Dakota's pov

"Mom?"  I crouched down and shook her shoulders,   "Mom what happened? Who's kidnapped?"

She sat there with horror stricken eyes and with shaking hands.

"Mom!!! Who's it! Please—"

"Damien.."  she whispered hoarsely.

I paused.  It was like someone knocked me out, and I was unable to breathe.

"Dad?"  I said in disbelief.

I hurriedly grabbed the phone and saw the text message.  It made my blood boil and fear and anger started engulfing me

Oh Amanda, I thought I warned you about the consequences of ignoring me. You're gonna pay for it.
Damien is in my captivity. You wanna see him alive?
You know what to do.. And probably, your pathetic brother and your friend Blake, are going to join my little prison soon..

No way.

"Mom we've to warn uncle Andy and Blake!!"  I shouted.

I didn't realise mom was crying, until I heard a heartbreaking sob escape through her lips.

"It's all my fault! Because of my past, everyone is getting hurt,  it's all because—"

I hugged her and said in a bold voice.  "Mom it's not the time for you to act all weak and vulnerable! You've done nothing! No one blames you! But maybe they will, if you don't stand up and fight for your loved ones! They will blame you, if you don't go and help them!"

My mom looked at me with teary eyes.

"I'm there.  I'm still alive.  And I promise you, I'll never let anyone ever harm our family! For goodness sake, you're THE Reckless girl! You're the woman, who's taught me to fight and never back down! And I need that woman back, to help escape my family from that fucker's little prison!"  I shouted desperately.

Mom was silent and just stared at me.  Something flickered in her eyes before she got up and brushed away the dirt from her pants.

My face broke into a wide grin when I heard the following words.

"He has got hell to pay."

She smirked and held out her hand for me.  I got up and she led me inside. I was confused to where we were going before she entered the storage room. 

The storage room mainly consisted of excess junk and unused products.  What could she possibly need from here?

I frowned when she went to a dust filled cupboard and bent down to the lowest drawer.  She opened the drawer and I gasped.

It was a high tech security case, with guns off all kinds in it. There was a touch screen panel for password.  She entered the required numbers and the case opened.

I couldn't believe it!

All these years, I was totally oblivious to the fact that my ex-ganster mother, hid all kinds of high tech machinery and guns here in the storage room. 

"I kept these for emergencies.  I guess the time has come to use them.."  she said with a voice,  devoid of emotions.

She started loading ammos into the guns one by one and I was too shocked to do or say anything.

"What the hell is going on?! I got a message that you opened the freaking case! What can you possibly want with those?!" 

I turned around to see principal Doris barging into the room with a fuming face and holding the mobile in a tight grip.

"Damien is kidnapped.  Andy and Blake are in danger.  Doris it's time for us to destroy that prick, once and for all!"  my mother said monotonously.

She must've sensed my confusion, as she spoke,  "This case was made by her.  And she made it sure, that even if it got into the wrong hands, when a person will open the case, she'll receive the text about it."

I nodded and gasped in surprise,
when I felt something cold being pushed into my hands.

The shiny surface of the gun touched my palms and a new sense of adrenaline rushed through my veins. 

She thew Doris a pair of the same gun which she securely fastened between the belts of her jeans.

Mom touched my shoulder and gave me a serious look. 
"You're not authorised to use a gun, but I'm giving it to you for self defense.  Use it carefully.  And I trust you because my blood runs through your veins.  Go to uncle Blake's house and warn them.  I and Doris will find Andy and Nate respectively. "

I nodded and they went out of the house.

But before I went out of the house, my phone rang signalling a new text message.  I took it out and just stared at the screen. 

What did he want?

. . . . . .

I was waiting for him.

I did call uncle Blake and explained everything to him, to which he said he'll take care of himself and the family. 

I sighed and leaned myself against a tree for support. My dad was in danger.  I don't know what will I do if anything happened to him. I looked up, towards the star lit sky.  The stars blinked at me, as if they said that 'everything will be all right.'

I dialled Ru's number and waited for her to pick it up.

"Hey, Mimi."

Her voice seemed tired and worried.  What was going on at the hospital?

"How are things? Is Alice okay?"

"Mimi, Alice is having coronary heart disease. "

I gasped.

That explains the bluish skin of hers and the sudden tiredness that surrounded her. 

"The doctors said that due to the shock of the incident, her heart rate failed and she needs to do the surgery right about now otherwise there won't be any chances of survival.  And magically enough Chris was here.. He left a bag filled with money, with Adrian and left.. I didn't understand his behavior, even if I'm an expert in understanding weirdos..."  she said.

I rolled my eyes at her for her lame try to make me smile.

"Don't you dare roll your eyes at me you potato!"  she snapped.

My eyes widened yet again. 

"Um.. Okay.  Stay there with Adrian. And don't leave the hospital Ru.  There is danger lurking around every corner.  And if something happens, come to my house and check the storage room.  You'll find back up."  saying this I hung up.

"You came.."

I looked up to see Chris standing there with a solemn expression on his face.

I gave him a 'hurry-up-i-don't-have-time-for-bullshit' look and stood my ground.

But my heart betrayed my mind as it started beating at a faster rate.  I know he is my killer. I know he loves me.  But the thing I don't know is, why was he doing it?

"Dakota I—"

"Save it.  I know.  You want to kill me right?"  I asked him softly.

He snapped his head towards my face and his eyes widened like they've just seen a ghost. 

"What? How?"

"I just want to know why... Why did you hurt me so much?"  I asked, my voice broken and full of emotions.

