Warnings: Sex, Violence, Swearing

Randal looked at the clock.  Each second seemed to tick slower than the last.  He could feel the blood pounding round his head, swimming in his ears, flushing across his cheeks.  He would get Pip back.  At last.

And he would see her.

He couldn’t believe he hadn’t recognised her when she came to the door, but it had all been such a blur, he had barely had time to register her.  What was she doing?  Was this all about attention?  Because if she wanted that, heaven knows she could have had it.

He could still remember that balmy July, those times they’d sneaked away from Johanna and made love in the park.  He remembered the warmth of her skin, the scent of her, a faint murmur of light sweat mingled with the rose and jasmine in her perfume.

He remembered how he’d justified it to himself because he’d asked Johanna – he’d begged Johanna – to allow him to be with her and Kadence together, just once, but she’d never let him.

He remembered the time he’d whispered this fantasy to Kadence in the midst of passion and it had made her more excited than he’d ever seen her.

If Johanna had acquiesced, they could all have been happy.

His mind wandered to the time, just after Johanna went away, when Kadence gave him what he desired – the night she brought her friend Veronica along with them, and his life changed irrevocably.

Veronica was beautiful and exciting… and in desperate need of a way to gain permanent residency.

He remembered the evening he went to tell Johanna he was marrying Veronica. Veronica’s jealousy had already forced him to give up Kadence, and if he was going to make it work with V, he had to make a clean break with Johanna, too. It may have been weeks since he’d last seen her but it had never felt “officially” over.

That night, she snuck out of the window of her boarding school. She’d grown even more attractive since going away – he scarcely knew how that was possible – a little curvier as well, which he heartily approved of. And damn, she was hot.

It had only been one night. He’d never contacted her again, yet a few months later, she was gone, Pip was his, and V made him sleep on the sofa for a month.

—

Savan was thinking of that bastard.

She was thinking of that phone call.  He’d told her Veronica had wanted them to be exclusive.  That he was going to make a go of it with Veronica, even though, Savan knew, he didn’t love her.  She remembered the dead beep of the phone as he hung up on her; as he cut himself out of her life.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Tainn.  ‘Hey Sav, look at this’.  He tossed her the paper.  ‘Page 12.’

There it was, in the middle of the page as bold as brass.

‘Kadence seeking old friend. Our spot. Midnight tonight. Everything will be alright’.  She furrowed her eyebrows.  Who the hell would be impersonating her – and why?

—

‘And you’re sure?’ George asked.

Heath nodded.  He pointed at the paper.  ‘That’s her.  That’s my sister’.

‘You really should have told us about this earlier’.

‘I know, I…’ Heath stuttered and tears welled in his eyes.

‘Never mind, what’s important now is that we find them.  Come on.  Get in the car’.

—

Randal ran.  The ground under his feet was soft and familiar, and his heart was pounding as he entered the forest, his breath becoming more and more shallow as he headed to the clearing, to their clearing.

When he got there, his breath stopped.

‘I knew it.  I knew you couldn’t resist HER’.

‘Veronica?’

—

Tainn looked at the little girl asleep in the back seat.  She was so innocent, so undeserving of this madness, so undeserving of a slimeball of a dad as Randal, of being a pawn in Savan’s game.  He adored Savan, he probably always would, but he knew in his heart it was all about Randal for her.  It always would be, and if she couldn’t have him, she would always be out to concoct some form of revenge against him, or his wife, or Pip.  He looked at Pip again.  He’d grown so fond of her.

‘I wish I was your daddy’ he whispered.

—

Savan tiptoed towards the clearing, holding the pistol in front of her.  She had never shot one and had no idea how to, or even if she was mentally capable, but if someone could put that kind of message in the paper then surely whatever they wanted wasn’t good.  Surely they could do her harm.

As she reached the clearing, she was shocked. She took a moment to take in what she was seeing, and to compose herself. Then, with a deep breath, she stepped forward.

‘OK then.  Let’s end this, shall we?’

—

Heath and George started to run, hoping they weren’t too late.  But as they ran, they heard a gunshot.

—

Panicked, Tainn started up the car, and with the little girl still sleeping in his back seat, he drove off into the night.

—

FIVE YEARS LATER

‘Hey baby.  Won’t be long now’.  The young woman rubbed her tummy proudly and thought about the child she was carrying. 

Her husband called her into the lounge, where he stroked her back and nuzzled her neck.  After all they’d been through, to finally welcome their first child was incredibly exciting.

—

Piper woke with a start.  The nightmare again.  Flushed with sweat she screamed.

‘Daddy!’

 

 

“You know Savan…she’s not so bad. Kind of cute…you know, for a toddler and all.”

 

“Seriously Tainn? We’re fucking running from the COPS and you’re cooing over the child we KIDNAPPED?”
“Excuse me? There was no ’we’ in the kidnapping. It was all you, you and your raging temper. We came here so you could get some closure, maybe help heal that giant rip she left in your soul…but no. You decided on revenge instead, ruining everything. You think Heath is going to be okay after being arrested? He’s a TEENAGER Savan! You never think about anyone but yourself and now we have this…this child in our care…you couldn’t even take care of Heath…what made you think you could take care of Pip?”
“I don’t want to take care of her you stupid bastard, I want to HURT HIM!!”
“Oh please, he has nothing to do with this.”
“Randal has EVERYTHING to do with this!”

 

And with that, Savan stormed off into the night.

 

Holding Pip, Tainn walked the four miles to their new hideout. They had only talked about having a backup plan, never actually believing they would need it, but boy did they need it now. Tainn’s head was spinning with the thoughts of prison and facing this adorable girls father.

 

“Oh Pip, I hope you’re father is as forgiving as you are. You’re so sweet and all you want is to cuddle.”

 

He found Savan sleeping on the only reasonably comfortable surface, a cruddy old couch. “Of course she’d hog the couch to herself,” he thought. “She only cares about herself you know…she probably doesn’t even feel love.  Does she know that I truely love her?  She loved her…I know this, she knows this…but what isn’t she telling me? What does Johanna’s husband have to do with this? Obviously everything, yet he has never really been mentioned in all her scheming…what the fuck is she hiding?” Tainn’s thoughts were racing a mile a minute before he finally fell asleep on the cold wooden floor, cuddling Pip to keep her safe and warm.

