An unexpected surprise

Chapter fourteen

Melissa explained what had happened to Joan as I drove. She gave us her address and we drove straight there.

I pulled up outside the house.

"Get in the drivers seat and be ready to pull away" I told Lizzie. She nodded.

I slowly walked up the drive and knocked on the door.

"Melissa!" I yelled. "Answer the door"

They was no reply. The door was unlocked so I pushed it open and walked in.

I walked around the dusty house. It looked a state, like it hadn't been cleaned in forever. They couldn't possibly still be here.

I gingerly walked around the rooms in turn. They was disgusting.

"Melissa" I called again. They was no answer.

They couldn't possibly be anyone here.

I heard a whimpered cry from below me. The basement? I found the door but it was blocked. The cry was clearly Lucca, I could tell. I kicked the door as hard as possible and it slowly budged open.

"Lucca? Where are you? Daddy's here" I treaded slowly down the unpromising stairs.

"Shh" I heard a voice whisper. Melissa. She was here.

Suddenly, I was grabbed and felt a gun be pushed against the side of my head. It was all a trick. They wanted to kill me?

I closed my eyes, confused. Why me? What had I done to deserve this? She was the one who couldn't cope with Lucca so I took him and left. It was obviously so she could feel free without a baby. It was clearly to soon for her to be a mum, so I did what was right.

The man forced me down the last few steps, the gun still pressed against my head. Melissa was at the bottom. She held Lucca's hand as he stood next to her.

"Dada" he whispered, the fear in his voice. He'd be stunned forever, afraid to go her people, after this. He was only two years old, he didn't deserve it.

"It'll be ok" I whispered to him.

"Quiet" the man told me, pushing the gun harder against the side of my head.

All I could think of was if I made any sudden movements this man could kill me. I could be dead.

"Just do as we say" Melissa finally spoke up.

"What do you want me to do?" I asked, my voice trembling.

The man shoved a phone into my hand. "Call the police and tell them that you're both fine and safe"

I took the phone, I had to do it for Lucca's sake, to protect him.

Before I could even dial 999 the police burst through the door and took the man who was holding me down. Melissa was grabbed and pulled away from my son. I grabbed him and held him as tight as I would let myself. I held him against my chest.

"It's ok now, daddy's here" I repeated over and over again.

He just sobbed.

The police took them both out after cuffing them and put them in a police car. They were going and would not be allowed near us at all.

An officer took us out to Lizzie, who ran over to us, and wrapped her arms around us. I carried Lucca in my arms.

"I thought I'd lost you both" she whispered.

I nodded, too shocked to say anything. Lucca just kept his head buried into my shoulder.