Chapter 33: Chapter 33

Connor watched the car zigzag on the narrow pathway she'd taken that would have eventually led her out of their vicinity. He knew that the moment she hit the road, they wouldn't have been able to catch her. He hadn't meant to shoot at her either but she had left him with no choice. He couldn't let her escape without exacting his revenge on her and getting her parents to send him money. He needed the cash to escape, leave the country before they put him behind bars again. This was all her doing. Trying to act like she knew better than him.

She made him look stupid. Heck he felt stupid for not searching for her in the house first. But when he'd seen the open window only one thing had registered in his brain. That she'd escaped. Surely anyone would have come to that conclusion. He told Byron to go the opposite direction so they could surround her but a few feet into the trees, the roar of an engine had made him stop. He couldn't believe she'd tricked him. Although he should have seen it coming. She did warn him about underestimating her but he hadn't listened because he thought there was nothing she could do. By the time he rounded the house, she was already driving away. And for a second there, just a second, he'd thought about letting her go. Knowing Alexis, she would be paranoid for the rest of her life. Always expecting him to show up out of nowhere. He could have lived the rest of his life knowing that she'd never have peace of mind.

But then she flipped him and he lost it. Before he knew what he was doing, he'd taken his gun out and was shooting at her. He hadn't planned on killing her of course but if she happened to die then good for her. She'd be doing him a favor because then, he wouldn't have to run. No one would know he was behind the kidnapping.

"Fuck! What did you do?" Byron asked stopping beside him. His hands were on his waist and he was bent over a little, breathing heavily.

"I stopped her from escaping"

"You stopped her or killed her?"

"It's the same thing."

"Fuck, fuck, fuck. I'm not going to prison for murder" he screeched pulling on his hair.

"Unless you turn yourself in, no one will know it was us"

"Are you that stupid?" Byron yelled, actually yelled, throwing his hands around wildly. "You left her phone on the table. She probably called her parents already or her boyfriend and told them we had kidnapped her." by the time he finished speaking, Connor had gone pale. He could feel the blood in his veins freezing. How could he have been so stupid? Of course Alexis had called her father.

He remembered when she told him how she was kidnapped when she was eight. They'd found her unharmed but her mom's friend who was a detective, had tracked the kidnappers down. It had taken him months to find them but the guy hadn't stopped. That same guy was Ray's father -who happened to be her current boyfriend - and her god father who loved her like a daughter. He never really liked Ray because it was clear he was in love with Alexis, but he couldn't deny how rich the folks were. If she died, they would use everything they had to make him pay.

At that moment, Connor was wise enough to admit to himself that he was indeed stupid. Spending a few weeks in prison didn't turn him into one of those hard core criminals who succeeded in committing crimes. He realized that if he had thought his plan through, he would have seen how flawed it was and instead come up with a new one. A better one. But no. He had thought that as long as he tied her with chains, she wouldn't be able to escape. How had she gotten out of them anyway? Shit. It didn't matter how she managed to free herself. What he should do was make sure she was alive then make a run for it. He might be able to hide until things cooled down then later find a way to leave the country.

"Come on, let's see if she's still alive"

"No. I'm leaving man. I'd rather you turn me in for framing you than get caught for kidnapping and murder" Byron said running in the other direction.

"Fucking coward" Connor hissed walking towards the car. There was smoke coming from the hood and broken glass shards everywhere. Her head was lying against the cracked window bleeding. Looking closer he saw that she had sustained a wound on her forehead. Slowly, he opened the door and caught her body when she would have slid to the floor. Hooking his hands under her shoulders, he dragged her out, placed her beside the road then checked for a pulse. He felt it but it was weak. He wondered if he should call an ambulance.

Staring down at her, he took stock of her injuries. Aside from the gash on her head, her arm was bleeding where the first bullet had hit her. How long did she have before she bled to death? He straightened. If she'd called anyone, they would probably be there any minute now. And if she didn't call then no one was going to know it was him who had kidnapped her. Either way, he needed to leave before someone saw him there. The gun shots were too loud. Chances were a passerby had heard them and called the police. "Rot in hell Alexis" he told her unmoving body, bent down to take the bracelet he was sure could solve all his problems, then ran in the same direction Byron went. He'd pawn the bracelet and use half the money to leave. The other half he'd send to his family.

