☃︎
Imogen Halstead (age 16)
Word count: 2195
Tw: mentions of violence/blood
Request: @H_brooks01
Imogen's POV
"You sure your dads alright with this?" I look up to see my best friend sighing as she stands in the doorway. I nod, "he said as long as I'm back before 9 it's alright" I stand up after tying my shoelace again. It's the truth, he's letting me go to my friends house party because her mothers going to be upstairs the whole time.
As we wander into the kitchen we see the guests who are slowly starting to file in, "there's only gonna be about ten people, but they'll be gone by 8" shay smiles weakly. I smile, "relax, this is your night" I squeeze her shoulder.
~
At around 8:25pm, the only people left in the house are me, shay and her mother. After we finish cleaning, I grab my things and check the time, "my dad said he's gonna pick me up, so I'll see you tomorrow. Thanks for tonight" I pull shay into a hug. Shay smiles, "thanks for coming" she walks me to the door. I smile and wave as I wander down the footpath, "see you later!" I call out. She waves and waits until I disappear before closing the door. I told my dad I'd meet him at the corner because the road was too busy, so that's wear I'm headed.
As I approach the corner I see my dads truck parked opposite the road so I wait until the cars pass before I step out to cross. I don't really know what happens next, but all I know is that I blackout almost instantly after being grabbed from behind. The last thing is see is my dad jumping out of his truck, and his figure running towards me as I'm swept away into a world of darkness.
~
Jays POV
What the hell just happened? This can't be happening right now... I fearfully grab my head as I try and catch a glimpse of the number plate belonging to the van which just kidnapped my daughter. Once I read it I rub over to my truck and announce it over the radio. Within a few seconds, I feel my phone vibrate as I speed down the road, trying to catch up with the van. I pull my phone out and answer the phone.
Voight: "talk to me, what's going on?"
Me: "I was picking Imogen up, she was about to cross the road, then a black van snatched her off the street"
Voight: "where are you?"
Me: "I just cross pilsen"
Voight: "you're following the vehicle?"
Me: "damn right I am"
Voight: "you got it?"
Me: "no, I lost it. I don't know which way it went"
Voight: "just get back to the district"
I slam my hand down on the side of the door next to me as I grit my teeth. I'm coming to get you, baby.
~
Imogen's POV
I wake up to the feeling of something cold bounding my wrists together. My eyes feel heavy however I know I'm in danger, I need to be alert. I scan my surroundings to see that I'm tied to a pole, in an empty basement looking room. What's going on? Then I remember the last thing I saw... my dad bolting across the road in his last bid attempts to get me back.
I bet he's worried sick right now. Feeling angry at the situation I'm in, I tug at the chains yet fail when nothing works. I practically jump out of my skin when the door slams open, "quit making all the noise" a man yells at me before slamming the door shut on me. I stare at the door in confusion, is that it? Once I'm certain that the not so scary looking man has definitely left, I continue my abuse on the pole, praying that a miracle will occur and set me free.
I soon come to regret my decisions when a taller, much scarier looking man enters with a crow bar. He storms towards me and within one second I'm back on the floor. I cry out in pain after the blow comes to my head, the room spins and I'm soon swept away into darkness again.
~
Jays POV
It's been around two hours since Imogen was kidnapped and we have absolutely nothing. On top of that, I've already punched two walls and a locker, as well as nearly getting benched... We tracked down the van which I was trying to follow, however it was dumped on the outskirts of the city. We found Imogen's DNA in the van, but she was the only DNA evidence we found. We're running out of time given that we suspect the offenders are related to our current case. They're all drug lords, willing to do anything if it means they win. Anything...
"Jay, are you gonna work this case or just sit and stare at your screen?" I hear Voight from behind me. I quickly stand up and storm to the locker room, I'm going to be sick.
This is the one thing I've always dreaded. Something happening to my baby because of my work, it makes me sick. I can't focus, she's all I'm thinking about. Is she alive? Is she okay? I bet she's absolutely terrified. My hands tremble as I throw up my lunch, dinner and breakfast. I hear someone walk to the door but I wave them off, soon after I hear them leave.
After I'm done, I flip back on the floor and sob into my hands. I'm so sorry, darling. So, so sorry...
Imogen's POV
I wake up once again to the feeling of being dragged across the floor. My eyes slowly peel open to review where the hell I'm going. I'm outside, currently being dragged across the grass. My vision is blurry, my ribs hurt and I can't move. I'm not sure if my wrists are still tied together but it feels like it, however that could just be the pain radiating up my arms. I want my dad more than anything right now, and I don't even know if he knows where I am yet. But I know he'll find me, even if it's the last thing he does...
My senses are a little iffy but apart from that I think I'm okay. I can't really see much other than the stars shining, and a man who's dragging me towards another building. I wince when my bare back hits the stones and before I know it I'm being dragged up a flight of stairs. That's going to leave a nasty mark...
