Ryan went to the open car. There's no sign of Gabi in or around the car.
Did she run away, or was she taken away by the Falcons while he was distracted?
He regretted opening her cuffs during the drive off.
Where might she go?
Its a national highway.
On the left side, there's miles of open space with nowhere to hide.
If she went there, he would definitely see her.
On the right side, there's a small are with some big trees and bushes making it look like a small forest.
Ryan immediately started running towards the woods.
Its dense inside. With all the trees here.
After running for a while he stopped and looked around him.
After looking at the ground, he saw footprints on the ground..
Its Gabi.
Ryan started following the footsteps.
And after a while, the foot steps lead him to a open space in between the woods.
He kept following her steps.
Her footprints lead him the the middle of the open space.
Suddenly, a familiar sound stopped him on his way.
That's the most common sound a gang member hears, but also fears at the same time..
Its the sound of a gun being reloaded.
Ryan froze, then slowly turned 180 degree and saw Gabi aiming the shotgun right at his chest.
Ryan:- Gabrielle, what are you doing?!
Gabi:- I was thinking for a while now. About what you said, that my dad paying you to save me. It's not true is it?
Ryan sighed, then shook his head left to right.
Gabi:- I knew it. There's no way he's gonna pay for me. It made no sense. I mean why would he suddenly pay for the safety for her daughter after all these years? And why a member of Axe gang? If he even did pay someone for my safety, it would NEVER be you guys. It would be the Falcons. Everyone knows my dad is in favor with them. So, then why are you here? What do you actually want from me? Who are you really?
They stood there quiet for a while. Ryan didn't reply, just made direct eye contact with Gabi.
Gabi:- Answer me! Or I will definitely shoot..
The way she's holding the shotgun, her stance clearly says she's not messing around. She means it!
Ryan's mind quickly starts thinking the possibilities. There's just one bullet in the shotgun.
But she's clever enough to trap him into a open space.
If it was in the woods he could have hid behind a tree or something.
But now he has nowhere to hide.
He has no other option than to listen to her.
Ryan:- I wasn't lying about the payment. Technically.
Gabi:- What do you mean?
Ryan:- I would take you to your father and tell him your with me and threaten him to keep police out of the gang war. Or else he won't see you again.
Gabi smirked.
Gabi:- I knew it. I'm just your insurance here. What's in it for you?
Ryan:- Me and my men's safety. But I still recommend you to come with me.
Gabi:- You aren't different from those gunmen who tried to kill me. You are all the same. I'm just a dead girl walking to you guys. So why should I go with you?
Ryan:- To stay alive. As I said, I wasn't lying about getting paid to keep you alive. So even if it means by sacrificing my life, I will have to keep you safe.
Gabi :- Oh please, cut this bs. You guys are just a pack of wolves! Greedy fucking wolves. And I'm just a sheep to you. You're saving me so that you can use me for your ulterior motives.
It's like you saved me from another pack of wolves just so that you can have me for dinner. Guess what, it's all the same for me.
I can't believe I even thanked you for saving me.
Ryan:- No matter how much motives we have, you will be the safest with me. Trust me..
Gabi:- Do I look crazy enough to listen to you anymore?
Ryan:- Listen they tried to kill you twice tonight. If I didn't save you, you would have been dead. I'm your best option.
Gabi :- Not anymore.
Ryan:- There isn't any bullet in shotgun what will you do?
Gabi:- I clearly heard you say there is still one more bullet left.
Ryan:- There is, but I removed it from the bullet chamber. You didn't think I would leave that in the car with you, did you?
Gabi :- Do you seriously think I will sway with those cheap tricks of yours?
Ryan put his left hand inside his pocket.
Gabi:- Take your hands out! Don't you dare take something out!
Ryan took out a shotgun bullet from his pocket and showed it to her.
Gabi looked in shock as Ryan was showing her the bullet.
Gabi:- No way! It's not possible..
She shockingly opened up the bullet chamber, a bullet was still in there.
He lied!
That was just a shotgun shell he just showed!
She quickly tried to reload, but Ryan was fast enough to snatch the gun away.
Gabi tried to run away.
But once again, Ryan proved how good of a kidnapper he is.
He grabbed her and tossed her to the ground and got in top of her.
She tried to move. But Ryan got in top of her and stopped her from moving.
Gabi:- You fucking Liar!
Ryan:- Gabrielle, I will save you. You can trust me.
Even if your dad doesn't listen.
Tear started to form in Gabi's eyes.
