Sorry for the short chapter. I'm used to writing screenplays so I'm kind of formatted. Anyway, thanks everyone for your support.

Chapter 9

Kate was running. She was running through the woods without paying attention to her surroundings.

She was lucky – it was still broad daylight.

Not that it helped her in any way.

What reassured her was the appearance of the woods – even though it was still chilling. Trees became gigantic shadows, floating balefully over her. The leaves were rustling with power, creating like this a noise, unceasing and including. Each tree was the shadow of a potential person. The shadow of Jerry Tyson, hiding in the darkness, ready to shoot her down.

She'd turn over at every opportunity, deeply convinced that she was followed. Short of breath and distracted by her paranoia, she ended up tripping over roots. She collapsed with all the weight, landing on some body parts that were already painful.

She took advantage of it to gather her strength and take stock of her current situation. With the help of the adrenaline, she had managed to put aside her injuries but now that she had stopped, the pain came back at full power. Her belly and her ribs ached particularly, even though – from what she could tell – nothing was broken.

She waited silently for several minutes. Nothing came. Did she get rid of Tyson?

She had to be strategic now – find how to get out of these woods. Her sense of direction wasn't bad but getting out of unknown woods in no time wasn't part of her feats just yet.

When she tried to get up, she screamed. It's over, she thought. She wouldn't go any further. Tyson would find her and kill her.

The smiley face of Richard Castle popped into her head. She couldn't let him down. She wouldn't let him live knowing what it felt like to lose someone close. "Castle", she murmured. "For you."

And with that – she got up.

It took her time – hours maybe, she had no idea – but she succeeded. After hours of wandering, she found a road.

She was saved.

When Tyson came round, he had the delightful surprise of finding himself tied up. "Bitch", he mumbled. And after several vain attempts of getting out of it, he shouted with renewed vigor, "Bitch!"

Pissed was an understatement for what he was feeling.

Luckily, he had a plan.

But he had to act fast. It would be long before Beckett would get out of the woods, he had to use this time at his advantage.

When he found a knife to cut his ties, he smiled.

The fun was not over.

Esposito and Ryan were still at the table, trying to process everything they had just learnt.

"What are we going to do?"

"Can we do anything? If Tyson ever finds out…"

"Bro, there's no way I'm gonna let Beckett and Castle in this. You have a child, you have Jenny, I'll understand if you want to back off."

"What? No way. If you say we do something, then we do it. Both of us. It's Beckett's life we're talking about."

"Yeah, she usually has our back, it's time to do the same."

"Well actually, I think we saved her life more than she saved ours, not that anyone is counting," he chuckled.

Esposito smiled too and it felt good, even though it didn't last long.

"So, what do we do?"

Castle was pacing furiously. It had been an hour since he called for Tyson. He couldn't concentrate on anything. What if he was wrong? What if there was no way of contacting Tyson? What if… he never saw Kate again? Oh, God. He would never forget himself. This was all his fault. He would never forgive himself. He wouldn't live with that.

He couldn't lose her… Tears begin to form in his eyes, and he didn't make any gesture to suppress them.

At this moment, his phone rang.

His head shot up.

His heart beat fast.

Was that it?

Tentatively, he approached the phone. His gestures were slow. He picked up the phone, cleared his throat.

"Yes?"

"Richard, how nice to hear you again."

His throat went dry. How could that bastard have so much fun?

"Did you? Hear me?"

"Yes, and I'm a little disappointed to be truthful. You don't want to play anymore? How sad. We were just beginning!"

He was already tired of his little jokes. Just like that, he thought of Kate's laugh. God how much he wanted her back in his arms, safe and sound.

"Just tell me how this stops."

"How about a little meeting? Just you and me."

"What about Kate?"

"You'll see her soon enough."

"I want her there. I want to know she's fine…"

"Tu-tu-tu. My game. My rules. If you don't want to play, I know another way to stop the game right now."

"No no no. Okay, fine. Where do we meet? What do I have to do?"

Tyson gave his orders and they hung up.

How did he know he could trust him? He had no idea. But if Kate had to die, he'll make sure he would be there to die with her. It was either neither of them or both of them.