The Chase, Amber Riel [best english books to read txt] 📗

one crepe and a fork.  I placed the napkins in between us as we eat in peace, watching people walk by and listening to the singing voices of the birds harmonizing somewhere in the trees.

 

        The afternoon sun started beating down on Lainie and I as we walked along the path of brick down the park trail.  I sighed as I looked up at the blue sky filled with a couple of white clouds.  “Are you about ready to head home?” I asked.

          Lainie looked up at me with tired eyes and nodded.  We both had a long day and it had to end but I figured that we would do it again sometime before I left to go home.

          I sighed.  “Okay.”  We walked down to toward the road when I spotted a statue of a young boy.  The statue was made of gold and I smiled as it made me think about a fantasy story which everyone knew about the young child.  “Have you heard the story of Peter Pan?” I asked.

          “No.”  Lainie shook her head as she looked up at me.  “Can you tell me?”

          “Well, he was a child who wound up in Neverland….”

          “Neverland?”

          “Yes, a place where children never grow up.  He was the only child who till this very day has never grew up.”  I sighed as I tried to think of the story but only bits and pieces of the movies popped into my head.  “Maybe when we get back to your house we could ask your parents if they’ll let us get one of the movies…. Would you prefer the live action or the cartoon?”

          “The cartoon.”

          I smiled at her answer.  “Okay then we’ll ask to get the cartoon.”  We stopped at the beginning of the road as I looked for any taxis driving past.  I stopped a small blue punch buggy I think it was which had a triangular sign on the top which I assumed was a taxi.  I held up my right arm.  “TAXI!  TAXI!” I called as I motioned for the vehicle.

          The car stopped and I read the sign and likely I was right that it was a taxicab.  The man in the car was skinny and had dark color skin almost making him seem like an Indian.  His face looked like it was sucked in.  His dark brown eyes locked with mine, giving me a creepy stare.  His lips curled into a creepy grin.  For a moment I was reconsidering my reaction but I was hoping that he could prove me wrong although my heart and mind were warning me to be careful and watch this guy.  “How may I help you?” the man asked with an eerie tone in his voice.

          I was rethinking my decision but didn’t let my fear show.  “We’re going to the Williams’ residence…. You know where that is?”

          The man’s spooky grin grew.  “Yes I do.”

          At that moment I was wishing for anyone who I knew show up, preferably a man, even if Louis had been the man to show up.  I needed to fill safe which wasn’t happening for me.  I needed to know that Lainie was safe.  I wouldn’t have even cared if I was in danger as long as Lainie was safe was all that really had mattered.  Lord, I don’t know what this man’s intentions are, but please keep us safe, especially Lainie, I prayed.  “Okay.”  I had Lainie climb into the back and I sat next to her.  We buckled up and I hugged onto her, worried about what the man might have had in mind.  I kept praying that God wouldn’t let the man harm us or kill us.

 

          The man pulled up to the gate of the mansion and I sighed in relief.  “Okay, Lainie, we’re home.”  We unbuckled and climbed out of the car.  I paid the man and his left boney hand grabbed my right hand.

          “I’ll be seeing you again, baby,” he spoke, eerily and his creepy grin appeared on his face.

          I left my heart beat race as he let of my hand and I felt that I had made the worst mistake in my life.

          The car drove away leaving Lainie and me alone.

          “Are you okay, Auntie Samantha?” Lainie asked.

          I took a deep breath.  I knew that I couldn’t let her know that I had fear for our lives.  “I’m fine, Lainie.  Let’s go inside.”  When I turned toward the gate, I noticed that something was wrong but I couldn’t figure out what.  I walked over to it, lightly place a hand on the gold slim bar of it, kind of pushing the gate open.  That’s not right, I thought.  I’m pretty sure that gate shouldn’t have opened that easily.  “Come on, Lainie,” I told her as I grabbed her hand and we walked toward the mansion as I looked around wearily.

 

          As we walked into the mansion I noticed that there was something wrong in the entrance but I couldn’t figure out what.  For some reason I had Lainie follow me into the living room and the room was a complete mess which wasn’t the way it had looked the day before.  The throw pillows and the cushions to the couches were torn to shreds and on the ground with cotton covering the carpet.  Pictures were broken and in odd places.  “What happened?” Lainie’s little voice asked, terrified.

          “I don’t know, Lainie.”

          Thump-thump-thump.  It sounded like footsteps from the upstairs.  I was hoping that it was Ron but with the way things looked I had a bad feeling that someone else was in the house.  Someone who didn’t belong was in the house.

          “Come on, Lainie.  Keep quiet though,” I whispered.