Gabi:- Why are you still lying? What use do I have without my dad?
Ryan:- If you knew that you would have been beyond amazed.
Gabi:- I don't want any of this. Please let me go! Why can't I have a normal life?! Why?!
She started sobbing.
Ryan looked at her for a while and then pulled her up.
She is still crying.
Ryan:- Gabrielle, take this.
Ryan gave her his AR-57, the submachine gun he just seized from the Tobi, the burning man.
Gabi looked amazed.
Slowly took the gun and checked the magazine.
There's a lot of bullets in it.
Gabi:- Why are you giving me this?
Ryan:- Because you don't realize, you're way more important than you think you are. More important that my life. Not because of your father, but because of who you truly are.
You are YOU. That's not an identity your dad can give or take.
Gabi:- What if I just shoot you in the head?
Ryan:- Well, then at least my killer will be pretty.
They both smirked. Gabi looked at Ryan and said,
Gabi:- This seems so unreal. You seem so unreal. Is this all true? I mean, does this gun even work..
She shot at some trees and a string of bullets came out and hit the trees.
It works!
She is definitely dumbfounded now.
Gabi:- This feels like a dream!
Ryan:- It's not a dream, Gabrielle, it's a nightmare. We are both part of it.
Let's go!
They headed towards their car.
When they finally came out of the woods, they see daylight for the first time.
The sun is up, morning is here!
Unlike in the woods, where it was still dark due all those deep trees, its all clear now.
They got in the car. Ryan started the car and headed back to the center of the city. They got pretty much side tracked from their destination.
Gabi looked and saw Ryan for the first time in daylight.
He looks much more handsome than the first time she saw her.
Gabi :- Can I tell you something?
Ryan looked at Gabi for a while. She also looks a lot different in daylight.
She looks much more prettier, with silky black hair and green eyes.
Ryan:- Sure.
Gabi:- You don't seem like a gangster.
Ryan chuckled.
Ryan:- What makes you think that?
Gabi:- I mean, you are a good shooter and everything. And I'm pretty sure you're good with that axe you guys carry. You have a good war strategy, you saved me twice from a bunch of guys with blazing guns. But something isn't right. You seem more kind-hearted than what a gang member is supposed to be like.
Ryan:- What do you mean?
Gabi :- I mean, a gang member isn't supposed to give his gun to the person he kidnapped in the first place.
Ryan sighed.
Ryan:- That's all?
Gabi:- No, you don't even talk like a gangster. You don't curse. I feel like I have cursed more than you by now..
Ryan nodded.
Ryan:- I always had this feeling, that I don't belong here.
Gabi:- Then why are you here?
Ryan:- It's a part of my identity now. My parent died when I was young.
They were killed them in front of my eyes.
Gabi:- I'm sorry to hear that.
Ryan:- Don't be. I still remember that day.
My dad worked at a security company.
Everyday whenever my dad came back from work, I used to jump on his lap and hug him.
That day, my dad came from work a lot early and he was sweating like crazy.
I was about to jump on him, but he immediately stopped me and asked me, "quick where is your mother?"
She appeared before I said anything.
My dad then said something to my mom that I couldn't clearly understand.
All I saw was that my mom broke down in tears after what she heard.
I couldn't understand what all the fuss was about.
My dad started running inside the house like crazy.
And my mom just took me in her arms and quickly took me to the kitchen.
She hid me in the top cabinet of the kitchen and said, "don't come out no matter what. Don't move and don't make a sound!"
After that there was suddenly a loud noise at the door.
My dad took out his rifle from our old Almirah. He hid my mom in her back.
The kitchen cabinet was slightly open so I could clearly see everything happening at the doorway.
A bunch of people just came in, with guns in their hand.
My dad pointed the gun at them and told them to leave.
I exchange those men said something I couldn't clearly understand.
But then I heard a loud bang and I saw my dad falling on the ground, bleeding.
Someone shot him..
My mom cried out loud and held my dad.
I was beyond shocked at what happened, didn't know how to react.
Before anything happened, they shot my mom.
At first I thought these men were police.
They were wearing uniforms. Except one guy.
He seemed to control all the police guys, he was their leader.
He made the shots.
When he turned his back at me, that's when I saw a falcon tattooed on his neck.
For years I didn't know what that meant. But when I knew, it all became clear for me, that who killed my parents.
Under who's order.
Both of them stayed silent for a long time.
Finally Gabi spoke up.
Gabi:- I'm sorry about what happened to you.
Ryan sighed.
