The Child's Plan by Audrey Walker (books to read this summer .TXT) 📗

and the flames engulfed it quickly. Robin used his distraction to grab the gun and shoot the padlock that held the chains on Abby. The fire was spreading extremely fast, and she watched as a portion of the ceiling fell onto James.

“Abby!” Robin shouted, undoing the chains around her sister’s hand. “Are you okay?”

“Oh, Robin!” Abby said. The two sisters hugged for a minute before Robin pushed her away.

“We have to get out of here!” she said. Robin grabbed Abby’s hand and dragged her up the stairs, which were already on fire. Smoke was starting to fill the entire house, and Robin coughed as she tried to breathe. She made her way through the fire and the smoke, pulling Abby along with her.

The staircase almost gave out under her, but Robin managed to steady herself.

“Come on!” she shouted, grabbing Abby and pulling her out of the door. They made their way out of the basement, and Robin pulled her sister out onto the ground, making sure that she was safe.

“Are you okay?” she asked. “Are you burned?”

“Fine,” Abby coughed. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

“You go,” Robin said. “You have to get help. Go!”

“No, I am not going to desert you!” Abby shouted.

“The sirens are louder,” Robin said. “Kyle must have convinced someone to investigate. They will be here soon. Stay here!”

“Where are you going?” Abby asked.

“I have to save James!” Robin said.

“No!” Abby shouted, trying to grab her sister. “No!”

With her mind racing, Robin ran back in. She knew James didn’t deserve to be rescued. He didn’t deserve to live, but if he was her killer, if he was the child in the basement, then she had to save him. That child needed saving a long time ago. If someone had saved him back then, it would have never come to this.

She darted down the stairs. The fire engulfed most of the basement by now; parts of the ceiling had already collapsed. It was difficult for Robin to breathe or see debris from bits of the ceiling falling in her path. Her eyes watered as the smoke spread everywhere. She coughed, covering her mouth with her hand to filter out some of the air. Robin knew she didn’t have much longer. If she didn’t find James soon, even she wouldn’t be able to get out of here alive.

She spotted him on the floor, a piece of a wooden bar lying on top of him.

“James!” Robin shouted. “Help me get this off you!”

“You came back?” he whispered, looking shocked.

“I am not going to leave you here,” she said. “Now help me!”

Robin struggled to push the beam off him, and he joined in. It slowly started to move, and she managed to free him just enough for him to wriggle out. He was gravely injured and barely able to walk as Robin helped him up the stairs. She just managed to pull him away and out when the stairs completely collapsed.

“Come on!” she said. “A little more!”

She dragged him out, coughing violently as the smoke filled her lungs. Men ran in, grabbing James and Robin, and she was dragged outside. She fell onto the ground, the fresh air finally letting her breathe.

“Robin!” She could hear Abby sobbing. Her vision was blurred, but she knew that officers and firemen surrounded her.

“Robin!” Kyle shouted, leaning over her. “Are you okay?”

Robin tried to reply, but it seemed like her throat was closing up. She could hear Abby crying in the distance, and she heard Jim consoling her. Her ears rang and she slowly allowed a small smile to spread on her face. It was over. It was finally over. She had managed to free Abby and save her, and she had finally caught the killer.

The Butcher would haunt her no more. The basement won’t torture her sleep after this. It had all come to an end, and now she can finally rest. She saw Kyle’s worried face and tried to tell him that she was okay, but she was too weak. So, instead, she smiled and closed her eyes, giving in to her body’s exhaustion.

Robin can finally let her body relax. She can finally stop fighting.

She was free.

Chapter Twenty

One week later…

“Can’t believe you are finally home!” Abby said excitedly. “I am so glad that you finally recovered! I thought the doctors would never let you go.”

“Abby, let her relax,” Jim said. “She must be tired.”

“I will get her some tea,” Abby said and walked off.

“Thanks for letting me stay here, Jim,” Robin said.

“It’s my pleasure,” he said. “After all you did for us. The way you saved Abby and what you did for me–.”

“It’s okay,” she said. “We don’t have to talk about this.”

“Thank you,” he sighed. “Honestly, just … thank you.”

“I got your suitcases,” Kyle said, walking in. “I put them in the room upstairs.”

“Thanks, Kyle,” Robin said, smiling at him. Jim walked off, muttering something about Abby, and Kyle came to sit with her.

“So, it’s finally over, is it?” he whispered.

“Yes, it finally is,” Robin whispered.

“James didn’t make it,” Kyle said. “He died from his injuries; they were too severe.”

“I see,” Robin said softly.

“The Captain’s funeral is tomorrow,” he said. “I still can’t believe he is gone.”

“I know,” Robin said. “Every time I close my eyes, I see him. I see him on the ground, bleeding and looking at me. I can feel his hand in my hand. I–.”

“Robin, I think you should get therapy,” he said. “This was too traumatic of an experience.”

“I know,” Robin said. “I will.”

“The commissioner issued a public apology to you,” Kyle said. “It was on the TV while you were unconscious. Your name is cleared. They want you back on the task force, and they have cleared all charges.”

“That’s good,” Robin said.

Kyle took her hand in his, and Robin looked into his eyes.

“I think you should take a break,” he said. “You should recover and get better before you re-join us.”

“Maybe you are right,” Robin said. “I can’t believe James was the killer all