The Bullet Bites

By Victoria

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except Emily. They all belong to Channel 7. I am just borrowing them for this fan fiction. If I have the same ideas as anybody I am really sorry, but I thought these up my self!

Authors note: Bron ran away six years ago, and this is what happened when she came back. Also, I am sorry if I have made a mistake in the medical jargon, I am not a doctor, just a girl that likes writing stories.

Feedback: Please, cheeserox@hotmail.com.

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“This is our new home Emily” Bron said to her 5 year old daughter as she opened the door to a crummy old flat. Bron stepped inside and started looking around. It was a very basic flat, a bathroom, a bedroom and a kitchen. Bron scooped Emily up into her arms.

“It’s scary mummy,” Emily whispered into Bron’s ear

“Don’t worry darling, it will be like home soon” Bron said hugging her daughter tightly. Bron looked into Emily’s deep brown eyes.

She looks so much like him she thought.

“Do you want to help me get our stuff?” Bron asked Emily as the y walked back down the stairs. They were only renting the flat until a reasonable house came about. Bron had sold most of the stuff from her house in Brisbane since she had decided she would come back to Sydney.

“Can I get my box of things plwz?” Emily asked

“Sure darling” Bron said handing Emily her box, out of the car boot. Bron grabbed the other boxes and they carried them back up stairs. When Bron had unpacked most of her stuff, she went and found Emil sitting on the bed, looking at a photograph.

“Who’s this mum?” Emily asked sticking the photo under Bron’s nose. Bron took the photo and looked at it.

“It’s your father” Bron said sitting down and taking Emily into her lap.

“His name is Ben and we used to be ambulance officers together, before I nearly died on the job. After that I quit my job and I started nursing. Then I found out I was going to have you and I got scared, and I ran away. You’ll understand it all soon” Bron said

“Now its time for me to go and visit some of my old friends” Bron stood up with Emily still in her arms. They went back to the car together and drove over to Charlotte’s house. Bron and Emily got out of the car. Bron walked up to the door with Emily in her arms. Emily knocked the knocker and a faint barking could be heard from inside.

“Hush Elvis” Charlotte said as she opened the door. It took Charlotte a moment to realise that it was Bron.

“Bron” Charlotte said hugging her good friend.

“Who are you?” Charlotte asked Emily

“I’m Emily” Emily said proudly

“Come in make yourself comfortable. Would you like a coffee?” Charlotte asked ushering them inside. When Emily saw Elvis she shrieked in delight.

“Doggy” Bron put her down and Emily rushed over to Elvis. Elvis seemed to love the attention Emily was giving him. Bron walked into the kitchen where Charlotte was preparing the coffee.

“So how long have you been back?” Charlotte asked turning the kettle on.

“We got here this morning,” Bron said uneasily. Bron was trying to hold back the tears that threatened to escape. Bron bit her lip, but she knew she wouldn’t fool Charlotte that easily.

“What’s up Noodle?” Charlotte asked immediately noticing Bron uneasiness. Bron couldn’t hold it in any longer. She let the tears fall down her face. Emily heard her mum crying and walked up to her.

“Are you ok mummy?” She asked trying to reach for a tissue

“Yeah just a bit sad” Bron said lifting Emily into her arms and giving her a hug.

“Let’s go and sit on the couch,” Charlotte said guiding Bron to the lounge suit. Bron sat down cradling Emily in her arms. Emily slowly fell asleep in Bron’s arms.

“She’s so sweet, I can see a bit of Ben in her,” Charlotte said, trying to break the ice.

“Yeah” Bron said her eyes filling up with tears.

“Oh, Noodle” Charlotte said pulling Bron into a bear hug.

“Are you ready to talk?”

“Yeah, it’s better to have it of my chest.” Bron said

“Well…um 6 years ago I found out I was pregnant, and Ben is the father, I was so scared cause Ben didn’t want kids till after we were married and I didn’t want to abort, so I kept her and ran away. I don’t know what people think of me now, Ben probably hates me!” Tears flowed down Bron cheeks, splashing down on Emily’s face, Emily stirred slightly

“I’m cold” Emily moaned, moving around in Bron’s lap.

“I’ll go and get her a blanket,” Charlotte said jumping off the couch. Charlotte came back with a fluffy pink rug and wrapped it around Emily, who then snuggled close to Bron.