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Ray cursed and dialed her number again. After they'd found out where she was, he hadn't waited for the police. He'd left the house like a madman despite his father's warnings about driving when he was angry. But this was Alexis they were talking about. If he spent one more minute without knowing how she was, without seeing her, he was in serious danger of going insane. There were police cars in front and behind him trying to block his way so he wouldn't over speed. If he had to bet he'd say that was his father's doing even though he had nothing to worry about. He'd crawl on his knees if it meant getting to Alexis. Why wasn't she picking up her phone?

He heard gunshots in the background before her phone went dead but he didn't want to think what that would mean. She was okay. She had to be okay. For his and her family's sake she had to be okay. When the car in front of his pulled to a stop suddenly, Ray cursed and hit the brakes cringing as he listened to his tires screech to a halt. One more minute and he would have plowed right into the police car. You'd think they'd be careful considering they went around preaching all day about safe driving. Feeling his anger, frustration and fear rise to uncontrollable levels, he shot out of the car not bothering to lock it. There was a car that had run into a tree a few feet in front of them. Without thinking he rushed towards it only for one of the cops to block his way by moving to stand in front of him. He had to be new because Ray had never seen him. If he also knew him, he'd know now was not the time to stand in his way.

"Get. Out. Of. My. Way." he enunciated each word in a low growl.

"Listen sir, I know that is your girlfriend over there but you're just going to get in the way" he said still holding his hand out. Ray walked towards the guy until he was in his face, their noses almost touching. Lucky for them both, someone pulled him away reminding him he was there to make sure Alexis was fine. Otherwise he didn't know what he would have done. Taking his anger out on that rookie was on the top of the list. Running towards the car, he fell on his knees next a bloody Alexis. His breath caught in his throat. Half of her face was red and an officer was holding a handkerchief to her head trying to stop the bleeding.

"She's alive but barely. Just stay out of the EMTs way and let them help her" another cop said placing a hand on his shoulder. Ray couldn't bring himself to say anything.

There was a huge lump lodged in his throat making it hard to swallow, let alone talk. How long had she been bleeding out on the ground, all by herself? He'd given her simple instructions. To stay safe until he got there. Why is it that she never listened to him? Look at her now. The sight of her covered in blood made him want to break down and cry. He couldn't stand seeing her like that knowing it was his fault. He should have insisted on going with her yesterday. Fuck! He shouldn't have let her leave the apartment in the first place. If he'd told her to go another day or shop online, this wouldn't have happened.

As the paramedics lifted her to a stretcher, all he could think about was how still she was. Still and pale and bloody. She didn't even move a muscle or groan in pain to indicate that she was conscious. He moved with them mechanically, following the guys carrying her to the back of an ambulance. When they got in, he did too. They must have seen how distraught he was because they didn't try to stop him. They closed the door and sped off to the hospital. Halfway there her heart stopped beating and Ray felt his heart stop beating along with hers.

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She was going under. Something or someone was pulling her. She could hear people shouting frantically, their voices scared but she couldn't make out what they were saying. Whatever it was that was pulling her yanked her back when she tried to go closer to the voices. Dammit she was dizzy. If they didn't stop throwing her around she was going to.... Whoa! All of a sudden she was in a brightly lit room. No it wasn't a room because she could feel the wind on her face. But it wasn't really outside since all she could see was the color white. Where was.....

"Alexis" she spun around and came face to face with...

"Jim? You're here" she yelled running towards his outstretched arms. Launching herself into him she felt at peace just hearing him laugh. Oh how she'd missed that laugh "Are you really here?"

"Yes darling. And you're early"

"Early?"

"Tell me something" he ignored her question "What do you see?"

She looked around wondering how she could describe what she was seeing. "Uh... Nothing. I don't see anything"

"Come on my dear, don't tell me you've gone blind."

"I haven't. I can see you clearly"

"Then tell me what you see around you. Any flowers? Colors? Trees?"

"White." she said and he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief "Where are we Jim?"

"It doesn't matter. All that matters now is that you have to go back."

"Go where? I can barely see anything. I don't even know where we are. How do you want me to go back?"