"To save my sister."  he said.  "Alice has CHD, and as our parents left us when Alice was ten, it got hard to manage everything. I had to take care of her being the older one and I didn't know what to do.  I started getting into fights and knocking people out for money. But recently, she was suffering too much and I knew if she didn't have the surgery I'll lose her. So, one day, I just randomly took the job offered by a man who was offering me a huge sum, and wanted me  to kill you. I agreed as I was desperate to save my sister. I've beaten people to pulp, but I'd never killed.  As soon as I saw your photo there was something which held me back from being a cold blooded murderer. I just couldn't kill you.."

Tears blurred my vision as I heard him.  My heart held sympathy for him as he was only trying to save his sister.  It was just that the fate played a dirty game with us.  Now it had to be either her, or me.  But for a fact, I already knew the answer.

I held his hand.

"Chris?"

He looked up, his eyes meeting mine, which were full of unexplained and raw emotions.  It broke my heart as our story had to end like this.

"So Alice is threatened if I'm not dead?"  I asked sighing.

He nodded reluctantly.  "There's a man already at the hospital keeping an eye on her, if.. If I don't.. I.. —"

"I love you. "  I said smiling through my tears. 

He looked shocked to say the least.

"If this is the only way to save your sister, then let it be. I'm not afraid to die. Yeah, I'll sure miss everyone but it's worth it.  So Chris, do your job and protect your sister." 

My heart was racing and I just couldn't think properly. God I just agreed to die for my friend.  But I knew deep down, Chris would never hurt me.  He loved me too much to do that.

He took a sharp intake of breath as he pulled me towards him, making out bodies collide against each other. 

A delicious shiver ran across my body and it hummed with satisfaction. 

"I just want you to trust me."

I smiled and leaned in to kiss his forehead. 

"I do. "

Tears flowed down his cheeks making my heart shrink with pain.  It was unbearable.

He hugged me.

"Love, I owe you a kiss."

And then suddenly a sharp pain ran through my neck to my whole body.  I clutched his shirt with all my might as I felt myself getting pulled by darkness.

"I love you too.."  were the last words I heard before everything turned black.

. . . . . .

Adrian's pov

It was turning into a horrible set of events. Alice was inside the intensive care room and the doctors said, that the surgery would be done tomorrow, coz for now she's very weak.

I just sat there, with my face in between my hands and trying hard not to cry. My world was turned upside down.  I don't know where my family is, Alice is dying and everything is just a mess.

I didn't realise I was crying until I felt a hand on my shoulder.

I looked up to see Ru looking at me with a concerned look on her face.

"Hey.. Don't worry. She'll be fine."  she assured me.

"I'll lose everyone.. This is.. This is too much.. I can't see Alice like this.. "

"Listen you potato!"  she said with a stern yet a soft look  "Life will knock us down.  It will try anything and everything to make you back away and feel weak. But it's up to us whether we want to stand up and be brave or just back down.  Alice needs you. She needs you to be strong for her.  Your family needs you.  Your sister and mother are fighting for their loved ones.  You've to become their strength. So stop being sad and weak. Be an awesome and brave potato!"

I sighed and nodded. 

"Here."

I looked to see Ru offering me a lollipop.

I gave her an amused look.

"What? It helps! It really does. A lollipop is all you need to make you feel better."

I took it and pulled her in for a hug. 
"Thank you. "

She pulled away and gave me a cute smile.  "Psh! It's my work dudette."

My phone rang and I saw mom calling me.

"Adrian! Where are you?!"  were the words I heard when I picked up.

"At the hospital. Why?"

"Is Ru with you?! "

"Yeah she is. Mom what's the ma—"

"I want you to stay at the hospital and don't leave Alice.  Honey there's a man appointed to kill her and I want you to protect her.  Your dad,  Andy and uncle  Blake are kidnapped. I'm on my way to gather men.  And I can't get in touch with Dakota.  Just promise me don't go anywhere and stay there to protect Alice. Please! "

Words dried up in my mouth. So much has happened?

I looked around frantically to see whether anyone was there near Alice. 

"I promise." I answered.

Where was Dakota? Where was Dad and the others?

I punched the wall with all I had.

I'm unable to do anything!

Ru looked conflicted about something.. She just sat there and kept on thinking while I was running out of my mind.

My family is in a grave danger.

Rush's pov

I pulled into the driveway of my friend's house. 

It was midnight. Adrian felt asleep beside Alice.  I knew he could take care of her but I wanted to see what happened here.  Where was Dakota?

I entered the house and went inside the storage room that she was talking about.

I gasped.

Inside there were guns and weapons scattered around a case. 

So this was the backup she was talking about..

I kneeled down and fumbled through the drawers.  Suddenly I found something a bit heavy.

I pulled out the thing to see a laptop.

Hmph.

Opening the laptop, I was met with a satellite like projection.

Woah.

I could see three red dots. The map was of this city I was sure about that.  I could see two dots near an area called downtown and another dot which was far away from it.  It was outside the main city.

And then I realised. 

I took one gun in my hands and another red dot appeared on the screen which showed my location.

So these guns work like trackers too.

A new sense of hope hit me.  Maybe I was the only one who could help the Charles family now. And I knew where to find Dakota now.

I was feeling scared but also a boost of adrenaline too.  This was crazy.  This whole thing was crazy and I knew if my mom hears about this she'll ground me like for ever.  Worse can happen if she cuts my supply of lollipops. And I know Lucien would go crazy if something happened to me.

But I have to help them.

Heck I don't even know how to use a frickkin gun!

I huffed and put a lollipop in my mouth.

And dudette you really don't wanna know where I kept it.

I took two small looking guns and fastened them within the loops of my jeans. Taking a big rifle thingy and a knife I was ready to become kung-fu panda!

I took the laptop and hurried towards the car. 

Let the good times roll!

A/n:  so here! The new chapter.

The story is gonna end soon as only two to three chapters are left.

And two updates back to back.. Who's the best??

I am!

*grins widely*
But till then..

Have fun.

Amy.