Better Now (Spencer Reid)

Gift of Life

5 hours earlier
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Marcus POV

I scrambled to my feet and looked down at the murderer that lay infront of me. He tried to get to his feet but I kicked him again this time a well aimed one to his ribs where I felt a satisfying crack. He gave a shout of pain and I grinned because I knew no one would hear.

"Not such a big man now are you? Although you never were your a worthless COWARD who RAPES children. Who MURDERED a little boy. MY LITTLE BOY!" I continued to kick him even after I knew he was unconscious. Then I reached into his pocket to find something anything to finish the job. I found a pocket knife and then I cut open his neck.

I left the room in a dazed state. I walked to the bathroom next door and took off my bloody shirt and cleaned my face. I look at myself and started laughing and laughing until I realized I was crying.

I straightened up and left the bathroom the customers pay up front and then let themselves out when they're done. I knew Clyde always only paid for 30 minutes. I knew that so why didn't I go find Evan after I knew his time was up. Why did I wait so long have I gotten that used to this that comfortable that I got lazy. I got careless and I let my guard down I thought it was just gonna be another day but I lost one of my babies.

Knock Knock Knock

"Hey times way up... Evan you in there bub...creak...Evan? EVAN!??!  Evan oh no. No baby no please wake up. Evan please. EVAN."

It'll never happen again though I promise you Evan.

I'm gonna get us out bub. I should have done it sooner though.

I regained control of myself and began to make my way to the front room where I could then get to the basement to gather the kids. But on the way there I heard screams.

No not again please. I can't handle another. Not so soon not ever. I thought as I ran down the hall.

I burst through the door that I heard the screams coming from to see Cindy laying on the bed with Ann kneeling on the floor between her legs. Joe was standing in the corner watch like the creeping coward he is.

Ann turned to see who entered and then, "Ugh thank God you're done. Here you take care of this bitch." And threw a bloodied towel at me. "C'mon Joe we need to go take care of someones big mouth"

Cindy continued to scream and that's when I realized she was in labor. Oh fuck.

Ok ok calm down I tell myself this is why you got Jane to get you those medical college books. You know what to do just do it and then we're leaving all of us because there's no way I'm letting a baby grow up here thinking this is what's normal this is the furthest fucking thing from normal. I just killed a guy. Oh god I just killed a guy. Focus Marcus. Focus on Cindy Make sure she's doing ok. Alright now focus on delivering this baby safely for both of them.

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1 and a Half Hours Later

At some point Ann and Joe left.

"She's here. Cindy she's here. Hey you did good sis. You did amazing."

"Thank you. Pant. Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet. How are you feeling? On a scale from 1 to 10. 1 being I can't move and 10 being I'm ready and able to run and leave this place behind for good."

"Are you serious"
"Deathly"
"I can do it. I can run."
"Are you sure?"
" Yes. Yes. I'm positive"
" Ok then it's time to get the others"

She slowly stood as I grabbed the sheet off the bed and secured the baby to myself with it after wrapping her in one of the soft towels Ann left.

Cindy walked up to me and looked down at the little whimpering bundle secured to my chest, "Hey little mermaid I know you just got here but we're gonna go on a little trip mkay and your gonna ride with uncle Marcus. So that means your gonna be extra safe. Mama loves you baby." She placed a kiss on her daughters head and then nodded at me.

I walked out the room first and then lead us silently through the house to the other kids.

They jumped up ready to greet us and see how Cindy was doing because they heard the screams but I quickly hushed them then pointed to the 'locked' window. I finally cracked the lock last week after I convinced   Jane, one of my regulars to get me a screwdriver to 'fix the fridge'. She likes to make herself feel less guilty by pampering whoever she chooses that day. She brings them gifts. Most of the things I asked for were college books on things like medical stuff and psychology for children. Also a few on different religions and then a bunch on child education.

I also convinced the Stewart's to get us stuff to keep up our hygiene by telling them no one would pay for dirty unkempt children.

But back to our escape I already made the kids keep our room tidy but secretly they had there stuff organized by necessity in other words we had our go bags packed.

Everyone grabbed their bag as I finished unscrewing the bars outside the window. "Ready" I whispered doing a head count and received silent nods. "Let's go"

Rachel grabbed the food bag along with hers then I gave her a boost out with her help from the outside we got all the little ones out first then the older ones until just Cindy and I stood left. I turned to her, "Ready Girlie." "Yeah you be careful with her" she nods to my chest "always". I give her a boost up and she barely manages to squeeze her post pregnancy belly through but she gets there.
"Alright now baby it's our turn. It's gonna be a big bump so be ready beautiful. I'm sorry about this".

I passed my bag threw the window and then turned my back to it got a grip on it from behind then jumped up and through it.

I looked at them all then said, "run" and so we did we ran into the woods behind the house. I was at the back of the group making sure no one gets left behind. Eliza lead us and Rachel and Jack were on the outsides of the group making sure the little ones don't leave formation. We ran and ran not making any turns as we didn't want to get turned around. The we came across a trail. I stopped us for a second to look for any signs then I saw one that pointed to the end of the trail. "That way", I pointed then we were off again. We finally reached the end of the wood and the trail let out into a park I saw two children playing at the jungle gym when I looked around for their parents to ask them to get us help I saw someone that visited us once.
Oh god this is their town they all live here all the ones who hurt us to hide their own dirty disgusting urges.

They're all here.

I ushered the children back behind the tree line a bit so we could remain unseen as we walked along the edge of the wood I put my arm around Cindy since she looked like she was about to drop. "Try to read any sign you can see if we can find the police." I told everyone and they agreed "Jack hand out some water from you bag buddy" We had been running for who knows how long and I knew everyone was tired but none of them would say it. We walked the rest of the way for a bout 20 mins until Rickey said," I see it it says Sheriff! I see it!" Across the road along the wood there it was the Sheriff's Department we made it.

"We made it"

"Let's go come on"

We ran across the street and I did another head count before we entered. I entered first and saw nobody but heard talking and followed it around a corner "We've uncovered a pattern all the children who were abducted were- oh my God."

"Um I'm sorry could you help us please"