 

Savan woke up just a few hours later and glared at what she saw on the floor. How could he do this? Cuddling with the enemy? Of course, the child isn’t the enemy. No, HE is the enemy. So she awoke her pawn and the child and quietly suggested he sleep on the couch. “Great idea Savvy,” he slurred. “He’s such an idiot,” she thought.

 

“Sanan?”

 

“Well that’s great. You’re a smart little shit, aren’t you? I guess everyone else knows my name, why not you.”
“Sanan angwy. Dadda happy!”
“Not right now he isn’t. Let me tell you a little story Pip.”
“Stowy please.”

 

———————————————————————————-

 

“Four years ago in a land far away, there was a princess named Anna. She was very pretty and all the boys liked her. She had a best friend named Sarah and they used to do everything together. That is, until Prince Randy came along. Sure, Prince Randy wasn’t the first Prince to capture the eye of your mo-, I mean Princess Anna, but he would end up being the last. But you see little girl, Sarah had a crush on Prince Randy and wanted him all to herself, so she lied to Princess Anna about Prince Randy, making up stories about how unfaithful he was and how he was only after one thing. Sarah meant for them to do harm, but Princess Anna thought it made Prince Randy exciting.

This hurt Sarah’s feelings, that Princess Anna would leave Sarah for weeks at a time to be with Prince Randy. So finally, Sarah told Princess Anna her true feelings. She loved both Anna and Randy equally and wanted nothing more than to be loved in return. But Princess Anna called her bad names and ran away. She told everyone that Sarah was trying to steal Randy away from her, but that wasn’t the truth at all. Sarah just wanted to be loved, like Anna had been loved all her life. So, to set the record straight, Sarah asked Anna to join her at the pool. ‘I’ll explain everything. Just please…come. I miss you…you’re my best friend!’ Sarah sat at the pool for five hours before a handsome boy named Talon swam up to her. He made her feel special and loved, and by the end of the night, Sarah had forgotten about Anna and her broken heart. Two years went by before Sarah heard anything about Anna again, and what she heard didn’t please her. She tried to reach out to Randy, but he hung up on her and shunned her from his life. So she hatched a plan. Prince Randy didn’t recognize Sarah after all these years when she came to his house and took his precious little girl Polly. Talon thinks that Sarah wants revenge…but she really just wants to be seen by the one who stole her heart so many years ago…the funny thing is…Randal used the same move to win over your mother…”

 

Savan looked down and saw that Pip had moved herself in Savan’s lap and was peacefully sleeping. “So much for fairytales little one,” Savan whispered.

———————————————————————————-

“Hey Frank, George called me down.”
“Go right through.”

“George, Randal’s here.”

Walking through the iron bars and into the waiting area, Randal compared the differences between the police station and the holding facility.  This building was much smaller, and much less welcoming that where George’s office was.

“Hey Randal.  How are you doing buddy?”
“How do you think George?  Got any leads yet?”
“Well…one that might peak your interests.  We’ve detained a man who knows this Savan woman, and he says he knows you.”
“Impossible.  I’ve never met her in my life!”

Walking down the cold white hallway, they stopped at the only cell with a sim in it.

“This is the guy…says he knows you from a few years ago.”

“Hey Randal…do you remember me?”
“You look familiar…were you friends with Johanna?”
“Sort of.  It’s your old buddy…Heath.”

“Heath…I’m not sure…WAIT!  HEATH ATHAN?”
“Hey man…the one and only.”
“Heath…how the fuck did you get caught up in this mess?”
“Well..you see…remember my sister?”
“Kadence?  Sort of…she was nice…friends with Johanna.”
“Well…she told you Kadence was just her middle name, right?”
“Yeah, but she hated her first name.  I never did learn it.”
“Heh.  Gosh…I’m sorry Randal man, but her first is Savan.  As in, Savan Athan…as in…Roxy.”
“…wait…what the fuck are you saying?  Kadence…I mean Savan…she kidnapped my Pip?”
“Dude…it’s such a long story…”

It only took two seconds for Randal to lose his cool.

“FUCKING CHRIST HEATH!  YOU’RE SISTER IS FUCKING MENTAL!  WAIT, WERE YOU HELPING HER?  YOU WERE MY FRIEND MAN!  ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS AND YOU FUCKING HELPED THAT CRAZY BITCH KIDNAP MY DAUGHTER?”

George and Frank had to come pull Randal away, and all Heath could do was frown.  He had never meant to hurt his friend like this…it wasn’t supposed to happen like this.

An hour later, a composed Randal went back to the cell that held is old friend Heath.

“Heath…please explain everything to me.”

So he did…every last detail.  He had read his sisters diary when they were younger and known of her love for both Johanna and Randal and how that love tore her apart.

He felt horrible for not recognizing her in the first place…if only he had recognized her bright green eyes and stunning red hair…he could have prevented all this mayhem and fright.  While Heath promised that Savan wasn’t crazy enough to hurt Pip, Randal wasn’t sure what to believe.

After all…he had loved Kadence at one time.

Two weeks later and the police still had nothing.
Heath had given them all the locations of their hideouts, but no sign of Pip, Savan, or Tainn was ever found.

It had been exactly 15 days since Savan had taken Pip when Randal was reading the paper, hoping for any article mentioning his beloved daughter.

Instead, he stumbled upon something very different.

“Kadence seeking old friend.  Our spot.  Midnight tonight.  Everything will be alright.”

“How risky,” Randal thought.  What is George saw this?  Of course, they weren’t expecting an ad in the classified section.

Instead of calling the police like any smart sim would have done, Randal decided to go alone.  Obviously Savan meant no harm to him or Pip…right?

Warning: Language, Adult content.

The brief, fleeting panic of inevitable capture faded from Savan’s heart. It had lasted only a second before her tireless and twisted mind began to form a plan. She had come this far, and she would be damned if she wasn’t going to go down without a fight.

