Gary Hobson

 

                                                          When Terror Strikes Part 16

                                                                                                              By:  Stacy L.

 

 

Toni Brigatti was preparing to settle down and relax for the evening when her phone rang. She had half a notion to just let it ring not wanting to be disturbed when she finally managed to find some private time to think over what has been going on her life. She listened to it ring once then twice determined not to answer it when something inside herself urged her to do so. The phone call might just be important so without thought she grabbed up the phone halfway through its third shrill ring answering, "Hello?"

 

"Toni Brigatti, please."

 

Toni wondered who was calling her. She knew the voice but couldn't quite place it so she continued, "This is her. How can I help you?"

 

"Oh thank heavens! I'm sorry to be calling you so late but...it's about Gary..."

 

Gary...bingo...it was Marissa Clark. Why was she calling about Gary? Toni swallowed hard wondering what reason Miss Clark would have for calling her so late in the evening. Was Gary all right? She felt her body tense as her mind flashed to several different reasons Marissa could be calling her. She pushed those thoughts away as she questioned, "Gary? Miss Clark..."

 

"Yes."

 

Toni felt her insides clench up and twist as sudden fear engulfed her. She sensed that this message wasn't going to be pleasant just by the sound of Marissa's strained voice. Oh God, what was wrong now? The woman continued, "I... Gary hasn't returned home yet. I know I shouldn't be worried, but...he's in danger. I know he is. I can't tell you how I know just that I do. I didn't know whom else to call. I'm..."

 

He was in trouble? Those were the words she definitely did not want to hear. She said that Gary hasn't showed up. She knew how strange that was for Gary always checked in with Marissa. She asked, "When did you last see him?"

 

"Seven...this morning."

 

Seven? And he hadn't called or contacted her since? That definitely meant that Gary Hobson was in some kind of trouble. She felt her heart skip a beat as fear threatened to claim her. She had to push those feelings aside. Gary was fine. She continued, "Where was he going?"

 

"He told me he'd be in Grant Park this evening. Miss Brigatti..."

 

"Uh Toni, please."

 

"Toni, he's in danger. He said he would be back but he hasn't showed up or even called. He was supposed to meet with Miss Riley this evening and..."

 

"Armstrong's supposed to be keeping an eye on him."

 

"I tried calling him, but I didn't get an answer."

 

"All right. I'll look into it then give you a call."

 

"Thank you."

 

"Sure." 

 

After Toni hung up the phone her dream came back to her in frightening detail...Gary calling out her name, reaching for her hand...their fingers almost touching before he was gone in a flash, gone in an instant...leaving her alone in the darkness...scared, afraid and certain that he was dead. NO! 

 

She was certain that Gary was in danger. She jerked her head up when a shrill meow pierced the air. When her eyes fell to Gary's cat now looking at her intently she paled visibly. She didn't even realize the impossibility of the cat's presence in her home all she knew was that Gary was in serious jeopardy and all she could hear was his whispered plea echoing in her mind: 'Toni help me. Please, you must help me...'

 

Oh God, she had to go! She quickly dressed and darted for her door hoping that she could locate Gary. She remembered Marissa telling her that he was heading to Grant Park so without thought she set a course for that park hoping and praying that she would not arrive too late for she had no idea how but she knew deep down inside that Gary was in real danger and if she didn't get to him on time...her dream just might become reality. NO!

 

                                                                       * * * * * *

Gary continued to watch Wallis not liking the way the man continued to keep that gun pressed to Amanda's head. This situation was definitely not good. He focused on the man as Wallis spoke again breaking the tense silence with his menacing accusations towards Amanda, "You see what you make me do, honey? I didn't want this to happen but it has. If you would have stayed with me then things would be fine. Now I have to punish you. Do you remember what I told you would happen if you ran from me? DO YOU?"

