StrawberryCheeseCak3: He, he.. lol! Okay, for bingo??? Anyway, thanks for reading/reviewing! I'm so glad you though it was amazing and NO!!! I'm not trying to kill you!!!! Just... torture you a little bit... LOL!!! Here's the next ch!! Oh, and get used to those cliffs cause they're not done yet:P Oh, and I wish I had a relationship like Bradin and Teresa's:-\ Does that really exist?? ;)

froggy2045: He, he... okay, driving you insane is almost as fun as leaving StrawberryCheeseCak on those cliffs... LOL!!!! Here's your update, gal!

XoCaliBabiox: Merci!!!! I am really glad that you liked it!!! Teresa's not exactly in this ch but she is in the next so... And yah, not a pretty sight! Lol! I won't say whether they catch him or not cause I want to leave you hanging! Lol! Soon though, you'll all get your answers:D

Candace Storms: Thanks! Glad you like it!!! I really hope you enjoy this ch:D Awesome, can't wait! And sure, I'd love to but I've never seen HSM... hides so yeah... but I might check it out if you'd PM me just to let me know who the characters are and everything. Thanks! 

JustTheGirl07: Hey!! So glad to see you're still reading!!! big smile Hope you like this one!!!!

Krissy: THANK YOU!!!! Hope this is soon enough!  Oh, it SoMuchForMyHappyEnding's review that said: "...just wanted to clear something up about Jesse engaged! (saw Krissy's review :) so here's what happened and why I believe it's NOT true... so Lauren Conrad posted up on a MySpace bulletin that Jesse+Katie were engaged... she said that some friends and Katie and Jesse where at dinner...then LC said Jesse got down and asked her...and then apparently everyone clapped... First off...he wouldn't ask her in front of everybody... second off, I quote "comment on the engagement rumors regarding McCartney and Cassidy, he replied simply, "No, not engaged." and third off! I WILL NOT ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN! Katie and him are NOT meant to be...and I'm not just saying that cus I'm jealous or anything...but she's a little snake in the grass...he's TOO sweet for her... alright sorry : I'm done! PS. And Krissy hope you read this too!! lol."

Varinia: Ok!!! Lol! I hope this update wasn't too long!! And thank you so much for reading/reviewing:D

Bj: LOL! Gosh, ok!! I shall put you out of your misery (for a min) with this update:D lyas? Luv ya like a sister? Is that what that means? If so, ditto:D

Now, READ!!!!

Chapter XXVIII

Only Hope…

Bradin woke with a start. His eyes darted around the darkened room. He was sure he'd heard something- A glint flashed in the corner farthest from his bed making him look that way. What he saw almost made him scream. Jerry Brown stood, poised to jump at any second, a knife held high above his head. Before he could form a full thought Jerry had sprung forward. It didn't matter, Bradin's body moved without the help of his mind. He rolled to his left and fell to the floor with a thud. Jerry hit the bed, the knife slicing deeply into the mattress. "Damn you, stupid boy!" he spat and jerked the knife from it's cut.

Bradin could think of several comebacks but he didn't waste time talking. Rolling across the floor to escape Jerry, who was jumping to the floor from Bradin's bed, he tried to jump up but Jerry gave him no time. The older man was already standing and coming straight for Bradin, the knife held firmly in his outstretched hand. Bradin rolled out of the way just in time and Jerry came crashing to the floor beside him. Again he went to get up but wasn't given a chance. I'm going to kill you, bastard!" Jerry all but yelled. At the last second Bradin dodged Jerry's swinging knife. Jerry grew angrier and took to using his fist as well. He punched Bradin in the side as he went to stand causing him to fall back to the floor from the, unexpected, blow. Jerry grinned evilly and thrust the knife downward, Bradin's chest directly below the point.

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"What was that!?" Ava's head shot up. She had heard a thud from the room beside hers. She turned to find Susannah looking around. "Did you hear that?"

"Yeah… sounded like it came from Bradin's room…" Susannah set down the book she was reading and stood. Ava followed suit and the two of them listened.

Ava had asked Susannah to come in her room with her so she could tell her what Johnny said when she tried to talk to him about their relationship. It was after midnight now and Ava had fallen asleep at her desk, trying to get down a new pattern on paper before she forgot. Susannah was in the middle of a book she claimed she "couldn't put down" and had been lost in it up until she heard a thud come from Bradin's room.

A muffled voice made the two friends exchange a puzzled glance. The banging that followed made Ava grimace. Something was wrong in there. "Come on," she headed for her door, Susannah at her heels.

They turned and walked briskly to Bradin's door only to find it was locked. Ava turned to Susannah and whispered, "What now?"

"I think it's Jerry!" Susannah's voice betrayed that she was more than worried about Bradin's safety.

