SPOILER ALERT–This is the final chapter of Chrysalis. If you haven’t read the other chapters you may want to hop over to Categories to read the other chapters first.  I hope you had as much fun reading it as I did writing it. Thanks for taking the time to read it!

 

CHRYSALIS–CHAPTER 10

 

Marv aimed the gun at Chryssie.

This was it. Her life would be over before it even started. One more unfulfilled life—one more wormy life. She’d never be a butterfly.

She’d never soar above the ugly stuff.

Maybe, her sister would make it. Please, God, let Misty have a good life.

Marv looked away from her and looked at Stan. “Let her go, Stan. It’s all over. I’m a cop.” His gun shifted slightly. It wasn’t pointed at her but at Stan.

A cop? Marv was a cop? Maybe God had heard her prayer.

Stan squeezed her arms even tighter. She moaned.

“Shut up. I don’t care who you are. You’re going to let me leave or I’m going to kill her.”

“What would be the point in that?” Marv asked. “The building is surrounded and by now your boss has been arrested. His cousin had no problem pointing the finger at him.”

“That’s nice.”  Marv moved the gun to Chryssie’s temple. “If you don’t want her brains splattered all over, you’ll let me out. Now!”

“Not going to happen.” Marv held the gun steady. “Think about it, Stan. As far as I can see, the only thing you’ve done so far is holding her against her will. You haven’t killed anyone. That was Chuck.”

“It wasn’t Chuck. It was his cousin.” Why was she bothering to tell him that? “But it wasn’t me.”

Marv nodded but stayed focus on Stan. “You’ll plead down to some stupid misdemeanor and be out in six months. You shoot her and you’ll never see the light of day again. I’ll make sure of that.”

Stan’s grasp loosened. Not much, but enough for her to know that he was listening to Marv, but then they tightened once again. “You might be telling the truth. But maybe you’re not. I’m counting to three and then I’m going to shoot her unless you let me out of this room. One…”

“OK, you win.” Marv held up his hands in surrender. He stepped backwards out of the room.

“Good, keep moving.” Stan shoved her forward.

Chryssie closed her eyes. So close to freedom, but not close enough. Stan pushed her several more steps. She met Marv’s eyes—something in them told her everything would be all right.

He wasn’t going to let Stan hurt her.

Marv had things other control.

She stepped through the doorway. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw another man. He put a finger to his mouth. In that moment, she knew what she needed to do. Keep Stan focused on her.

She took several quick steps. Stan moved with her.

The policeman stepped out, his gun aimed at Stan’s head.

Marv smiled. “Now, are you going to listen to me and let her go?”

Stan released her arms.

Sobbing, Chryssie sank to her knees.

Marv was beside her. He held her in his arms as she cried. She was aware of movement, but still couldn’t move.  “You’re fine, Chryssie. Everything’s OK.”

“It wasn’t me. I didn’t do it.”

“I know. I know.”

“You’re really a cop?”

“Yeah, I am. I’ve been undercover for the past six months so I could infiltrate Chuck and his criminal organization.”

“So, that Christian stuff was an act?”

“That part was real.” He stood up, helping her up as well. “Time to go.”

“Where to?”

“To the county jail.”

“But I thought you believed me.”

“Unfortunately, I’m not the one in charge. You still need to go to jail. But not to worry, God will work it out.”

****

The old brick building stood in front of her as they stopped. Her eyes blurred as they filled with tears. People were coming and going, not noticing her. Life moved on, in spite of her own personal tragedy.

Chryssie stepped out of the car on her own. No handcuffs. Marv said she wasn’t under arrest, but needed to go in and answer a few questions.

Marv walked up beside her. “Are you OK?”

She nodded. “Let’s just get this over. I need some sleep.”

He smiled. “I’m not sure that will be happening anytime soon. You’re going to be busy for awhile.”

The door opened.

A woman and a child walked out of the country jail. They were holding hands. As they walked closer to Chryssie, the girl dropped the woman’s hand. She started running towards Chryssie her arms outstretched.

Chryssie ran to the girl. “Misty.”

Marv jogged with her. “We put her in protective custody. We didn’t want Chuck able to get her.”

Misty’s arms clasped her around the hips. “I was so scared.”

Chryssie knelt down. “Me too. But you know what I was really afraid of?”

“What?”

“Not seeing you again.”

“Well, that’s not going to happen.” The woman who had held Misty’s hand stood there smiling. “It’s all been worked out. Misty’s going home with you tonight. That is if you still want her.”

With her arms still around her sister, Chryssie looked up. “Of course I want her, but I thought—”

The lady shrugged. “Things change. Marv thought it would be a good idea for the two of you to spend some time together before you start your new job.”

She looked up at Marv. He smiled. “I told you God would work it all out.”

As she stood up, she felt the cocoon of doom and gloom falling away from her. She’d made it.

She was a butterfly.

 

UNTIL NEXT TIME…God Bless & Good Reading!!