Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
It was a clear crisp day, perfect for target shooting. Chuck was at the range early to set up. When his young team got there, they were ready for anything “I’m gonna get a 100%.” Riley promised.
“I’m doing 101%.” Mark added.
“Oh please, it’s nearly impossible to get that your first time.” Leah rolled her eyes at the egotistical guys.
Chuck raised a hand to silence them “No, you can’t do well.”
Ryan frowned “Why not?”
“It’s going to make Eve look bad and she’s not going to want to learn. Don’t you think it’s bad enough she’s doing a class with a bunch of kids?” Chuck declared.
“We’re not kids.” Leah reminded him.
“You are to a woman pushing forty.” Chuck retorted.
Ryan sighed with a smile “I guess we’re lucky Jenna isn’t here, she’d have a mouthful for you, Uncle Chuck.”
“It’s Mr. Lam today. Got it?” he warned.
“Yes Sir!!” the four saluted him.
“I didn’t know this was an army class.” Eve’s teasing voice broke their huddle.
Chuck turned with a laugh “Oh no, the silly kids…it’s just an inside joke they came up with. Don’t mind them. Come on, I’ll help you with your gear.”
“Oh Riley, can you help me with my gear?” Leah mocked making the guys laugh to themselves.
“Get down and give me ten!” Chuck pointed the ground.
Leah blew up with laughter “That’s good!”
“I’m serious. There will be no disrespecting the teacher.” Chuck announced threateningly at the other guys with widened eyes. Leah slowly got to the ground as she did ten pushups.
Riley reached down to help her to her feet “I’m gonna tell Jenna the next time I see her.” Leah promised, “She’s the only one that can quip him.”
“Enough monkey around, come on, let’s get ready.” He waved them over “Remember.” He whispered to the four. They nodded without much feeling. Five places were set up and a target was placed three feet away “Raise your guns!” Chuck announced “Ready… shoot!”
Leah still had a grudge against Chuck as she shot the center to perfection, beating Eve’s shot which was near the second circle from the bullseye. The guys exaggerated their shots, Ryan’s didn’t make it on the target. Eve looked pleased at herself as she turned to Leah “Not bad, we girls are kicking their butts!”
Chuck threw Leah a warning and she smiled at Eve “Lucky shot.”
“Again!” Chuck called out as he controlled the targets to move back another three feet “Ready…steady hands…and shoot!!”
Leah closed her eyes and pulled the trigger, the shot did not make it on the paper. Ryan on the other hand was testing his skill. Moving his target to the corner of the paper, he shot it to perfection. Riley and Mark played the card well as their shots barely made it on the paper leaving Eve’s shot the best “I got it on the target!!” she exclaimed happily.
Chuck smiled “Good job.” He nodded and pointed to the group again “Last one.”
*********
Darren could tell his daughter was bored of the games he bought for her that morning to keep her company while he worked. Feeling bad, he approached her miniature picnic bench “Are you having fun Bon Bon?”
She pouted but decided to give him a smile instead “Not really, daddy.”
“Do you want to go to a playground?” he asked while smoothing out her straight hair.
Bonnie shook her tiny head “Mommy says there are bad people out there. She said when I become five years old, she will get me a real swing set.”
“But daddy’s here, no one will harm you. Come on, I think I need to have a little fun too.” He gestured for her to take his hand. Bonnie gave him the most adorable grin as she took his hand and he picked her up easily “This is our little secret, don’t tell mommy.”
“I promise.” Bonnie giggled as she crossed her fingers with his pinky.
The limo stopped at the public park where plenty of kids were out with their parents playing on slides and swings. Bonnie’s eyes lit up like a candle as she got out of the car “Where do you want to play first?” Darren asked. He quickly scoped the place for strangers but they were mostly mothers with their kids. He was the only father around.
“That one!” she pointed to the slide while racing over the rubber ground to get in line with the rest of the kids. Darren watched with a smile as she stepped up the ladder with care, he wasn’t worried since their house had stairs and Bonnie had learned long ago to walk up by herself. He stood at the end of the slide to watch her slide down but she looked scared, with her eyes looking around “I’m scared daddy!!” she was near tears.
“It’s okay honey. Daddy’s right here…you won’t fall, I’ll catch you.” He coaxed while waving for her to slide down on her own. Bonnie nodded letting go of her hands, she closed her eyes and allowed the slide to take her down. She felt a wind blowing at her and then a pair of hands picking her up. She giggled when she realized it was Darren’s “See? Daddy’s here.” He assured her “Let’s play on the swing.” He pointed.
