Trapped

Chapter 4

Luke

    I get the phone call from Justin as I'm already running to the helipad. James Daniels, a highly intelligent serial killer, is in Madisonville, Texas with my baby sister right now and I'm in Arizona. Two states away. I shouldn't be worried. Justin and Erik have it covered. Cam, Sam, and Chris are headed to the local police department in Madisonville to help set up a security detail on the house. Daniels is getting closer and closer to Lilian and I will not let him have her like he's had all of these other innocent girls. Brown hair, blue eyes. Intelligent and loved. Raped and tortured. Looked after, then abandoned in the woods for the bugs' next hundred meals.

    I barely hear Justin's voice as I climb into the helicopter. "It's Lilian. She's unconscious. She said she couldn't feel anything and she seemed void of emotion. The paramedics haven't gotten here and I'm freaked—," He's rambling. Not good.

    "Slow down. What's wrong with Lilian? Did he get to her?" This can't be happening. She's fine. She is fine. It's getting harder and harder to convince myself of this but it has to be true. I swore I would protect her. I don't know what I would do if she—. No. I can't even think that word about her. She is alive until I say she isn't.

    "No. Kind of. He was in her room." I don't give him time to continue before I respond.

    "HE WAS IN HER ROOM?!" Not possible. I'll kill him.

    "Calm down, Luke. She's going to be fine."

    "DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN!"

    "LUKE, LISTEN! She had a package in her lap when I found her this morning. It was from him. There was a note." He gave her a gift. Just like the other girls. He wishes to dominate them. Show his power above the girls by breaking into their rooms and showing them that they aren't safe. She will never be left alone again until this man is dead. Not behind bars, but dead.

    "What did it say?" I try to calm down, but my hands are shaking with anger.

    "You will be mine, my love. It was signed with a capital D." The bastard. He won't get away with this. She is my baby girl and she will never be his. Not while I'm still alive.

    "Has she read it?" If she hasn't, she will never read it and I can try to protect her from the reality of this situation for a little while longer. If she has, everything I have been keeping from her has been opened up like a present and I know she won't give up without a fight. She will demand answers and won't stop until she gets them.

    "Yes, she has" is all he says. I release an unconscious sigh into the receiver. She knows. I hang up the phone without another word. The rest of the ride was led in uncomfortable silence as Detective Ramirez and I made our way to the house.