(AN) Hello and welcome to the next chapter of Breaking Point; hope you all enjoy.
In this chapter, David decides to take Henry back to Trencher's Farm, which will soon lead to all Hell breaking loose.
Disclaimer: I don't own Straw Dogs; all characters and locations are owned by their respective owners.
Chapter Four
David slowly walked closer to Henry and knelt down next to him. "I-I think his arm's broken," he said to Amy before checking for a pulse, "He's still alive. Quick, help me get him into the car.
"What!" cried Amy in shock.
"We can't just leave him here," pointed out David as he stood up and walked over to his wife, "We can take him back to Trencher's Farm and call for help. Look, we'll be in far more trouble if we just leave him here."
"Ohhhh, alright." groaned a reluctant Amy.
Together, the couple helped Henry to his feet and escorted him to the car. After placing the young man in the back seat, the duo hopped back into the front and David drove off.
After returning to the farmhouse, David and Amy helped Henry inside and laid him down on the sofa.
"David, I don't like this." commented Amy.
"Why not?" asked a confused David, "What have you got against Niles?"
"It's not just me," answered the young woman, "Venner, Hedden and a few others dislike him as well. Not long before me and my family moved to the states, Niles was accused of inappropriate behaviour towards a minor, but it was proven that he'd done nothing wrong. Niles likes playing with kids because he's got the mind of one."
"And do you believe these rumours?" questioned her husband.
"I'm not sure," answered the blonde, "I just don't feel that comfortable with him in the house."
"It feels like a bit of prejudice to me," pointed out the dark haired man, "I'll just ring for some help and you can try and relax and drink some tea."
Amy nodded in agreement. Maybe there was no danger from Niles.
David went over to the phone and tried to ring the police, but he got no reply, he then tried the local doctor, but had no luck there either.
"Try the Wakely Arms," suggested Amy, "Harry can get somebody.
David nodded in understanding.
Over at the Wakely Arms, Tom was speaking with Tim and Kate while drinking.
"Rest assured, Mr Hedden, the police are doing all they can to locate your daughter and Mr Niles," assured Kate gently, "The best thing you can do right now is to go and be with your wife and other children; they'll need your support."
"You think I'm just gonna sit here while that bastard is doing God knows what to my daughter!" growled Tom furiously, "No, no: when I learn where Niles is, I'll kill him with my bare hands!"
"You will do no such thing!" warned Tim firmly, "You just be lucky that John Niles isn't pressing charges for your physical assault on him!"
"Save it!" spat the drunk.
At that point, Charlie, Scutt, Cawsey, Bobby, Phil and Bertie entered the pub and walked over to the trio.
"Still no sign of her," informed Charlie, "The whole village is out looking; except for Amy and Mr Sumner."
"I noticed them heading out of the church," snickered Chris before smirking at Charlie, "Somebody got under their skin."
"Oh shut up!" hissed Charlie.
Harry was standing behind the bar when the phone rang. The middle-aged man walked over and answered. "Wakely Arms." he said curtly.
"Yes, hello, this is David Se-Sumner speaking," came David's voice from the other end of the line, "Listen, can you send the local doctor and the police up to Trencher's Farm, please? I've got Henry Niles up here: I accidentally knocked him over."
"I understand," replied a slightly bewildered Harry, "Don't worry, I'll get help."
Harry ended the call and put the phone down, he then walked out from behind the bar and went over to Tom and the others. "I've just had the American on the phone there," he informed them, "He's got Henry Niles up at Trencher's Farm."
"What about Janice?" demanded Tom through gritted teeth.
"I don't think she's with them." said Harry sympathetically.
Tom nodded in understanding before getting to his feet and turning to Phil. "You know the way to Trencher's Farm; you can take me and the boys."
Phil, Charlie, Scutt, Cawsey, Bobby and Bertie got to their feet; all of them filled with a sense of purpose.
"Now hang on a minute, we'll have to come as well," insisted Tim as he and Kate stood up, "You can't be taking the law into your own hands: let me and Gallighar deal with it."
"Not a chance!" spat the drunk venomously, "You lot didn't put Niles away or deal with him when you should have! It's time that we did the job you should have done!"
"Need we remind you that Charlie and Scutt are still under investigation for their assault on Amy," pointed out Tim, "You shouldn't be going anywhere near the Sumners."
"They'll behave themselves; won't you boys." said Tom in a dangerous manner.
"Of course." promised Scutt.
"This is for Janice." pointed out Charlie.
And with that, Tom and the others stormed out of the pub in single-file; all ignoring Kate and Tim calling out to them.
As they headed for Phil's car, Scutt was thinking about how he'd get at Amy. He had of course been lying when he promised to behave himself: if he got the opportunity, Scutt was going to have his twisted idea of fun with Amy.
At the same time, Charlie was thinking about how he could use this opportunity to kill David, make it seem like an accident and then convince Amy to come back to him.