“Just come and fucking try it,” she muttered to herself.

“Savan…” Tainn’s voice trailed off, his tone warning.

“Shut up!” she snarled, “let me think, for God’s sake.”

“Savan!” Heath cried as he came bursting into the room, “the police, Savan, the police are here. What are we going to do?”

She whirled around to stare at the scared and trembling face of her younger brother. She had already decided what to do about the police…but in that moment she needed to make one final decision. She had to choose between family and love. She had a split second to make her choice. She glanced between the faces of Tainn and Heath before finally smirking.

“I know what we’re going to do. Tainn, grab the baby.”

“Savan, no. Just give it up, apologize and maybe we can get out of this without jail time.”

“Tainn,” she growled, “GET THE BABY.”

Tainn seemed to mull over her words for a second before he rose and left the room to grab Pip. Savan smirked as he left the room. Tainn knew better than to question her when she was in survival mode. She had been raised in the school of hard knocks and she had learned every lesson life had given her the hard way. Johanna’s death had taught her the power of resentment and hatred. Her life after Johanna had taught her how to harness that power and pull it inward. She had spent long hours planning her revenge only to have it all crumble in front of her. She had acted rash in response, planning as fast as she could. She thought she had done well, in spite of the circumstances. Randall wasn’t supposed to be home. He had gone out every Wednesday night for every week she spent watching him. Why had he been home that one night? The one night she had decided to act and he had fucked up her plans. That made her hate him all the more.

“Savvy?”

Her childhood nickname from Heath caused her to turn her head. Her face softened a little bit. She reached out to her brother and put her hand on his shoulder. She gave him a soft smile. He looked back at her, innocent confident in his big sister’s plans.

“You’re so young,” she murmured softly.

“Not that young,” he replied indignantly.

“Young enough that you won’t be tried as an adult.”

Confusion fell across Heath’s features, he narrowed his eyes and stared at his sister. Suddenly, realization hit him and his eyes widened in protest. Just as she had done a few hours earlier, Savan punched her brother as hard as she could in the side of his head. He whimpered and crumpled to the floor. He was out cold.

It was a cruel thing…but life was cruel. Savan had learned that the hard way. They needed to travel light if they were going to slip away. The police would be distracted if they found one of them, and two people were faster than three. It hadn’t taken her long to mull it over in her head. It was like one of those philosophical questions that people are always asking – “what would you do?”. She had asked herself, would she save her brother…or her lover? She chose her lover. It wasn’t a choice she felt guilty of…she had asked, and the universe had answered.

She closed the door behind herself as she left the room where Heath lay unconscious. She found Tainn standing by the backdoor to the house. It was the sort of door where the upper half was a window. Very handy, as it turned out, for situations such as these. She used her fingers to separate the metal blinds and glance outside. The police hadn’t reached the back of the house. She opened the door and poked her head out to be sure. It was all clear.

“We’re going to make a run for it. Don’t stop for anything.”

“Where’s Heath?”

She ignored him as she opened the door further and gestured for him to go outside.

“Savan…where is Heath?”

“Heath’s gone,” she cried, “he couldn’t hack it so he’s staying behind. He’ll be fine, we won’t, now let’s go.”

Tainn hesitated as he glanced between Savan and the room she had just left. He knew that it was wrong, but she was right. Heath was just a kid and this wasn’t even his idea. Savan and him were older, more capable of making these decisions. They’d both take the fall for the crime. He had known that when he had gone home with her. It was his own fault…now, he’d have to rely on her cunning to get them through.

“I’m sorry, Heath,” he whispered as he ducked out of the house and into the darkness.

* * *

“Stay in the car,” Randall muttered to himself, “how can he expect to just sit here while Pip is still inside.”

Still, Randall had so far stayed in the car as he was told. He had obeyed like an obedient little puppy. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could just sit around and wait. He had watched George and the other officers disappear towards the house. In reality her knew it had only been minutes since they had disappeared, but each second that ticked by felt like hour and every minute a day. How would he knew if his daughter was okay? His hands were shaking and he couldn’t stop bouncing his legs. Finally, he gave up and got out of the car. He could hear the other officers shouting, and he heard the sound of wood splintering and crashing. The cops and just broken through the door. He closed his eyes and waited anxiously, nervously and his heart full of hope. He was desperate to hear Pip’s cries, desperate to know that she was okay. Instead, he heard silence. Something in the back of his mind willed him to open his eyes. In the distance he saw two figures running. He couldn’t make out their faces, but he didn’t have to. He knew that Pip was gone.

“Fuck!” he cried before turning and running towards the officers.

* * *

How long had their been running? Savan had no idea. All she knew was that she had to keep going. Every single one of her plans had been getting messed up. Though, truthfully, she wasn’t even entirely sure what she was going to do with the little brat. As angry and hate filled as she seemed, she couldn’t bring herself to actually harm the baby.

Her calves burned and a she had a stitch in her side. Pip had been crying loudly for the past few minutes – no doubt she hated being jostled around – and the sound was wearing on her nerves. Finally, she gripped Tainn’s arm to force him to stop. They both stopped dead in their tracks. Their breath was ragged, both their chests rising and falling rapidly as they tried to catch their breath. Savan struggled to hear any police sirens over Pip’s wails.

“Will you shut that brat up, Tainn?”

“It wasn’t my brilliant idea to even have this kid in the first place, Savan.”

“If you had actually helped me like you were supposed to, we wouldn’t be in this mess!”

“Helped you? Like you would let me help you,” he gestured wildly to Pip,”how is this going to help you?”

“Tainn!” she snarled, “why are we still talking about this?”

This defiant streak in Tainn had begun to wear on her nerves. He had always been so obedient before, but as the day of her plan drew closer she could tell Tainn had been having second thoughts. He was growing soft. Perhaps she should have saved her brother, after all.

“I thought you loved me,” she whispered.

“Savan…I do-”

“You promised me, you promised me that you love me and that you’d do anything for me.”

