My Baby

"Mommy, how come Mr. Bolton isn't my daddy?" Sophia asked. They were getting ready for school. Gabriella was pulling comb through Sophia's massive curls and she was surprised by the question. "What do you mean, sweetie?"

"Well…when people kiss, doesn't it mean they love each other? Don't you and Mr. Bolton love each other?" Sophia nervously fiddled with the zipper on her skort. Gabriella sighed. "Soph, I've only know Mr. Bolton for a short time. We don't love each other…but he's your teacher anyway, Soph. Not your daddy." Sophia nodded forlornly. She sighed and let go of her zipper. "Okay."

And the rest of the morning was silent.

When they arrived at school, Gabriella took Sophia to the gym. Like always, it was crowded and loud. She and Sophia walked over to Mr. Bolton's class. "Hey, Gabriella," Troy said, waving. "Hey, Soph."

Sophia grinned. "Hi, Mr. Bolton!"

"How are you this morning?"

"Good." Sophia turned to Gabriella. "Mommy, can I go find Lena?"

Gabriella nodded. "Yeah. Just don't go out the gym, okay?" Sophia nodded. She skipped off through the throng of kids, her eyes darting from side to side to find Lena. She wandered far away from Gabriella and Troy, wringing her hands together when she got between the big kids. "Hey, cutie, are you lost?" Sophia turned around. A man stood above her, smiling kindly down at her. Sophia nodded. "Yes…I was looking my friend Lena."

"Oh, Lena, I know her," he said. "Want me to take you to her?"

Sophia looked hesitant. "My mommy said not to go with strangers."

"I'm not a stranger," he insisted. "I know Lena. Come on, I know where she is." He extended his hand. Sophia eyed it for a second before placing her small one in his. He led her quickly through the crowd of students and out of the gym. Then he was leading her through unfamiliar hallways. "What's your name?" Sophia asked.

He grinned and picked her up. He stopped them at an open door. "My name is Eric, sweetie. Your daddy."

My Baby…

"Where's Sophia?" Gabriella questioned, looking around the gym. It was nearly time to start the pledge and Sophia was nowhere to be found. But she did spot Lena. Frantic, Gabriella walked up to her. "Lena, hi, sweetie. Have you seen Sophia yet?"

Lena shook her head. "No. I just got here."

Gabriella began to panic. "Okay, just stay here. I have to go find her."

"Gabriella, wait," Troy said, pulling her back. Gabriella looked at her with wide, questioning eyes but she found his reason for stopping them.

Fire was slowly licking out of the lunch room. Screams were thrown and parents were frantically scooping their children up and running. Gabriella looked around, tears coming from her eyes. "Oh God, where's Sophia?" She pushed out of Troy's arms and fire crackled and licked, coming into the gym. Troy grabbed Lena and followed after Gabriella.

She was literally in hysterics. She ran out of the building. Police cruisers and firemen were already crowding the school. Gabriella looked around the parking lot and when she didn't find Sophia, she went to run back to the school, but a fireman stopped her. "No one but firemen can enter, Miss," he said firmly.

"My daughter is in there!" Gabriella cried furiously. "So don't you dare tell me no." Gabriella attempted to go in again, but he held her back. "Ma'am, you really need to step back."

"She is four years old," Gabriella said. She started to push again, but he held her firmly to him. "Let me fucking through!"

"Ma'am, I need you to calm down," he said gently. "We're sending people in there to rescue any remaining kids or adults, and they're professionals."

"I don't care! I need to know that she's safe."

"Gabriella!" Troy ran up to them, Lena still in his arms. He was out of breath and sweating. "Gabriella, they checked everywhere, she isn't in the building."

"She has to be! Where is she?" Gabriella crumbled against Troy, crying and heaving. Troy put Lena down who instantly hugged Gabriella, Troy following in tow.

My Baby…

Sophia was scared. She was more scared when her mommy had told her about Julian and how her daddy had killed him. So she sniffled as Eric pushed her into the car forcefully before getting in himself. Then he drove off.

The building was on fire and Sophia cried because of it. Her mommy was in there. And Mr. Bolton and everyone else. "Daddy? Do you love me?" she spoke softly. Eric glared at her. "Shut the fuck up." Sophia flinched. "You're not here to chat. You're lucky I didn't throw you into that burning fire, but I have to keep you alive if I want your mom."

"Why do you want my mommy?"

"Because she was mine first before you popped up and she'll be mine forever. You can go to that stupid guy I saw her with and I'll have her all to myself. Though. If she refuses, I'll kill you."

And that triggered tears.

Sophia brought her hands up to her eyes and cried. She didn't like her daddy. She wanted Mr. Bolton. He's more like a daddy. Her real daddy wasn't though. He wanted to kill her. And though she was small and a little kid, she knew what that meant and how scary it is.

Eric pulled up in front of Gabriella's house. He pulled Sophia up out of the car before reaching under the mat to get her spare key. He had done some major stalking before he did this. Plus, he didn't want to draw attention to himself by breaking a window.

