Chapter Six

Dillon's mouth was dry. His heart was racing, and not in a good way.

He gripped the steering wheel of the black Mercedes as it sped along the highway, seeing the silver gun barrel and the immaculately dressed sneering blonde in his peripheral vision.

Faith Rosco, Dillon decided, was from Hell. Literally. Who else would try to strangle a blind woman, then kidnap a teenager at gunpoint, essentially threatening to rape him?

Dillon shuddered inwardly. He had to try and handle this.

"What do you want?" he asked her, glancing sideways. She smirked and put her hand on his knee, running it along his thigh.

"Exactly what I'm going to get - you." At that she squeezed his inner thigh, too close for comfort. Being in the car with her, no, scratch that, in the same town as her was too close for comfort as far as Dillon was concerned. He was entirely disgusted but still prayed that his body would behave. Fortunately, he had too much adrenaline pumping through his veins to become aroused.

"You know, just so you know, I'm underage. And you know, there are plenty of men your own age. And...and I should probably tell you that I have this problem, this physical problem-"

"You talk a lot," Faith snapped. She crossed one leg over the other, exposing her thigh.

"Let's see what else you can do with your mouth." She rapidly made vulgar movements with her tongue in Dillon's direction. He was shocked and appalled. And nauseous.

"You mean, you're planning on making me..." he couldn't finish the sentence.

"That's right, and more." Her voice was cruel. "I'm gonna rock your adolescent world in a way that little Georgie Pie never could."

"Don't talk about Georgie!" he snapped. Bad idea. She leaned over and bit him on the neck like a snapping turtle. His whole body flinched.

"Listen to me loverboy. Let's get one thing straight here. I will do and say what I want, when I want, to whomever I want, and there's nothing anyone can do about it. And what I want is you, me, and a bed. Got it?"

Dillon was terrified, but tried keep his cool. "Got it." His eyes were saucers.

Faith laughed cruelly. She stroked his cheek with the gun barrel as he tried desperately not to scream. "Oh, and if you don't do what I want, your pretty little Georgie will meet a very very unpleasant end. Maybe some mercury in her apple juice, hmmm?" Dillon had to swallow hard to keep from getting sick.

"Why would you want to hurt Georgie?" his voice shook.

"Because," Faith told him, "I'm sick and tired of sweet, pretty little things and your innocent little virgin is one of those sweet, pretty little things that just make me want to scream. So I eliminate her. So much fun for me. And then I'll have you all to myself..."

"Like hell you will," Dillon thought, but he stayed quiet, except for his heart which was thundering in his chest like a marching band. Kidnapping him was one thing, even forcing him to have sex with her, he would recover from that eventually. But if she hurt Georgie...

Dillon drove on, trying to keep his breathing steady. His mind raced desperately, trying to think of something, anything. Faith was next to him, still pointing the gun. He could see the horizon out the windshield. It was dusk and the sun hung loosely, brightly in the sky, a deep, glowing orange. The descending rays hit the car and made him squint. As his eyes readjusted, he saw something out of the corner of his eye. About 100 yards away, on the right side of the road, was a huge oak tree. Dillon's mind raced. He drove on, keeping the car steady.

The black Mercedes was moving along, the sun still streaming in through the front. The tree was about 10 feet ahead. The setting sun hit the glass, creating a blinding glare. Dillon knew it was no or never. He prayed with all his might. "Please God, protect Georgie and protect me." In the blink of an eye, he cut the wheel sharply to the right and floored it.

Georgie was frantic. Dillon had been kidnapped, and by Faith Rosco. Faith wasn't just scared and acting out of that fear. She was cruel and calculating and completely heartless. Faith knew exactly what she was doing, and Georgie knew that Faith would very possibly kill Dillon. Her stomach flipped over at the thought. She looked over at the commotion going on around the nurses' station - security and hospital staff all talking rapidly. Bobbie, not noticing Georgie, spoke rapidly into the phone. Georgie felt a hand on her shoulder. She whirled around.

It was the security guard whom she had dragged to Elizabeth's room. "Miss," he said. "You're going to need to remain in this department for your own protection."

Georgie nodded numbly as another voice came behind her. "I'll keep her with me."

Georgie looked up. Standing next to her was Audrey Hardy. Georgie had known Mrs. Hardy all her life and she adored her. As a child, she had played with Tommy Hardy, Audrey's grandson, and Maxie told her that when they were both small children, their mother had even dated Tom Hardy, Audrey's son. The older woman looked frightened, but spoke efficiently and with authority.

The guard nodded and released Georgie. Mrs. Hardy drew Georgie close to her, and hugged her. "I was paged," she told Georgie. "Security told me what happened." By this point she was rushing Georgie down the hall, one arm wrapped tightly around the slightly trembling girl. "You'll stay with me and Elizabeth," she finished.

Georgie nodded. The two reached Elizabeth's room and Audrey opened the door.

Elizabeth shot up in bed. "Who's there?" she shouted, groping for the emergency button by the bed.

"Darling, darling, it's me," Audrey assured her, rushing to the bed. She gathered her shaking granddaughter in her arms.

"Grams, Grams, thank god." Audrey stroked Elizabeth's hair, whispering soothing words. She let go with one hand to gesture to Georgie, who was still standing by the door, to come closer. Elizabeth heard the footsteps. "There's someone else here. Who is it?"

"Hi Elizabeth, it's-" Elizabeth recognized the voice.

"Georgie. Honey, come here." Elizabeth held out her arms and Georgie walked over to the bed, leaning over to hug the older girl tightly. They pulled back and Elizabeth gestured for Georgie to climb up on the bed, which she did. The three women all sat on the narrow bed, Audrey in protective mode with one arm wrapped tightly around Elizabeth and the other rubbing Georgie's back. Elizabeth gripped both their hands. The two girls were both terrified and breathing rapidly.

Elizabeth rasped harshly, angrily. She hated feeling so defenseless, so helpless. She hadn't felt that way since...since...she pushed the thought roughly aside. She couldn't go there right now.

Audrey looked angry, terrified and concerned. She kept the girls close, like a mother lioness protecting her young. "In the name of all that is good and holy, I hope they catch that...that beast and lock her up in solitary confinement for the rest of her miserable life."

Audrey Hardy was not a vindictive woman, but anyone tried to hurt her children and she went into full protective mode.

"I'd like to see her dead," Elizabeth added viciously. "That's the first thing I want to see when I get my sight back" - her voice broke slightly at this and Audrey kissed the top of her head comfortingly, but then her voice regained its strength - "is Faith Rosco's dead body lain out on a slab in the morgue."

Georgie agreed silently, but she was too scared to say much. Her eyes were wide and she whimpered slightly for a moment. She couldn't even imagine what could be happening to Dillon right now. Elizabeth felt the tension in Georgie's hand increase.

"Georgie?" she prodded gently.

Georgie was trying desperately not to cry. "Dillon," she whispered in a strangled voice. A sob that she had been trying so hard to hold back caught in her throat and she choked on it. Her eyes burned. Elizabeth and Audrey heard the soft, strangled cry and pulled the girl closer to them. Georgie rested her head on Elizabeth's shoulder. The three were quiet for a few moments.

A commotion even louder than the one before came from outside. The door to Elizabeth's hospital room opened. The three women sat up straight. Bobbie stood in the doorway, her expression grave. She spoke calmly, but seriously, years of nursing apparent in her voice.

"There was a car accident. Faith Rosco and Dillon Quartermaine were just brought into ER. They're both unconscious."

Georgie felt her throat close and her mouth go dry.