“Savan I do love you. I’m-I’m sorry. Please, forgive me.”

She didn’t answer, but she smirked to herself, glad that she had regained control. Instead, she changed the subject entirely:

“We need to get out of here and find a place to stay. Some place where they won’t ask too many questions. Like it or not, Tainn, you’re in this until the end.”

“I know,” Tainn murmured.

* * *

Tainn had been in love with Savan Athan ever since he had laid eyes on her. He could remember the day as though it had just been yesterday. They were teens, still in high school…still young and with bright futures. Tainn had aspirations of joining the varsity swim team, so he spent every spare moment in the community pool, trying to shave seconds off of his lap time. He had just finished his breaststroke when he looked up to see a little redhead sitting on the edge of the pool.

He was immediately taken with her. She was pretty and smiling and seemed like no other girl he had ever met before. He swam up to her and tried to speak with her. He stumbled over the words with his nervous tongue. Finally, she glanced down to him and said hello.

“H-hey,” he said.

“I don’t know you, do you go to Riverview High?”

He shook his head, “N-no, I’m in private school.”

“Oh,” she said softly.

It seemed like the conversation had come to an immediate standstill. He cursed his sudden case of nerves. He had to be bold, daring; after all, if she rejected him and he made a fool out of himself its not like they would see each other at school, right? He cleared his throat.

“So, what are you doing here?”

She fixed him with a glare, “am I not allowed to be here or something? Last I checked this was the community pool.”

“No, no that’s not what I meant. I mean uhm, what are you up to today…at the pool?”

“Oh,” she said, her face softening, “I’m meeting my best friend here. She promised me we’d get to hang out today, it’s been a long time. She’s been really busy lately.”

She said busy like someone would say a dirty or mean word. Tainn wanted to ask, but knew better than to pry.

“I see, well…what time is she supposed to get here?”

She scowled, “fifteen minutes ago. But, she’ll be here! She has to be.”

She whispered the last part like she was saying a prayer. She seemed to desperately want her friend to show up. As though this was something that was vital to her existence.

“Oh. Well, if you want, I can keep you company while you wait.”

She set her jaw and shook her head, “no, she will be here.”

Tainn shrugged and bade her farewell before turning back to finish his laps. It hadn’t gone as he had hoped, but he was confident that he could speak to her again once her friend arrived. He took a deep breath and dove down underneath the surface of the water.

Two laps later I looked up. The girl was still sitting on the edge of the pool, but her smile had darkened into a glower. Still, she waved him away. So he turned back and did four more laps. As he rose from the water he could see her wiping her eyes. He looked up to the clock on the wall above the doorway. It had been over an hour and her friend still hadn’t shown up. Tainn swam over to the side of the pool and propped himself up on the side.

“Are you okay?”

“Fine, just peach keen,” she muttered.

“I’m sorry your friend didn’t show up. Can I do something for you? Maybe take you to lunch?”

“What, like a date?”

“Yeah…like a date.”

From there, their relationship developed at a rapid rate. They never officially gave each other any titles, which pleased Savan. She had a problem with titles and pressure, Tainn knew. However, he still referred to Savan has his girlfriend in his head. She never talked about about her friend though, the one that had not shown up at the pool. Tainn knew that it was bothering her, but he had learned quickly with Savan that prying was never a good idea. She hated it when he asked her questions, especially when she was upset. She’d never struck him, but he had seen her fists balled at her sides too many times to be naive enough to think her incapable.

It wasn’t until a few months into the relationship that Tainn heard the first news of Savan’s friend. Savan had sought him out one day after school. In fact, she had been waiting by the door to his school for him to come out. He wondered how early she’d had to leave school in order to get to his before the dismissal bell rang. She had been crying, Tainn could tell. As she saw him she ran up to him and threw her arms around his neck.

She refused to speak at first. Instead she just buried her head into his shoulder and sobbed her heart out. All Tainn knew to do was rub her back comfortingly and hope to God he could help her in some way. Finally, she lifted her head from his shoulder and whispered in his ear:

“She’s gone, Tainn. Johanna is gone.”

From that day on, their relationship changed. Every time Tainn would lean in to kiss Savan she would hold him at bay for a moment and ask him if he loved her. He’d always reply with yes, he’d hate to think of what would happen if he said ‘no’. Besides, he did love Savan, didn’t he? He cared for her, that much he knew…how hard of a leap was it to love?

After a week of her doing this, Savan started to initiate more contact with him, more than she ever had before. She’d run her hand up his thigh, causing his pubescent body to react instantly. She’d smirk at him and then whisper to him:

“Would you do anything for me?”

At the moments whenever she did this, Tainn could honestly answer that he would do anything in the world for it to continue. He was only human, after all and a teenager. Still, the contact never went any further than just light caresses and casual touches. It was enough to drive him absolutely batty.

One night, about two weeks after Savan started teasing him, she gave him the biggest surprise of all. He had been asleep in his bed, dreaming about something inconsequential when a noise suddenly roused him from his sleep.

She was standing next to his bed, clad only in a red silk nighty. He immediately felt the familiar stirring between his legs. He cleared his throat a little, and tried to cover his growing problem with his bedsheet.

“Savan?” he whispered desperately hoping his parents hadn’t heard the noise that woke him, “what are you doing here?”

She said nothing and instead pushed him back on to the bed. She climbed on top of him and straddled his body. Tainn pretended not to notice how the silk garment dipped in front, allowing him a pretty nice view. Savan eyed him and smiled her sweet smile. It was the smile that Tainn had come to know well, her honey smile that got her anything she wanted.

“You love me, right Tainn?” she asked trailing her fingers down his chest.

“Y-y-yes,” he stammered, struggling to form coherent thoughts as all the blood rushed from his brain.

“You’d do anything for me, right Tainn?” as she asked, she shifted her hips on top of his torso, grinding into him.

“Yes!”

“Would you die for me, Tainn?”

That was a new one. It frightened Tainn to hear her ask such a question, enough so it almost snapped him out of his lust induced coma…almost. As she asked, Savan took his hands and lifted them to her chest. She placed them gingerly on her breasts. Tainn’s body shook with lust and crazed hormones. In that moment, he would die a thousand times for Savan.

