Saving The Robin [The Avis Venators: Book 1]

XI

-Maddie P.O.V-
I heard the front door open and close. Desperate to see who it is, I ran out of my bedroom and down the hallway, dressed only in my nightgown. I leaned over the railway of the landing, to see Riley in trousers and a man's shirt.
"Riley!" I cried, hurrying down the stairs towards her. I threw my arms around her, causing us both to fall backwards and onto the sofa. "Where the fuck have you been?!"
"I was...visiting someone," she replied awkwardly. I examined her, checking if she was hurt. However, I discovered the opposite.
"Your arm!" I said, surprised. "It's healed..."
"Someone helped me," she replied.
"Was it Dr. West?"
Riley shook her head, still refusing to answer.
"He kept me updated when you were in hospital," I explained. "He seemed like he really wanted to help..."
"But you know we can't do that," she muttered.
I nodded, sighing.
"Yeah. I know."
"Anyway, it wasn't Dr. West. All you need to know is that I'm okay," Riley added. I looked down at her torso, and at the shirt she was wearing.
"And this shirt...why are you wearing a man's shirt?"
"U-Uh..." Riley stuttered. My eyes widened as I realised. The only reason that Riley wouldn't admit to something would be because of embarrassment. And the only thing that could embarrass Riley this much is...
"You didn't," I said, shocked. Riley scratched her head, glancing to the side. "YOU FUCKING DIDN'T!" I shouted at her. "Riley, what the FUCKING HELL?!"
"He was there...and I was...just there..." She mumbled quietly.
"There's someone who wants to rape me, an you're off looking for sex?!" I continued.
"Hey, I was not looking for it! Why does everyone think I'm some sex addict..." She muttered.
"How old was he? Who is he? Where does he live? Why the fuck were you there?!" I asked, question after question.
"Shit, I was supposed to call him..." She said to herself. "Quick, get the fuck off me."
I sat myself upright in the sofa, and Riley did the same. Then she began dialling a number in her phone.
"You're calling him?!" I said, shocked. Riley stopped dialling, and put the phone down. "Riley, explain what's fucking going on-!"
"I told him," she said, with a sigh of relief. "I told him about the stalker." I went completely still.
"You...what?" I muttered. Riley looked into my eyes, a calm expression on her face.
"It just...came out," she added. "I'm sorry."
"Riley...our lives are on the line here..." I whispered. "And that's your excuse? He threatened to kill me!" I felt tears began to well up. Riley shoot her head at me.
"Listen, I think this is a good thing. I think this can help us."
"Help us? So me dying is going to help us now?!"
"You know that's not what I mean Maddie-"
I felt something buzz against my breast. It was my phone, which I kept in my bra due to my night gown's annoying loss of pockets.
"My phone..." I muttered, getting it out of my bra. I looked at the screen, and at the words printed into the light. I felt my body go stiff, and every fibre in my body grow numb. The world was suddenly one picture, one moment, one second that would destroy me.
"Maddie? Maddie what's wrong?" I heard Riley say next to me. It was nothing but muffled noise. I felt nauseous and cold, like I'd been injected with some twisted mental poison. I felt  my phone slip away from me as Riley took it out of my hand. I was crying. The tears were cold against my face.
"Oh god," I heard Riley say. "Oh god."
I grabbed her hand, and squeezed it tightly.
"Riley," I muttered. "He...he..."
She pulled me against her chest.
"We'll find her," she whispered. "She'll be okay."
I felt the shock fade away, and the realisation kick in. My breathing grew heavy and distressed. I was restless. I buried my face against Riley, and screamed. Loud enough to make all the robins fly away from the tree. Riley dropped my phone to comfort me with both hands, and I watched as it landed on the carpet. It landed face-up, the screen flashing directly in my face.

SOME PEOPLE JUST CANNOT STAY QUIET.
GOODBYE MARIA ROSE AMOUR.