Ryan:- Don't be sorry, it's not your fault.
Gabi:- So is Don Robert you real uncle?
Ryan:- Yes.
His wife was killed that day too.
Uncle Rob and Chris got away because they wasn't in the city at that time.
When he came back and saw this, he was devastated.
Right then, he swore he would destroy the Falcon gang.
He took custody of me.
And later formed the Axe gang.
A sorrowful gaze appeared on Gabi's face.
How bad are these these people who killed a child?
A two year old child!
She felt sorry for Ryan and his family. And wished he gets what he wants, his revenge.
Even if she's not sure what he wants from her........
5:25 in the morning
Jagren City Center
Ryan knocked on the door of 42 chillworth close.
It took a long time to open the door.
The man who opened the door is middle aged, still on his sleeping gown. His name is Gary, Gabi's father.
He opened the door and looked outside.
First his gaze set upon Ryan, whom he never saw before.
Then he looked at Gabi. He got overwhelmed seeing her.
Gary:- Gabi, Oh My God! Sweetheart where have you been all these years! How have you been sweetie? What happened to your forehead? Did you hurt yourself?
He tried to hug her, but she stepped back.
Gabi:- After all these years you finally had the time to ask how am I doing. Should be grateful?!
Gary:- Baby girl listen to me.....
Gabi:- No! You didn't listen to me when mom was still alive. If you did she would have been alive!
Gary:- Gabi sweetheart what happened in the past can't be reversed! I'm sorry for what happened to your mom.
Gabi:- Really?! You destroyed your family and and that's all you got? Sorry? You think I came here for your apologies?!
Right then a woman appeared behind Gary.
Woman:- Honey who are you talking to?
Gabi looked at her in shock. She couldn't speak for a while.
Then she looked up to Ryan and said with a raspy voice,
Gabi:- I'll be in the car, you tell him what you want to say.
She headed straight for the car.
Both Ryan and Gary watched her walking away.
Woman:- Honey is that Gabrielle?
Gary nodded. She shrugged.
Then she looked at Ryan and asked,
Woman:- Who are you? Her boyfriend?
Ryan:- Mr. Gary I have something to talk to you about, in private.
Woman:- Hey! How dare you ignore me? I asked you something.
Ryan took out his right arm from his pocket and held it up in front of him, showing them his medieval Axe tattoo.
Ryan:- Gary and I have something to talk about. How about you get lost inside, woman?
That was enough to scare the shit out of her. She quickly disappeared inside the house.
Gary:- Why do you have Gabi with you? Who are you? Why did you kidnap her?
Ryan:- I didn't, she seems to like my company more than yours, Mr. Gary.
Gary:- I'm gonna kill every one of you. I'm gonna destroy Axe gang. Give Gabi back to me more or I swear.....
Ryan's tone suddenly changed. He stepped closer to Gary. So close that they can hear each other breathing.
Ryan:- Listen asshole. You're going to do nothing. In fact, you will stay away from this fucking war. All these years you have aided Don Louis in many ways. But not anymore.
You will not help the Falcon gang anyway in this war. You don't need to help us either. Just stay away.
If you don't, I will make sure you will never see her face again.
Is
That
Clear?
Gary:- You put a finger on my daughter I will fucking murder you!
Ryan:- Not if I kill you first. We have men everywhere, if I ever get a signal that you are betraying us, you know what happens. If you even talk to anyone related to Don Louis, she's gone!
Gary:- You're insane. I can't betray them. They will kill me!
Ryan:- You are a bad man, you deserve a tragic ending. But not your daughter. You can save her.
You're the chief of Police, nobody in the police has authority over you.
You made the whole battalion of cops fight wars for the Falcons for a long time.
Nobody is as corrupt as you in the force.
Nobody did anything worse than you in these given years.
Its time for all these to change.
For once, I'm just asking you not to be corrupt.
All of these years you did bad stuff just for your own sake.
For once do it for your family.
You maybe couldn't save your wife, but you have the change to save your daughter.
The choice is yours..
Ryan left the doorway.
After getting in the car. Gabi asked,
Gabi:- So where are we headed now?
Ryan:- Lymington.
Gabi:- With a car full of holes and a punctured tyre?
Ryan:- Its still too early for anybody to notice that.
Gabi:- But Don Louis is in that city! What if his people see us?
Ryan:- I know an alternative route through the woods. I guess we will surprise them after we reach there.
Gary:- Surprise who?
Both of them immediately turned left, and saw Gary with his handgun, aimed at Ryan.