Tangled Webs (Read 22,631 times)

[djm]

How am I going to sleep tonight. I am so worried about Chloe with both Brady and Belle going after her. I don't like that she did not answer her phone. Did they get to her already? Boy and to think I use to like Belle. Thanks for the great chapter Kpatch.

[fluffysmom]

I'm worried about Chloe too.

[Trey]

I don't think Belle would ever intentionally put Chloe in harm's way. I don't think she knows what Brady is capable of. I hope he doesn't do something stupid.

[ghoulgirl]

Ohhh boy! This is getting even more Interesting. Can't wait!

[Kpatch]

Readers: Please be sure to vote in the poll to determine when the final chapters of this story will be posted. Thanks!

myhourglass.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=authorsficchat&action=display&thread=5533&page=1

[Kpatch]

THE CABIN

Chloe was outside in the backyard pulling weeds and preparing the soil using a cultivator tool. Philip said he’d stop at Home Depot after seeing Belle, and he’d bring home a couple of frost-tolerant plants so Chloe could start a garden. She was getting a little worried because he’d been gone a lot longer than she expected and she couldn’t reach him on his cell. Gardening provided a good distraction and she was enjoying the fresh air despite the winter cold.


BRADY’S CAR

Brady took a pinch of cocaine from a pouch and inhaled it. He needed a shot of courage to confront Chloe. He planned to finish what he started in Vienna. He would show Chloe who was in charge, and prove that she belonged to him. She was his woman and he was going to take her back at any cost.


BELLE’S CAR

To hell with what Brady wants, Belle thought. He may want to get his ounce of revenge, but Belle planned to extract her pound too. If Chloe was having an affair with Philip, Belle wasn’t about to let her get away with it, especially after Chloe had preached to Belle about how wrong it was for her to cheat on Philip. It was time for Chloe to stop playing the innocent bystander in all this.


NICOLE’S CAR

Nicole was hoping Belle didn’t spot her as she followed Belle’s car. She had to find out what was going on. Why didn’t Brady let her know he was in Salem? What the hell was going on with Chloe? Why did Philip and Shawn have a fight that landed them both in the Emergency Room? It wouldn’t be long before her questions were answered.


PHILIP’S CAR

Philip checked himself out of the hospital, despite the staff’s protests. He felt a little fuzzy, probably from whatever painkillers he was given. But he was more than a little disturbed that he couldn’t reach Chloe. He tried calling her repeatedly during his drive. Why didn’t she answer the phone? Could she be in the shower? He smiled as he visualized her in the small stall shower. In the past, when he imagined her in the shower, his visuals were based on memories from their night in the barn a decade earlier. That had been the only time he had seen her naked. Until recently. Now he had a clearer picture and was enjoying the mental images playing in his mind. But right now, he was wishing he hadn't left her all alone in the cabin. He tried reassuring himself that everything was alright, but a feeling of dread caused him to press harder on the accelerator.


To be continued ...

[DancingDays]

GAH!!!!!! So much tension!!!!

I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!

[MrsM]

All roads lead to Chloe...

[gapeach]

Okay - can't wait for the next chapter in this action packed drama! Glad Nicole is there even if she is sleeping with her BFF husband.

[fluffysmom]

Can't wait for everyone to arrive at the cabin. This is gonna be sooo good.

[Trey]

I'm actually glad for Chloe that Nicole/Belle will both be there.

Chloe can handle herself against both of them, but strung out Brady is dangerous. Especially with that "she's mine at any cost" attitude.

[Kpatch]

THE CABIN

Chloe was outside kneeling on the ground in the backyard, pulling weeds and preparing the soil using a cultivator tool. Philip said he’d stop at Home Depot after seeing Belle, and he’d bring home a couple of frost-tolerant plants so Chloe could start a garden. She was worried because he’d been gone a lot longer than she expected and she couldn’t reach him on his cell. Gardening provided a good distraction and she was enjoying the fresh air despite the winter cold.

The late-afternoon sun cast a long shadow of a man on the garden in front of Chloe. She smiled.

