Stealing Beauty

Part 10- Stolen

Konnor was nowhere to be found. His truck wasn't parked at the shop where he worked. Of course, it was close to his lunchtime. Even though he wasn't there, I stopped by to talk to his boss.

"Yeah he was here, but I sent him home for the rest of the day. He seemed really out of it. He wouldn't tell me what was going on though. Everything okay?"

"Not really." Normally I wouldn't easily tell our business to strangers, but Mark was his boss, and he needed to know what the truth was. I told him how my father passed away and I was an emotional mess. I took it out on Konnor and left him this morning.

"Damn, no wonder the kid is so stressed out," he shook his head. "And now you're looking for him? I hope not to leave him again."

"No sir, just the opposite. I needed to apologize for being immature."

"Well, I sent him home. Whether he went there or not, I'm not sure."

"Thank you, Mark." I told him sincerely before spinning on my heels and walking out of the shop.

"Any luck?" Raylynn asked me as I got back in the truck. I shook my head and told her what Mark had said.

"Alright,' she sighed stressfully, "where do you think he could be?"

"Honestly, either our house or his parents. I don't think he would go to a bar or anything. All our friends are at work this hour."

We drove to both potential locations, but I didn't see his truck anywhere. With tears welling in my eyes, I turned to Raylynn. "Just, go back home."

I lost hope in finding him. The best thing I could do is pray he'll come to me. I wanted to keep looking but I was distressed and exhausted. I could barely see straight at this point. Sleep was my best option.

When we returned home, Zander was there, watching the news in his recliner. He got up when we walked through the door and took Ryder off of Raylynn's hands, and even greeted me and Karsyn with a grin.

"I'm sorry about what happened between you and Konnor," he said, pulling me into a brotherly half-hug after I set Karsyn down. "Do I need to kick his ass?"

"Honestly, it wasn't his fault. It was mine. And he's nowhere to be found." My heart sank as I finished my sentence. Zander touched my shoulder then picked up Karsyn's car seat. I looked at Ray, confused. Why was he carrying 2 kids at once? She looked at me and shrugged.

"Ever since we lost Autumn, he's been good with kids." She answered my question. I nodded like I understood, and turned to look at my brother. Both him and Ray came a long way since they lost their first kid. I applauded them for it.

After a shower, insisted by both my hosts, I crawled into bed and fed Karsyn. Once she was asleep, I laid her in a bean bag next to my spot in the guest room. She wasn't old enough to move yet, and the bag had just enough cushion to where she could sleep without suffocating. I laid a blanket over her and kissed her forehead. I apologized for what I had done to our little family.

Sleep overtook me the minute my head hit the pillow. I was happy to finally have rest, but I knew the dreams would be flooding in soon.

***

I was seeing things through my father's eyes.I was driving his 18-wheelers on the interstate in the pouring rain. Big droplets of water splashed the windshield, and the wipers weren't helping much.

He thought about pulling over, but he was already driving into overtime, and the load had to be docked tomorrow morning in South Texas, 5 A.M. sharp.

The rest of the interstate was clear. Who else was crazy enough to drive in this weather? A man dedicated to his job- that's who.

Suddenly, he slammed on his breaks when he saw it. A man, standing in the middle of the lane. He seemed to have something in his hand. A gun?

Sebastian slammed on his breaks, and it all happened too soon. He shut his eyes so he didn't have to witness the man being hit by the truck, but something unexpected happened. The tires started to skid against the pavement. The load he was hauling was too heavy, and it started to tip over as the truck began to hydroplane off the road. Sebastian gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. As the truck tipped over, items within the truck were flying everywhere. He hit his head against the window, busting the glass, and Sebastian's vision went blurry.

The truck stopped, but the rain kept pouring. He finally opened his eyes to see the same man, waiting for him outside the truck. Sebastian clumsily pushed his body through the window, but he was thankful for adrenaline. He could see he was in bad shape, but he couldn't feel it due to the trauma.

His vision was starting to go out again, and he was coughing up blood. But he would not cry in front of this threatening man. However suicidal this man may have been to stand out in the middle of traffic, Sebastian was not about to allow this man to feed off of his vulnerability.

Sebastian was a very strong and tolerable man.

The man raised his gun, as if to shoot Sebastian. Another man came into view. But suddenly an unfamiliar aroma floated in the rain as it hit the dirt. It was intoxicating and disgusting, but it was being held right over Sebastian's nose and mouth.

***

Chloroform.

There was a damp towelette over my mouth when I finally woke up. I tried to resist it, for it not to make me weak, but it was useless. I already started to slip out of consciousness as I kicked and screamed for help. I could hear my brother screaming and throwing punches. What was going on? I tried to keep my eyes open long enough but I still couldn't see anything. I looked over at the bean bag next to the bed.

Karsyn was gone.

A tear fell as I shut my eyes and let the smell of chloroform take over. I had some strength left in me to see the damage. My brother lay on the floor, passed out from fighting. Where was Ray? Where was Ryder?

Where was my baby girl, Karsyn?

I needed my daughter.

I heard her screams as I was carried out of the house. I wanted to rush to her, to calm her and tend to her. I was too weak. I couldn't move a muscle. Hell, it hurt to keep my eyes open.

"Shhh, Karsyn. Aunt Ray Ray is right here. The cops are coming and it's all going to be okay." My daughters crying turned into silent whimpers as I could hear Raylynn comfort her and hold her close. I could feel myself being thrown in the back of a van, as it drove away.

A million questions formed in my head, as I remained unconscious. Why was I being taken? Who took me? What did I do to deserve this? Where was I going?

Where...

Where was Konnor?  

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

A.N.- Where is Konnor? Hm. Any idea how he's going to feel when he finds out Natalie is gone?

He's not going to be a happy camper.

You'll know, because the next chapter will be from his point of view. Ray and Zander have to find him and return his daughter. He has to find some sort of lead.

Also, there will be a lot of old characters coming back to give a lead on who took Natalie and where she's at. 

I bet Konnor never thought he would return to war.

Anyway, chapter 11 is going to be more difficult to write, so the update will be a little bit later. Just stay patient. 

Also, just to embrace the irony. The prologue/first chapter of the first book, Natalie is kidnapped. Funny how that came true in book 2, right?

No? No one? Okay...

Maybe I'm the only one who finds it funny.

Well, back to business. I hope chapter 11 will come along soon. Until then,

XOXO,

-Lucky8Girl. <3