The Angel and Her Protector

Chapter 18

    'Are you still at home?'

      Mara read the text for the third time, she had yet to respond to her mother. Something felt odd about it. She decided to call Carter first, it rang a few times before he answered, "What do you need now?" His tone caused her to roll her eyes at him, "My parents have been gone for a couple of hours and my mom just asked if I was home. Seemed strange to me, where are you?" Mara could feel her anxiety pick up a little while she waited for his response. She was standing in her room looking out her window, "Carter, are you there?" 

    "I'm right behind you," he whispered in her ear, causing her to spin around quickly and let out a small scream. "CARTER! You scared the s**t out of me!" Mara pushed him away, while stepping away from the window. 

    Carter let out a low chuckle, "Pack your stuff, we need to get out of here. Let me see your phone." Mara handed him her phone, he sent a reply to her mom.

    'I'm in the car now, heading to the coffee shop.'

   "There that should buy us some time. I think they are on to you, I told you to be nice to her," Carter handed Mara her phone back. She put it in her pocket and went into her closet for her emergency bag. She knew she would need it eventually, "I was nice to her, I didn't punch her in the face like I wanted to. Let's go, I'm ready."

    They headed down the stairs and out to Carter's truck, "Move your car around the block and leave your phone in it, I'll be right behind you." Mara hopped into her car and moved it away from the house, she tossed her phone in the seat and climbed into Carter's truck. They were a few hours from their destination, and they didn't know how much her parents knew. Carter needed time to figure out their next step and to figure out how to get Angeline away from them.

   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

   John and Alex were on their way to Daniel and Grace's house while the other's stayed with Angeline, John didn't want to wait for Mara's reply. When they pulled up to the house they didn't see her vehicle, but John knew better. He drove around the block, just in time to see Mara getting into a large silver truck. He had a feeling it was Carter's, he noted the plate number and called it in to verify it was his. 

   John looked at Alex, "Ready for an adventure?" Alex grinned at his friend, "You know it." John followed the truck, doing his best to not be noticed. Alex had called Angeline to let her know what was happening and for everyone to stay put, they knew Mara was in the truck but they couldn't confirm who was driving. 

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     Both vehicles had been on the road for an hour. Carter knew he was being followed, he and Mara had come up with a new plan, it was dangerous but if all went accordingly they would be able to avenge her brother and her cousin. 

     John and Alex were patiently following behind them, trying their best to keep their distance. They had been informed that it was Carter's truck. Alex never took his eyes off the truck, he knew they would try something if they realized they were being followed. With their attention on the truck in front of them, they didn't notice the large SUV coming up behind them very quickly until it was too late.

   John glanced at his mirror right as the SUV rammed right into the back of the car. Alex slammed hard into the dashboard, breaking his nose causing blood to go everywhere. "f**k!" is all John heard as he tried to correct the car and pick up his speed to get away. He glanced at Alex, "s**t Alex, are you alright?" Alex found a rag and placed it to his gushing nose, "Yes, now go get them." 

    John was off after Carter, he went to grab his phone to call for help, but before he could Carter's truck came into view and it was stopped in the middle of the road. John swerved in an attempt to miss it but he clipped the bumper, causing him to lose control. They were going to fast and John couldn't avoid the tree that was in front of them. He smashed right into it, John lost consciousness immediately, he was pinned in his seat by the steering wheel. 

   Alex's vision was blurry, he could barely make out John's form right next to him.  Alex was having a hard time breathing, he tried to move but felt an intense pain in his right side. He slowly brought his hand to the spot and felt a large shard of glass sticking out of him. He grabbed hold of it and pulled, as he removed the glass he cursed loudly out in pain. 

    Alex then heard his door being opened, "Well look at what we have here." Alex heard the deep raspy voice, and immediately knew who it was. "Carter Johnson," Alex wheezed out. Carter could tell he was in bad shape, but he would still be beneficial to get Angeline's attention. Mara opened John's door, "No, we'll have to leave him. He's stuck in there and I'm not going to waste my time getting him out. Besides Alex is the one that we really want." 

    Mara closed the door and walked back over to Carter, as she made her way there she saw the guys from the SUV pulling Alex out. He was trying his best to fight them off and call for help, but the wreck had taken a toll on his body. Mara didn't care, she just needed him long enough to bring Angeline to them. Once they had Angeline Carter would probably kill Alex, Mara didn't care as long as she was given the opportunity to torture Angeline for the death of her brother. 

   Carter's guys put Alex in the bed of the truck, they got back in the SUV and took off in the direction they had come from. Mara and Carter also got back into the truck and continued on their way. Mara looked back at Alex and then back at the car containing John, she grinned thinking about how Angeline would react to the news. 

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    RING! RING! RING!

   Lexie looked at her phone, she didn't recognize the number, "Hello?" She looked at Angeline and couldn't believe what she was hearing. She fell to her knees, tears spilling down her cheeks. Angeline was by her side trying to figure out what happened. Lexie's responses were barely a whisper.

   After the call was ended, Angeline pulled Lexie into her and hugged her tightly. "What happened Lexie? Who was that?"

   Lexie tried her best to calm herself, but her voice was still only a whisper, "It was a police officer, John was in an accident. There was no witnesses and John was rushed to the hospital. He asked if someone else was in the car with him because they found blood all over the passenger seat."

   Angeline gasped at the news, she felt like someone sucked the breath right out of her. She knew Alex and John should've stayed and waited, but John was persistent on going to get Mara immediately. Now they were both hurt and Alex was missing. 

   "Angeline?" she looked to see Grace coming towards them. Grace handed her a phone, "I just received this picture." Angeline took the phone and couldn't believe what she saw. It was a picture of Alex laying in the back of a truck, blood all over him. There was a message, 'I can't believe you chose them over your own child. I will make you all pay.' Angeline knew right away that it was from Mara.

   DING!

   Angeline moved to get her phone, she noticed the number was the same from Grace's phone. She opened it up and saw a video, she took a deep breath before pressing play...

    "Well hello Miss Angeline. I wasn't expecting to meet you so soon, but looks like I will be seeing you very soon. Unless you don't want to ever see Alex again. Follow the directions carefully."

   Angeline couldn't see anything in the video other than Alex, but she knew who was talking. Carter Johnson. A few more messages came through, all instructions on what she needed to do. She looked at Lexie, she was curled up on the couch crying. 

   "Lexie, go to John. Talk to the police and tell them everything you know, everything that has happened. I am going to go get Alex back.

   Before anyone could stop her she was out the door and climbing into her car. She didn't care what happened to her, but she was going to put an end to all of this now.