Hey all, here is chapter 36 hope you all like. Don't forget to review. Dannielle xx
[DISCLAIMER/COPYRIGHT: I do not own any of the existing characters or storylines in Home and Away but any characters, storylines or ideas used in this story are strictly copyrighted and are not to be used by any other person/s without written permission of the author of this story. Thank-you.]
BELLA POV
It had been a week since I had been released from hospital and I was meeting Cooper at his place to hang out. Charlie was dropping me off on her way to Mckenzie's 8 week check-up. I could hardly believe that my little niece was already 8 weeks old. We pulled up outside Cooper's and I said goodbye to Charlie and gave Mckenzie a kiss on the cheek before heading up to the Harding's front door. Charlie waited until Cooper opened the door before driving off, which although was still annoying I had grown used to and found rather comforting. Cooper pulled me into a hug before taking my hand a dragging me into the living room where I saw Natyaliah stretched out on the rug colouring in her Barbie book.
"hey Tyaliah" I said as the little girl peered up at me before jumping to her feet and hugging my waist. "Bella!" she cried, I laughed as I picked her up "can we make a cake?" she asked, I raised an eyebrow and looked at Cooper for an explanation "she watched a cooking show" was all he said "Tyaliah, I am sure Bella doesn't want to bake a cake today, why don't you wait until mum is back?" he asked. The little girl pouted "NO! I wanna make one with Bella" she said "you know what that sounds like fun" I said tapping her nose "Bub you know you don't have to" Cooper said looking at me seriously "yeah I know, I want to. I like baking" I said putting the little girl on the ground. Natyaliah returned to the room a minute later with a spotted pink apron and chef's hat on her head. I laughed as she dragged me into the kitchen, I grabbed Cooper's hand pulling him along with me.
Natyaliah had decided on a chocolate cake and we had so far managed to cover everything but the bowl in chocolate batter. I watched carefully as she mixed with the electric beaters, the look of concentration on her face had Cooper and I in fits of laughter. After we had put the cake in the oven Natyaliah ran off to do some colouring leaving Cooper and I to clean up the chocolate explosion. We filled the sink with warm soapy water, seeing the bubbles rising in the sink I couldn't resist. I scooped up a handful of the suds and flung them at Cooper, he wiped them off his arm and flung them back. Before I knew it we were having an all-out soap war. We managed to clean up the mess just as Cooper's parents came home.
Cooper's father was cursing to himself which I thought was odd. "didn't win dad?" Cooper asked pulling me close "nah as I expected but my stupid client decided it would be a good idea to use his appeal as a way to escape police custody!" he exclaimed "wow, who's your client?" I asked "oh hi Bella, ah my client is Ryan Baylis" he replied. I froze on the spot, tensing instantly "what did he do?" Cooper asked his father before looking at me with concern "ah he attacked a bunch of girls, a waste of space really but I get paid to do a job… are you alright Bella?" Mr Harding asked me "you're client is Ryan Baylis – The Phantom… and he escaped!" I muttered "yeah unfortunately – have you heard of him?" he asked again noticing the look on my face "I was one of his victims" I managed to get out "I have to go" I said as I rushed out of the house.
I ran as fast as I could, my heart racing my brain pounding and spinning. I raced up the drive way and through the front door. I stopped dead, standing in front of me was the man who had haunted me for so long. He was holding a distressed Mckenzie in his arms, a gun in the other and Charlie was tied up on the floor in front of the couch "long time no see Miss Braxton" he said evilly. "what do you want" I asked nervously "I want you to pay for what you did to me" he answered back "what I did to you!" I echoed "what about what you did to me, and to all those other defenceless girls you attacked, you are nothing but a lousy piece of scum the resides on the bottom of the ocean" I answered back angrily "getting mad now are we?" he smirked "you're really in no position to be insulting me are you?" he continued.
"It's you that has been stalking me" I asked as I slowly watched all the pieces of the puzzles into place "well seeing as I was in prison it wasn't me but it was one of my loyal followers" he smirked as he swung the gun around his fingers slowly "do what you want with me but leave them out of this" I said nodding towards Charlie and Mckenzie. "oh darling I plan of doing whatever I want to you, but these two well it's just fun watching them squirm" he replied coldly "you're sick you know that, she is just a baby who needs her mother" I said nodding at Mckenzie "yes I see that and if you do exactly as I say then she will get to be with her mummy but if not…" he trailed off lifting the gun to Mckenzie's head "don't touch her" I said fiercely "I make the rules here not you, now you are going to come with me and we are going to catch up on all that we have missed and if you don't then the guilt of your brother and his wife losing their baby will be on your shoulders" he told me "fine, what do you want me to do" I said looking at Charlie who with wide eyes was shaking her head.
Okay, what did you all think of that chapter? Did any of you guess that it was The Phantom who was stalking Bella - rather that he was behind it? Do you like the connection between Bella's past and Cooper's family. How do you want Cooper to find out? and what do you want to happen next? I know there are a lot of questions there but please let me know in your reviews, just click the little button below this paragraph it's that simple! Review please! Dannielle xx