 

Amanda tensed even more swallowing hard trying to keep her fear and worry at bay. All she could think about was how she managed to drag Gary into her messed up life, if she had never spoken to him or allowed him in then he wouldn’t be in danger. She had exposed him to danger just by associating with him and now her ex-husband was ready to take his revenge on both of them. He seemed to believe that they had some sort of a sordid affair going on or something. She knew how jealous Wallis could get and she knew just how dangerous that jealousy could make the man now threatening to destroy her. As he yelled in her ear she jumped inhaling sharply. She forced herself to focus on Gary wanting to warn him away. She noticed him step closer and wanted to order him to leave but Gary seemed determined to stay and help her no matter the risks to his own life.  Jack must've also picked up on Gary's slight movement for he wasted little time tightening his hold even more on her body and glaring at him. 

 

Gary knew that he had to do something. This situation was getting out of hand fast and if he didn't act... As Wallis spoke to Amanda he felt his anger begin to increase. How dare the man who spent how many years threatening to kill her, beating her up, abusing her and stalking her stand there with a gun and accuse her of bringing all this on herself. He knew he had to calm down even though Jack Wallis was making him both sick and outraged. As Wallis yelled in Amanda's ear he took another step closer freezing in place when Wallis cast those heartless eyes his way. How could a man be so...so corrupt and evil? How? Gary focused intently on Amanda feeling her fear and worry emanating from her in waves. Oh God, she was so scared and yet so strong. He tensed as Wallis spoke to her again, "What did I tell you would happen if you ran from me?"

 

"That...that you would kill...kill me."

 

"Very good, Samantha."

 

Gary noticed her visibly shake when her...husband addressed her by a different name obviously Samantha had changed her name to Amanda...probably to make it harder for her husband to track her. Unfortunately, he succeeded in finding her again.

 

He really didn't like the way things were going now. He had to do something. If he could, at least, get her to safety then things would be fine. He started to interrupt when Wallis cut him off, "You know how it hurts me to have to punish you, Samantha. I love you but when you misbehave I must punish you. You ran from me and you will now pay the price for doing so just close your eyes sweetheart. This won't hurt a bit. You won't feel any pain only release. I promise you that this is for your own good."

 

Amanda clenched her eyes tightly shut preparing for the gun to end her life, but as the gun fired she felt nothing. She jumped and screamed but felt nothing else, no pain and no agony. She wondered if this was how dying felt. Surely if she had been shot in the head she wouldn't even have the time to ponder, would she? Was this really how death felt? 

 

As a loud painful scream pierced her hearing she felt her heart lodge in her throat and skip a beat. The scream wasn't her own...that scream belonged to another...oh God...God...NO! As she snapped her eyes open she prayed that she wouldn't see what she was certain was there. As her eyes searched for Gary she found him feeling dizziness and desperation sweep through her as she saw the man who dared to help her and protect her, the man who dared to unselfishly risk his life to save hers on more than one occasion sink to his knees before them bleeding profusely from his left side, his face now pale and drawn back in pain as an ever widening splotch of blood continued to stain his shirt. She started to fight against her ex-husband's restraining hold on her body. She fought him and screamed wanting desperately to get to Gary's side and help him. Oh God please no! Don't let this happen! Don't let him die! NO! Her husband was caught off guard by her struggles and she managed to break free of the hold running to Gary and lowering beside him. He was trying to sit up clutching his hand tightly over the wound in his side, looking as if he were in shock and fighting the encompassing blackness that was threatening to take him.

 

Gary sensed that Wallis was about to make his move and without thought lounged at the man but before he reached him he heard a gun fire and felt a sudden nagging pain lancing and searing up through his left side. He felt his legs buckle beneath him and started falling before he even realized that Wallis had shot him. As he fell to the ground he struggled to remain alert. He had to help Amanda or her husband would abduct her and beat her yet again. He forced himself to sit up clutching desperately at his side feeling warm moisture spilling down over his hand trying his hardest not to think about just what the source of that moisture was. When blackness threatened to seize him he fought it back feeling hands suddenly on his body, touching him, attempting to still his efforts at rising. Those hands on his body brought him back to complete alertness forcing him to focus on what was now happening. When he saw Amanda at his side attempting to help him he shook his head violently no forcing one word through clenched teeth, "Run."

 

"No, no...I won't leave you. No Gary. You need my help."

