Grounded
CHAPTER 20

Gina could hear nothing safe for a ringing sound in her ears and the footsteps of the killer approaching her. She could not move, he slammed her with such great force against the ground, her body was numb. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks as she saw the killer looking down at her. She felt her organs deaden, she felt claustrophobic as she stared at the blank face of the killer which was barely visible under the dark sky.

"Please." She managed to whisper.

He squatted beside her, and suddenly pulled out a shiny metal blade from his leather boots. Gina swallowed hard as the blade got close to her face.

"Please." She tried to speak up; her heart pounding harder.

He lifted her head by pulling her hair forward, she winced in pain. He put the knife to her throat and made a quick shallow slash with his blade across her throat. She gasped as the air around her became heavier to breathe in, she was too weak to scream. She tried to replace her voice; she fought amongst the suffering and when she could feel her vocal cord respond, she asked him weakly; "Why are you doing this?"

"Good question;" he replied, despite the pain and numbness she felt, she could sense a bit of familiarity in his voice; "you are the smart victim." He told her sitting beside her and sticking his blade into the ground.

"You see; he began narrating; "My brother has tortured me all my life, he has always been the smart one, the one to get everything. Everyone loves him, treats him with love and respect and now this whole city does the same thing since he became the Police Chief. I was there, there when he was appointed as the Police Chief. I swore that day to make his tenure the worst that this city has ever seen, he would feel what it is like to be unimportant, unloved and not desired or respected by anyone. He would feel the void and the constant lack I have felt all my life." He said coldly.

Gina understood at that instance what his troubles were; this was exactly how she felt. She was only surprised that he turned out a homicidal killer for this reason.

"We are alike in many ways." She whispered fading out. Her soul was slowly departing from her body.

"Yada, yada, that's talk for another day if you get to see me again young lady." He picked up his blade again and pointed the tip to her face.

"Type me a message to my mother." She said politely trying to search for her phone with her hand.

The killer chuckled and then roared with laughter.

"I killed my mother; he told her in a whisper, his mouth very close to her ear; "she loved my brother more. I set her on fire, and as she pleaded, I told her to dance and laugh whilst she burns, promising her I'd put off the fire if she did and you know what, I didn't." he cackled loudly.

"Cassidy?" she called out faintly closing her eyes.

He went silent immediately, taken aback that she knew his name. He moved closer to her, trying to place her face as it was dark, and he could barely recognize her.

"I remember the painting on your wall; the woman dancing in the red-hot flames." She stated, her eyes still shut.

"Gina!" he exclaimed putting both of his hands on his head.

She smiled as she recognizes the rush of emotion and the sudden concern. She coughed lightly and let herself breathe peacefully.

"Type me a message to my mother." She muttered again.

"Come on Gina; stay with me, stay with me." He tapped her cheek as he dialed a number to seek help. She heard him stammer on the phone for a few seconds and then heard a beep before she went unconscious.

"Don't move, raise your hand to your head and turn around slowly." Cassidy heard as he ended the call. He could recognize Monte's voice even though it had been over ten years since they last saw or spoke to each other. He lifted his hands above his head, began to turn around slowly and like a flash of lightening, he broke into a run.

Monte was confused for a second; he casted his eyes on Gina's body and charged after the Cassidy. He chased him with his pistol ahead of him waiting for the perfect aim and right time to fire his shot. Cassidy ran to a fence and lifted himself to jump over the fence and at that moment, Monte shot at him. The bullet pierced his leg sending him to the floor with a loud thud; Monte ran up to meet with him, he was taking no chances this time. He turned on the security lamp he drew out from his pocket to see the killer's face.

"Cassidy!" he exclaimed as he dropped the security lamp to the ground and fell on his knees in utter dismay.

"Hello brother; we meet again." Cassidy replied amidst short breaths, his hand on his leg; he was in pain.

"I left everything for you so that you could be happy. All of my inheritance, you took; why wouldn't you leave me alone?" Monte asked dejectedly.

"Because you're not miserable yet that's why; Cassidy shot back raising his voice; "I'm still the one hiding in the shadows, too scared to walk in the daylight. You're still out there making waves, getting loved and respected and making a name for yourself. I don't have that; I've never had that." He shouted in frustration as tears ran down his cheeks.

The police siren could be heard few steps away from them; Monte stood to his feet and wore a firm look to prevent anyone from replaceing out what was wrong. He pointed his security lamp in their direction to call their attention. Some Policemen ran in the direction of the light with guns and handcuffs. Monte pointed to Cassidy and left the scene. He saw men and women from the paramedics moving Gina on a stretcher to the ambulance. He ran over to her, she was conscious but weak and tired; he stopped abruptly when he saw Andrew, Galena, and an older woman whom he presumed to be her mother by her side.

He remembered how he had ordered for Ken's arrest and how he had kept him locked in a cell for days. He entered into one of the vans and drove to the Police Station.

"Gina." Her mother called to her sobbing.

Gina smiled at her and kissed the back of her palm.

"We love you Gina; we'll be there for you through all this and even forever." Galena said to her, tears welled up in her eyes.

"I was going to inform you that I had started taking medications and I am a better man now, but I could not get to you. I'm glad you are my sister." Andrew chirped in.

"You're the strongest of all my children Gina, I know you'll survive this. I'll be waiting for you to come back to me. This time, all of you." Her mother added as the ambulance tugged shut and began its journey to the hospital.

"I'm so sorry Ken; it was stupid of me to think that it was you." Monte panted as he unlocked the cuffs that restrained him.

Ken smiled weakly and walked into his open arms, he patted Ken at the back and walked with him to his office. The sight of Marie and Michael sleeping peacefully greeted them as they entered the office.

"He is my son; that was why I was with Sharon that night. When she absconded, she took him with her, I was worried, but I could not speak up because he was a product of an illicit affair.

I only wanted to replace out he was fine." Ken confessed bowing his head in shame.

Monte buried himself in his office chair and exhaled; "I don't even know who I am anymore." He said casually, he had had enough for one night and wasn't even taken aback anymore.

"I'm not asking to have him. You're a better father than I will ever be, besides you love him so much and he grew up calling you father. I would not want to take that away; I just want to always know that he is in good hands and I do know that now." He concluded exiting the office.

Gina closed her eyes peacefully for the first time her life, she understood why there was a chemistry between Cassidy and herself, they had the same yearning, same vacuum, same empty space that could not be filled up except by love from family. They had the same kind of darkness in their hearts; they were consumed by envy and discontent. She was glad that she saw the light before the darkness swallowed her up. She knew that Monte would be satisfied, he would finally get to keep his job as Police Chief and learn to love his wife through their son. She saw death but it came to bring her life; she swore as she was being driven to the hospital to love her life until she draws her last breath.