The day went by quickly for the two as they spent hours at the park. Even when there were less people, the two were still playing and eating ice cream from the nearby cart. Once they were done with desert, they moved into a game of hide and seek. Bonnie hid in the only place she knew, under the slide and Darren played along pretending to look everywhere “Where’s Bon Bon?” he sang merrily moving around but ignoring the slide.
She giggled and quickly jumped out “I’m here daddy!!”
Darren appeared to be startled making his daughter giggle with excitement that she scared him “Wow…where were you? I didn’t see you anywhere.”
She bounced up and down “Let’s do it again! Count to a hundred.”
He smiled and turned away closing his eyes “One, two…” he was in the middle of counting when his cell phone rang. Picking it up without thinking, he answered “Darren speaking. Hey, Randy. What’s new? I haven’t talked to you for ages.” His conversation didn’t last for two minutes. He hung up and turned to catch Bonnie’s pink jacket moving under the slide “Ready or not here I come!” he announced and did the same routine, looking every where else but the slide. After a couple of minutes, he turned to the slide “Where’s Bon Bon?”
He noticed she was not laughing nor answering. Smiling as he approached the slide and jumped underneath it “Gotcha!!” His heart nearly stopped, Bonnie was gone. Her jacket was pinned to a stick that looked hastily pushed into the ground “Bon Bon?” he knew she was not smart enough to pull a disappearing act “Bon Bon!! Bonnie!!!” he circled the playground while screaming for his daughter.
There was no answer “No…no…” he refused to believe that she was gone. Running towards the street, he asked anyone he saw on the street if they saw a two year old in a pink dress. They looked at him like he was a lunatic, he was hysterical “Oh my God… No! NO!!” he bent down on his knees and covered his head in his knees “This is not happening…” he muttered over and over. Angry tears escaped as he began to blame himself “Why did I pick up that call?” he asked himself and quickly slapped himself in the face “Stupid!”
Ted was walking along side the streets, work was bringing him down as he couldn’t think of anything else but Erin. He decided to relief some stress by walking when he overheard a couple talking about a lunatic by the playground. Thinking it was something serious, he rushed over and halted in his steps when he saw Darren’s frumpy hair, his suit jacket on the ground “Darren?”
He didn’t bother looking up even when he realized it was Ted’s voice “Bonnie…” he shook his head like a madman.
“What happened?” Ted asked. He knelt down and noticed how disheveled Darren looked. His face was smeared with tears and his eyes red “Bonnie? Where is she?”
“I…I don’t know…” Darren groaned, “Someone took her…kidnapped…no…Mia’s going to kill me.”
Ted shook his head in disbelief “Darren, get a hold of yourself. Have you even looked?”
“YES! I looked everywhere. I was playing hide and seek and an old friend called me, I picked up and was on for like a minute. I turned and she was gone! Gone! Two fucking minutes!! That’s all it took!! Where the hell did they take her? Who took her??!!”
Ted took a hold of Darren’s shoulder “Darren…Darren!! Calm down!! Come on, we have to go report to the police.”
“God, I’d kill myself if something happens to her!! I swear!” Darren said it again and again while Ted tried to get a hold of him. He was even worse at the station describing in detail what happened.
“We’ll do our best Mr. Chiu.” The girl replied professionally.
“I have to find her…” Darren muttered crazily.
Ted didn’t stop him in time but he beat him to the door “Darren, stop it! You don’t know who took her! I don’t want to have to send another search party for you. Whoever did this mean’s business. I think he knows who you are and it could be linked to that list.” He said in a low voice “Losing your logic at a time like this is not the best for Bonnie. We’ll find her…” he promised.
Darren was defeated as he nodded “I’m tired.”
“I’ll take you home.” Ted ushered his teammate out of the station. They reached the house and Darren could feel the blood draining from his face. On his double doors was a picture of his daughter gagged and blindfolded. She was still wearing her pink dress. His chest was heaving as he reached for the photo and placed it silently in his pocket "Who did this?" Ted asked out loud.
"I"m gonna find him." Darren said through gritted teeth. He walked towards the monitor room "I have hidden cameras all around the estate." he picked the front door camera and rewind the tape.
Ted shook his head when they saw the figure, it was a male and he had on large sunglasses along with a cap "Do you recognize him?"
Darren shook his head "No...wait." he paused the picture and pointed to a cut on the left arm "What's that?"
"Shit...it's him." Ted cursed silently.