 

          We quietly hurried upstairs.  Thump-thump-thump.  The sounded had sounded like it came from one of the rooms on the left so I had Lainie sneak into the office on the right and she showed me a hidden room behind a bookshelf.  We sneak behind it and it closed, concealing us from danger.  It was dark and no light could be seen.  We kept quiet as we heard the thump-thump-thump again this time whoever it was had walked right into the same room.  Fear crept inside.  Lord, please keep us safe.

 

          We heard the clattering and clambering of things being throw around and tossed to the floor.  A few moments flew by when we heard the thump-thump-thump of the footsteps leave the room and close the door.  I waited for the right moment to walk out from behind the bookshelf.  I took a deep breath, giving myself a good second.  “I’m going to be right back,” I whispered to Lainie.  “Stay in here and be quiet just in case.”

          “Okay,” Lainie whispered a reply.

          I slowly slid the bookshelf open, quietly.  I worked my way from behind the bookshelf and looked around.  Whatever that person was looking for wasn’t here.  Books, papers, the drawers from the desk were on the ground, leaving a big mess.  I heard the sound of cars.  I looked out of the window, keeping a good distance so that I wouldn’t be seen easily just in case and watched as Ron’s car drove away being chased by a small black car.  I think it was a mustang but I wasn’t sure exactly.  Somehow I felt that I and Lainie were the only two in the house both reassuring and worrisome.  I hope Ron and Annie are alright.  “Come out, Lainie.  I think we’re safe now.”

          Lainie wearily walked out from behind the bookshelf and looked around.  Tears began to fall from her hazel eyes.  “Where’s my mummy and daddy?”

          My heart dropped knowing that I couldn’t answer her question.  “I don’t know,” I replied, wanting to cry.  I walked over to Lainie and hugged her.  “I’m sure wherever they are that they’re fine.  Okay?” I reassured her, the best that I could.

 

          About three or four hours had pass by when the phone rang.  I answered it afraid of who might have been calling.  “Hello?” I asked, wearily.

          “Samantha?” Ron’s voice spoke with reassurance as he heard my voice.

          “Ron, what’s going?” I asked.

          “I don’t know,” he replied.  “These masked men broke into the house earlier and began going through our stuff while me and Annie were at the house…. I had Annie rush into the car…. I had no idea where you and Lainie…. Annie had tried to call you several time to tell you not to go back to the mansion but you had left your mobile phone on your bed….”

          As soon as he had said something I had begun digging through my pockets with the realization that my phone was missing.

          “We’re at the police station and they’re going to place us in witness protection until they can solve this case…. For right now you and Lainie need to leave as soon as possible…. Louis is on his way to pick the both of you up…. Please for Elaina don’t fight with him…. At least not while she’s around….”

          “ELAINA?!” I heard Annie’s worried voice in the background cry.

          “I won’t….” I told Ron.  “And tell Annie that Elaina’s fine.”

          “I will…. One more thing,” Ron sounded as if he wanted to cry as well, “please let Elaina know that we love her and we want to see her but right now we’re going to be gone for a little while…. The police won’t let us go back to get her…. Please take care of her?”

          “I will.”

          “Okay.  Bye.”

          “Bye.”  I placed the phone on the hook and looked at Lainie.  “Your parents are fine but they’re going to be gone for a little while…. They love you, Lainie, and I’m going to take care of you for them and so is your Uncle Louis….”  Louis, great I really have to deal with him?  Why not anyone else?  Why does it have to be him?

          Lainie nodded.

          “SAMANTHA!  LAINIE!” Louis’s voice called through the house.

          Why?  “Come on.”

 

          I walked with Lainie into the area of the entrance were Louis stood next to the door.  He crossed his arms and stared at us.  “Lainie, go and get your things we have to hurry…. Okay?”

          “Okay.”  Lainie ran  toward her room.

          I walked down and over to Louis.  We had a stare down as I moved closer toward the man.  “Look, I told Ron that I was going to be nice to you around Lainie so you better be nice too.”

          “Around Lainie…. It’s different now that we’re alone…. Now go and get your damn stuff…. We don’t have all day.”

          I puffed as I listened to his words.  “I was just---”

          “Go…. You’re in danger, got it?  I don’t have time to play the knight in shining armor…. Believe me I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t promised my best friend that I’d come to get you…. The only reason I even agreed to come is for Lainie…. Now hurry up we don’t have much time.”

          “You’re a jerk.”  I started to head up the stairs toward my room.

          “By the way, don’t grab everything you have…. You only need a few things…. You can always get new clothes and stuff later.”

          I balled up my fist as I filled up with anger.  “Fine,” I puffed out of frustration.

 

          I grabbed my small black duffle bag and began throwing clothes into it as my thoughts jumped around to the events of the horrible day.  And I still have to deal with Louis….  Great…. Just great.  I was about the zip up my bag as a man’s hand gripped mine I opened my mouth to scream as fear began to grow over the anger.

          “It’s just me,” Louis reassured me, “Lainie’s already in the car.