Ava raised her eyebrows. She hadn't thought of that and yet, now that Susannah suggested it, she had no doubts her friend was right. "Go get Jay and Johnny! Quick!" Susannah flew down the stairs, surprisingly, for the speed, in silence.

"Aunt Ava?"

Startled, Ava whipped around and let out her breath. Nikki stood before her, in a pair of "boy shorts" and a tank top. She put a hand to her pounding chest and asked, "What is it?"

"What's going on in Bradin's room?" she stepped closer, her voice a whisper.

"I'm not sure… the doors locked but don't worry, we'll get in there. I'm sure he's fine. The smile Ava gave contradicted her voice in spite of her efforts to keep it calm.

"It's Jerry isn't it?" Ava was surprised to find tears springing to Nikki's eyes.

"What makes you- I think so." Ava gave up trying to fake it, Nikki was old enough to know better.

"Aunt Ava… he… he…"

"I know what he did to Bradin, sweetie…" Ava put a hand to her niece's shoulder, "Bradin told me… it's okay."

"No, it's not okay… Aunt Ava, he-"

Another thud sounded from Bradin's room cutting off Nikki's sentence.

"Where are-" Ava stopped speaking as Johnny and Jay followed Susannah up the stairs. All of them were alert and worried expressions covered their faces.

"Aunt Ava!"

"Not now, Nikki."

"Aunt Ava, I need to tell you this!" Nikki's face was covered in tears and she almost didn't seem to even notice the other adults.

"Nikki, can't it wait-"

"Aunt Ava, Jerry raped me!"

Silence fell over the small group. Another thud came from Bradin's room. This one followed, almost immediately, by a cry of pain.

Everyone gasped. It was obvious there were two people in the room and that one of them had just been hurt in some way. No one ventured a guess at who had cried out but they all believed it had been Bradin.

"Guys, we have to get in there!" Ava gave up whispering.

"Look out!" Johnny and Jay lined up with the door and charged it, their shoulders crashing with the thick wood. No luck. They bounced off the door and stumbled backwards. Exchanging glances they tried again. Same story. That door could not be that strong!

"Oh, hurry up!" Nikki's worried voice sounded thin.

"Guys, outside, up the old trellis!!" Susannah exclaimed.

"Go!" Ava commanded. Nikki and she ran down the stairs, followed by Susannah as the boys, once again, tried to break down the door.

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With no time for thinking and deeply in pain Bradin made himself jerk out of the way. The knife missed his chest by about 6 inches. He automatically cried out in pain as the four inch switchblade forced its way through his skin. Blood gushed from the wound and poured down his arm. The cut was in the middle of his left arm, between his shoulder and elbow.

Jerry pulled the knife out and raised it to strike again but this time Bradin was ready. He grabbed Jerry's arm with his right hand and twisted it harshly. Jerry cursed and dropped the knife. It nearly hit Bradin again but missed and softly thudded to the floor, the sound muffled by the plush carpet.

Bradin released his grip on Jerry's hand and went for the knife. Jerry had the same idea and they fought for it. After a minute of struggle Jerry got it but Bradin slapped it from his hand. It flew across the room and hit the wall. Hitting the knife had cut Bradin's hand but he couldn't worry about that now, Jerry's fist was flying for his right temple. With no way to get up that fast Bradin endured the blow then kneed Jerry, who was leaning over him on his knees, in the stomach. The older mad grunted and doubled over. Bradin took the advantage and rolled out of Jerry's reach, stood up and braced himself for a fight. There was no way he could get to the door without Jerry getting him and he saw trying to hunt down the knife in the dark room useless.

"Now you're gonna get it, kid!" Jerry growled and stood also.

He got it alright. Before he could think Jerry had lunged. Bradin found that his head hadn't been hurting the second it hit the floor and a murderous pain shot through his whole body from the back of his head and back up, settling there. He groaned, nearly out of it from the fall, then his head rolled to one side. Jerry went to hit him again but heard the door being banged on. He realized that made the third time. "Damn it…" he muttered then picked Bradin up and slung him over his shoulder. The teen dangled helplessly, unconscious, as Jerry made a dash for the balcony doors. Slipping out onto the balcony he climbed down the trellis, the same way he had come up, and jumped to the ground. He had balanced, probably, 150something pounds coming down that thing… The kid sure was heavy, not that Bradin was overweight by any means, but he was strong. Hmm, not bad. He slapped himself on the back for not having dropped him then hurried around the side of the house as he heard voices coming from the front. Not stopping to try and figure out who they were he ran to the street, threw Bradin into the backseat of his convertible, like he was a back of dog food, ran to the driver's side, leapt in and gunned the engine. Tires squealing and dust flying he sped down the road, headed in one direction: Hollinger's Point.

