Benedict Cumberbatch: Life With Ben

Chapter Forty Six: I Was Meant To Be Safe

Home we went, whilst dodging different members of the press asking for Benedict. I weaved in and out of them, ignoring them all, before reaching home. Outside the house was a van. It wasn't a van I recognised though. It was a white ford, with the windows tinted black. I then looked up at the door and it was opened ajar. This didn't look good. I picked Alice up out of her pram and I dragged the pram up the stairs to the front door, and I slowly pushed it open, trying to make sure it didn't make a noise. My body filled with fear and I could feel my arms trembling, but I kept calm as I help Alice close to my chest protectively.

As we walked in, I heard deep, cockney male voices coming from the upstairs. Placing Alice on her baby mat in the living room, I slowly walked up the stairs, following the voices. My heart raced and my hands shook, as I walked towards my bedroom. This was meant to be the room I should enjoy going to but not this time. I was terrified and wanted to cry but I couldn't, I had to make sure no one could hear me. This was working perfectly fine until I stepped on a creaky floor board. As I did it let out a creak that would have woken up people in Sydney! As I stepped on the floorboard, the talking stopped, making my stomach reach my feet. As I approached the door slowly, the voices stopped and turned to sheepish whispers. "Sh." A male voice hissed as he heard my footsteps. I stood at the door and slowly opened the door to be faced with two middle aged men. Both of them stood high at 6 foot 5, and weighing in at 250Lbs each- all of which was muscle. One of the men, Phil, had a scar down the side of his cheek, what looked like a stab wound. His eyes were a dark grey, full of hatred and despise, whilst his partner in crime, Steven, had a scar going across his right eye, his face was butch, with little slice scars dotted over it. They were truly intimidating. Just the sight of them would make Arnold Schwarzenegger tremble at his knees.

They looked down at my scrawny physique, and smirked "Yes, it's her. She hasn't changed at all, Phil" Steven said to another, in an intimidating way. "This time, let's try and finish the job off." Phil smirked to his friend. I shook my head. I recognised these men now and panicked and ran off. These were the men who kidnapped me when I was younger. Steven, and Phil ran after me but before I could run too far, Steven man-handled me, causing me to scream. He threw me over his shoulder and held me tight. "Let me go!" I cried as I kicked and screamed, trying to break free, but as I did it caused Stevens grip to rapidly get tighter. "Let you go?" Phil asked "I made that mistake once, not now. You are ours now, Claudia." He finished with a smirk. I kicked harder trying to break away. "Phil, put her in the spare room and tie her up, I'll get the knives." Steven smirks as he exited the bedroom. I kicked harder screaming "Let me go!" I yelled and bit Phil's arm, causing him to drop me. As I fell, I tried to scamper to my feet and I ran down the stairs, fearing for my life, but as I ran down, I felt arms being wrapped around me- it was Tom. I screamed before I realised. I thought I was safe now, but was I?

Steven walked over, and grasped my wrists "Claudia, come on!" He snapped causing Tom to glare "She isn't going with you!" Steven then pulled out a knife he had found in the kitchen and he ripped me out of Tom's arms. "She is ours. Not yours, Mr Hiddleston!" Despite Tom's attempt to fight back, Steven smirked and yanked me up the stairs and threw me into the spare room. Fear flooded my face as tears lined my eyes. They then rolled my jumper sleeves up and ran the blade over my wrists as the skin split, blood escaping my wrists causing me to cry out in pain.

Tom sat downstairs, shaking as he knew he couldn't do anything, except to phone Ben. "B-b-Benedict?" Tom asked shakily.

"Tom, what's wrong?" Ben asked as he had just landed in the private jet, in America.

"Claudia... She's in trouble." Tom stuttered.

"What?!" Ben gasped, his heart racing with fear.

"There's men upstairs, they won't let me up to see her. But they've got a knife."

"Save her!!" Ben snapped, scared.

