A/N: Hi guys, I'm back! I'm really sorry for the lack in updates recently. Life has been a little hectic and I'm not too well at the moment, so I needed to take a bit of a break.
I know I say it every chapter, but you guys are genuinely wonderful. When I posted my first chapter, I originally only got 2 reviews. For the last chapter I got 17. Thank you all so much for your growing continuous support. Love ya's lots and lots :-) lol
I'm getting sad that this story is nearly over :'( lol. I get attached to my characters lol
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Chapter Fourteen
"Rapunzel...Run!" He gasped out, slumping forward as blood spilled from his mouth "Run!"
With tears blurring her vision and with a trembling lip, Rapunzel struggled to tear her gaze away from Flynn's broken, battered body. His once brilliant white t-shirt now stained crimson from the fast flowing wounds on his face. His hair sticking to the cuts above his eyebrows. Time seemed to come to a halt as she stared at him. His body heaving as he stared straight back at her.
"Rapunzel!" He cried out once again, his voice filled with frustration "Run! Now!"
Forcing herself to move, Rapunzel about turned quickly and ran for the door, Mike moving to grab her as she shot past. But he was too slow. With a grunt, he turned to face his brother, who once again began to beat Flynn with as much force as he could muster up.
"Well, go get her!" Scott cried, looking over his shoulder before bringing Flynn's face down on his knee.
Dropping to the floor, Flynn couldn't help but clutch at his burning ribs; Scott noticing and taking great pleasure in delivering a swift kick to his side as Mike took off after Rapunzel.
"Don't mix business with pleasure, huh?" Scott muttered, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand as he stared down at his once friend who was trying to crawl across the floor "...Well don't you worry, pal...Mikey's goin' to get her and then we'll all have a real good time."
"I swear if you touch her..." Flynn coughed, forcing himself to sit up "If you fuckin' touch her..."
"You'll what!?" Scott scoffed, crouching down so he was at eye level with him "...C'mon, Rider...What'll you do?"
He could do nothing but scowl up at the monster before him, the disgusting sneer that faced him causing his stomach to flip. All she had to do was run a little bit faster. Get out onto the road and flag down a car. She'd be safe then. He could die in peace knowing that she would be safe...but if she wasn't fast enough, if she didn't make it to the road...then there was only one thing he could do...
"You touch her..." He began calmly "...Then I won't hesitate putting a bullet between your fuckin' eyes."
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Her lungs were burning as she forced her legs to keep going, her borrowed shoes scattered somewhere behind her as she powered through to reach the road. Just a little further...Just a little further...With tears burning her eyes, she glanced back, her heart stopping as she saw Mike fast approaching. Not this time. He was not going to get her this time. With new found energy she pressed on, the stones and odd shard of glass littering the ground embedding themselves in her already healing feet.
"Where'd you think you're goin' girly!?" Mike called, his voice much closer than she had suspected.
Not daring to look back again, Rapunzel gave everything she had to gain speed. She had nearly made it to the road, a sense of relief overcoming her as she saw an old beat up Chevy approaching in the distance. I'm going to make it...With hope building within her, Rapunzel began to wave, her arms flailing around urgently as she stepped onto the hot tarmac.
"Stop!" She cried, briefly looking over her shoulder to see Mike slowing down "Please! Stop!"
Limping a little, Rapunzel almost cried as the old truck came to a stop in front of her. Shrugging Flynn's oversized zippy back onto her shoulder, she quickly made her way over to the truck, Mike nowhere in sight as the driver stepped out. The small man couldn't have been a day under 60, his thin frame and mouse like features bringing a sense of calm to Rapunzel as she flung herself into his frail arms.
"Oh my word..." He gasped, holding onto her as tight as he could as she erupted into a fit of tears "Why, You-You're that missing princess! Oh, my Dear, let's get you out of here..."
"No, wait!" She all but screamed "Flynn! They're killing him! They're killing him, we need to get help! Please! Please, call for help!"
Alarmed by her outburst, the small man gave a quick nod before reaching over and opening the truck door.
"Ok, ok...I have a radio inside." He replied, looking at her over his large round glasses "I'll call into my wife and get her to call the police, just hang tight..."
With a panicked nod and a shaky breath, Rapunzel watched as the little man reached into the truck and pulled out his radio.
"Don't you worry, Dear." He spoke softly, a small smile peeking out from under his full moustache "You'll be home soo-"
But before he could finish, a loud crack rang out from around them, blood spraying onto Rapunzel's face as the small man dropped to the ground in front of her. Screaming in horror, Rapunzel watched as the blood seeped from the bullet wound in the man's head, the radio still clutched in his limp hand.