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"Aunt Ava, the front yard!" Nikki yelled turning sharply and running to the front of the house. She'd heard a car roar to life and screech away. Her heart pounded in her chest and sweat fell from her brow. If Bradin was in that car… She wouldn't let herself think about what Jerry might do. She stopped in her tracks. She stood in the front yard, only 20 feet away a car was quickly disappearing into the night. "Umph!" Nikki lurched forward as Ava bumped into her. "Sorry!" she gasped, out of breath.

"Where's Susannah?" Nikki noticed the other woman was not with her aunt.

"She headed up the trellis… what's out here? Why'd you call me? Did you see someone-" Ava threw questions at Nikki too fast for her to answer.

"Hold on!" Nikki interrupted, "I heard a car in the street and called you in case it was Jerry… I think it was… but.. I can't be sure…" Nikki's heart felt heavier with every word, "What if he's got-" she swallowed the fear that was taking over her, "Bradin?" she finished the horrible thought with a shiver.

Ava wrapped the young girl in her arms and walked her back into the house, "Let's make sure he's not here…" she was trying to comfort Nikki but it came out sounding like she agreed that Jerry had left and taken Bradin with him.

When they reached the head of the stairs they found that the door to Bradin's room was open and Jay, Johnny and Susannah stood inside, looks of horror on all their faces. Ava's heart stopped. Or so she thought. She moved into Bradin's room, her brain unable to connect with her body.

Nikki saw the look on Susannah's face and her knees threatened to give out under her. She couldn't let them though. Tightened her grip on her aunt's hand and followed her into Bradin's room. No Bradin. She felt her let her breath out in spite of the fact that meant he was with Jerry. For the second, she was just happy his dead body wasn't lying in there. Then, as quickly as she'd been relieved, her heart raced once more. Her eyes took in the scene and, this time, her knees did give out. She hit the floor hard and tears ran down her cheeks. The carpet in front of her was soaked with blood. Being the light color it was, it was easy to see that whoever had been bleeding was bleeding badly.

"Susannah," Ava's voice sounded large in the silence of the room despite the fact that she felt small scared, like a 6-year-old scared of the dark.

Susannah looked up at Ava.

"Call the police and Karen Coleman."

Susannah nodded, "Why Karen?"

"Tell her to wake Teresa… I just.. feel like they should know…" Ava wasn't sure why, but she felt like she really needed to contact Teresa and her mother about this, "You know how much they both love him…"

Susannah nodded and ran from the room to find the nearest phone, which happened to be in the living room. She reached it and snatched the receiver from it's base, punching in 911 wildly.

"Umm… Susannah?" Derrick's sleepy voice made Susannah turn around, she had almost completely forgotten about Derrick, "What's going on?"

"Nothing, Sweetie- hello? I need the police! -it's ok," she finished.

"What's wrong?" Derrick was suddenly very aware.

"Yes, there's been a possible… murder here and a definite kidnapping. Yes. Yes. No. Yes." Susannah hated police, she really did… they asked too many questions! And always when they should be hurrying! "Yes."

"Derrick?" Ava and Johnny had just walked down the stairs, followed by Jay, who was holding onto a trembling, Nikki to keep her from falling down again.

"Aunt Ava, w- what's going on?"

"Um… your brother's… uh…" she heard Susannah giving their address to the police. She gestured to Johnny to explain. Susannah hung up the phone but immediately picked it up again, this time dialing the Coleman's house.

"Ask her if she could take Derrick for a little while… I mean, I know it's the middle of the night but-"

"I'm sure she will, Ava," Susannah tried to smile but couldn't. The weight was too heavy.

"Hello? Hi, Karen, I'm so sorry to be waking you like this but…" Susannah explained what had just happened, lowly, so Derrick wouldn't hear, "and we were wondering if you could take Derrick for- Oh." Karen cut her off saying of course she would watch Derrick! For as long as they needed and she was waking Teresa right now. "Thank you." Susannah again tried to smile but couldn't. "We'll see you in a few, yes, please do, goodbye." Susannah turned to Ava, "She's coming here to get Derrick. They're praying." She said the last part as if to say, "we should too." The two grasped hands with each other and Nikki and Jay, who were standing right beside them, and bowed their heads. Their prayers were silent and they didn't know if they were saying the same words but they knew they were all four asking God for the same thing; his love and protection for Bradin in that moment. He was their only hope.

Okay, last thing, I'm torn between two answers to my question. StrawBerryCheeseCak3 said I should keep putting the reviews at the beginning of each chapter. But froggy2045 said I should do review replies... I need more votes if I'm to decide... would y'all rather I kept doing the individual "thank yous" in the chapter but put them at the end?

Thanks! And please review:D

Anna Christie AKA SecondStarToTheRight15