“Yes, I would die for you, Savan.”

She smirked and bent down to kiss him. This kiss had been different from all of their other kisses. Before, Savan had always been a little warm…a little caring. As much as she could manage. Tainn knew that she had trouble with getting close to people and that she was afraid of getting hurt, especially after her best friend had rejected her. What Tainn did not realize, however, was the little bit of news Savan had received right before coming over to his house. It was the piece of news that changed the course of both of their lives forever:

Johanna had died.

Sure, Savan had started her brainwashing of Tainn as soon as Johanna had been sent away. But it was the death of her best friend that spurned her to make sure she controlled everyone and everything in her life. What Tainn also did not realize was that the moment that Savan had heard the news of her best friend’s death in childbirth no less, she had closed her heart off forever. Now, to her, Tainn was just a pawn. A pawn that needed to be trained. What better way to train a man than through the organ he thought with?

The only moral dilemma in the entire situation was whether or not this made her as much of a whore as Johanna. She decided not. This wasn’t about sex or love or pleasure…this was about getting what she wanted and letting nothing stand in her way. She was angry at the world and everyone in it…she was out of control and nothing…nothing would ever make her stop.

That night, Savan lost her virginity and Tainn lost his innocence.

**********

So I didn’t really have a lot of ideas on where to push the plot, but I thought some background on the characters would be nice. I think my Savan is a bit darker than everyone else’s, but there’s just how I see her. >.>

 

 

Randal got back to the house, and Veronica wasn’t there, thank god.

He quickly scribbled her a note, and hopped into his car, breaking any and all traffic laws.

Randal ran to the front of the building, and George was already there. He waved him over.

Randal rushed over, panting.

“Randal, come inside,” George said.

He headed into the police department, and Randal followed.

“This way, come straight back to my desk,” He said over his shoulder.

They walked down a hallway, passing multiple doors, until they reached his workplace.

“Sit,” George said.

Randal sat in the chair, still on edge about Pip’s kidnapping.

“I searched through the data base for the description you gave me, and I found several who I think might match up.”

George handed him a stack of files.

The first few weren’t ever close, but I opened the last one, and there she was.

“This is her!” He exclaimed.

“She’s got a house in Riverview, her name is Savan,” George said.

“She told me it was Roxy, but I guess that makes sense,” Randal muttered.

“Look, I will take a patrol out now, if she is still in town, we WILL get her!”

“All forces to 600 Ely Road,” He spoke into his radio.

They hopped into his patrol car, and then they sped off.

They pulled up to the house, followed by another squad car.

“Stay in the car,” George ordered hopping out of the car.

Two men got out of the other, and they all ran to the front of the house.

“Come out with your hands up!” George yelled.

——————————-

Savan and Tainn were sitting on  the couch, when suddenly there were noises outside.

He pulled away.

“Did you hear something?” Tainn asked worriedly.

“Relax, there is NOTHING to worry about!” Savan replied. “He doesn’t know my real name. He’ll never find us!”

“Savan Athan, come out with your hands up. We know you’re in there,” A voice sounded outside.

“Fuck.”

“Pick up, pick up.” Randall growled into the mouthpiece. Fear, panic, and utter disbelief had set his nerves on end. He bounced on the soles of his feet, pacing agitatedly back and forth across the lawn. Every cell in his body ached to run, to try and catch his daughter’s kidnappers, but Randall wasn’t stupid. He couldn’t outrun a car. Even an old clunky one. But when the ringing went on and on without so much as an answering machine to interrupt, he could stand to stay in one place no longer.

Knowing it was foolish, Randall broke into a run anyway. He tore down the sidewalk, desperate. If I can reach the corner before the taillights disappear, I can save Pip.

It was a stupid and foolish hope, but Randall was a firm believer in the idea that somewhere, some how, it was possible to take control of your own fate and do the impossible. Not that bargaining ever worked. Still, Randall couldn’t help but try.

Randall pumped his arms and legs even harder, stumbling over his own feet with the ferocity of his speed.

Faster!

He had never been a marathon runner. He had never been much of a runner period. Already this short sprint was taking its toll on him. His leg muscles were screaming in protest and his lungs were burning but he didn’t care. Nothing else mattered except for Pip. What kind of a father would he be if he didn’t at least try to save her himself?

But when he at last reached the street corner, the taillights had long since disappeared as he had known that they would. He could not outrun a car and no amount of bargaining would ever change that.

He stood on the street corner for a minute, staring forlornly at the direction the vehicle had taken. Pip was… gone. He couldn’t believe it. One minute he had been tucking his beautiful daughter in to bed and the next…

What kind of a father am I? Randall wondered. Surely the answer was not a good one. How could he have been so stupid? Trusting strangers – particularly in his home – had never been high up on his list of things to do. He had had a serious lapse in judgment. Well at least Veronica will be happy now. He thought bitterly.

His wife had never loved Pip. How could she, when the little girl was not only not her daughter but her birth was due to an extramarital affair? Veronica, for reasons unknown, hadn’t divorced Randall when Pip had been delivered on their doorstep but she had always held his unfaithfulness over his head no matter how many times he’d apologized. Why didn’t I ever leave her? Randall wondered. He wasn’t happy with Veronica. He had been happy with – no.

Don’t go there. He warned himself. He had managed to ignore these feelings for over two years and he wasn’t about to delve into them now. Not when Pip had been kidnapped.

He wandered aimlessly, determinedly trying not to think about… well… anything but Pip. He knew this was wrong, that he should be moving with greater urgency. All hope was not lost. If he hurried, the cops could be after the car in a heartbeat. But his mind was clouded, foggy, with emotions threatening to drown him.

Randall sank to the ground, ignoring the wet grass, and hugged his knees. I’m a horrible father. I’m so sorry, Johanna.

———————————————–

“What did you hope to accomplish?” Tainn asked coldly. Savan had never heard such ice in his voice. “You’re so impulsive, I can’t believe you would endanger us this way.”

