Lost Hope

Cheez-its

Dedicated to @Starring_Night for telling me what to name my chapter and for being an awesome person!

"Alright, class. Who can tell me what x is in the equations 7x+8y=89 and 13y+72x=8964?" Mrs. Burkman asked. I was in math, my last class of the day. Just then, the bell rang, letting us out of school. On a normal day, it would be crazy. On a Friday like this, it was total mayhem.

Mrs. Burkman looked slightly dejected as we poured out of her classroom. The halls filled with shouts and a loud clamor that followed me out the door as I started home. I reached into my backpack and pulled out Cheez-its. I always walked home with Edina, but today she was sick, and I had to walk by myself. 

It seemed quiet without Edina's constant babbling, but I was OK without that for once. The school disappeared in the distance, and I let out a breath that didn't know I was holding. I had the whole weekend ahead of me to relax, sleep, watch TV, and wear slobby old clothes. To me, that sounded like heaven. 

I rounded the corner, still three blocks from home. I was listening to music and eating, so pretty much tuning out the world. I walked with a bounce in my step and music in my ears. (Note to self: isn't that obvious? I am listening to music. DUH!)

"Anya! Look at me!"

I was shaken out of my daze as I turned around and saw a little boy standing on his hands, on the backs of two lawn chairs. He had a huge grin that stretched across his whole face.

Honestly I don't know how on earth he was doing that, because the lawn chairs would tip over... He seems to be able to do almost anything.

"Aden! Get down from there!" I screeched, horrified if he would fall. Aden was my neighbor, and I often babysat him, and although he was only seven years old, he was a gymnast, and able to what seemed like any trick you threw at him. He jumped down, bouncing towards me. 

"Did you like it?" he questioned, still jumping in place and doing cartwheels. 

"Yeah, you're such a gymnast!" I teased, playfully tickling him. Although he almost gave me a heart attack, it was hard to stay mad at him for long.

"Oooh! Can I have some Cheez-its?" he exclaimed, noticing my snack

"No! Hahaha, they're all for me!" I said as I hid them behind my back

Aden chased me around his yard before he was called inside. I set off home again and turned my music back on. I started murmuring the words to my favorite song, I'm Not Famous by AJR. Soon I started full out singing.

"It don't matter what my name is,

I don't got one,

I'm not famous, NO!"

At this point, I was shouting, and I was sure everyone in the neighborhood could hear me, but I didn't care. As I paraded down the block, Cheez-its in hand, I started dancing until I was full blown shimmying, shaking, discoing, and all that. 

Suddenly, a hand clamped down on my shoulder and I stopped my partying. I spun around and saw a tall, shady man, standing about 6 feet tall, all clad in black. Even on this sunny day, the warmth and joy I had felt just moments before were transformed into fear. 

"Hello Anya." he said in a deep, gravely voice, "I have been watching you."

"Umm, bye!" I said as I attempted to run away. 

"Not so fast." he said, his voice very commanding.

"Sorry! I have to go home now!" I shouted, really panicking now.

"I think you are mistaken. You're coming with me." He grabbed me and clamped a hand over my screaming mouth. 

The man shoved me into the trunk of a black SUV that had pulled up next to us, got in, and told the driver to go. 

I tried shouting for help, but it was no use. The walls seemed very sound proof, and no one would hear me. 

I sat, huddled in a corner, crying, and utterly in shock. After about an hour of this, the reality started to sink in. I was gone. Abducted. Kidnapped. My life was as good as over. My Cheez-its were left behind. My friends and family. I never got to say goodbye to them. I would never see them again. 

Fatigue settled over my shaken body and I soon drifted off into a sleep laced with nightmares.