“This is how we used to sleep most nights, on the couch. I didn’t have enough money for a bed. I got addicted to gambling again, I spent most of my savings and I had to go and get a job. I worked in an office block, cleaning the toilets and things. It was awful. I didn’t even have enough to give Emily a proper start in kindergarten. She went to this horrible crèche. Every night she would cry. She has bruises on her arms and legs. Once a boy broke her arm” Bron said lifting up the bottom of Emily’s dress to reveal a large bruise.

“It must have been awful” Charlotte said, rubbing Bron back, to keep her calm.

“We’ve moved into an awful flat on George Street. It only has 2 rooms,” Bron said. She ran her fingers through Emily’s hair.

“She’s such a gorgeous kid, I should have given her a better start to life” Tears started falling down Bron’s cheeks.

“If you want to you can stay here tonight” Charlotte said

“Yeah thanks.” Bron said squeezing Charlotte’s hand. Charlotte got up and grabbed some spare linen out of the cupboard. She handed them to Bron and went to get changed in to her pyjamas. Bron carefully placed Emily down on the couch, and then made herself a makeshift bed on the floor. Charlotte came back.

“Are you going to be right sleeping on the floor?” Charlotte asked, amazed that Bron would.

“Look I did it at my old house, it’s nothing new.” Bron said

“Oh and Em and I will probably be gone by the time you get up. I have to go and see Terri about getting my old job back.” Bron got into her bed and lay down. She fell into a restful sleep.

The next day Bron woke at 7am. She looked over at Emily. She was sleeping soundly. Bron got up and folded the linen neatly, placing it by Emily’s feet. Bron gently shook Emily to wake.

“Morning mummy” Emily mumbled wiping the sleep out of her eyes.

“What do you want for brekkie sweetie?” Bron asked wiping the hair out of Emily’s face.

“Auntie Charlotte got any Corn bubbles?” Emily said folding up the pink blanket. Bron and Emily got of the couch and walked over to the bar, built into the kitchen. Bron lifted Emily up onto 1 of the stools. Padding could be heard in the hallway and Charlotte appeared.

“Hello Auntie Char” Emily said. Charlotte was surprised to be called auntie but quickly got over her amazement.

“Morning Emily” Charlotte said walking over to the kitchen.

“Do you have any Corn bubbles?” Bron asked Charlotte

“Yeah, here you go” Charlotte handed the box to Bron, who poured some into a bowl, the she poured milk on them and handed them to Emily

“Fank you mummy” Emily said digging in. Emily finished off her bowl quickly.

“We better be off now” Bron said to Charlotte at 7:45.

“We need to get over to Terri’s”

“Ok, see ya Emily”

“Bye Auntie Char” Emily said giving her a hug. Bron and Charlotte hugged and Bron walked out.

They got out at Terri’s house 15 minutes later. Bron and Emily got out of the car. Bron noticed 2 cars in the driveway; a red Holden and a 4 wheel drive Pajero.

Mitch must have moved in with Terri, Bron thought. Bron walked up to the house holding Emily’s hand

“Now be nice to Terri, she’s mummy’s old boss, and mummy is trying to get her job back,” Bron whispered in Emily’s ear, before knocking on the door. Mitch came to the door.

“Bron?” He asked in disbelief

“Yup, it’s me” Bron said

“Oh my god! You look wonderful” Mitch said hugging her.

“And who’s this?” he said bending down to look at Emily.

“I’m Emily” Emily said proudly

“It’s nice to meet you” Mitch said, shaking her hand. Emily giggled and hid behind Bron

“Would you like to come in?” Bron stepped in side the house. Emily tugged at her pants and Bron lifted her into her arms.

“Terri, Bron’s here,” Mitch yelled down the hallway. Bron heard a squeal of delight and footstep patter along the wooden floorboards. Terri appeared around the corner and ran up to hug Bron. Terri pulled back and noticed Emily.

“Who’s this?” Terri asked

“I’m Emily. Hi Tewi” Emily said

“Hi Emily, it’s nice to meet you” Terri said

“You’re a very important pewson,” Emily said. Emily grinned at Bron who hugged her tightly.

“How have you been Bron?” Terri asked

“Yeah, same old Bron” Bron said

“I was just wondering if I could get my job back?”

“Sure, sure thing!” Terri exclaimed

“Thanks Terri. I can’t really stay I have to go and finish with our flat” Bron said

“It was nice of you to tell us your back.” Mitch said, handing Terri a cup of coffee.

“Oh and can you keep me coming back a secret” Bron said before leaving. Emily waved as Bron pulled out of the driveway.

Later that night Bron decided they should have take out’s for dinner.