“Quit whining.” Savan snapped. “I had to do this.”

“Kidnapping her daughter won’t bring her back, sis.” Heath said softly. Her brother looked anxiously between Tainn and Savan. Tainn was the leader of this trio but they all knew that Savan was the one who truly pulled the strings.

“I know that.” Savan hissed. “Why would I want her back? She was such a whore. She’s better off dead.”

“Then why did you take her daughter?” Tainn asked, still angry. “If you hate her so much, why did you do it?”

“Let’s get inside.” Savan said abruptly. “Standing around  yelling won’t help any of us.”

———————————————–

Something was buzzing inside his pocket. At first, Randall scarcely noticed the vibration. It was insignificant. But as the buzzing continued, awareness slowly dawned on him.

“GEORGE!” Randall cried, pressing the talk button.

“Hey! Sorry I missed your call earlier. What’s up Ra—”

“PIP’S BEEN KIDNAPPED!!!” Randall screamed. Suddenly, the enormity of what had happened came crashing down on Randall’s shoulders. Pip. His daughter. His only connection to her. She was gone. Taken by some psycho woman who’d tricked him.

“What?” George yelped. “When did this happen?”

“I don’t know.” He admitted sheepishly, his fear temporarily blocked out by embarrassment. “I called you as soon as it happened then I ran after them. They got away and I kind of lost it.”

There was silence for a moment. “You called me… crap, Randall, you called me at least an hour ago! Why didn’t you call the cops?!”

“You’re a cop.” Randall pointed out.

George sighed. “Yes, I’m a cop but I’m not the only cop in Riverview.”

“Look. I messed up. I know that. Now are you going to help me get my little girl back or not?” Randall fought to keep his voice steady. Hot tears were welling up in his eyes and his throat had grown tight.

There was a rush of static as George sighed. “Look, Randall, it’s not going to be easy. The trail might have gone cold by now.”

Randall listened with a growing sense of dread. “No, George, don’t say that.” He pleaded.

“There’s not much I can do,” George said quietly. “But if we move quickly, we might be able to assemble a squad to look for her. This is going to be hard for you.”

“I’ll do anything for Pip.” Randall vowed. “Having Pip snatched from right under my nose… that’s hard. Rescuing her… no matter what you ask me to do, it won’t be too hard. The sky’s the limit, George. What do you need me to do?”

“You need to come to the station. Now. We need to get a description of her kidnappers circulating. I’ll meet you there.”

Click. The line went dead.

Randall shoved the phone into his pocket and set off at a brisk jog toward his house. Hopefully Veronica wasn’t home. He didn’t fancy having to explain what had happened or where he was going. Not now.

Don’t worry Pip. Daddy’s coming.

———————————————–

Savan watched as Tainn unfurled one of the sleeping bags they used whenever they couldn’t come home. Fine. If he wanted to be childish, so be it. She didn’t care. More room for her on the bed.

She watched the three of them, Heath on the too-small couch and Tainn and the baby curled up in the sleeping bag, for several minutes. Savan couldn’t stand children. Especially toddlers. They were disgusting, useless creatures and this one was especially repulsive.

Why did I kidnap her then? Savan wondered. Tainn was right. Her scheming had been born out of pure impulse. Her plans had not materialized past kidnapping the girl.

Savan curled up on her side, glowering at the slumbering toddler’s face. When the baby’s eyes were closed, Savan could almost imagine it’s face belonging to someone else. Someone she had known a long, long time ago…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Savan hadn’t always been a heartless bitch. She could remember the day she’d met Johanna quite clearly. It had been sunny with hardly a cloud in the sky. It had also been her third day in Sunset Valley. Unfamiliar with the sights and the sounds, Savan had decided to explore her new home. That’s when she spotted her.

Good with names and faces, Savan immediately recognized the people in the park. The boy in the sweater was Jeffery Castor, one of the richer boys in the city. Savan assumed the people with him were his family. The girl in the yellow sweater was Johanna Marin. They were in the same grade and had two classes together.

Judging by the way Johanna kept sneaking glances at Jeffery and then quickly looking away, Savan guessed that the girl had a crush on the boy. Quite possibly unrequited. That or Jeffery didn’t know that Johanna existed.

Eager to make friends, Savan decided to intervene. Johanna had just stood up, keeping her eyes determinedly on the floor, when Savan approached her.

“Um, excuse me.” Savan said. “I’m new in town and I was wondering if maybe you could show me around?”

“Oh!” Johanna yelped. Her feet shuffled awkwardly and a blush spread across her cheeks. “Um, sure!” She squeaked. “I don’t mind. My name’s Johanna Marin. We have class together, right?”

Savan couldn’t believe her ears. Everything about this girl screamed shy. From the way her large glasses hid half of her face, the way she blushed when anyone noticed her, and the closed in way she held herself. If anyone was the right person to change this girl, it was going to be Savan.

“Oh thank you so much!” Savan gushed. “I’m Savan and we’re in history and language arts together.”

Johanna smiled a timid smile. “I-it’s a pleasure to meet you, Savan.”

“Likewise.” Savan said. “You’re not busy, are you? I guess it was kind of rude of me to ask you to show me around without checking first.”

“Oh, no. Not at all,” Johanna said. But Savan noticed how her eyes flickered toward Jeffery and his family once before answering and once afterward. “I’m more than happy to show you around.”

“Who are you looking at?” Savan asked, feigning ignorance.

Johanna paled. “No one!” She answered quickly. Too quickly. “I was just wondering where I should take you first.”

“You were looking at that boy, weren’t you?” Savan asked, a sly smile spreading across her face. Okay so maybe Savan had been a bit of a bitch in her youth. “Do you like him?”

“I, um, uh,” Johanna stammered, blushing. Her ice blue eyes seemed even bluer against the beet red contrast of Johanna’s skin. Savan took that as a resounding yes.

“You could do so much better than Jeffery Castor.” Savan whispered. “But I’ll help you out with him.”

“Um, th-that’s not necessary—”

She abruptly turned and raised her voice. “Hey! Jeffery!”