"He's lying," I said slowly. "He's just lying."
"Maddie, I'm going to find her," Riley said, her voice slowly rising with rage. "You just stay here and-"
"Take me with you," I whispered. "Please."
The phone buzzed again.

Eager little girl, aren't you Riley? Tomorrow, you will receive an address.
DO NOT BRING THE ROBIN.

We both read it carefully.
"Maddie..." Riley muttered. She could see me gritting her teeth, clenching my fists together.
"You better fucking bring her back," I said sternly. She grinned at me.
"Hell yeah I will."

"Looks like we're gonna need to stop at home," She told me.
"Home? Wait, do you mean your house?" I asked. Riley was very private about her life at home. All I know is that her parents died and she lives with her uncle. That's all she let me know.
"Yeah, we're gonna need some stuff from-"
Suddenly, we heard another buzz. Riley fiddled through her pockets, then got our her phone. She read it carefully, then sighed.
"Speak of the devil," she said. "He's back."

"He? Who is he?" I asked, as we started getting ready to leave. Riley was silent for a second, then answered. "He's my brother."
I nearly dropped the shoe I was halfway through putting on.
"Riley? You have a fucking brother?!" I cried, staring at her like she was mad.
"He's never home. I wouldn't call him a brother," she replied, acting like it was nothing. She pulled on her leather jacket and boots.
"Let's go."

As we walked out side my driveway, Riley put her phone to her ear.
"Who're you calling-"
"Shh," she muttered, interrupting me. I did as she said.
"Hey, bring me one. Black. Take it from my brother," she said, almost like an order. Then she said my house address.
"Riley! Why the fuck are you saying my address-"
"Trust me, they won't do shit to you. Especially since your dad's part of parliament now."
"You know about that?..."
"Maddie, I've been taking precautions you know. Don't think I haven't been sitting in the dark doing nothing."
"Wait," I said, unable to keep up with all this information. "When you say precautions..."
"Skills, you know. Driving, fighting, guns..."
My eyes widened, half with shock and half with fear. "Riley! This isn't some TV show where you become some vigilante..."
"I know it's not some TV show. That's exactly why I've done what I've done. Unfortunately my past was not as pretty as yours, and for once it's actually helping me. You think we're gonna get through this by tucking out heads down and singing a lullaby? Come on Maddie, you're smarter than that." She dug her hands in her back pocket and pulled out a handgun.
"Jesus christ Riley!" I shouted, backing away. "What the fuck is wrong with you?!"
She clicked it back, so it was ready to fire.
"See, I knew you'd overreact," she muttered.
"OF COURSE I'M GOING TO OVERREACT! THAT'S A FUCKING GUN-"
"And he's a fucking stalker! Wake up Maddie! For fucks sake, you can't even see how serious this is. You gotta fight fire with fire. Break the law to fight someone else who's done the same."
"No. I'm not doing this," I whispered. "I'm not killing anyone."
"That's fine," she replied. "I already planned to do the killing for you."
I gasped in shock. "Riley..."
"Ah, here it is," she said, as a black motorbike pulled up. The stranger riding it got off, but kept his helmet on. I could tell he was a man by his posture and body shape. He walked up to Riley, and she thanked him. However, he then got close to her, as if he was trying to seduce her. She elbowed him in the face, helmet and all. A dirty look was stained on her expression.
"Don't even fucking try," she hissed. She pushed him aside, then got onto the motorbike.
"You coming?" She asked, slipping the loaded gun back into her pocket. I placed my hand atop the other, which was closed in a fist against my heart.
"I-I don't want to hurt people..." I muttered. She smiled at me. But it wasn't an 'I'm stronger than you' smile. It was the same smile that she'd used on me since we'd met. This one smile that would assure me no matter what.
"Suit yourself then," she said, then started the engine.
"Wait," I blurted out quickly. "I'm coming."
I hurried over and hopped onto the back. I heard Riley laugh in front of me.
"Then hold on, Robin."
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