 

Gary had no time to argue with her. He caught sight of his assailant and could see that the initial shock was wearing off of Wallis' face. He knew that she had precious few seconds remaining to get away. He bit back a cry of pain as his side started to burn incessantly throbbing and aching as the pain tried to completely over take him. He reached out towards Amanda seizing her wrist in his bloodied hand feeling his grip slipping but refusing to yield the hold. He had to make her go now before it was too late. He continued, "Think of your son...Go. You have to go. Now Amanda...run. RUN! Don't look back and don't you dare stop do you hear me? You have to go. You need to get out of here. Go. NOW! RUN!"

 

She paused caught in a dilemma...should she run or should she stay? What would happen if she stayed? What would happen if she left? She wanted to stay with him but saw the determination and desperation in those vivid green eyes of his. She saw the pleading and the fear in his eyes and she knew that she had to do as he told her. She had no choice so with tears in her eyes she gently kissed his cheek before saying, "I'm so sorry, Gary."

 

"Go."

 

She nodded then turned from him and took off running. Gary sent a quick prayer up above for her safe escape. He then forced himself to his feet noticing Wallis snap out of his shock before taking aim at his wife. Gary didn't hesitate as he lounged at Wallis ignoring the ever-increasing agony in his side as he knocked Wallis' gun hand away from Amanda. The gun fired but the bullet sailed uselessly into a nearby tree. Wallis then turned back and angrily lashed out at Gary cracking him across the head with his gun and sending him sprawling into the dirt.

 

Amanda screamed as she heard the gun firing again. She stopped to look through the tears now practically blinding her. She saw Gary attack her husband then saw her husband strike Gary. As Gary fell to the ground her tears continued to flow down her face in streams. She wanted to help him caught between her need to flee and her need to help Gary. As she noticed Gary glancing her way she knew she had to keep running or Gary's suffering would be for nothing. She turned from the scene running as fast as her legs could carry her. She could barely see as she ran fast and hard not daring to look back again. In her frenzied run she failed to see the woman who was heading towards the sounds of those gunshots until she collided with her. She screamed and pulled backwards feeling her panic overwhelm her. It wasn't until she heard the familiar voice of Armstrong telling her to calm down, telling her that she was safe and all right that she realized the police were here. She felt relieved and quickly said, "There...up there...he's shot...he's..."

 

"Who? Who Miss Riley? Who?"

 

"Gary...Gary...he's...oh God I didn't...he's..."

 

Brigatti felt her heart leap to her throat as she said, "Oh my God, Gary!"

 

Without thought she took off running as fast as she could to the top of the hill Amanda had just appeared from. She could hear Armstrong assuring the woman again and urging her to relax but her mind was only focused on one thing and that was finding and helping Gary. When she crested the hill she saw Wallis ordering an obviously dazed Hobson to his feet. Wallis' sinister voice floated up to her, "Now Hobson! I don't have all night! Get up! I want the privilege of killing you face to face."

 

She watched in horror as Gary shakily rose to his feet clutching his left side and shaking his head as if to clear it. She felt relieved as sirens sounded and squad cars arrived on the scene but her relief was short-lived, for Wallis wasted little time reacting to the arrival of the police as he grabbed Gary spinning him to face the police and pulling him firmly against his body to use him as a human shield. Oh God! She felt her fear increase as Wallis then placed the barrel of his gun against Gary's temple, obviously planning to use Gary as a hostage. SHIT!

 

Gary heard Wallis' angry voice through the ever-encroaching fog his mind was now being cast into. He tried to think, tried to focus but the pain in his side and now in his head made clear thought nearly impossible. He heard Wallis order him to rise and somehow managed to rise shakily to his feet. He knew that blackness was going to descend upon him at any moment. He hoped and prayed that Amanda had managed to escape and was certain that she had if the anger and rage in Wallis' voice was any indication. As he attempted to remain upright while his head started to swim and his vision wavered in and out of focus he swore he could hear the sound of approaching sirens.

