Battle the Dark: Chapter 17

Instinctively, she put the baby down on the changing table, and put herself between him and the knife.  She recognized it; it was the same one she had watched him cut into Todd with while they were being held hostage.  She felt bile rising in her throat, and swallowed it down.  "You will have to kill me to get to this baby."  She heard her voice, and instead of powerful, it sounded weak and whimpering.  

He said nothing, he just tapped the blade against his other hand.  

She was breathing too rapidly to seem calm.  Unable to hide her fear, she perched herself to fight to the death if she had to.  Instead, she was surprised when he just stood, watching her.  He seemed to be enjoying her nearing hyperventilation and the way she shook.  

He straightened up, no longer leaning on the door frame.  "What do you want?  Todd's on his way.  He won't let you hurt us,"  she said.

He still did not speak.   He just smiled, and the bigger his smile got, the more sick she felt.

The baby started to cry, clearly upset by his mother's reactions and her back to him.  She ignored it, intent on protecting him at any cost.  She fixed her eyes on the knife, and he fixed his on her exquisite form.  "What do you want?"  she repeated. 

Still not having said a word, he looked at her, tapping his blade.  "Simple.  You."

She heaved and leaned over, losing the contents of her stomach.  If he had not found it so exciting and humorous at the same time, it would have been the perfect opportunity to get the baby from her.  But he had time, and he was having too much fun.  She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and said, "Whatever.  Just make sure it doesn't involve my son."

"No promises," he said, beginning to walk toward her.  

Don't panic.  Stay calm.  Todd will be here.  Todd will be here.

When he stood directly in front of her, she knew it was then or never.  He was not a large man, in fact, she passed him in height by a half inch or so.  "Let me put the baby somewhere safe, then you can do what you want to me."

He ignored her.  Tap.  Tap.  Tap.

She could not control her breathing, and could hear it, an almost pant.  He reached toward her and in one swipe, he cut her nightie strap on one side completely through, only barely grazing her skin.  A clean slice appeared, and it reddened quickly.  She attempted to cover herself back up by lifting the dress over her, but he pulled her hand away and it fell, revealing her.  Without notice, he was on her, using the knife to cut away the rest of her clothing which she continued to grab at and attempt to pull back over herself.  She fought, pushing him away as hard as she could, and being met with his force.  Suddenly against the wall, she scratched at his face and eyes, which made him laugh more and he put his mouth against her neck.  She gagged and hawked back, and went he went to her mouth, she spit in his face.  He wiped her saliva away from his eyes, and she was able to break loose for a moment.  Grabbing Ray in her arms, she turned to run, only strands of her nighty left hanging on her, but she didn't care.  Just get away.

***

Todd parked the SUV in the parking garage and he and the boys carried all of their belongings into the lobby.  "Evening, Mr. Manning," said the night doorman.

"Evening."

"Hi, Mister!"  Sam said.

The three of them boarded the elevator.  Sam, in a playful mood, pushed every other floor button.

Jack got quite upset.  "Sam, geesh, now we have to stop at every one!"

Todd said, "Nah, I have a trick for this," and after years of having lived there, he knew how to make the elevator override all the floors but the top.  He did it, and they were whisked away to the top floor.

Stepping out, Todd immediately saw, as did Jack and Sam, Devon, lying with blood all around him on both sides, outside the penthouse door.  "Oh God," he said, and he started to him.  Sam's eyes widened.

Todd yelled, "Jack, keep Sam back."  Jack covered Sam's eyes.  "Get down to the lobby Jack, fast, and call John McBain.  Hurry, Jack."  He wanted them safe and away from whatever he was going to find inside. 

***

All at once, she felt his hand in her hair, and he dragged her back.  She clutched the baby desperately, and he turned her to him, still holding her by the hair.  He raised his knife and pointed it toward Little Ray.  She immediately cried, "No, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'll do whatever you want.  Please?"

"Oh, I like that.  I like that a lot.  Give me the baby."

"No."

"You know me, Mrs. Manning.  You know what I am capable of."

She took a risk, "Show me."  She leaned against him, feeling his excitement.  It made her skin crawl, but she thought it was what he wanted, and was willing, no matter what, to give him what he wanted to save the baby.  Don't touch him, I'll claw out your eyes.

Torn between which pleasure to take next, he stopped and thought.  Still holding her by her hair, he played with her by moving his eyes from her to the baby and back.  She tried to muster the courage to put her hands on him, and couldn't bear it.  He said, "I decided.  The baby.  Give him to me, now.  Time's running short, I'll have to be going."


"No, not yet" she said, and she brought her quivering hand to the side of his face to caress it.  He grotesquely licked it, sending her reeling toward blackness.

Just then, a noise behind them brought her back from the abyss.  "You get your hands off her, motherf#cker," Todd said, with his .38 special pointed directly at the back of The Slice and Dice's head.

*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

Your comments are 'payment' for the work of the authors. Our writers like to hear your feedback. Please leave a comment when you read.