Chapter 7

Dean and Heidi had pulled up at the address logged as Mark Summers. The police were just getting out of their cars having arrived seconds before.

"Ok guys stay behind us this man is dangerous" the police officer had warned knowing that there was no way Rescue would stay outside.

"Open up" he banged on the door, "We have a warrant open up" Still stubbornly the door remained shut. "OK bash it down" the police officer ordered. Within seconds the door was down and the police were swarming in.

"Here I found something" a young officer yelled as his colleague ran out and vomited just in front of Dean.

Exchanging a look Dean and Heidi ran in. On the kitchen table was a decaying body dressed in a pink dress a tiara lying on thin strands of hair. Collapsed to the side was another body, dressed in black pants a red shirt and a lab coat. Just beneath the decaying body they could make out a stethoscope.

It was the smell that got to them, quickly they excited. Dean reaching for his radio to call base, a growing pit of fear in his stomach. This guy was looking like a serial killer and he had Lara.

"Rescue base" he began not able to finish his statement as a wave of nausea hit him. Dean looked to Heidi to see her leaning against the truck being sick as he felt himself vomit too.

"Rescue base this is recuse 1 we haven't found Lara but we have found 2 deceased" he told them. Wiping his brow he tried to rid his mind of the images.

"Rescue 1 portable, we'll find her" Vince said the worry evident in his voice. "We need to find out how long ago the bodies were deceased, the police will work on that. I know they have guys looking for other properties in his name. He is ex SAS so he is well trained but even they mess up somewhere down the line" Vince revealed. "Ok rescue base to all units come home" he ordered, they needed to debrief and brainstorm ways to get her back.

Back in the basement Lara desperately looked round she had to get out of here. She had no weapons, no way of escape, if only she could break the chair. Maybe she could, if only she could rock it; she began shifting her weight from side to side. The chair began to rock she kept going until it tipped over.

The chair cracked as one of wooden arms broke off. She knew her arm was bleeding but now she had a chance she unbuckled her other arm with difficulty. She then freed her head flexing her neck and while freeing her legs. She was barefoot her boots and socks nowhere to be, all she was wearing was a t-shirt and her blue rescue trousers, but she was free. She had a chance now. She picked up the broken arm of the chair it would be a useful weapon if she needed it. She listened carefully to the noises. He was coming back she hid herself behind the door. It opened and she hit him with all her strength on the back of the head. He fell she ran out of the hell hole, the sunlight hurting her eyes.

She needed to escape, she looked out of the window it was bush everywhere. Looking for a door she found the kitchen. It looked so ideal painted a homely orange, with tiles above the counter that had pictures of chickens and ducks. It revealed nothing of the horrors that had happened here. She opened the built in fridge finding a bottle of water and some bread from the wooden bread bin. Ideally she would love to find her boots but she could hear him stirring. Not wanting to have her eyes gorged out or be whipped she fought with the glass back door it was locked so she used a saucepan to smash it open. Reaching through she managed to cut her wrist. She looked round and grabbed the 2 tea towels hanging by the sink before reaching through again. Just as she had opened the door she heard a roar from behind her and was tackled to the floor.

She fought him as hard as she could twisting and kicking him in the balls. He doubled up releasing her momentarily. She seized the opportunity standing looking for a weapon anything. An old garden rake was only a few meters away resting up against the wooden walls of the house. She ran he followed. Just as she grabbed it she felt his hand on her shoulder. She spun around hitting him as hard as she could, catching his chest. He grabbed the rake yanking it out of her grip and used it roughly pressing it against her throat. She felt her breathing become harder. The world was fading

"I always knew you'd be a challenge" he whispered grinning.

"Please" Lara begged

"Bye bye rescue doll" he said.

Lara felt desperately for anything she could use to fight him off. Then somehow found the strength. She wasn't going to die like this. She kicked out again catching his shin it was enough for him to release her. She ran around a corner picking up a spade. With one finally effort she hit him with it, the blow landing again on his head. He was dazed and fell. Wasting no time she ran to the other side of the house where she had dropped the bread, tea towels and water knowing if she was going to survive in the bush that would help, then she made a break for it.