Chloe: Philip.
She turned around to greet him and was shocked to be staring into Brady’s face. Her smile morphed into fear.
Brady: Hello Chloe. You look surprised to see me.
Chloe: B...Brady. What are you ... how did you ...
Brady grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet. He gritted his teeth.
Brady: Why did you run out on me?
Chloe’s heart was starting to race.
Chloe: You know why.
Brady: I’m taking you back to Vienna.
Chloe pulled her arm out of Brady’s grip.
Chloe: I’m not going anywhere with you. Ever again. Now get out of here and leave me alone.
Brady moved closer to Chloe and got in her face.
Brady: You want me to leave you alone? Why? Too happy here in your little hideaway with loverboy?
Chloe pushed against Brady’s chest to hold him off.
Chloe: You smell like liquor. You're high, aren't you?
Brady: You smell like strawberries and baby powder. It’s turning me on.
He leaned closer to kiss her.
Chloe: Don’t you dare touch me. You lost the right to touch me anymore.
She held the little rake in her hand as if it were a weapon, raising it in the air and pointing it toward Brady’s face. He merely laughed.
Brady: You’re adorable when you’re angry.
Chloe: If you come any closer, I’ll scream.
Brady: Go ahead. Scream. Who’s gonna hear you? Certainly not Philip. He won’t be back for a very long time.
Chloe: What? Why not? What are you talking about? What did you do to him?
Chloe was suddenly frantic. She let her guard down and Brady plucked the garden tool from her hand and he was now threatening her with it.

~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, as Philip drove up to the cabin, he saw a car parked out front. That couldn’t be good, he thought. He quickly parked and got out of the car and when he found the front door to the cabin unlocked, he felt panic set in. He called out as he entered the house.

Philip: Chloe?
She didn’t answer, but he heard voices out back and he recognized them immediately. It was Brady and Chloe. He quickly retrieved his Marine-issued pistol from its hiding spot in an urn on the fireplace mantle. He headed out the front door to make his way around back.
~~~~~~~~

Philip approached as quietly as he could and he finally came around the cabin to the point where he could see Brady and Chloe. Brady was threatening Chloe with a garden cultivator tool. From about 50 feet away, Philip aimed the gun at Brady and called out.

Philip: Drop it Brady!
Chloe: Philip!
In less than a second, Brady grabbed Chloe and was holding her close to his body with one hand, while the other hand held the rake within an inch of her face. Chloe was petrified.
Brady: Come any closer and I’ll scratch her eyes out.
Philip: Let her go, Brady. Let her go or I’ll shoot you.
Brady: No you won’t. Not while I’m holding Chloe. If you miss, you might shoot your beloved. And then you’d hate yourself forever.
Philip: You’re just a coward, Brady, hiding behind a woman.
Brady: Think I’m a coward, huh?
Philip: Easy, Brady.
Brady: Are you scared, Philip? Scared I might scar her?
Philip: If you so much as harm a hair on her head, I’ll kill you.
Brady: Ha! You’d hate that, wouldn’t you. You wouldn’t want her anymore if she was ugly.
Philip: Leave her alone, Brady.
Philip took a step closer.
Brady: She’s so beautiful, isn’t she? Softest skin you could ever touch. Dazzling blue eyes, perfect cheekbones. She’s easy to love this way, isn’t she, Philip?
Brady moved the rake along Chloe's cheek as he spoke. Chloe closed her eyes and cringed. Philip was desperate to get a clean shot at Brady, but Brady was right. Philip’s vision went in and out of focus because of the painkillers and he couldn’t risk missing his target and shooting Chloe instead of Brady.
Philip: Don’t do it, Brady.
Brady: After all, the whole reason you fell in love with her is because you found out she was beautiful. That’s what made her worthy of you, right Philip?
Philip: You don’t know what you’re talking about, Brady.
Brady: When you thought she was ugly, when she was just ghoul girl, you didn’t give her the time of day. Well suppose I make her ugly again?
Chloe: Please Brady, don’t hurt me.
Brady: See, I don’t care what she looks like. I’ll love her no matter what.
Brady pressed the prongs of the dirty tool against Chloe’s face as tears rolled down her cheeks. She felt faint.
Chloe: Philip. Help me.
Philip: You don’t want to hurt her, Brady. You know you don’t.
Brady: You’re right. The person I want to hurt is you, Philip.
In the next minute, everything seemed to go in slow motion. Brady pushed Chloe aside and she fell to the ground. He dropped the garden tool and reached into his leather jacket, pulling out a handgun. At that moment, Belle ran into the backyard, with Nicole hot on her heels. Brady set his sights on Philip, aimed the gun, and fired!
Chloe: Oh god noooooo!


To be continued ...

[djm]

Ok this is Kpatch. She would not kill Philip. Right Kpatch? Sure hope we get chapters this weekend. What a cliffhanger. Thanks for the action packed chapter.

[MrsM]

Holy Friday cliffhanger!!!!!!!

[DancingDays]

Wait. It's Friday?!?! And you're gonna leave it there?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!