Illuminate

Chapter 21- Greyson

As I peered into the window, I saw she was writing something. Her hair was matted and her eyes were puffy. She sat in a big chair and she was wearing a hospital gown. More than anything, my Eva looked terrified, but I knew it would all be over soon. She was right in front of me and all I had to do was take her home. I had to control myself from making any noise, but at that moment, I felt the biggest wave of relief and happiness I had ever felt before.

I looked down quickly, just about positive she hadn't noticed me but it was okay. I grabbed the small bobby pin I had in my pocket from picking the first door. I fiddled around in the lock as quietly as possible before I was able to open the door. I slowly opened it and crept inside, closing the door softly. I turned around and made eye contact with my daughter in disbelief that she was finally there after all of the searching I had done.

"Da-" she started to say, but I quickly hushed her. I hugged her as tightly as I could.

"I love you," I whispered as softly as possible into her ear and I felt a tear of hers on my shoulder and she was shaking everywhere. "It's going to be okay now." I put my arm over her and helped her down from the chair. I was facing away from the door frame.

"Wait, hide!" she said quickly, but it was too late. I heard the door from behind me open and close quickly. I turned around, not wanting to see what was awaiting us.

"Well, well, well," Mr. Emerson said in his deep, chilling voice. Mrs. Emerson was there as well, along with Blake and another lady. "Blake, grab her." Blake immediately walked over to her and I put my hand on his chest.

"You touch her and it will be the last thing you'll ever do," I warned intensely. Blake reached for something out of his pocket.

"Your not the one with the gun though, are you?" he snarled, wrapping his fingers around the matte black pistol he had pulled out of his pocket. "Move, or I'll kill you." I stepped back gently and he quickly walked over to Eva, grabbing her arm.

"If it isn't our birth son, Greyson," Mrs. Emerson snapped.

"What are you guys doing. Please, just let her go. You'll never see us again. We'll move away, we'll do anything. You can even take me instead," I pleaded, hoping the police would be here soon.

"Come on Greyson, don't you want your daughter to be enough. Hell, you never were," Mr. Emerson pulled.

"My daughter is enough. She is the most caring, passionate, and hard-working person I know. You already screwed up one person I love, don't do it again," I threatened.

"You're the one who fell in love with the girl we quote on quote screwed up," he snapped, coming close to me.

"She needed someone to save her. To take care of her. I don't want Eva to need that. I want her to be able to fend for herself, thank god Peyton can now, but when we got together, she was broken. And for that, I blame you," I snarled.

"What do you want us to do, huh? We already have you both! Just let you go? You know what comes next," he said dangerously.

"And what is that?" I asked.

"We kill you."

"No!" Eva screamed, but Blake jammed his gun towards her windpipe.

"You can kill me if you let Eva go. I'll cooperate," I negotiated without hesitation, trying to buy more time.

"It's her that we want. You're death or survival means nothing to us," Mrs. Emerson popped in.

"It's surprising you could say something so lethal about your own son," I shot back. The room went quiet and I bit my lip, feeling disgusting after saying that. I was not their son. I would never be their son.

"We did what we had to do," Mr. Emerson said softly.

"Giving up a child for work and replacing them with a new, kidnapped one, is not what you have to do. It's sick. Finally, I'm begging you, let us go," I pleaded. Mr. Emerson looked at me, contemplating what to do next.

"Blake, put Eva in the stretcher. Her surgery will proceed. Dr. Heffner, please take her into our OR once she is restrained. She doesn't need to see what is going to happen next," he decided. Eva went ballistic, screaming and fighting Blake as he struggled to get her under control. The only thing that made her go calm was one he pointed the gun at me. She quieted down and froze. I looked at her and gave her a faint nod.

"I love you," I whispered. Tears were going down her cheeks.

"I love you too," she choked out. Blake handed the gun to Mr. Emerson and lifted Eva up onto the gurney and strapped her down. He turned her around to face the Emersons and Dr. Heffner.

"Listen to me. If you touch one hair on my father's head, I swear I will make this surgery impossible for you. I won't fight through it, I'll try to die. If by some nightmare I still survive, I will never stop fighting. I won't ever stop trying to run. But, if you don't harm my dad, I will continue. I will fight hard to survive this and I will comply with everything you ask of me. You can take me and we will leave, you don't have to tell my dad where we are going," she offered, tears still streaming from her beautiful blue eyes. Mr. Emerson looked directly at her, then at me, then at her again. I just needed something to buy us some time, and this was perfect.

"No," he contrasted, looking at his wife, who clearly disagreed.

"He's our son," she rebutted. I heard faint steps above us, and I prayed the Emersons would not hear.

"I don't care. He's the reason why Peyton escaped from us, he's the one who found out," he shouted, getting more and more angry with each word.

"He's your own flesh and blood," she combatted.

"I DON'T CARE!" he shrieked. Without any warning, he aimed the gun directly at me and rubbed his finger over the trigger.

"No!" Eva shrieked.

"Get her out," he instructed.

"No, don't!" Mrs. Emerson attempted.

"Fine, I guess she'll have to watch," he complied. I heard the door start to shake.

"What did you do, Kole?" Mr. Emerson said dangerously.

"POLICE, open up!" a voice screeched.

"What do you want me to do?" Blake whispered nervously.

"POLICE, last warning!" the voice shrieked again. Without any hesitation, Mr. Emerson looked me directly in the eyes and pulled the trigger.