Why do I feel this way?

Chapter 76: I Swear...

"That's Chris— my ex-husband." Vivian turns to the officer standing next to her, "Christopher Hanksley..." He spoke over the radio calmly, "Our primary suspect is Christopher Hanksley. He has shot and abducted Siobhan Serpent." The officer pauses, taking his hand off the button on his radio, "Do you know where he might have taken her?" Vivian says nothing as she shakes her head no. The officer's shoulders drop as he clicks his radio back on, "We need to put his license plate information out. Anderson... I need you digging up everything you can about this man. We need to find them soon— Ms. Serpent will need medical attention..."

The officers, except for one, left the nursery to seek leads and things at the nursery continued as normal. The remaining officer wasn't convinced the woman didn't know where her ex-husband was taking her fiancé. He watched her body language closely as she interacted with the other officer, much like Autumn did. The officer spoke softly, "Ms. Clark, could I ask you a few more questions?" Vivian nodded as she sat on the sofa in the office.

"What properties does Chris own other than his primary residence?" Vivian shifts slightly picking her nails discreetly, "None that I know of... he hid a lot from me when we were together." The officer knitted his eyebrows together, "Is this type of behavior shocking? Or has he always been violent?" Vivian looked at the floor, she wished she could keep Autumn and Marjorie from knowing these things. Her voice was soft and hesitant, "Once I married him..." She paused to take a deep breath, "He didn't suppress his abusive side anymore. I have scars all over from his knives. There were times he beat me nearly to death or choked me over and over until I would lose consciousness."

The two women listened as Vivian divulged the horror of her life before they met her. Both of them felt nauseous at the stories they heard. The officer's eyes softened with sympathy before he asked one more time, "Are you sure you don't know where he would have taken her?" Vivian lifted her head confidently looking him directly in the eyes and with a flat tone she responded, "I'm sure..." The officer stood and thanked Vivian for the information she provided and left the office.

However, Vivian did know where Chris took Siobhan. She knew that he would want to be found— he can't destroy her if she doesn't find them. She turns to Marjorie and Autumn, "Sara or my mom will pick up Jamie this evening." Autumn looked intently at Vivian as a knot grew in her stomach, "You know where he is don't you?" The raven haired woman swallowed hard, glaring at Autumn before silently turning and walking out.

Autumn looks at Marjorie both have expressions of concern on their faces. "Go, Autumn. Talk to her before she leaves." She bolts out of the office catching up with Vivian quickly. Autumn calls out to her, "Viv, stop. Talk to me..." With tears in her eyes and determination on her face, Vivian looks back at Autumn. "I have to settle this... They won't be able to keep him behind bars.. I refuse to live, always wondering when he will strike next. I need Siobhan back and I won't let this ever happen to her again— I can't. I will never understand how she thinks being with me is worth all this..."

Autumn places her hands on Vivian's shoulders as the woman rambles. She looks into her friend's eyes, "Viv..." the dark haired woman takes a breath as she stops talking, noticing the intensity of Autumn's gaze. "Siobhan loves you. I've never seen her so happy and never so in love. You will get her back, but you need help!" Vivian drops her head slightly before looking back at the nursery building thinking of Jamie. "Thank you, Autumn. I'll call my dad— he has been wanting to take care of Chris for years..."

They share a short chuckle as Autumn encourages, "Get him Viv!" Vivian walks to her car as Autumn enters the building. Pulling out her phone she calls her dad. She hears that comforting, warm voice, "Hello, sweet pea!" A smile pulls at her lips before the heaviness settles back in, "Daddy, Chris took Siobhan..." She hears the tone shift in her dad's voice, "What do you mean Chris took Siobhan?!" Vivian closes her eyes as the recording plays through her mind again. Her voice cracks the tiniest bit, "He shot her and took her from the nursery car park." She pauses for a moment, "I think he took her to the cabin..."

Beckett's jaw tightened and he squeezed his phone tightly. In a strained and controlled tone, he speaks, "I'll meet you there... Do NOT start the hike to that cabin without me." Since Vivian doesn't respond immediately, he spoke with more urgency, "I mean it Vivian Clark. I swear— if you go in alone!" She huffs in annoyance, "Fine, I'll wait..."

Back at the cabin, Chris has wrapped chains around Siobhan's wrist and suspended her in the air. As she hangs, the bleeding from the gunshot wound still wouldn't stop. "I can't have you bleeding out before I get to have my fun..." Chris holds a piece of metal in the fire, heating it until it burns red. A smirk appears on his face walking over to Siobhan and presses the metal end inside the wound cauterizing it, stopping the bleeding. The blonde lifts her head up looking at the ceiling as tears roll from the corner of her eyes. She bites her lip forcefully, still determined not to scream in pain. Her leg slams into Chris's stomach protesting against his actions. He doubles over as the air forcefully escapes him. Chris pushes the hot metal harder into Siobhan's shoulder as her glare pierces through him.

The only way she is able to remain calm and grounded are her thoughts about Vivian. Siobhan escaped in her mind to visions of her beautiful brunette. The pictures in her mind are vivid enough to feel almost real. The memory of their first kiss takes her back to the hospital car park. She can feel Vivian's soft skin against her fingers followed by the electric effect at the connection of their lips. The memory of her perfect lips and her delicate touch filled Siobhan's body with comfort.

Chris noticed the relaxing expression on Siobhan's face and anger flushed over him. He grabbed his knife and stomped over to the blonde. Her eyes closed with a smile pulling at her lips, so Chris slaps her across the face, "What the fuck are you smiling about?" She furrowed her eyebrows as she looked down at him, seeing the knife. He raises her shirt gently guiding the knife across her torso. "Where do I cut first?" He adjusted the blade to press the tip into different sections of her abdomen. "Maybe here... or here... or even higher." He slides the knife between her breast resting it on top of her sternum. "I can't wait for V to see..." Siobhan cuts him off as she spit in his face.

He wipes his face with his shirt as a menacing chuckle breaks through his lips. "You know— I should thank you. I wouldn't be able to tear Vivian's heart out without you. She will never be able to forget what she made me do to you!" He smiles as he paces the floor, "I will always occupy her mind— torturing her— like I am you now..." Siobhan's defiant expression falls over her face again as she scoffs, "You aren't as memorable as you think you are..." A confident smile spreads across Siobhan's face seeing Chris's resolve falter.

Vivian speeds through traffic anger and desperation suffocating her.

Hold on, Bon Bon— I'm coming. I can't lose her. She is my life. I won't let Chris win. I swear, the only thing he'll win is a new residence underground.