"No!" She cried, collapsing next to him before turning him over "No! Please, please!"
Crying, Rapunzel pulled herself from the ground, the little man's blood pooling round her feet. I'm sorry...I'm so, so sorry...With a hand clutched tight to her mouth, she began to stagger back, only to come into contact with what felt like a wall. Turning round she could only scream, Mike towering over her with his gun clutched tightly at his side.
"Look what you gone made me do!" He snarled, grabbing her by the throat and turning her to look at the man who had tried to save her "His blood..." He continued to whisper into her ear "It's on your hands, Princess. That man is dead today because of you..."
...
Max felt helpless as he paced up and down the bullpen waiting. All he had been doing these days was waiting. Waiting for witnesses to come forward. Waiting for contact from the kidnappers. Waiting to make his move at the drop off, and now waiting for AFIS to get back to him with the results of the fucking fingerprints they had lifted from the coke can.
With a sigh, he collapsed into his desk chair, Conrad coming to sit in front of him as the older detective ran his hands over his face.
"Boss..." The rookie cop spoke softly "You ok?"
"...No, Conrad, I'm not..." Max sighed, looking up at him "This...This isn't going to end well...I mean, I had him! I had him right in my grasp, and I let him go!"
"Sir, you can't blame yourself for that." Conrad replied calmly "For starters, there's no solid evidence that that even was the guy."
"Oh, believe me..." Max gave a humourless chuckle "That was the guy..." He went silent, his brow furrowing slightly as memories of the days events flooded his mind "But...there was a girl there...She kissed him..."
Snapping up to look at the young cop, Max rummaged about his desk for his glasses.
"Did you get any photo's of the guy from where you were standing?" He asked, finding the offending object buried under and pile of papers "Pull any surveillance footage from the mall?"
"Uh...Actually..." Conrad began, getting up and heading for his desk "Got some surveillance from the corner store. Had a great view of the guy."
"Stick it in, will ya'..." Max began, sitting back in his seat as Conrad shoved the video into the TV that sat in the bullpen.
They sat in silence as they watched the small screen, Max's eyes glued to the image of their suspect as he casually made his way through the busy street. They watched as he came to a stop, peering into the trash can which held the money. But just before he could reach in, confirming the detectives suspicions, the little brunette who had been standing off to the side ran to him.
"Stop it there!" Max exclaimed, Conrad pausing the tape "...Hand me the picture of the Princess."
Reaching over to the desk and grabbing the picture of Rapunzel, the young cop handed it to Max, the smiling beauty staring up at him. Her big green eyes screaming innocence. He watched as his boss studied the picture, occasionally looking up to the small screen before tearing his glasses off.
"That's her!" He cried "That's the Princess!"
"You sure?" Conrad asked, grabbing the photo from his boss.
"Positive..." Max replied as his cell began to ring "Go inform the King and Queen." Pulling out his phone he flipped it open "They'll want some evidence that their little girl is alive...Guard..."
With a silent nod, Conrad quickly left. Scratching the back of his neck, Max sat back behind his desk, opening his computer inbox to find one new email.
"We got a hit!" Came the cheerful voice of Andy, the AFIS technician "Fingerprints came back to a Flynn Rider..."
"Rider, huh?" Max muttered "What's his convictions?"
"Mostly drug related..." Andy replied "Been in and out of prison for possession. Charged with assault about 7 years ago. Seems to be living under the radar for the past few years. Nothing on him from 2008. I've sent you through an email with his mugshot."
"Thanks, Andy. G'bye."
Hanging up, Max opened the email that sat in his inbox, and true to his word, Andy had sent him an attachment to Flynn Rider's convictions. With a deep breath, he opened it, all his doubts and fears fading away when the image of Flynn...the man that the Princess had threw herself at only hours before, stared back at him. It had all the information that he needed. His height. His weight...His address...
"Gotcha, you son-of-a-bitch..."
...
A/N: Alright guys, hopefully you enjoyed this chapter. I know it was a bit short compared to some of the others, but I think it's best to leave it there :)
I have a little challenge for you all too. That is, if you are all up for it. I've been feeling a bit down recently, and am in DESPERATE need of a cheering up. So, whoever feels like the would like to review, if you leave a joke or a funny story in your comment, I will dedicate the next chapter to the person who made me smile the most. Never know, it could be fun:-P
Take care guys x