“Come on darling, where going to Hungry Pizza for take outs” Bron said getting of the couch

“And then you can choose any video you want from video store” Emily grabbed Bron’s hand as they started walking down the street.

“Hey look it’s Charlotte’s street!” Bron exclaimed pointing down the street closest to the shops.

“Remember number 4” Bron took Emily’s hand as they crossed the street. They grabbed their pizza then headed for the video store. Emily chose Play School’s Happy Christmas. Bron took Emily’s hand as they left the store. They walked past the park and suddenly Bron felt a hand on her shoulder she turned around to be staring in the face of a total stranger. He grabbed Emily and twisted her arm till a crack could be heard. Emily screamed in pain. Bron tried to comfort her daughter but the man grabbed her and pulled out a knife. He held it to her neck

“One false move and you get it” He sneered as he pulled Bron away into a van, which was parked near by. Emily screamed and ran after the van but she wasn’t fast enough. She remember what her mum had said, Charlotte’s Street! Number 4. Emily ran across the road and down Charlotte’s Street. She looked for number 4 and ran up the driveway. She knocked on the door with her unbroken arm. She started scream hysterically. Charlotte ran to the door when she heard the child scream. She opened the door to find Emily standing there, her arm out at an odd angle with a trickle of blood coming from it.

“Oh Emily what happened?” Charlotte asked

“Mummy got taken” Emily cried

“He twisted my arm. It hurts, it really hurts” Charlotte pulled Emily into a hug. Emily screamed hysterically when Charlotte tried to look at her arm. Charlotte rang triple o for an ambulance. She made Emily sit still on the couch.

“Emily can you tell me what happened?” Charlotte asked again. She wrapped Emily in the pink fluffy blanket to keep her warm, while she went through the stages of shock.

“Mummy and I got a video and this guy came and hurt me, he took mummy away” Emily cried. Then there was a knock at the door. Charlotte went to open it. She found Ben and Scott standing at the door. Charlotte beckoned them in. She walked over to Emily and held her hand.

“This is Emily Craig, she’s 5 years old and I don’t think she is allergic to anything. Bron hasn’t told me,” Charlotte said. Immediately after she said it she knew she shouldn’t have.

“Bron?” Ben questioned trying to peer at the cut without touching Emily.

“Oh…um this is Emily. Um she’s your daughter” Charlotte waited to see how Ben would react. He just stared in amazement.

“I know you” Emily said, still crying

“Your name’s Ben and you are my daddy”

“Right lets get you fixed up,” Ben said. Ben touched the cut trying to see how it could be fixed, but Emily wouldn’t keep still. She just kept screaming and moaning. Eventually Scott and Charlotte held her down while Ben put the arm back in place a put it in a splint.

“Ssshhh, it will be ok Emily. Your being a brave girl, I’m sure mummy would be very proud of you” Charlotte said when everything was done.

“It still hurts Auntie Char” Emily cried

“I know Emily, but if you let your dad out a drip in then he can give you something so it will stop hurting” Charlotte said. Emily held out her hand while he cannulated her. He gave her 5mg of Morphine.

“But what about mummy?” Emily asked when they had finished.

“We’ll call the cops,” Charlotte said, going over to the phone.

Charlotte: Hello, this is Charlotte Beaumont

Police Officer: Hi Charlotte, I’m constable Johnson, how may I help you?

Charlotte: My friend has been kidnapped. Bronwyn Craig. She’s 32 about 130cm tall and she was wearing a blue polar fleece jumper and dark blue tracksuit pants

Police Officer: Can you come down to the station please? We shall need to discus this in more detail.

Charlotte: Ok I’ll be down soon

Charlotte put down the phone. She walked back over to Emily who was now sobbing quietly on the couch.

“I want mummy,” She said clinging to Charlotte

“Come on let’s get you to hospital and get your arm fixed, then we can go to the police station and I’m sure they’ll find you mummy” Charlotte said picking her and walking back to the ambulance.

When Emily was all fixed up Charlotte took her down to the police station.

“Hi how may I help you?” the receptionist asked

“I’m here to see Constable Johnson, I rang earlier” Charlotte said shifting Emily around

“Sure, follow me” The receptionist said walking down the corridor. Charlotte was lead into a small room where a man was sitting behind a desk.

“Hi” he said

“You must be Charlotte Beaumont, I’m Constable Johnson” he extended his hand. Charlotte shook it. She sat down in the chair with Emily on her lap.

“You had a problem?” The constable asked

“Yes, my friend Bronwyn, Bron for short, Craig has been kidnapped. She 32 and about 130cm tall. This is her daughter Emily. The kidnapper broke her arm.”