“No!” Johanna whimpered, quickly hiding her face in her hands. Savan wondered briefly if she had done the wrong thing. Perhaps she’d alienated this girl in two seconds flat. She hesitated. That’s not what she had wanted.

It was too late to take anything back though.

“Hello!” Jeffery Castor said with a smile. He raised his hand in greeting. Huh. Maybe the rumors she’d heard about Jeffery being a total ass weren’t true after all. “You’re the new girl, right? It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Maybe he was being nice because his family was nearby? Either way, Savan was determined to make sure this meeting went smoothly.

“That’s me. New girl. But I called you over because my friend Johanna over here wanted to talk to you.” Savan said, smoothly gesturing toward the blonde girl. Johanna had taken refuge hiding behind Savan.

Jeffery peeked around Savan’s shoulder and smiled gently.

“You’re Johanna Marin, right?” Jeffery asked, holding out his hand. Johanna took it shakily.

“Y-y-yes.” She stammered.

“We have yearbook together!” Jeffery said suddenly. “That’s where I know you from. Do you need help with your pictures?”

Although the conversation had turned into a semi-interrogation, Savan felt pleased as she wandered toward a bench to wait. Johanna was staring at the ground, the blush high on her cheeks, as she stammered out the answers to Jeffery’s questions. Hmm… maybe this Jeffery just wasn’t the guy for Johanna. Their personalities seemed totally different.

The talk didn’t last long and Johanna seemed extremely flustered when Jeffery at last returned to his family. “S-so h-h-h-how about that tour, Savan?” She asked.

Savan beamed. Either Johanna was determined to act like nothing had happened or she was really nice. Savan opted to go for the latter. She stood up and stretched. “That would be nice, thanks.”

Even if they don’t wind up friends or anything, at least I’ll have helped her realize he’s not for her. Savan thought cheerfully as she followed behind Johanna.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Stupid girl. Savan thought savagely, punching her pillow. Things had changed after that fateful meeting. Savan had befriended Johanna Marin and slowly, the two of them had become closer than two peas in a pod. Johanna shared her knowledge, tutoring Savan in subjects she wasn’t good at while Savan returned the favor by helping Johanna transform from the cripplingly shy girl into a girl who embraced her beauty and became one of the most sought after girls in their grade level.

Johanna had gotten the chance she’d wanted with Jeffery. The two had dated for almost a year when Johanna broke things off. Jeffery was just as bad as everyone had said. He was a controlling, dominating jerk and Savan had even beaten him up when Johanna cried about him hitting her.

But now… all these years later, she almost wished that Johanna had just stayed with Jeffery Castor. Things would have turned out differently if she had done that. You turned into a whore! I wish I’d never met you!

Johanna’s newfound confidence didn’t mesh well with her father. She began dating and he was furious. Savan wanted to help but Johanna refused to talk to her about her problems. She grew increasingly withdrawn, her cheeks growing hollow and her eyes dulling. But still, she refused to explain why. Eventually, her father sent her away to a boarding school, leaving Savan alone.

Later, when Savan learned that Johanna had been sent away because she’d gotten pregnant at the tender age of seventeen! How could you? Savan had cried when she heard the news. What monster had she created? Nine months later, Johanna had given birth to her baby, a little girl. But while the girl was healthy, Johanna suffered the consequences. She died in childbirth.

How could you do this to me? I was your closest friend. You kept secrets from me. You lied to me. You abandoned me.

Savan had never felt more betrayed than that moment. It was then that she had vowed never to grow so close to anyone. Never again. And she would get her revenge. If she couldn’t hurt Johanna, she was going to hurt the next best thing: her daughter.

“Whoa. Who are you, and why are you banging on my door?” Randall stared at the group of kids standing at his door.

The girls eyes widened for a split second before she stumbled into his arms, trembling, “Those- Those boys were chasing me, trying to take my money! I was knocking on other houses but no one answered until you!” Her arms wound around him tightly, “Thank you, thank you!”

 

 

 

Randall glared at the two boys behind her, who looked rather bewildered, and growled, “Get off of my property, or I’ll call the police!”

They backed up slightly, still looking unsure of themselves, until their feet hit the footpath, and they bolted. Randall sighed inwardly, wondering how to extricate himself from this situation, when she stepped inside the doorway and cooed, “Ohhh, is that yours?”

“Papa?” Randall ran a hand through his hair, agitated. Great, somehow Pip had gotten out of her cot again and had come to the front door to see what the matter was.

He walked over and picked her up, giving her a quick cuddle just in case she was feeling unsettled by the sight of a stranger in their house. He turned to the girl, “Yes, Pip is my daughter. Look, I don’t even know your name, but you can probably go home now, I’m sure you’re safe from the boys.” Besides, his wife would be home sometime soon, and he didn’t want it to look like he was playing happy families with another girl while she had been gone. She wasn’t exactly the trusting type, even though she’d never had a reason not to trust him.

The girl bit down on her lip, looking deflated, “Well, my name is .. Roxy.” She paused for a second, “And .. Can I just stay here for a bit? I’m still shaken up, and I don’t want to risk the boys out there waiting for me to come back out just yet. If that’s okay? I don’t want to impose.”

“Sure, I guess. I mean, if you feel that shaken up still. I’m Randall, by the way. I need to get Pip a bottle and put her in her cot, you’ll be okay?”

—

Savan smiled, “I’ll be fine. I’ll just get myself a glass of water, if that’s okay.” Everything was going perfectly. It was a little off course, but it was still going ahead. Randall said that this child, (ugh, children, who’d want them?) was his but she didn’t look like him at all! She looked like her mother. The whore. While Randall was out of the room, she quickly glanced around, wondering exactly how she could carry out the next step in her plan.

“Oh, I forgot your bottle, sweetie. Wait in there while I get it, okay?” Trailed down the hallway and to Sav’s ears, making her lips twitch into a sneer. Seeing the bottle on the counter, she pulled out a little bottle from her pocket and quickly emptied the contents into the bottle, shaking it up before heading down the hall to meet Randall.

