Rachels' Book Of Short Stories

Foerever Yours - Part Three - Zitao Fanfiction

Safe and Sound

"Are you ready?" Tao asked. Layla nodded, picking up a broken wine bottle. Tao laid down on the floor, like he had been struck and fell unconscious. Layla looked at him to make sure he was ready, then went over to the door.

"Charles!!! Charles, get in here!" She yelled. There was sounds of a door creaking open, then heavy footsteps, like he had just woken up. Or had been drinking.

"What?" He asked, stumbling in. Then he noticed Tao on the floor.

"He tried to escape, but I knocked him out with this!" She said, holding up the bottle. "Take him back to the shed! He'll be punished tomorrow!"

Charles nodded and reached down to grab Tao, but before he could, Layla hit him on the back of the head with her bottle. And Tao punched him and slammed him on the floor, knocking the breath out of him. "Get the ropes!" Tao told Layla. She ran over and grabbed them, handing them to Tao. He tied Charles' hands behind his back, then, with Layla's help, they shoved him in the closet.

"I knew it!!! I knew it!!!! I'll get you for this!!!! You'll regret everything!!!" Charles started yelling.

"We need to go get Chen and Nani!" Tao said, Layla nodded.

"This way, down the back!" She said. Tao followed her down a back passageway in the mansion.

"Layla!" They heard a small voice say, and a small boy ran over to her.

"Chen, are you ok? Where's Nani?" Layla asked.

"I couldn't get her out of the shed, the key was gone!" Chen told her.

"Layla, please tell me Nani is ok!" Tao said, trying not to panic.

"She's still in the shed, she'll be safe until we get her! We have to find the key!" Layla said, "Chen, do you know if someone took it?"

Chen shook his head. "I think it was Charles!" He said. Layla put her hand on her forehead.

"Of course it was!" She replied, "I'll go get it then. Chen, you and Tao go to the shed and wait for me!"

"No, I'm going to get the key! I'm not letting you put yourself in danger again!" Tao told her. She was about to protest, but didn't because of the look on his face.

"Tao, please be careful! Charles is unpredictable and dangerous!" She said.

Tao kissed her, then said, "just wait for me, I'll be back!" Layla nodded and then, after taking Chen's hand, went to the shed to wait.

Tao started back up the stairs, and when he got to the room, it was quiet. He looked around to make sure no one was hiding, then he went over to the closet and listened. There wasn't a sound. He carefully opened the door and peeked in, but the closet was empty.

"Looking for this?" He heard a rough voice say behind him. He whirled around and ducked just in time as Charles took a swing at him. "You think she's the same person as before? You really think that?" Charles yelled, as he swung at him. Being big and slightly clumsy, he was getting frustrated because Tao was too fast. And Tao used that to his advantage, he grabbed the chair and hit him over the head with it. He stumbled and fell to his knees, Tao ran over to grab the key from him. But when he got close Charles grabbed him by the neck and started to choke him.

"She'll never love you, not the way she did before. There will always be scars and issues!" He snarled, Tao tried to hit him but he was losing consciousness. Then, as he was about to pass out, there was a loud popping noise, and Charles suddenly let go of him and crumpled to the ground.

"Tao!!!" Layla cried, running over to him. He was coughing but he was able to tell Layla that he was ok.

"We need to go!" He said, grabbing the key. He took her hand and they both ran out. By this time the rest of the gang knew something was up, so they were on high alert. Tao and Layla snuck outside and quietly made it back to the shed. When Chen saw them he breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's ok, Nani! They're back!" He whispered. Tao ran over to the shed.

"Nani, I'm here! Everything is going to be ok!" He whispered. He heard Nani crying softly, and when Layla opened the door she ran straight into his arms. He picked her up and comforted her. Layla motioned to him and he followed her and Chen to the edge of the property, to a fence. He watched as Layla moved some brush aside from the fence, revealing a hole. She went to go through but Tao stopped her.

"I'll go first! Just in case!" He whispered, setting Nani down. Layla nodded. Tao looked out and then slipped through, then softly called to them. Layla helped Nani and Chen through and then she went through. They suddenly heard yelling from inside the fenced area, and there were beams of light pointing at the hole. They all started running, and Tao and Nani led Layla and Chen down to the subway where they could hide.

They ran along the tracks until they came to a door. Tao opened it and then motioned for them to go inside.

"It's ok, this is a safe place! Tao and I found it when we were exploring!" Nani whispered, taking Chen's hand and leading him in. Layla went in next and then Tao, closing the door behind them and locking it. He turned a light on, and then they waited. They stayed there all night, and when it was daylight, Tao carefully opened the door and looked out. He motioned to the others and then they quietly went out.

"I know where we can go!" Tao said. Nani nodded, and then they made their way to Nanis' grandmothers house. When they got there, they went to the front door and Nani opened it.

"Grandma?" She called. Her grandmother came out if the kitchen.

"Nani! Tao!! I was so worried!! I called the police, they are out looking right now!" She said, running over to them and hugging them.

"Tao!" He heard his father say, Tao got up and went over, hugging his father. Then they noticed Layla and Chen. Tao and Nani explained about what happened, and they called the police. Layla and Chen told them everything they knew, and the police told them that they would do everything they could.

It took a long time, but the people who had taken Layla, and Chen, were finally taken away to jail. Layla and Chen were finally safe. They had a party to celebrate, and as it got a bit later, Tao took her aside. They walked to a quiet place near the water, and they sat there for a bit.

"Are you ok?" Tao asked her, she smiled at him.

"Yes, I think so. I finally feel safe, and I finally feel like I can have a regular life now." She said, taking his hand. Tao smiled at her.

"With me, I hope!" He said, putting his arm around her. She smiled.

"Of course with you! Why do you think I went to such lengths to get back to you?" She said teasingly. Tao smiled at her, and gently kissed her forehead.

"I just want you to know that I will always be here for you, and I'll always love and support you no matter what!" He said. Layla smiled.

"I know! And I want you to know that I'll never leave you, and I'll love you no matter what!" She said. Tao smiled at her and they kissed. Then, Nani and Chen jumped out from behind some bushes.

"Ha!!! We caught you!!" They cried, laughing mischievously. Tao and Nani laughed and tickled them. They laughed and ran to play in the water. Tao and Layla watched them, and Tao knew that they were going to be ok.