Tom nodded and hung up and ran up the stairs, and saw I was unconscious from blood loss. Tom's face dropped and he started to growl, and he picked up a chair, ready to hit them both, but he looked around the room and saw they were gone and the car had sped away. He ran to my side and tried to stop the blood from my wrists, by grasping them tightly "C-Claud! W-wake up!" He cried and held them tighter, shaking me, as he panicked. I started to cough and I soon awoke, flinging my arms around Tom, as I shook violently. He held me close and kissed my cheek "It's okay, they've gone. They won't be back anytime soon." He whispered into my ear, comforting me, and I nuzzled into his shoulder "D-don't l-leave" I cried into him and Tom nodded "Of course. I'll stay until you go to university on Monday." He said softly and I nodded. I nodded and slowly tried to stand up, "I need to call Ben" I muttered and he sighed. "Yes, I-I told him they were here, so you should let him know you're okay" Tom replied standing up also "But first, let me clean you up." He sighed looking at my bloodied wrists. I nodded slowly and sniffled, feeling drossy again. Tom's grip got tighter as he led me to the bathroom to clean me up. His steps were clumsy as he tried to lead me, causing me to stumble with each step. My head was spinning, and my eyes struggled to stay open as the got heavier and heavier. "T-tom" I slurred as my head bowed forward, and rested against the sink Tom seated on the toilet seat. My body grew weaker and weaker by the second and Tom started to panic, "Claudia, come on... Open your eyes and stay awake... I can't lose you." My eyes may have been closed, but I could still hear. Tears trickled down my cheeks, as his words spiralled through the atmosphere and down my ear canal. Tom ran around the bathroom trying to find the first aid kit, rummaging through cupboards and cabinets before stumbling across it, mounted into the wall, next to the shower. He opened it shakily and started wrapping my wrists up in bandages, as he applied as much pressure as he could to them. "Come on! Wake up! You need to wake up. If you don't do it for me, do it for Alice and Benedict. They need you!" He cried and felt my skin go cold. He soon enough, scooped me up and carried me to the bedroom and laid me in the bed. Tucking me into the duvet, he sat watching me, his lip trembling. Tom had acted out many a difficult situation, but never this demanding. Not knowing that one of his closest friend's girlfriend was fighting for her life with her baby gurgling down the stairs. Tom's eyes widened as he heard Alice's gurgle and reluctantly left me. He stood up and kisses my forehead, as I continued to keep my eyes closed as I laid unconscious. He crept slowly down the stairs and saw Alice playing with her toy rabbit, whilst trying to remove her shoes. His face lit up seeing that she was okay and unharmed- unlike her Mummy. Tom got on his hands and knees and crawled over to Alice as she started to gurgle louder and giggle. Her eyes that were as blue as a summer sky lit up the room and he smile as happy as a puppy spread across her little face as she saw her Uncle Tom. Her small chubby hands reached for his face as he sat opposite her. "Hello Princess" Tom cooed as he picked up Alice and placed her on his lap as he sat down cross legged. His tight, black, skinny jeans creased slight at his knees as Alice looked up at the happy smiley man before her. Her hands felt his blue Jack Wills polo shirt that he fashioning on his torso. Her face was happy and full of joy and she smiled and blew bubbles before giggling to herself. Tom's eyes smiled, exposing his laughter crinkles at the corners of his eyes. He felt himself falling love with this 3 month old child. Alice started to clap her hands as Tom smiled wide. "Oh you are a clever, little girl!" He exclaimed watching the baby. His face and eyes lit up more, whilst his cheeks turned a rosy pink colour of joy. Tom loved children and spending time with them was one of his favourite things- especially Alice. Sometimes, he would pop around for a 'cup of tea' but instead spend 99% of the time play with Alice. I always knew where easily amused but apparently, a cup of juice, cartoons, blankets and cookies is the best way to winning this man round, so take my advice ladies if you want the Hiddleston!