One Shots 'The nursery nurse'

Lost in the Night Part VI

Autumn ran, the wind whistling through the trees, her feet pressed into the soft ground of the forest as she got closer and closer to Roger. The darkness of the night seemed to thicken the trees around her, but she refused to be deterred. Her determination drove her forward. Roger had hurt so many people, and she knew she couldn't let him get away again.

When Roger suddenly stopped, his back turned to her. The sight of the old man, whose stride was never quite as sure as it used to be, seemed at that moment almost symbolic of the rest of his life.

Autumn paused, trying to steady her breathing as she addressed him.
"There's no way out now, Father. It's over."

Roger turned to her slowly, his face grim, his eyes glittering with anger. "We'll see about that!"

Vivian and Reece carefully carried Mia and Siobhan out of the cabin. The darkness of the forest enveloped them like a suffocating cloak, and the crackling of leaves beneath their feet was the only sound to break the silence.

A crackling sound came from the bushes, and Charlotte and Marjorie came towards them. "Oh God!" was the first thing that came out Charlotte's lips when she saw Mia. Reece carefully knelt down, and Charlotte was immediately at his side. Where as Marjorie stared anxiously into the darkness.

"Oh... Mia...", Charlotte whispered, her voice soft, full of concern. As her hands came to rest on the redhead's cheek.

"Mia is in a very bad state," Vivian replied, her voice heavy. "Siobhan's not much better. We need to tend to her immediately."

"Help will be here soon," Charlotte whispered. As she took Mia in her arms. Vivian, on the other hand, had carefully placed Siobhan on a log. The blonde was breathing heavily, but a look of relief was on her face.

Now Marjorie finally spoke up. "Reece, Autumn chase after Roger. I couldn't stop her."

Siobhan reached for her girlfriend's hand. "You have to help her..." The nurse nodded resolutely and looked at Reece. Who was already on his feet again.

The two of them turned and ran back into the forest. Every step was faster as they moved through the thicket, their eyes fixed in all directions. The moon barely shone through the thick branches, and the darkness around them seemed to swallow up the world.

The two ran on, feeling the cold wind on their faces. As they ran along a narrow path, they suddenly heard noises - the loud cracking of branches and the rustling of leaves. They stepped up their pace.

Autumn's skin burnt when he grabbed her, but she refused to give in. She was no longer the little girl he was trying to manipulate. The fight between them was not just physical but a test of will and fury.

With one blow, he pushed her against a tree, his forearm at her throat. "Sad that it has to end like this!" he hissed as he applied more pressure.

Autumn's heart was racing; she was not only afraid for her own life but especially for the life of her unborn child. She tried to remain calm, even though her father was taking her breath away.

"Roger!" Vivian's voice echoed through the forest.

Which drew Roger's attention away from his daughter. He had barely taken his eyes off her. When Autumn seized the opportunity, pulling her knee up with all her strength and hitting the man in the stomach. Roger doubled over, his arm now away from her throat. Autumn fell to her knees, her lungs burning as there refilled with air.

Meanwhile, Reece had gone for his father, grabbing the old man by the back of his neck and flinging him away from his sister and at Vivian's feet. Who wasted no time in pouncing on Roger.

Reece helped his sister to her feet as the pain-filled screams of their father echoed through the darkness. Vivian was merciless, her blows powerful and well aimed.

"Reece! Autumn! Help me!" shouted Roger. After all he had done to his children, he really thought they would help him now.

"Reece, come on," Autumn said coldly as she grabbed her brother's arm and pulled him away. The Knight siblings disappeared into the forest. Their father's cries became further away; they had left him to his fate.

The first thing Autumn saw when she and Reece arrived back at the hunting lodge was the flashing blue lights. Police and rescue workers were on the scene. Charlotte had just disappeared with the paramedics who were loading a still unconscious Mia into the ambulance.

Siobhan was still sitting on the tree trunk, a policeman was questioning her while a paramedic was examining her.

Marjorie spotted Reece and Autumn and quickly approached them. "Where's Vivian?"

The interrogation room was cool and gloomy. The harsh light above the table cast long shadows, casting the policeman's face in a hard, demanding light. Reece sat in front of them, arms folded, his gaze fixed on the table. His eyes were hard, empty.

"Mr Knight, I'm going to ask you again: what exactly happened?" The policeman began, leaning forward in his chair.

Reece didn't answer immediately. A short, heavy breath, then he spoke in a tone that sounded cold and indifferent. "My father got away; that's what happened."

The policeman didn't let himself be put off, but a small doubt stirred in his mind. "Will you stick to that statement?"

Reece shrugged his shoulders as if he didn't care if he talked about it. "That's all I have to say to you."

One room over was Autumn. Her eyes had a determined gleam.

"Mrs Fortune-Knight, can you tell us something about Mr Knight's whereabouts?" the policeman began.

Autumn looked at the policeman, her voice firm. "No, I tried to follow him but lost him."

"Really? That's what happened?" the policeman continued to ask, although he suspected he wouldn't get an answer to that question.

"That's what happened," Autumn repeated calmly.

Vivian sat in the room with a composure that seemed almost eerie. Her eyes were calm but also watchful. She sat down without looking at the policeman and waited for the question.

"Mrs Clark," the policeman began. "Can you tell me exactly what happened?"

Vivian finally looked at him, her expression impassive. "Roger ran off. That's all I have to say."

The policeman knew he wasn't going to get any more answers on the matter. But the way they were all talking about Roger - as if he was nothing more, that what apparently happened to him. Which only made him wonder more. But the answers he was looking for were not to be found in the words of the three of them. They had made up their minds. And they did not regret anything.

In the end, one thing remained: Mia and Siobhan had survived, and their kidnapper had disappeared into the depths of the forest. Lost forever in the night.