“This is very serious,” the constable said stroking his chin

“What was your mum wearing?” he asked Emily

“Um…a blue top and some blue pants.” Emily said. Just then the phone rang.

“Excuse me 1 moment” Constable Johnson said picking up the phone. After a couple of moments he handed the phone to Charlotte.

“It’s the kidnapper”

“Hello” Charlotte said

“Charlotte Beaumont, you need to have 40,000 dollars waiting for me at Carrington Roan by midday tomorrow or your friend gets it” he said

“How do I know Bron’s still alive?” Charlotte asked

“Charlotte, HELP, GET ME OUT OF HERE” Bron screamed in the background

“Proof enough” the kidnapper said before hanging up the phone. Charlotte handed the phone back to the constable and began to explain what he said.

Meanwhile the kidnapper had just crushed his mobile so no one could ring him back.

“Now sweetie” he said to Bron, who was crouched in the corner

“Ready for some fun” He grabbed Bron by the arm and pulled her up. Bron pulled away and ran to the other side of the abandoned warehouse. The kidnapper ran after her and threw her over the other side of the warehouse. He started kicking her, yelling at her to get up. She got up and tried to duck under him but it was no use he grabbed and pushed her up against the wall. Bron whimpered when he ran his finger through her hair.

“That’s better now isn’t it sweetness” He started pashing her on the lips. Then she realised what he was going to do. The kidnapper tugged at her pants, she struggled hard enough to get away. The kidnapper pulled out a knife and charged at Bron, he stopped mid stride before turning around and running out. Bron slumped against the wall. Bron looked at her watch, it was 9:03.

What’s happened to my Emily, is she all right? She thought while sitting in the warehouse.

40 minutes later the Barn door opened and the kidnapper walked in follow by Terri.

“Terri” Bron greeted her friends

“Hey Bron” she said coming in and walking over to her. They hugged before they heard the kidnapper approaching them

“Now I have 2 sweeties,” he said grabbing Bron by the arm and pulling a gun out of his pocket

“Don’t move or she get it?” He said to Terri. Terri stood stock still as he started giving orders to Bron

“Take of your clothes except for your underpants and bra” he said pointing the gun at her. She did it as fast as she could so she didn’t get shot. He then grabbed her wrists and twisted them round before tying them tightly with rope. Bron stood waiting while he made his next decision. He grabbed an old chair from the corner of the warehouse. He made Bron sit on it while he tied her to it with the same rope as she did with her hands. As Bron struggled against she realised that it was only going to make things worse as the rope cut into the flesh of her stomach. Bron stopped moving altogether just concentrating on the ground. About half an hour later Bron felt the presence of the man again. She looked up only to discover the Terri was lying in a heap on the ground.

“Terri” Bron called. But no reply came

“Don’t bother” the kidnapper said

“She won’t wake for a while” and with that he pulled out a knife. He chopped off Bron’s bra and underpants. She just sat there shivering in the cold night air. The kidnapper walked forward after discarding the items and sat down on Bron’s lap. He was also undressed. He started kissing Bron. He then started licking her face, her neck and arms. Bron whimper when he started licking her all over. He got to her legs. Bron couldn’t bear it; she let out a blood-curling scream. The kidnapper grabbed his gun and pointed it at her.

“Scream again and you get it,” he said putting the gun down and walking back over. He untied Bron middle and lifted her off the chair. He pushed her back against the wall and started pashing her lips with a lot of force. Then he did it. He then left, leaving Bron in pain. Bron crawled over to where Terri lay. Bron couldn’t really do much so she just sat and waited till Terri woke up.

Terri woke a couple of hours later. She rubbed her eyes as she sat up.

“God Bron what did he do to you” Terri asked sitting up

“I was going to ask you the same question,” Bron said

“But first can you untie my hands?” Terri moved around to the back of Bron and untied her hands. As she unwound the rope she found deep gashes were the rope had been. Bron quickly got up and put her cloths back on

“We have to find a way to get out of here,” Bron said after she was dressed.

