74
** On the road***
" Vrrooom!", my engine roared as I sped along the highway.
" Dring! dring!!", my phone rattled the air with it's ringing. " Stop calling dammit!", I yelled in frustration as I drove as fast as I could. I tapped on my wireless earbud and picked the call.
" Calm down Maddie, you can't go alone", Justin said on the phone.
" Well we don't have time to wait for the cops. She won't be there by the time they get here", I said to him, " and I simply can't take that chance", I added.
" But it'll be better if..... beep!... beep!... beep!", he was saying before the call got cut off.
" As if I'm gonna let this chance slip by", I muttered as I stepped on the gas.
______________________________________________
*** At the Police Station***
" Dammit! The signal's jammed", I said.
" We ready sir", the Chief of Police said.
" Alright let's move out now, we've gotta catch up", I said.
" Alright men, let's move out", the Chief ordered. I got into my car and drove out while the rest of the police patrol cars followed behind, with their sirens blaring.
" Hang in there", I muttered as I drove as fast as I could.
______________________________________________
" Why would I ever not want to see you son?", my dad said as he hugged me. Tears flowed down my cheeks.
" I love you so much Jerry", he said as the hug continued.
" I love you too Dad", I said with a smile. Then he broke off the hug and looked at Janet.
" And you must be Janet", he said to her.
" Yes sir. It's so nice to finally get to meet you", she said.
" I've heard a lot about you from Isabelle and Chanel", he said, " and you truly are as pretty as they said you are", he quipped.
" Thanks", she said with an adorable smile.
Dad had just come back home. He had heard that I was home and decided to close the bar really early today so he could rush back home. It was still early afternoon, sometime around 3:00 pm. He wanted us to have a feast right here at home.
" It's not necessary dad", I tried to object.
" Nonsense!", he retorted, " I thought I had lost you for so long. There's no way I'm not celebrating your return", he said.
______________________________________________
* An hour later***
Jeremy's Mom was in the kitchen cooking, along with Chanel and Isabelle. I stayed around to help out when necessary but I wasn't sure what to do, epecially since I've never really cooked anything before.
" Can I help out?", I asked.
" It's okay dear, we'll handle it ", his Mom said as she continued cutting some vegetables. " Chanel! Pass me some carrots", she called out to her daughter.
" I think we've run out ", she replied.
" We're gonna need some carrots", she said in a worried tone.
" Let me go and get some", Isabelle said as she wiped her wet hands with a towel.
" Uuu uuu, can I tag along?", I asked.
" Yeah sure, why not? I could use some company anyway", she said with a smile.
" Yay!", I said excitedly.
______________________________________________
*** About an hour later***
" Alright, let's walk quickly", Isabelle said as we walked to the grocery store.
" Sure. We wouldn't want to keep them waiting", I replied.
" Yeah, I know right?", she replied with a chuckle. " I also noticed that you seemed a bit down in the kitchen", she said to me, " was there anything bothering you?", she asked.
" Not really. It's just that as I watched you guys cook and do stuff in the kitchen, I realized that I didn't know anything about cooking. I've never even watched anyone cook", I said.
" Perks of being rich, huh?", she asked with a smirk.
" How do you know?", I asked.
" Well, I kinda have an eye for these things", she said, " plus my husband's rich too", she added.
" Oh really? Where's your husband though?", I asked.
" It's a long story", she said, " though you do kinda look like him", she quipped.
" I do? I'd love to see him", I said.
" Yeah me too. I'm sure he's worried sick, looking for me", she said.
" Why? did you guys have a fight?", I asked feeling a little confused.
" Nah, I ran away ", she said, with her expression now looking a bit gloomy.
" Really? But why?", I asked.
" Humph", she sighed, " it's a bit complicated", she said.
All of a sudden, we heard a piercing screech as a black van pulled over right beside us.
" What the...", I reacted before a couple of armed masked men emerged from the van, putting a bag over my head.
" Let me go!", I yelled in a muffled voice, kicking and screaming, as they hurled me into the van. I heard Isabelle yelling, " Let go off me", as they tried to get her into the van.
Then I heard yet another screech, sounding as though a drifting car had stopped right behind the van. I heard guns crackling and in no time, gunshots pervaded the air. I was scared stiff, afraid to even so much as make a sound. Then suddenly, the sliding of the van door as they closed it shut. " Let's get outta here", I heard deep male voice say as the van sped off. The gunshots coming from behind became quieter and quieter until the rumbling of the van's engine was all I could hear.
______________________________________________
" Urrghh Dammit!", I cussed in pain as I lay on the road with my arm wrapped around my belly. I had been shot. I turned my head to the side and saw someone laying on the sidewalk. " Urrghh!", I groaned as I struggled to get on my feet. I limped my way across to the sidewalk. As I drew closer, I recognized the person.
" Isabelle!", I called out to her in excitement as I limped faster towards her. I sat myself down on the sidewalk right beside her. " Isabelle", I called as I tapped on her shoulder," Come on, wake up", I persisted. It seemed like she had passed out.
" You're so weak", I said to her with a smirk as I groaned. " Damn. That's a lot", I said as I stared at the trail of blood I had left behind on the road. " I'm so gonna pass out at this rate", I muttered as my consciousness began to fade.
" Wiiiiioooooouu!", I heard sirens blaring from a distance, becoming louder and louder as they approached. " About time", I thought as my vision became blurry. " Maddie! Maddie!", I heard muffled voices yelling before I blacked out.