"Here's the cops kid" I hear him announce. I try my best to roll onto my stomach in any last attempts to flee but he's strong, much stronger than me. I'm not sure what they're talking about, given that I'm too busy panicking, but I'm not stupid. I know they have nothing but sick plans for me...
~
I'm sure it's been at least two hours now. Maybe my dad won't find me after all? Sometime between me being moved from building to building I was drugged again. It's horrible, and I don't know how much longer my eyes can stay awake. If it wasn't for the man stood in the corner watching me, I'd probably let sleep take me under its wing. But he's watching me like a hawk and I don't feel safe, he could do anything whilst I'm dead to the world.
"You're going to jail, you know that right?" I scoff a laugh. Probably not the best idea. He stands up from leaning against the wall and walks over to me, grabbing me by the arm and forcing me to my feet, "just because your daddy's coming to find you, doesn't mean he's gonna find you alive" he grits his teeth in my face and I can't lie, I'm scared. He gives me a good shake before carrying me into a different room by my waist as my feet drag behind me, "can I?" He looks over at another man.
A few seconds later and I'm back on the floor, receiving hit after hit, and I'm not sure how much more I can take. The taste of blood fills my mouth and darkness clouds my vision, maybe even stars too. He pauses to look at what he has done and I subconsciously curl up in a ball to protect my face, please stop...
Jays POV
As I'm sat in my truck, given that hailey yelled at me telling me I wasn't fit enough to drive right now, my hands are sweating. The guys we've been hunting down for months are foul criminals ranging from perverts and rapists, to drug lords and junkies. I know Imogen's time is running short, and if we don't get to her within minutes, I know what I'll be facing...
Before my partner can even stop the car, I'm already getting ready to hop out. I bolt towards the house as Kevin and Voight follow suit. Quickly, we make our way through the house. I'm pissed to find a few offenders in random rooms, but still no sign of Imogen.
I glance out of the kitchen window to see a large garage on the back of the house, "Watch my back" I look over at hailey as I kick the door down. We run across the garden and break our way through the metal door as the unit work on arresting everyone in sight.
"Imogen!" I yell out. Hailey filters into a side room as I head straight, "dad..." I hear the memorised voice of my daughter cry out. As I enter the next room my heart sinks. The walls are covered in blood splatters and the floor is covered in pools of blood. Based on the state of my daughter, I'm aware that all of it is her own. She reaches an arm out as she rolls onto her back, "dad..." she cries again and i swear there's nothing left in my heart anymore.
"Hey hey hey, shhhhh. Don't move, don't move immy. It's alright, I'm here..." I kneel down and cradle the back of her head. She looks up at me and lets out a shaky breath, "they left" she mumbles. I nod and check her for major injuries, but I can't really see much given that she's covered from head to toe in blood. Hank runs into the room and takes a glance before kneeling on the other side, I work to apply pressure to the only life-threatening wound I can see.
"Don't move..." Voight grabs a hold of informs hand as hailey calls for an update on the ambulance from the doorway. Imogen groans as I apply more pressure, "I'm sorry, but I have to" I frown as she grimaces at me. She coughs and I'm terrified to see the blood pooling out of her mouth, "hang in there, honey. Keep fighting" he smile encouragingly. Imogen smiles through the pain and nods, "I told him to go screw himself" she closes her eyes and lets out a small laugh. I look up at hank to see a sad smile on his face, "you did really good, you're doing so well" hank nods and squeezes her hand. I smile and let out a shaky breath, "hang in for me" I keep repeating that until the ambulance arrives.
~
"Jay? What's going on?" I feel Will shaking my shoulder. I look up with bloodshot eyes. Imogen just crashed on the way to med, and they were performing cpr when they brought her in. I nod, "she was kidnapped, drugged and beaten. She crashed on her way over here, they said to keep praying for a miracle. Is she gonna die, Will?" I feel him guide me back to a chair. He shakes his head, "I'm not gonna let that happen, I'll be right back..." he slaps my back before running into the ED.
Around an hour later, I'm met with dr Marcel walking over to me. He smiles, "We repaired the internal bleeding and she's all patched up. She did crash during surgery but we brought her back after the first shock. She's gonna be okay" he nods. I let out the biggest breath and sigh as I stand up, "thank you, so so much" I shake crocketts hand. He smiles as Will stand in the doorway, "you can see her" he nods. I smile and rush at the opportunity.
"Dad?" Imogen looks over at me as I enter. I smile and sit down on her bed, "hi baby" I place my hand on the top of her head. She sighs, "I was so scared" she nods shakily. I smile and plant a kiss on her hand, "I know, and I'm sorry. This should never have happened. But I'm glad you're okay, and I'm so proud of you. I love you so, so much..." i close my eyes for a second. She smiles and closes her eyes, "I love you more" she let out a deep breath. This won't happen again, immy.