Back at Trencher's Farm, Amy was sitting on her and David's bed with a feeling of dread. The blonde had come to accept the idea of helping Niles and maybe she was being judgemental, but the young woman couldn't quite shake the feeling that something bad could happen.
The young woman was brought out of her thoughts when David entered the room; a stoic look on his face. "You okay?" he asked calmly.
"I feel as if something bad may happen," explained Amy nervously, "What do you suppose Niles was doing wandering around like that?"
"Who knows," replied David as he came and sat next to his wife, "The doctor and the police will be here soon, so please try to relax. Amy, I hope you don't mind me asking this, but what did you mean when you said that this wasn't the first time Charlie had raped you?"
Amy gulped and shuddered before taking a deep breath. "Back when I was with Charlie, it was wonderful at first, but then he started to abuse me: physically; emotionally and sexually. Charlie was always convinced that I was begging for him to rape me because when he did so, I would pretend to enjoy it."
David was left floored by this. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry." he uttered in shock.
"I eventually found the courage to leave him," explained Amy quietly, "Then me and my parents moved to the States. I never told you when you accepted Charlie's offer to help with the roof because I thought that he might have changed and I didn't think anybody would listen to a silly, hysterical girl about something that happened years ago."
"I'd have believed you," assured David gently as he gathered his wife into a hug, "Hopefully Venner and Scutt will be brought to justice."
Phil's car rolled up into the farmyard, followed by Cawsey and Bertie on a bike. Charlie, Scutt, Tom, Phil and Bobby hopped out of the car. As one, the group of seven made their way over to the house before stopping just outside the porch.
"What's the plan, Tom?" asked Charlie curiously.
"You lot get in there and drag Niles out here so we can get some answers!" explained Tom darkly, "Hopefully Amy and that husband of hers won't be too difficult."
"Don't worry, that husband of hers is a complete pushover," remarked Chris before giggling, "He'll hand over Niles."
And with that, Charlie walked over to the front door.
David and Amy were still cuddled up together on the bed when they heard a light knock at the front door.
"Now who could that be?" asked a confused Amy.
"I'll go check." said David.
The maths professor walked down the stairs, unlocked the front door and opened it. David was surprised when Charlie suddenly entered, followed by Scutt, Cawsey, Bobby, Bertie and Phil.
"Hey, you can't just walk in here!" cried David in shock.
"We just want to see Niles." stated Bobby as he and the others walked over to the sofa.
"Wake up!" snapped Scutt before slapping Henry across the face, "Come on; wake up you!"
"Hey, what's going on?" asked Amy as she came rushing down the stairs. The young blonde then noticed Charlie and Scutt, "What are they doing here?"
"Don't worry, Amy, we just want to get answers out of Niles!" leered Charlie.
"Hey, careful now, you'll break his ribs!" cried David as he got in front of the sofa; preventing Chris from slapping Henry.
"Sorry, sir," apologised the rat catcher before taking on a slightly more agressive tone, "but he'll get more than just a broken rib if he doesn't say what he did to Janice Hedden."
"Wait, what's happened to Janice?" asked Amy.
"Took her he did," explained Scutt before glowering at the young man, "What have you done with Janice you dirty pervert?"
"Do you have any evidence of this?" asked the skeptical blonde.
"I saw him and Janice walking away from the church." explained Bobby.
"That doesn't prove that he did anything to her," pointed out David, "Maybe something else happened to Janice and he was running to get help."
"You don't know what he's like!" snapped Charlie angrily, "He hangs about with little kids. Come on, Amy, you agree; right?"
"I used to," replied the blonde, "but now I no longer do. And quite frankly, I find your behaviour a bit hypocritical: you say you're concerned about him sexually assaulting Janice, but it was just the other day that you and Scutt forced yourselves on me, and you two, Bobby and Cawsey have been picking on my husband!"
"You're siding with your husband and that pervert over us!" spat Bobby in disgust, "Come on, Amy, you've known us for years."
"I thought I did!" growled Amy darkly, "But now I see that you're all a bunch of horrible people, so I'm only going to ask once: get out!"
"Not until we've taken Niles outside and had a chat with him!" snarled Cawsey.
"You heard her!" said David in an attempt at a brave voice.
Charlie and the others seemed to understand. As one, they all exited through the front door.
David quickly raced over to the front door and locked it.
Amy heaved a sigh of relief. She hadn't been comfortable with any of those men being back in the house, but she had decided not to let them see her fear.
"What do you think they were planning on doing with Niles?" questioned Amy shakily."
"I think they were planning to beat him to death," answered her husband darkly, "Even if he has done something to Janice, killing is never the answer, unless in self-defence."
"I understand." said Amy.
Outside, Tom was angrily pacing up and down. "Those idiots!" he barked furiously, "They don't know what they're playin' at; protecting Niles like he's innocent!"
"And I don't get what Amy sees in that husband of hers!" spat Charlie furiously.
"I want Niles!" barked Tom as he stopped and cocked his shotgun, "I'm goin' in!"
The drunk then marched up to the front door and began ramming the barrel of his gun into it.