He looked surprised to see her there, “Sorry! I heard you mention you’d forgotten your little one’s bottle, and thought I’d bring it to her so you wouldn’t have to walk back and forth!” The sweetness in her voice was enough to make her teeth ache, as it wasn’t something she was used to being.

Giving the bottle to Pip, she smiled again, smug. There. Now she wouldn’t wake up for a long while, which was perfect.

Randall put her in her cot once she was finished and she went straight to sleep. Now, to wait for him to be out of the room. How to do that, though..

Looking over at Randall, she pulled a scared face and slumped a little, “I’m sorry for making you put up with me. I was going to leave after drinking the water, but I thought I saw the boys over behind the house. I-I don’t think I can leave yet.” Tears formed in her eyes, adding to the effect of the scared, fragile woman. Those acting classes had come in handy after all. He frowned and glanced out the bedroom window. “Okay, I’ll go take a look out back, you stay here, okay, Roxy?” Sav nodded, all the while laughing and clapping on the inside. It was all coming together now!

Randall headed out the back door, and Savan counted to ten before picking the heavily dosed and sleeping Pip up, who leaned against her shoulder, then raced out the front door, to the bushes where the two boys were waiting and worrying.

She ran past them, “LEG IT, GUYS!”

—

Randall had searched all around the backyard as darkness fully descended, as well as quickly inspecting the neighbours house, seeing nothing and no-one. He headed back inside. Roxy must just be paranoid, he thought to himself, heading back to the bedroom.

But when he got there, neither Roxy nor his little girl were in there. Worry started to gnaw at his insides. He’d just known something was wrong but he wasn’t able to put his finger on it. Walking quicker, he hurried out the front door in time to hear a car screeching off in a hurry, and  the sound of feminine laughter trailing back to him.

She’d kidnapped his daughter! He picked up his phone and called the only people he could think of …

It was getting late. An uneasiness refused to go away in the pit of his stomach making him pace and watch the windows. He realized how silly it may have seemed, to be checking the windows and doors, watching and waiting for something wrong to happen, but even if he tried, he would be unable to keep his mind off of the unsettling feeling.

“Papa, tired.”

Randal sighed softly as he turned away from the window and looked at his daughter.

He got lost in how much she looked like her mother; the only part of him he could find of himself in the little girl was she retained his rather unusual eye color. The rest was all from her mother.

“Papa, tired.” She said again breaking him out of his thoughts.

“Okay, sweet pea.” he murmured.

He walked over quickly picking her up and carrying her to her crib.

Before she laid her butt down. Pip squeezed his hand a serious look crossing her face, “Papa sleep too.”

“I’ll try, Pip,”Randal smiled kissing the top of her forhead. “Goodnight.”

“Ni-night.” the little girl said, before laying down and closing her eyes. Pip fell asleep instantly.

Randal watched her for a moment before the discomfort in his stomach forced him back into his pacing.

And even though he was tired, he was restless with the feelings of being watched. Of course some may call him paranoid, but with a little one roaming in the house in the stages of getting into everything-

Well, it was always better to be safe then sorry…

______________________________________________________________

Waiting within the depths of the leafy greens and sitting on a rather old swing, a young woman laid in wait. Bright grey eyes penetrated the darkness searching for something. Unblinking and unmoved, the girl almost looked like a statue guarding the house that sat mere yards away.

Savan Athan could wait all night if she had to. A few more hours wouldn’t bother her. She had waited so long for this day; she wasn’t about to let this golden opportunity slip so easily out of her fingers.

A snap of a twig, announced the presence of another being. She didn’t turn around guessing almost instantly whom it would dare guess what she was up to at this time of the night.

“What is it, Heath?”

Her younger brother stepped into her sight, blocking her view of the house and her targets.

“Sister, don’t you think they will be mad?”

A grim smile danced upon her lips as she pretended to think about it. She knew the they’d be mad. Fuming mad with rage and hate. She didn’t doubt that even Tainn, her lover, would pissed at her for what she was about to do, but it was to late to turn back now. She was already here. Her plan was already set in motion.

“I don’t really give a damn if they do, dear brother.” she said her voice rather cold, “All I care about is that they get the message.”

“But-”

“No buts,” she said quickly.

“Please, please… You don’t have to do this…” He tugged on her arm, attempted to get her out of there and back to Tainn. Tainn could talk some sense into her. Tainn could-

No. Tainn couldn’t stop her. Not this time. She was beyond reason at this point. She had planned everything out so well, damn if Heath or Tainn could stop her.

“Sav, please.” Heath said as Savan rose slowly from the swing. “Please, Sav…”

“Go home, Heath.”

“No.”

“Go home.”

“No.” He said blocking her damn view of the house again. “I won’t let you do this.”

“I won’t tell you again.” She snarled, “Go. Home.”

“I can’t let you do this.”

Saven looked at him eyes ice cold. Just try it. she thought but said, “Fine let’s go home.”

“R-really?” His voice quivered, but was slightly hopeful at the prospect of her giving in this easily. He stepped towards her, uncertainty in his eyes.

That uncertainty would be all she’d need to get away. Away from Heath, away from Tainn, and towards what she had come out here. No one would stop her. She need to do this.

“Hell no.” Savan punched him in the cheek not even bothering to look back. She had to get in the house. Get inside, get inside get inside. She ran as fast as she could needing it like she needed air. She might never get another shot at this.

Fuck Tainn. He probably didn’t even care for her. And Heath thought of her as an irritation, she could tell. Tears prickled the corner of her eyes as she rushed towards the door. Her hands reached out clasping the cold medal like some sort of prize.

Too bad it was locked. . .

Savan cursed, twisting the knob once or twice, but still to no anvil.

“Saven, stop!”

She bashed the door with her shoulder ignoring the new voice that called out to her. Shit… She ran her shoulder into the door again, feeling Heath and Tainn closing in on her, both begging her to stop this at once.

Before either of them could grab hold of her, Savan hit the door once last time, but instead of wood, she rushed into warm flesh.

Double shit…