Relentless

22- Saige

"It's so lovely to see you again, Lacey, I've missed you." I felt bile rise up in my throat, he reminded me of every single man or woman I've ever encountered with sick and twisted intentions. The vile man cocked his head to the side not in the slightest bit fazed from his surroundings, "Are you not happy to see me?" Lacey was visibly shaking, once again a deer in the headlights. His cackling sliced through the tense atmosphere, goosebumps arose on my arms and a chill shot down my spine. He was a monster, but this man is something else entirely, completely psychotic, insane. Nonetheless, a monster he was, and I've dealt with plenty of those in my lifetime. "Why don't you come give your daddy a hug?" His hand holding the gun twitched, the boy flinched and whimpered.

    It was enough to snap me out of my temporary daze, in a flash I pulled out my concealed Glock aiming for his exposed chest, letting every drop of venom coat my words and tone, "Let him go if you know what's good for you."

    His gaze glowered in my direction for the first time, sneering, "You look like an annoying pest. This is between me and my daughter! I haven't seen her in years, I want her to come home. I'm taking her home."

    I paused, choosing my next words carefully, "If that's so, then let the boy walk." Rule number one when dealing with somebody this far off of their rocker, agree with them. Let them think you are on their side and play into whatever fantasy is going on in their head, after all, that's how I escaped. "The boy misses his family just as you have."

    "Not nearly as long as I have," he snapped, pressing the gun further into his skull making him cry harder.

    "You're right, you're right," I bit the inside of my cheek. Protocol called for attempting to calm the situation and negotiate if possible so no one gets hurt, but I wasn't too keen on it working out. "You have suffered for a long time, you know what it feels like first hand, this little boy isn't as strong as you. He wouldn't be able to handle the loss of a family, he's too little." Lacey was tense beside me, shifting a confused glance ever so slightly my way. But I kept eye contact with the wretched man, "You wouldn't want him to go through that, would you? Not when you finally have your family back."

    He furrowed his eyebrows making me think he was contemplating my proposal seriously because that's basically what it was. "The pain would be too great, he wouldn't know what to do." I nodded with an even expression, keeping my aim on the target. "He would want to go home too." The barrel moved back until it wasn't touching his skin. "Just like Lacey."

    I covered my cringe meeting her terrified eyes for just a second trying to tell her to trust me, "Just like Lacey." She gulped but remained silent.

    His arm fell limply at his side but still did not release the boy, though for the moment he wasn't in immediate danger, I wasn't satisfied. I wanted to distance the kid as far as possible, not wanting to taint his innocence any more than it already has. Tidal waves of anger swelled within me, crashing in a furious force begging to be let out, to be granted the pleasure of showing no mercy to this wicked man. To end it right then and there. No one should have to stand the horrible terrors life has to offer, especially to ones so young. My childhood was ripped away from me, all it took was one time, and a little girl grew up too fast. That's a part of me I can never get back. I will not let it happen to him as long as I can help it.

    "It's time to come home, Lacey. You, me, your sister, your mother, my wife; we can be a family again," his scratchy voice suddenly turned silky, smooth, like a spider luring in his prey for the kill. "I promise."

    "I promise."

    "Things will be better, our lives will be better," he showed his set of yellow, rotting teeth.