Inside, David and Amy were looking at the front door in concern.
"You can't get in!" hollered Amy, "That door can withstand anything!"
"What about the back door?" said a concerned David.
Amy raced through to the kitchen and saw the back door begin to open. Thinking quickly, the young blonde pushed back against it and succeeded in slamming it shut; Bertie crying out in alarm as he fell over. Amy then quickly locked the back door.
Back in the living room, David was currently locking the windows; ignoring Tom from outside as he continued to shout threats. The dark haired man then saw Cawsey pop up at the window and rattle on the handle.
"Hey, stop that!" cried an annoyed David, "If you don't stop right now, then I'll press charges!"
Cawsey simply giggled before vanishing from sight.
Everything suddenly seemed to go quiet. The maths professor began to relax, thinking that these men would just leave when suddenly, a rock came flying through the living room window, sending glass tinkling to the floor.
"Call 9-1-1!" cried David in alarm.
"999." corrected Amy as she ran to the phone.
The young blonde dialled 999 and waited for a response, but all she could hear was a dead tone, smashing glass and the angry voices from outside. Amy put the phone down and turned to her husband with a terrified expression. "No response," she said in a frightened manner, "Oh, David, what are we going to do?"
"I don't know." replied David.
"Well we can't just leave Niles down here," pointed out Amy, indicating Henry, "Let's put him upstairs in the attic."
David nodded in agreement.
Together, the couple helped Henry to his feet and led him upstairs.
After helping Henry into the attic, David locked the door and followed Amy back downstairs.
Upon reentering the living room, David began trying to think of a way out of this that wouldn't end with him and Amy being killed or him having to take on Tom and his friends, but he couldn't think of anything.
"David, Amy!" came a familiar voice from outside, "It's Major Scott! Evans and Gallighar told me what's been going on."
The husband and wife looked at each other with expressions of relief.
David went over to the front door, unlocked it and then opened it, allowing Major Scott to dash inside. The dark haired man quickly slammed the door shut before turning to face the major.
"Glad you made it through enemy lines." joked David.
"I've seen worse," remarked Scott, "Sorry I didn't get here sooner."
"I'm sorry too," replied David, "You know they're breaking all my windows."
"David, Janice is missing, Tom is out of his mind with worry and drunk." explained the major.
"That's still no excuse for their behaviour!" retorted Amy firmly, "You need to deal with them!"
Quite suddenly, a rat came flying through the window and landed at Amy's feet, making her yelp in alarm. Cawsey could be heard laughing.
"Don't you know I breed em as well!" cried Chris in delight, "That stinking cat of yours was eatin' them, so I had to deal with her!"
"I KNEW IT!" shouted Amy furiously.
The young woman tried to run out the front door, but David quickly wrapped his arms around her chest and held the struggling blonde back. "It's not worth it!" he cried in disgust, "Let Major Scott deal with them."
Amy simply began sobbing into David's shoulder. The dark haired man gave her a hug and gently rubbed her back while making hushing noises.
Major Scott marched out the front door and towards the group. "Being a bit stupid, aren't you, Tom," he remarked sternly, "Chucking things through people's windows; you ought to have more sense."
Tom and the others simply glowered at the major.
"Tell them that I want that Niles, or I'll go in and get 'im!" threatened Tom in a dangerous manner.
"You give me that bloody gun and get the hell out of here; now that's an order!" barked Scott firmly.
"What about my Janice?" asked Tom furiously, "Wasn't one of yours, it was my Janice!"
"Listen, Tom, we don't want any trouble here; do we?" said the major calmly.
"There wouldn't have been any trouble if you'd put Henry Niles away!" snarled the drunk as he walked towards the major, "YOU LOT WERE QUICK TO PUT SCUTT AWAY SOON ENOUGH!"
"Damn you, Hedden, give me that gun!" snarled Major Scott before suddenly grabbing Tom's gun.
"Damn you, Major; LET GO!" yelled Tom as he attempted to wrench the gun away from the major.
The two struggled with the gun for a few moments before a loud and unmistakable bang suddenly went off. Major Scott screamed in pain as he was thrown backwards before falling to the ground with a thud.
"NO!" shouted Amy in a distraught voice as she and David stood by the living room window in shock.
Tom and the others slowly walked towards the major's unmoving body. Tom knelt down and rolled Scott on to his back.
"Dad, what have you done!" cried a shocked Bobby.
Tom looked up and saw David and Amy staring out the living room window in horror.
"Wasn't reckoning on anybody getting killed, Norman," said Tom as he turned to face Scutt, "They've seen us kill the major. Now we need to get in there, silence them for good and kill Niles."
The others all nodded in understanding.
Back inside the living room, the young couple looked at each other with horrified expressions.
(AN) And that's a wrap on this chapter of Breaking Point; hope you all enjoyed.
As you can tell, Amy will have a much bigger part to play in the climax than in the actual film.
The next chapter will be the rest of the siege, which will have plent of differences.
Until then, this is TimeLordMaster108 signing out.