the water. I'm so scared! He tries to hold my head underwater with his foot! I keep struggling and struggling to keep my head above the water! I keep screaming for Mama and Daddy to help me, but Elwood says in a vicious voice, "Your Mommy and Daddy aren't here to save their little boy!" My struggling becomes weaker and weaker, and Elwood manages to hold my head underwater, when everything goes black...
A Few Hours Later...
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John's PoV:
The family and I are about to head out of the house to go to the Church for the town meeting about Jim-Bob, when Sheriff Bridges pulls up onto our property. He's out of the truck in an instant and hollers, "John! Olivia!" The whole family and I run over to Ep's truck, when he pulls out something... no, someone, out of the back of his truck...
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To be Continued...
A/N: Thanks for reading! Review positively please! Thank you! What's going to happen next? :O Well, we'll find out soon! Ciao!
- Termina's Hero1234