Night Of The Hunter

Kidnapped

39.

Penelope

I heard the loud bang coming from downstairs, waking me out of my sleep. My eyes flew open and I leaned up in bed, still holding on to Mr. Wiggles, my stuffed yellow and brown moose Uncle Bryan got for my first birthday. I sleep with him every night. He's my best friend.

I looked at my closed door through the darkness, rubbing my tired eyes and called out for mommy. But no answer. It was quiet now, but I heard footsteps coming up the stairs. I hugged Mr. Wiggles tightly, calling out for mommy one more time softly, but the only answer I got was my door opening, very slowly.

Light filled my room as the dark figure now lit up. He was tall, his hair was short and he looked so strong.

He looked like my daddy. Just like him. But I knew it wasn't him. My daddy died.

I started to breath heavy, feeling my heart begin to race.

"Mommy!" I yelled.

"Shhh shhh.." The strange man cooed as he took a few light step further into my room. "It's okay, baby."

I hugged Mr. Moose, hiding behind him. He'll protect me. He always protects me.

"It's alright, Penelope." The man smiled. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"Who are you?"

"I'm your dad."

I shook my head. "My daddy's dead!"

His smile faded and I saw his jaw clench, the same way Aunt Bella and Uncle Bryan does when they get mad.

"Well thats not true, now is it? I wouldn't be standing here If I were."

I scrunched my brows together and stared at him around Mr. Moose. He did look just like my dad.

"Mommy said that my daddy died in a war. That he was a hero."

The man stared at me, blinking fast.

"Where is she?" I asked, looking past him.

"Mommy's sleeping." He said lowly and started to walk towards the bed. "We have to go now."

"No!" I screamed as he pulled my blanket away from me. "Mommy!" The man grabbed me quickly and I hit him, but he was too strong. I kicked my feet as he began to walk down the stairs, but that hurt. It was like kicking a rock. "Mommy!" I yelled and cried. When we got downstairs, I saw mommy laying on the floor. Blood was all around her head. "Mommy!" I cried again as we left the house. "Let me go!"

The man opened the door to the back of a car and put me and Mr. Wiggles in carefully before looking at us. His jaw clenched again and I saw another man approach us from the corner. This guy had a gun pointed at the other man. The man who said he was my daddy froze for a moment, his eyes moved from me to the side and he closed the door, shutting me into the strange car. I hugged onto Mr. Wiggles as I looked out the window, reading their lips before the man with a gun shot the other man in the chest. I saw the dark red blood began to ooze out of the man's chest as he looked down at the bullet, but didn't move a muscle.

The man grabbed the gun out of the other's hand and back handed him. He tossed the gun away once the man was down and started to walk towards the drivers seat. I sniffled, hugging onto Mr. Wiggles really tight.

"I want mommy." I said.

He glanced at me through the mirror and cleared his voice. "Put your seat belt on."

"No!" I protested and hugged onto my legs.

The man sighed. I watched as he gripped the steering wheel tightly, his shoulders raising up and down before he moved and leaned over me. He moved so quickly, like mommy sometimes does. I know mommy is special, different then other people. Aunt Bella too. Sometimes they move and do things really fast, like the flash. When I flinched and blinked, I saw he put the seatbelt around me and stared at me. I flinched again when he wiped the tears away from my cheek. He looked so sad before he looked away and drove off.

I'm sorry, Princess.

I sat quietly in the backseat, sniffling and looking out the window, watching the street lamps pass by. I wondered if mommy was okay. There was so much blood. But mommy is strong. I knew my mommy and Aunt Bella was going to save me. They always did.

"My Aunt Bella is going to kick your ass when she finds you." I stared at the back of the man's head.

I thought my warning was going to scare him, but it only made him chuckle. That made me even more mad.

"Is that so?" He looked at me through the mirror again.

"Mmhm.." I nodded confidently. "Uncle Bryan and Pop Pop Frank too."

The man looked away, his knuckles turning white on the steering wheel.

"So, you should just let me go. Before you get hurt. Cause they will find me."

Thats what I'm hoping for.

It was silent for a moment and I looked out the window seeing us going over a bridge. The water beneath us calm with a few large boats passing by.

"You're very smart for a four year old." He commented.

"I know." I muttered, changing my position, my butt was starting to hurt. "They moved me up to the first grade now. I was getting bored in Kindergarten." I shrugged.

The sound of him hitting the steering wheel hard made me jump, squeezing Mr. Wiggles tightly.

"Son of a bitch!" The man cursed in anger.

Did I say something wrong?

"You cursed. You owe a dollar in the swear jar."

Uncle Bryan and Aunt Bella put a lot of money in there.

The man inhaled deeply and eyed me through the mirror again before he pulled over. I watched him as he wiggled his hand into his pocket and pulled out his wallet and fished out two dollars. He leaned over the seat and faced me, handing me the money. I didn't take it though, not until he shook his hand.

"For now and next time." He said. "But you have to promise me something, okay?"

I held onto the two dollars. "What?"

"Promise me you will not tell anybody about what you just told me, okay?"

I looked down and swallowed hard. Mommy told me to never tell anyone either. She said it was for my protection.

I felt the man's fingers go underneath my chin and pulled my head up to look at him. His fingers were strong, and warm.

"Penelope, promise me."

Come on baby, please don't tell anyone. I won't let them take you, I swear.

I let out a breath, feeling a tear drop down my face when I read his thoughts.

"Are you really my daddy?"

His thumb came up and wiped the tear away. "I am."

You're are more beautiful that I could ever imagine you to be, my princess.

"Then I promise."

He smiled at me. "Thats my girl. And I promise I will not let anyone hurt you. You'll see mommy soon."

Another tear escaped and we were moving again.