He took her hands in his "Listen my Princess, I'm happy to see you and if I could, I would keep you here with me. I miss you so much my beautiful girl but I need you to go back. Right now"

"Go where pops? You're starting to scare me. What is going on?"

"Leave Alexis" Jim pushed her and she stumbled back.

"Jim...."

"I SAID LEAVE!" he must have used some supernatural power because suddenly she was being sucked back. That was the only way she could have described what was happening to her. She heard Jim's voice echoing through the darkness, saying he loved her. At some point the voice wasn't Jim's anymore. It was her mother's. No. Ray. Yes. No. Her father. No. All three combined?

What was wrong with her. First she was blind and now deaf? Jeez, what was next. Crippled? Oh God. Her legs. Where were her legs? And hands? She watched in horror as every part of her disintegrated into tiny little pieces that were falling down on the floor where they melted into thin air. What the fuck? She asked herself then let out a piercing scream. The next thing she knew she was blinking her eyes open. She groaned. The light was too bright. Dammit she was back to that white place with Jim again. She was really happy to see him but if he yelled at her again she was going to be pissed. "Jim?" she called out. Alexis listened as a chair was pushed back roughly and in the next second her father was looming over her.

"You're awake" he whispered his voice tight with emotion. Why did he sound like he was about to cry?

"Dad?"

"I'm right here honey. How are you feeling?" the question made her aware of her surroundings. Her brain caught up with her body and for the first time she realized she had the mother of all headaches. Closing her eyes, she groaned in pain "No, no, no. Don't go back to sleep sweetie, stay with me. Don't close your eyes... Doctor!" he said frantically.

"Jesus dad will you shut up. I'm not going back to sleep. I don't think I can even if I wanted to"

"Then open you.... Your eyes. Please Alexis" his voice wavered and even though she knew it was a bad idea, she opened her eyes. Her head throbbed harder but she focused on his face. He had bugs under his eyes and she could have sworn he had aged a bit.

"What's wrong? Why do you look so tired? When was the last time you slept?"

He smiled then lifted his hand to wipe a tear that had escaped from his eye. "I'm fine sweetheart. Just promise me that you won't go back to sleep again"

"I.... " the door opened cutting her short. A man in a white lab coat walked in smiling.

"I'm glad you're awake Miss Rutherford. I'm Doctor Cabrera. How are you feeling?"

"My head hurts"

"Just your head?" he asked taking a something out of his pocket.

"My whole body actually. What is that?"

"Oh this? It's just a small flashlight. Nothing to worry about"

"I'm not worried. Just don't get it anywhere near my eyes. The light in here is blinding enough"

"Sorry. But this won't take long. I'm just going to make sure that your pupils are equal."

"Meaning?"

"Alexis stop troubling the good doctor and let him do his job" her father said squeezing her hand.

She narrowed her eyes at him but shut up. As Dr. Cabrera shone the flashlight from one eye to the other he asked "Do you remember what happened? Why you're here in the hospital?"

"Yeah. That idiot Connor...." she started but then stopped. That moron had shot at her while she was talking to Ray. Speaking of Ray, she turned to face her father "Dad where's Ray?" he raised his eyebrow at the doctor, who nodded. Alexis eyed them both. "Dad?"

"First of all I want you to know it wasn't your fault"

"What wasn't my fault? Stop scaring me and tell me what happened?"

"You died" he blurted out. Without meaning to, a laugh bubbled up in her throat.

"Very funny dad"

"I'm not joking Alexis. You stopped breathing for three minutes and the doctors had to revive you."

Stay cool Alexis. Stay cool. "Okaay." she drawled out.

"Raymond was so mad and he couldn't stop blaming himself"

"Why? Nothing was his fault"

"I know that. But he wouldn't listen to anyone so charged out of here and came back the next morning"

"Next morning?"

"Yes. You've been out for three days"

"Three days?"

"We have been so worried about you. In fact let me call your mother and tell her you're awake."

"Dad! Where is Ray?" judging from the way he tried to avoid telling her where Ray was, she knew something was wrong. Very very wrong.

"Connor was found dead in a hotel room and Ray was arrested for his murder" He said everything in one breath. It took her a second to process everything he'd said then she was throwing the covers away and jumping out of bed. The moment her feet touched the floor, a wave of dizziness hit her and she collapsed.

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Talk about twists. Right?