 

He heard the menacing voice of his soon-to-be murderer as he ordered him to stand up so he could shoot him face to face. The sounds of sirens grew louder and bright lights began to flash before his eyes. He wasn't sure if those bright lights were from the police cars now pulling up around them or from his mind shutting down and pushing him towards unconsciousness. He no sooner rose to his feet when he was suddenly grabbed and pulled against a hard warm body. He inhaled shakily as he felt an arm constricting around his body and felt the cold hard metal of a gun barrel being pressed to his temple. He tried to make sense of what was happening around him but blackness filled his vision again and he knew that he was losing consciousness fast. He heard that menacing voice ordering someone to stay back and snapped his eyes open again forcing himself to remain alert. What he saw made him feel very uneasy. He tried to resist groaning as the arm around his body only tightened adding more pressure to the wound to his side and causing bright light to again flash before his eyes. His ears began to ring loudly and incessantly informing him that he would soon black out.

 

Wallis was determined to escape even if he had to use his enemy to do so. He wasted little time gaining control of the obviously dazed Gary Hobson using him as his means of escape. As the police surrounded them he glared coldly at them pressing the gun to the man's head prepared to shoot him if necessary to gain his escape. He ordered, "Stay back! Stay the fuck back or I'll kill him!"

 

The officers held still keeping their guns aimed on the two men now before them. No one made a move. They were at an obvious stand still. Wallis jerked his head up when Gary mumbled "Give up. You have no escape...they'll kill you."

 

"SHUT UP!"

 

"You can still make a choice here, Jack. Make the right choice..."

 

"I SAID SHUT UP!"

 

Gary groaned as Wallis tightened his hold and began to step backwards dragging him with him and showing no mercy as he kept the gun pressed painfully against Gary's temple. Gary knew that he had little choice here. He had to talk some sense into the man or they might both die this night so he tried again, "You have no where else to go. You're surrounded... Where are you...going to go?"

 

"SHUT UP!"

 

Gary sensed that the man was beginning to lose it. He was becoming angrier and more desperate. He knew the dangers should he push this man too far. He calmed his voice further as he continued, "Please...you have to listen..."

 

"If you don't shut your damned mouth I'll kill you right here!"

 

"No you won't. You can't do that."

 

"WHY THE HELL NOT?"

 

"Because...kill me...kill yourself. They won't let you get away."

 

"Oh really? Watch them."

 

Gary hissed as Jack jerked him into movement yet again forcing him to move backwards with him continuing to hold a firm grip on him. 

 

Wallis glanced behind him briefly gouging the distance he had to his car and seeing that they were much closer then he thought. He quickly forged a new plan in his mind. He would use Hobson to get to that car and force the man to drive him the hell away from this mess. When they were far enough away then he would kill Hobson and make a clean break. He smiled as he saw the car was within feet of them. He softly ordered, "Hobson reach into my right pocket and dig out my keys."

 

"What?"

 

"DO IT!"

 

"Okay...okay...right pocket...sure."

 

Gary slowly eased his hand off of his wound realizing that his left arm was tightly pinned to his body and therefore momentarily useless. He then reached for the man's pocket. He groaned dropping his head for the briefest of moments as the pain in his side flared upon the removal of pressure and blood started to flow more freely again. As the agony tore at his side he inhaled sharply feeling himself drifting closer to the edge of oblivion. He would've passed out if not for his assailant sensing it and jostling him. Gary gasped as pain answered the move and instantly snapped his head up hearing his assailant ordering him not to pass out on him. Gary nodded his head finding that he no longer had the strength to verbalize his thoughts and forced his mind to focus on the keys. He reached into the man's pocket grasping the keys and cursing when they slipped from his blood soaked fingers so he tried again managing to grip them in his hand and pull them free. He muttered, "'Kay now what?"

 

"Get in the car."

 

"What?"

 

"Get in the car, Hobson!"

 

"Car sure...uh, how?"

 

Jack rolled his eyes growing even more aggravated with his hostage as time went by. He was prepared to order Gary to get in the car again when sudden movement caught his attention. He immediately jerked towards the movement blocking out the pain-laced scream of his hostage as he did so. He focused on the area where the movement was and noticed an officer who was now very pale and very still. He yelled, "COME NEAR US AND HE'S DEAD! STAY THE FUCK BACK!"

 

He glanced briefly at Hobson making certain that the man was still conscious before glaring coldly at their audience and responding, "If anyone makes any attempt to come after us I'll kill him. Anybody tries to stop us he dies. Now if you'll excuse us Mister Hobson and I are going to take a little drive."

