CHAPTER 5
Dean began to stir on the kitchen floor. He groaned as his eyes began to adjust to his surroundings. He sat up with his back resting against the cabinet. He dabbed at his left cheek with his fingertips. He felt that they were sticky with blood from where his attacked struck him last night.
Dean rose to his feet using the counter for assistance. More groaning escaped him as he was unsteadily, but fully, on his feet. His vision was a little blurry. He shook his head to relieve himself of the cobwebs.
*GASP*
Renee...
Dean didn't hesitate another second. He bolted from the kitchen to the stairway and made his way up to the bedroom.
"Oh, God, no. Please, God, no."
He was almost to the bedroom.
"Renee?"
He stopped in the doorway of their room.
"RENEE?!"
No reply. Something was resting on the pillow of their bed and it caught his eye. He walked into the room over to his bed. A folded up piece of paper waited for him. He picked it up and unfolded it. The letters were cut out of newspapers. Classic burglary tactic. He read the message quietly. The words made his stomach flop and his heart ache at what the message stated.
I HAVE YOUR WIFE. NO POLICE OR SHE DIES
Dean walked over to his dresser and picked up his cell phone. He knew calling the police was out of the question, so he called somebody else. The call was answered after the second ring.
"Mark Calaway speaking."
"MARK! Oh thank God I caught you!"
"Dean? What's wrong? Are you alright?"
"No, I'm not alright. Something happened last night." Dean began pacing back and forth in his room. "I was attacked in my home last night, and Renee was abducted."
"WHAT?"
"RENEE IS GONE! SHE'S NOT HERE!"
"Dean! You're not getting anywhere yelling. Now, take a deep breath."
Dean stopped pacing at the foot of the bed and did as he was told. He breathed in and out. He repeated the breathing twice.
"Good. Good. Now tell me again. Calmly. What...happened."
"We had an intruder last night. We fought. He knocked me out in the kitchen. He left me there and went upstairs and took Renee. She's not here."
"Have you called the police?"
"I found a note on my pillow this morning saying no police or she dies. I can't risk that."
"Oh no. Well, what are you going to do?"
"I don't know, Mark. I really don't..."
Dean heard two people chuckling behind him in the doorway. Two bald men in black with tattooes stood there looking at him.
"Well, well, well, Gallows. Look what we have here."
"I see him, Anderson. It's the Lunatic Fringe Dean Ambrose."
"Dean, what's going on over there?"
"Shall we have some fun with him?"
"Yes," Anderson answered cracking his knuckles. "Let's."
-"Dean...Dean?...Jonathan?"
The line disconnected. Dean was in trouble. Mark was in his truck headed for the church revival when he had gotten the call. Mark dialed a number to one of the guys at his church and he answered.
"Hello?"
"Mike, this is Mark Calaway. Listen, I am so very sorry, but something has come up and I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to make the service today. I can't say what it is right now, but I will explain it all to you later."
"Oh dear, Mark. I'm so sorry to hear that. Is there anything you want us to do?"
"Pray."
Mark pressed the end call button on his phone, then tossed it in the passengers seat. His foot pressed hard against the gas pedal and he was on his way to Dean's house.