He pulled the door open and picked Sophia up. She was literally shaking, but she didn't dare speak again. She was smart.

Eric walked silently to the phone and dialed Gabriella number.

My Baby…

Gabriella picked up her phone. She sniffled and answered it. "Hello?"

"Gabriella, darling, how are you? I'm just here to say that Sophia is fine…well, if you meet me at your house before nine."

Gabriella gasped. She wanted to die. "E-Eric?" Of course. Eric kidnapped Sophia. Eric started to fire. Eric. It was Eric. Gabriella stuffed her phone in her pocket and darted to her car. Troy started following her, but she turned around to face him. "No, stay here with Lena. Troy, you can't bring her in this and I don't want to bring you into this, either. Get the police. Make sure they're undercover and I'll see you later." Gabriella sprinted to her car and when she got in it, she sped from the parking lot.

Tires squelching and rubber, burning, Gabriella road roughly down the streets and towards home. Her fingers were clawing at the leather on the steering wheel and her foot seemed broken as it pressed the gas pedal.

When she got home, she jumped out of the car and ran to the house. It was already unlocked and when she opened the door, she was careful. She'd give up everything for Sophia to be safe. She didn't care if she died today, or tomorrow, or sometime in a month. She wanted her baby to be safe and she was going to be safe. "Eric," she yelled. "I'm here, now give me my baby." Cold hands wrapped around her the next second. One rounding her waist and the other covering her mouth. Gabriella chocked back a scream and decided not to struggle. "Good girl," came Eric's slithery voice. Gabriella shivered in disgust when he flicked his tongue out and licked the shell of her ear. "So precious," he continued huskily.

Gabriella pried his hand away from her mouth. "Where's Sophia?" she whispered.

"No. No talking about her," he said, kissing down her neck. Gabriella whirled around and jerked away from him. "Tell me where she is now."

"What happened to my shy Gabi bear," he said, smirking. "She's never been so straightforward. Don't you want to cuddle and watch a movie?"

She's had enough of this. Gabriella turned and looked around. "Sophia, come out, baby!" Eric frowned. She listened to him before, why not now? "Sophia!" Sophia came crawling down the steps. She ran to Gabriella, crying and Gabriella picked her up and squeezed her. "Oh, baby, I'm never letting you out my sight."

"Enough mushy stuff," Eric spat. "Put her down or I shoot her and then come here." Gabriella closed her eyes when she felt the cold, harsh metal of the gun pressing against her neck. But she kept Sophia close, whispering sweet words in her ear. "Put the goddamn thing down!" Eric bellowed, pressing the gun on Sophia now. Sophia screamed and wailed and Gabriella let out a terrified screech. She set Sophia down and crouched down with her. "Baby, I want you to hide. Hide somewhere, anywhere, just don't come out until you hear, mine or Troy's voice."

"Mommy, don't leave me!" Sophia cried. She wrapped her arms around her mom, refusing to let go. "Baby, please. I promise everything will be okay." Sophia shook her head, tears falling nonstop. "Baby, look at me." Sophia opened her eyes and looked into her mom's. "I'll never let anything hurt you, okay? Go run, hide. I'll be back for you. I promise."

Sophia held her pinkie up. "Pinkie promise?"

Gabriella nodded and wrapped her pinkie around Sophia's. "Pinkie Promise." Eric yanked her up by her hair and Gabriella grinded her teeth together, holding back a scream. She didn't want Sophia to know she was hurt. "I love you, mommy," Sophia cried before running off. Eric pushed Gabriella and she jerked forward. A cry came tumbling from her lips and horrible memories did too. She didn't want to go through all of the abuse again. "Don't you ever disrespect me," he seethed, smacking her. Gabriella reached up to touch the sore mark. Eric grabbed her shoulder and roughly forced her out of the house.

Edison was standing by Eric's car, wringing out a dirty rag. He opened the trunk and Eric pushed Gabriella in it. When the truck closed, she started to bawl.

My Baby…

Policemen came barging into the house. The first thing they saw was a messed up carpet and little specs of blood dropped on the floor. Troy followed after them, cautious. He had dropped Lena off at her house and her parents were shocked at the news. They said they'd pray for Gabriella and Sophia and Troy mumbled a quick goodbye then left.

Policemen continued to search and Troy walked up the stairs. He could hear faint whimpers and knew that the men downstairs weren't making it. He opened Gabriella room door and stepped in. The whimpers grew louder.

He walked to the closet door and pulled it open. He gasped.

Sophia sat there, sucking her thumb and crying silently. When she saw Troy, she got up and hugged him. "He took mommy, Mr. Bolton. He hit her and took her."

Troy picked her up and cradled her close. "Do you know where?" He whispered, tears pricking his eyes. Sophia shook her head. Troy nodded and walked down stairs slowly. He felt numb. Both on the outside and inside. And he couldn't shake off the feeling that Gabriella is in huge trouble. Troy felt ready to cry and vomit. No one deserved to be beaten. No one deserved to die. So why Gabriella? Why do bad things happen to such good people?

Short chapter ): I know, you guys hate me. But still, I hope you enjoyed.