 

He opened the back door and ordered Gary into the vehicle keeping the gun trained on him while keeping an eye on the police. He slid his right leg onto the back seat before ordering, "Get in the car, Hobson. I suggest you don't try to run because my finger is on the trigger and if anything happens to me you’ll die."

 

Gary simply nodded his head releasing a breath of relief as the painful arm eased from around his body. He then slid into the driver's seat hearing Wallis slide in behind him ordering, "Shut the door."

 

Gary did so then Wallis ordered him to drive. The man lowered himself further down in the seat to make himself less a target while maintaining his hold on the weapon now pressing it to the back of Hobson's head in plain sight of the police knowing they wouldn't shoot until they were certain Gary Hobson was out of the way. He then ordered, "Go now!"

 

Gary shoved the key in the ignition and started the car then shifted the gears into drive forcing himself to remain conscious and try to think of just how the hell he was going to get himself out of this mess. He heard Wallis' command and pushed his foot onto the gas petal pulling away from the group of police officers still holding their guns at the ready and praying for a shot at his assailant. As he pulled away he swallowed hard certain that this just might be the end for him. He had no other options...except trying to make the man see that what he was now doing was so very wrong. As they entered the road Gary said, "Look, you know they won't just go away...they'll follow us...track us and try to block our route. It's not worth it, Jack..."

 

"SHUT UP AND DRIVE!"

 

"Look you can walk away from this unharmed..."

 

Wallis laughed sarcastically as he responded, "Really? You’re truly a hoot, Hobson. They won't let me walk away..."

 

"Maybe they..."

 

"No. NO!"

 

Gary swallowed hard and closed his eyes briefly as unconsciousness threatened to grab at him again. He had to get through to this man or they would both die. He tried a slightly different approach, "Look I'm not going to be conscious much longer...I pass out...we wreck. I've lost too much blood. It will only be a matter of time before the inevitable happens..."

 

"Drive."

 

"You know I'm right."

 

"Drive and be silent!"

 

"Look..."

 

"Don't you ever shut up, Hobson?"

 

"Uh no."

 

Wallis shook his head in irritation as he grumbled, "Damn it, leave it up to me to find some damned chatty psychic!"

 

Gary quirked his eyebrows up in response to that comment before inquiring, "Psychic?"

 

"Oh you're going to deny it?"

 

"What?"

 

Wallis caught Hobson's gaze in the rear view mirror holding it for several moments until Gary shifted his gaze to the road yet again. He chuckled as he asked, "So tell me Hobson can psychics see their own deaths? Do you know that you're going to die tonight?"

 

"I'm not psychic."

 

"Oh you're not? Then what are you? Lucky?"

 

Gary shook his head as his vision blacked over again and his mind seemed to cloud even more. He tried to focus on what Wallis was saying but he couldn't quite track the conversation. His side was now burning and his ears were ringing so loudly that the noise was drowning out the voice of the one threatening him. He knew the dangers of losing consciousness in a car. They would end up crashing and possibly end up dead anyway. He heard the man behind him continuing to speak and felt the ice-cold barrel of the gun still pressed against his skull but could no longer comprehend just what was happening. He gasped as he realized that he reached the end of his endurance. He swallowed hard as he softly spoke, "Um Wallis?"

 

"Yeah?"

 

"Bit of a problem here...uh, you might want to...take over..."

 

"What? Why?"

 

Gary forced his eyes back open watching in wonder as his vision started to haze over and the ringing in his ears increased. He shook his head again trying to remain alert but was fighting a losing battle. He managed to answer Wallis' question barely, "Because I'm not doing too good..."

 

"HOBSON DON'T YOU DARE PASS OUT!"

 

"Can't...sorry...," and with those softly mumbled words Gary lost consciousness. His head fell forward banging against the steering wheel and his hands fell into his lap. 

 

Wallis made a grab for the steering wheel noticing that they were fast approaching a copse of trees off to their left. He jerked the wheel to the right trying to climb over the seat but it was no use as the steering wheel snapped to the left and the car swerved off the road. All Wallis could do was stare in shock as the front end of the car dropped down over a hill and slammed right into a tree. He screamed as he felt himself being thrown from the seat mere moments before blackness descended around him.

 

Next:

 

    PART 17

 

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