Chapter Four
Melissa dropped her head onto the steering wheel and sighed heavily. She wasn't sure how long she would be able to elude the police. Chris had almost everyone in the United States looking for her and Raina, it was only a matter of time before they caught up to her.
She glanced over her shoulder at Raina, who was asleep in the back seat. How could she have thought this would work, what had she been thinking when she took Raina away from Chris? She knew she had been wrong in leaving Chris with the responsibility, and she knew that she still was not ready for it herself. The more she thought about it, the more she realized one thing... she had to bring Raina back home.
Melissa sighed and pulled back out onto the back road she had been driving down. She figured that they would stay at her cabin for the night and then head back the next morning. She glanced down and noticed that she was really low on gas, and knew they would never make it to the cabin without more gas. Luckily, there was a gas station about a half mile down the road. Melissa sped up slightly and had just made it to the station where her car rolled to a stop by the pump.
She glanced back at Raina again before getting out of the car to pump the gas, and figured she would be okay while she went inside. With a slight jog, Melissa went into the station to pay for the gas. It took her a few moments, because there were a few people in front of her in line. Finally she got up and paid, also purchasing a few snacks for her and Raina. She grabbed the bag from the counter and gave the clerk a nod before stepping back outside.
As she started walking back towards the car, she had a feeling that something was not right. She quickened her pace as she got closer, and fear crept up her back as she saw that Raina was no longer in the backseat. Melissa dropped her bag by the car and looked around frantically, praying that Raina had merely got out and walked a little ways away, but there was no sign of her. She looked up sharply when she heard the sound of squealing tires, and caught a glimpse of Raina in the front seat of a big black truck, speeding down the road.
"Raina! Shit..." Melissa exclaimed as she ran back into the gas station to use the phone, immediately calling Chris.
"Hello?"
"Chris..."
"Melissa?"
"Yes. Chris, something happened..."
"Where is Raina?"
"She... she was kidnapped."
"What?"
"We stopped at a gas station, and I went in to pay for the gas, and when I came out she was gone. I saw her in the front seat of a big black truck before it sped away..."
Chris wiped his face with his hand. He was afraid that something like this would happen. At least when he knew Raina was with Melissa she was with someone he knew. Now there was no telling what would happen to his baby girl.
"You better get back here, Melissa. We need to talk to the police about this."
"No, Chris... they will arrest me and I don't want to go--"
"Melissa, for once in your life stop thinking about yourself. Our daughter has been kidnapped, and something bad could happen to her if we don't hurry. Please, if not for me than at least do it for her."
With a sigh Melissa agreed to drive back to Chris's, then hung up the phone. She couldn't believe that this was happening. She had no idea that anything like this would happen, and it was all her fault that it did. Chris was right, she had only been thinking of herself, and now their daughter was in serious trouble.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Chris, what was that about?" Lance asked, he and the guys were all looking at him with concern.
"That was Melissa. She said... she said Raina was kidnapped."
"What? Poor little thing... I pray she will be okay," Justin said.
"I am sure she will be just fine, Chris. Whoever took her probably doesn't want to hurt her, but just wants money," Jc said comfortingly.
"She's only a little girl. I hate to think about how scared she probably is right now..." Chris said softly.
"I know, Chris," Joey said, putting an arm around Chris's shoulder. "but Jc's right, whoever took her probably just wants money."
Chris nodded, not feeling totally convinced about what they were saying. There was still that chance that Raina could get hurt, and Chris didn't know what he would do if that ever happened. He decided he would call up the detective and have him come over to talk to Melissa. He called up and spoke to the detective, who said he would come over immediately. Just as he hung up he heard a knock at the door. Walking over and opening the door, he stared back into the nervous face of Melissa. He motioned for her to come in and went back to the kitchen, where everyone else was.
Melissa followed him, trying not to look at any of the guys. She knew they were all watching her, and she felt so out of place as she sat down in a chair a little ways away from Justin. Chris looked up at her, and looked around at the guys, all staring at her. He cleared his throat and the guys heads all snapped up to look at him. He just shook his head slowly, and the guys all relaxed in their seats. Melissa began to play with a hole in her jeans, thankful that Chris at least made the guys stop watching her.
It only took a few minutes for the detective to arrive, and everyone but Chris and Melissa cleared out of the kitchen so they could talk privately. Chris scooted his chair to the table, motioning for Melissa to do the same. Melissa bit her lip and eyed the detective nervously, then slid her chair up to the table.
"Okay, as I understand it, the daughter was kidnapped from you today. Correct?"
"Yes."
"Did you see anything at all?"
"Yes. I saw a big black truck. It looked like a ford."
"Anything else?"
"No, no nothing else."
"Okay, well if this person was smart, he wouldn't keep using his truck. But just in case we will look for it. Where did this happen?"
"At a gas station about twenty minutes from here."
"Okay, well that will be all for now. We will be in touch," the detective said, standing up from his seat and shaking Chris's hand.
Chris nodded and waited for the detective to leave before standing up and walking over to the fridge. He grabbed himself a wine cooler, paused, and then grabbed a second one for Melissa. He walked back to the table and set one down in front of her, sitting down in a chair closer to her.
"Thanks," she said softly, taking the wine cooler.
"Yeah."
"Chris, I am so sorry. I don't even know why I took her in the first place, it's not like I would have gained anything from it... This is all my fault."
"Well Missy, I'm not going to say it's not, because if you hadn't of taken her she would be safe here at home right now. But what's done is done, and the most we can hope for is that she is okay."
Melissa looked up at Chris, tears in her eyes. She never imagined that she would feel so horrible about all of this, after all, she had never wanted a child to begin with. But looking into Chris's eyes, she could see how worried he was.
"Chris, I am sorry I left you alone with Raina, I never should have left. Hell, I should have told you in the first place I didn't want a kid."
"Honestly, Melissa... I kind of knew you didn't."
"You did?"
"Yeah, but I guess I just kept hoping that you would change your mind."
"Has she ever, you know, asked about me?"
"Yes, actually she asks about you all the time. I'm never sure what to say to her, so I usually just tell her that you are away."
"I don't think I would make the best mom in the world..."
"I'm sure you'll make a fine mom, I know that Raina would love to have you around... She must get tired of me once in a while."
"Wait... You actually want me to be around Raina? I mean, after all I've done?"
"You're still her mother, Melissa. I'm not going to keep you two apart, that would be wrong. I'm not really all that mad at you anymore, I'm just really worried... This is the longest I've ever been away from her, and not knowing if she is okay is really--"
"I understand, Chris..."
"Yes, well... I think maybe we should both get some rest. You still know where everything is, right?"
"Yeah, I remember."
"All right, well goodnight then," Chris said as he stood up and walked out of the kitchen, nodding to the guys as he headed upstairs.
Melissa took a few more sips of her wine cooler before she herself headed for the stairs. The guys all watched her as she passed, and she knew she was going to have a rough time getting them to trust her again. She didn't blame them, she knew she probably would have felt the same way. With a sigh she entered one of the guest rooms and collapsed on the bed, falling asleep with all of her clothes on.
| Chapter One | Chapter Two | Chapter Three | Chapter Four |
