A/N: I'm completely scarred for life right now... I just watched The Nutcracker with MacAulay Culkin... I only liked his parts (dancing around in a pink outfit XD). Otherwise, I'm completely scarred for life... So, I'm writing this, listening to therapy music, and going to watch Uncle Buck after this... Anyway, here we go with the chapter, peoples! ^_^

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Chapter 22: The Next Town

Kevin's PoV:

A little while later, we seem to have arrived in a new town. "We're here, kiddo," Harry says. He pulls off the tape from my mouth.

"Where?" I ask.

"Not telling, squirt." I want to so badly whine and ask why, but after what happened last night, I think Harry may be legit about killing me... I can't do anything that will piss him off. I'm scared. Having that knife up against my throat really got me freaked out and to thinking that I think Harry's not afraid to kill me... I start shaking, thinking about that last night... We seem to be pulling into a parking lot. Once we park, Harry pulls my coat off me. He pulls out the knife he used to nearly slit my throat open last night and cuts the tape off my wrists. I can finally sit up and I pull off the tape around my ankles. He grabs my arm and pulls me out of the driver's side of the door. He grabs my coat and hands it to me. I put it on before Harry immediately grabs my arm again. If I even attempt to get away again, he'll slit my throat for sure... So, I let him bring me into the store, without trying to fight him. We parked around the back of the store, so it's more of a distance to the store. "Shit... I forgot your hat... Here," Harry pulls off his hat and places it on my head. It's huge, to the point where it almost covers my eyes. I pull it up, so that I'm able to at least see. He holds my hand, as we enter the store...

Mindie's PoV:

I knew something was suspicious about that guy! I went up to his room this morning, and he and the kid were gone! They're supposed to check out, but they didn't! I call 911, and I hear, "911. What is your emergency?"

"Hi. Last night, a tall, sort of chubby man checked in here with a little boy. The little boy mouthed 'help' and 'phone 911'. When I went up to their room, the man said that the boy was just joking. The man was clearly lying, hiding something, and the boy was clearly scared."

"What did the boy look like, ma'am?"

"I didn't see his hair colour, because he was wearing a white and red knitted hat, but he was quite small. Probably four-foot something. He wore a grey coat and matching red and white mittens that went with his hat. He appeared to be between eight and ten. He was wearing black baggy pants and a blue sweater."

"OK. He seems to match the description of a little boy that went missing a few days ago. What's your motel or hotel's name?"

"I'm in Kearney in Nebraska. My place is just a small motel, called 'Motel'."

"OK. We have you located. The police will be over," I then hang up the phone...

Kate's PoV:

I hear the phone ring. I pick it up, and it's the police! "Hello."

"Hello, Mrs. McCallister. We have some news on your boy..."

"Really?! What?!"

"A lady named Mindie at a motel in Kearney, Nebraska, said that she saw someone with your son's description in her motel with a man with Harold Lime's description. She said he mouthed the words 'help' and 'phone 911'. He looked desperate. They left before checking out this morning,"

"Well, do they know where they are now?!"

"No, but they could stop anywhere before California. Like Marvin Merchants said, Harold Lime might not still be going to California, because of what happened at the general store..."

"Are the police in Nebraska trying to track them down on radar now?"

"Yes, ma'am. Like I said, they could stop anywhere. They could even pass California."

"OK. Let me know, if you find out any more info,"

"We sure will, ma'am. Take care,"

"Bye." And I hang up the phone...

Kevin's PoV:

We're in a clothing store in God knows where. Harry seems to be in a rush trying to find me some clothes. He picks random clothing, without even asking me. There's a lady and her son with her beside us. She asks, "Aren't you going to let your son have a say in the matter, mister? Pardon me, if I sound rude."

"We're just in a bit of a hurry now, ma'am,"

"Ah." is all she says. Again, I do my signal for help. I look at her, pleadingly. She looks at me weird, and I mouth the word "help" again. She widens her eyes, and when Harry looks back up at the woman, she turns her head back down to the clothes rack. Then, Harry looks down at me, and I look at him, innocently.

Harry continues picking out more clothes for me, then we head over to the checkout. I give the lady at the till the same look I gave the lady that had the son. Again, I mouth the word "help". She eyes me, but tries to pay attention to her job. When we're done paying for my new clothes, she says, "Have a nice day," Harry grabs onto my hand and leads me out the door. I see the lady pick up the phone...

As soon as we're out of the store, Harry continues to hang onto my hand, until we reach the back of the store. He grabs onto my arm tightly and pulls me back to the van. As soon as we're to the van, Harry drops the bag down on the ground and grabs onto both my arms, shaking me. He shouts, "Did you pull that stupid stunt, like what you did back in the motel, again?!" I shake my head "no", trying to sound honest. If he finds out I'm lying, he'll kill me! "Then, why did those ladies look at us suspiciously?!"

"Well, maybe you should do a better job with covering up your kidnapped victim!"

He slaps me across the face. "Stop making up shit! You did it again! Didn't you?!"

"Even if I did, I have every right to! I'm scared, in a mysterious place, and sick and hurt!"

He shoves me up against the side of the van. "I don't care if you're sick and hurt! You have no right to do that! Just for that, we're not going to a doctor! You're giving me away, here!"

"Well, maybe that's what I want!" I shout, starting to cry. "Don't you think I have feelings, too?! I'm only nine! Give me a break!"

"You're pretty sneaky and smart for a nine-year-old..."

"That shouldn't be a surprise..."

"Get in the van and shut up!" Harry shouts, pushing me to the back of the van. He opens the van doors and pushes me inside. He throws the clothes in, too, and says, warningly, "Change into some new clothing, or else—and I'm not joking, kid—I will slit your throat..." Harry then slams the back doors to the van shut...

To be Continued...

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A/N: Thanks for reading! Review positively please! Thank you! Useless information: I'm feeling better now after watching The Nutcracker. So, what will happen to Kevin next? You'll see! Off to watching Uncle Buck I go! Ciao!

- Termina's Hero1234