“There’s a hole in the back,” Terri said. They walked to the back and found the hole, it was just big enough. Bron decided to go last. Terri started squeezing in but suddenly the door opened and the kidnapper walked in. he noticed what was happening and quickly pulled out his gun. He shot wildly around the room. Bron tried to avoid the shots, but copped 2 in her right arm

“Get out” she yelled crouching down and scrambling out the hole. She then noticed the blood coming from her arm

“We have to get to a hospital,” She cried as the pain began to tear through her arm. Terri noticed the blood and pulled off her jumper handing it to Bron. Bron wrapped it around and started running off in the direction of which she though would be the right way. She was in luck. With Terri close at her heals, they ran along until the reached the hospital grounds. They ran into emergency and were greeted by Rebecca

“Bron are you alright?” she asked running up to a now very pale Bron

“No I’ve been shot in the arm,” Bron said sitting down in the nearest chair. Luke came running out

“Can I help?” he asked

“NO, GET AWAY” Bron and Terri screamed.

“Where’s Charlotte?” Bron asked Rebecca

“She should be here any minute, with Emily” as if on que Charlotte and Emily walked in

“Emily” Bron cried glad to see her daughter. Emily ran into Bron, who couldn’t really hug her because of her arm. Charlotte ran over seconds later, after talking with Rebecca.

“Bron let me have a look at your arm,” she said. Bron slowly took away Terri’s jumper to reveal a blood soaked shirt

“Right were going to have to operate” Charlotte said pulling back the shirt, to reveal Bron’s bloody arm.

“Mummy are you alright,” Emily asked

“Yes darling, you just have to stay with Terri while I go into surgery, and I’ll be all yours when I’m out” Bron said tying hard to hold in a scream of pain.

Just then the hospital doors opened and the kidnapper walked in.

“Alright everyone arms up” He said pointing his gun around. Everyone put his or her arms up except Bron who only put 1 up.

“I said put your arms up,” he said pointing the gun directly at Bron. Bron slowly put up her other arm, the blood seeping down her neck.

“Ah more girls” he said looking at Charlotte, Emily and Rebecca.

“All right, all the girls in the van, NOW” Terri and Bron knew better than to ague with him so they got up. Emily followed Bron running after her. Charlotte grabbed something before following Bron and Terri, and then Rebecca followed. They all waited for the kidnapper to open the van. He opened the back, which had small hole poked in for light. They all got in. Emily snuggled up to Bron who was trying hard not to cry, because the pain in her arm was really bad.

“Don’t worry Bron” Charlotte said when the kidnapper had started on his way

“I grabbed a pair of tweezers and a bandage, I’m sure I can get them out” Charlotte moved closer to Bron to find she was shivering.

“Hey Bron, we don’t have to, it would just be better to get them out now” Charlotte said, beckoning Terri over to help. Rebecca had been looking round the van and she found a couple of blankets.

“Hey guys, look at these,” she yelled bringing some over. They wrapped Emily up in 1 and Bron in another. Charlotte got to work at removing the bullets. First she pulled up the top of Bron’s shirt. Terri held the shirt while Charlotte dabbed it with 1 of the blankets. Rebecca held Bron’s hand as Charlotte got to work. Tears were streaming down her face when Charlotte had finished cleaning the area.

“I can see them,” Charlotte said putting the tweezers in a ready position

“They aren’t far in, they should be out in a minute or two” with that Bron shut her eyes tightly bracing herself for the pain. A couple of seconds later she felt pain tear through her arm as Charlotte pulled at one of the bullets. She couldn’t scream, she had to be brave. The bullet came out easily and the wound was quickly covered by one of the blankets. Terri applied pressure to the wound. Bron couldn’t hold it in any longer. She let out a strangled sort of sob.

“Come on, your doing really well, just a few more moments” Charlotte said going back to get the second one.

“You want to lie down?” she asked before she started. Bron shook her head, biting her lip hard to stop her self from screaming as Charlotte dug the tweezers in again. Charlotte pulled out the second bullet, but Bron couldn’t help herself, she let out a scream.

“Aaaaaahhhhhhh” Bron screamed as Charlotte started applying pressure to the wound. Bron had tears streaming down her face, she couldn’t stop them, and she was in so much pain. She couldn’t see, her site was going all blurry.

“I feel faint,” she said to Rebecca who was closest. Rebecca told Charlotte this and immediately she pushed Bron down onto another mound of blankets. Terri covered Bron in a blanket leaving her arm out. Bron closed her eyes, her breath becoming slow and Bron found it hard to breath as she felt her self-slipping away. Bron could feel the ground beneath her swirling. It was making her sick. She sat up trying hard to hold it in but she felt her body wrenched as she threw up. The force left her shaking. She couldn’t breathe, she really couldn’t. Her breath came out short.

“Come on Honey” Charlotte said from somewhere above

“Slow your breathing, come on stay with us. Just slow your breathing. You’ve done really you’ll to get through this. You…………”

Bron didn’t hear the rest as darkness had engulfed her.