The Edge Of Winter [Tom Holland]

Chapter Two

Bradley didn't know how long he was in the trunk but it couldn't have been that long. He fumbled to take his phone out of his pocket and he dialed Ted's number. He only got a dial tone and he looked at his phone. No signal.

"Fuck!" Bradley screamed and began pounding on the trunk unable to stay in this confined space for too much longer. "Let me out you fucking asshole! Let me out! Let me out! Let me out of here you shitty excuse for a father!!"

Bradley continued to hit the trunk and scream. He was on the verge of tears and the more he banged on the trunk the more tears started to fall down his cheeks.

"LET ME OUT!" Bradley screamed at the top of his lungs. The car came to an abrupt stop and he stopped yelling as the car door slammed. Bradley hid his phone back in his pocket and got ready to attack him. The trunk door opened and Bradley kicked his dad in the stomach sending him backwards. He hopped out of the trunk and sprinted down the road. He saw a gas station to his left and he sprinted for it as fast as he could.

Bradley burst inside and rushed up to the counter. "Help me! You have to help me!"

The clerk blinked at him and said, "I need you to calm down and tell me what's wrong."

"My dad kidnapped me and I got away but he's chasing me! You have to call the police!" Bradley exclaimed.

"Alright! My manager is in the back. I'll go--"

The clerk never finished his sentence. A gunshot rang out and a bullet drilled into his head, spraying blood on Bradley's face. He screamed and spun around. Elliot was standing outside the gas station window and he started making his way to the door.

Bradley whirled around and ran to the back of the store and into a side room. There weren't very many places to hide in here but he locked the door anyway and backed away. He hid behind the desk in the room and pulled his phone out. He finally had a signal so he dialed 999.

"Hello London police department. What is your emergency?"

"Help me. M-my dad kidnapped me and I managed to get away."

"Can you tell me where you are and what your name is?"

"My name is Bradley Baker and my mother's name is Karen Baker. My brother is Caleb Baker and I have no idea where I am." Bradley whispered.

"Bradley come on out! I only want to protect you!" Elliot shouted.

"He's fucking crazy!" Bradley hissed into his phone.

"Bradley we're going to track your phone okay?" The woman said.

Bradley didn't answer as Elliot kicked the door in and started walking around the room. Bradley covered his mouth with his hand to keep from letting out a sound. The footsteps seemed to stop and he held his breath.

"Found ya!" Elliot exclaimed flipping the desk over. Bradley yelped and tried to crawl away but Elliot grabbed his feet and dragged him back towards him.

"Dad please! No stop!" Bradley yelled and kicked him in the face. He grabbed his phone and scrambled to his feet and ran outside and across the parking lot. He crashed through the trees and bushes, having no idea where he was or where he was going. He just knew he had to get away from him.

Bradley found himself running across a frozen lake and he prayed nothing like last time happened. Of course that was just too much to ask for. Bradley misstepped and the ice cracked and broke, making him fall in. Submerged in the water he didn't see Elliot getting closer. He broke the surface of the water, screaming for help not caring that his dad was chasing after him anymore. It was a good thing his phone was water proof so the police could hear everything.

"Help! Dad--" Bradley went under again and came up spluttering and splashing and finally his dad reached him, grabbing him under his armpits and pulled him out. Bradley was freezing. Shivering and shaking from the freezing cold water. His lips were already turning blue and he knew he would die from hypothermia if he didn't get warm fast.

With his teeth chattering it was hard for him to speak. "I-I-I'm s-s-sorry. P-p-please, I-I'm so-so c-c-cold."

"Hang in there Bradley. I'm gonna get you warmed up. Just hang on!" Elliot shouted.

Elliot picked Bradley up bridalstyle and began running back towards the gas station. Bradley was so cold, it was unbelievable. He was feeling light-headed and dizzy and he didn't think he'd be conscious for much longer. They finally reached the gas station and Elliot sat him down on the floor.

"We have to get you out of these wet clothes." Elliot told him.

Bradley began frantically pulling at his clothes but his fingers were numb and he couldn't do it. "Dad I can't-!"

Elliot began taking his clothes off for him and he wrapped him in a blanket, before turning the heat up in the store. Bradley lay on the floor curled up in the blanket, staring at his dad in fear and confusion.

"Why are you doing this?" Bradley asked.

"You and Caleb are my sons. My sons. Not Ted's and they shouldn't have moved you guys here!" Elliot said angrily.

"After what you did to us last year, what did you expect mom to do? Let us stay where our lives were ruined by you? I still have nightmares thanks to you! And shouldn't you be in a mental institution? You're fucking psychotic."

Elliot glared at Bradley. "Watch your mouth Brad."

"You're a shitty father, you know that?" Bradley said, ignoring him. "I hate you and I wish you were fucking dead."

Elliot snapped and slammed his fist on the floor by Bradley's head, leaning over him. Bradley flinched and snapped his mouth shut. "You think I don't know I'm a shitty father? I know I am and I said watch your mouth."

"Fuck you." Bradley said. "The police are tracking my phone by the way. You're going to jail."

Elliot glared at the boy and he glared back. He watched as his dad grabbed clothes from the store part and told him to put them on. Not wanting to fight, Bradley did as he was told even though he was still cold and probably looked like he was dying. He kept coughing and it felt as though he were getting sick.

"Let's go." Elliot ordered.

Bradley followed him outside and saw a car coming their way. It was probably someone who needed gas and if he could get away, now was his chance. Bradley sprinted forward, running for the car and waving his arms. Elliot caught up with him and grabbed him around his waist, one of his arms.going around his middle and he was pulled back.

"Dad come on! Let me go! I'm not worth the trouble!" Bradley tried to reason and kept struggling in his dads arms.

"Why must you keep trying to run?" Elliot asked shaking his head. "You're not leaving me again Bradley. Your mother can keep Caleb but you.... you're mine! You belong to me!"

"No! No! I'm not yours! I'm not some object and I for damn sure don't belong to you!" Bradley said helplessly.

"You will. I know what I'm doing. You're safe with me Bradley. You'll be happy with me." Elliot continued.

"No I won't! Dad please just let me go!" Bradley begged even though he knew it was no use. His dad wasn't going to listen to reason. If he didn't get away from him, Bradley's life would be over as he knew it. He'd never see his mom again or Caleb or his friends or even Ted. He would be a prisoner.

Bradley struggled even more but he was making himself sick what with his dads strong hold around his middle. Bradley struggled and said weakly, "Dad please we..."

Bradley trailed off as he threw up on the ground in front of him. He was heaving and it hurt so bad in this position. It felt as though his stomach was getting crushed. The sounds he was making didn't seem right and his vision started to darken around the edges, making it look like he was looking down a long dark tunnel.

"Dad I..." Bradley passed out in his dads arms without another word.