Here's a new chapter of Runaway.
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I own Marianne, Jack & Joseph.
"Heath, you've got to help me! Phillip is here!" Marianne pleaded as she grasped at the redhead's shirt desperately.
"Here in Greenwood?" he asked her, his brown eyes filled with concern.
"Mickie told us that he's booked into the Inn. He has my father with him." The New York native added.
"Calm down, I'll go and see Jack." Heath replied.
"No, don't leave me here!" Marianne pleaded with him.
"I'll come right back here, ok?" he reasoned with her.
"Come straight back." She relented, freeing him from her grasp.
"Stay here." Heath told her, walking to the barn doors and scanning the area carefully, before slipping through.
The New York native listened carefully, hearing Heath's footsteps disappearing and then more rain drowning everything else out. She was feeling the cold now, but almost too scared to move as she sat amongst the hay bales in the barn.
"Is it much further?" Phillip asked Randal as he noticed that they were driving further away from the town.
"Not too long, just down a couple more roads." Randal assured him.
"Aren't you happy Joseph? You're going to be reunited with your daughter." Phillip told the older man.
"Just a little tired." Joseph lied.
"Yes, well there is little to stimulate the mind in a place like this." Phillip replied, using a hand to slick back his hair.
"So, do I get my money once we get there?" Randal asked from the driver's seat.
"As soon as I get my fiancée." Phillip repeated.
"You're a lucky man Mr Brooks." Orton smirked.
"I am that Mr Orton." He replied smugly.
Jack Clearwater watched anxiously out of the kitchen window as he anticipated the arrival of Phillip Brooks, along with Joseph Addison. Rex the dog suddenly jumped from his place on the old blanket in the corner and wagged his tail excitedly. Unless he knew the person, Rex would bark at anyone he perceived to be an intruder.
"Hello?" Jack frowned, following the dog.
"Jack, it's me." Heath replied, standing in the doorway.
"Heath, are you ok?" he asked him.
"Fine, but what about Marianne?" the young man asked.
"Phillip is on his way here." Jack shook his head.
"Let me take her." Heath said.
"Take her where? Jack shrugged his shoulders.
"I know a place nearby, far enough not to find her though. We'll return when Phillip returns to New York, unless he has the good grace to drop dead while he's here." Heath told the older man.
"Heath, don't speak like that!" Jack shook his head.
"There's not much time, will you let me take her?" Heath asked him again.
"Take care of her, and take some food from the kitchen." Jack sighed and nodded.
"We'll be back, I promise." The redhead told him.
"I'm counting on it." Jack replied, watching for any sign of the visitors arriving.
A couple of minutes after Heath had left the farmhouse; a car appeared on the road approaching the house. Taking a deep breath, Jack waited until the car had come to a halt and grabbed his shotgun, following a barking Rex from the house. There were four men exiting the car, one of which Jack really hadn't expected to see – Randal Orton.
"What are you doing on my property?" Jack asked the men, resting the gun carefully underneath his arm.
"We're here for Marianne." Orton piped up.
"Who?" Jack frowned.
"Marianne, the girl whose been living here." Orton replied.
"No girl's lived here since my wife Lucille, and she passed twenty three years ago." Jack told him.
"I was here just the other day, and she was here." Orton added, becoming more irritated.
"I think I would have remembered, don't you?" Jack told him.
"You lying bastard!" Orton shook his head.
"Hey, you watch your mouth!" Jack snapped, pointing the gun at the young man.
"So, you haven't seen a young woman around here. About so high, with green eyes and dark hair?" Phillip asked the older man.
"No." Jack shook his head.
"Then would you mind if we searched the house?" Phillip asked him, smiling deviously.
"If it'll get you off my land any quicker, then fine." Jack replied, stepping aside to let Gallows pass, but keeping the gun pointed in the direction of the other three men.
"No boss, there's just him and the dog here." Gallows informed Phillip as he emerged from the house. Rex growled as he watched the men.
"Now get off my land! You're trespassing!" Jack yelled, keeping hold of the gun.
"I am awfully sorry sir. It appears that someone has gotten confused." Phillip apologised.
"The barn! She's got to be in the barn!" Randal exclaimed, pointing towards the wooden building.
"Gallows, search the barn." Phillip nodded.
The largest of the men nodded and walked over to the barn, throwing open the doors and walking inside, checking behind boxes and bales of hay. After a couple of minutes he exited the building shaking his head. "No, not in here." He informed them.
"Looks like someone won't be getting paid, will they Mr Orton? Phillip raised a brow.
"Well I didn't imagine her, did I?" Randal argued.
"Just get off my property." Jack told them.
"I apologise, we'll be going now." Phillip told the older man.
Jack nodded and watched as they all got into the car and drove away. He prayed that Heath and Marianne were ok as the thunder began to roar in the darkening sky.
Heath took Marianne by the hand and led her through the woodland backing onto the farm as the rain continued to pour down. He eventually stopped outside of a small wooden hut that was shadowed by trees. Walking into the hut, Marianne saw that there were already some blankets on the floor, as well as leftover food on a plate and a lantern stood in the corner.
"So this is where you've been staying." Marianne looked at the redhead.
"Yeah, you guessed it." He nodded, moving to make a space on the floor.
"How long have you known about this place?" she asked him.
"Since I was a teenager. I used to hang out here when I needed some space." Heath shrugged.
"Not much has changed then." Marianne giggled.
"Nah, not really." Heath smiled.
"I suppose you're lucky to have Jack around." The New York native said.
"He's been good to me." Heath nodded, lighting the lantern so that they had a light glowing in the increasing darkness.
"I'm sorry if I upset you." Marianne told him.
"You didn't." he shook his head.
"Because I really do appreciate what you're doing for me." The young woman smiled.
"That's ok." Heath nodded as the rain continued outside.
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Next chapter: Marianne and Heath get closer!