As my abductor led me down the dimly lit street to the supposedly waiting car ahead, my mind was reeling; trying to think of a way out. We were walking down a relatively vacant street, the buildings lining the sidewalk all small businesses that closed after eight, so no one would hear my screams. The boy dragging me behind him was tall and well toned; the visible muscles in his arm were smoothly sculpted, thus ruling out the possibility of me having any chance with taking him down. I sighed under my breath in frustration, I'd already been kidnapped once already, wasn't once enough?
Harry will come for me, I thought to myself, He will.
But even as I said those words silently to myself, the trickle of doubt seeping into my consciousness tree. And as we neared my mysterious "protector's" destination, I gave up hoping Harry would swoop in and save me.
Just as my abductor had said, there sitting idly beside the curb was a black car; its windows tinted and engine humming softly--the only sound on the empty street. As we approached the passenger's door, the tinted glass of the window was rolled down not anymore than an inch; and the monotoned voice of a man reached through to us from the other side,
"How is a raven like a writing desk?"
I scoffed at the quote used by the Mad Hatter: certainly suited the madness of my current state.
"I haven't the slightest idea." The boy replied, with the faintest traces of an accent I hadn't noticed before. Then the back door was opened and I felt his hand against the small of my back, ushering me forward.
"How do I know this isn't a trick?" I hesitated,
"You'll have to just trust me on this, Love." He smirked, and I scowled back at him.
"Don't call me Love," I retorted, "Why should I trust you?"
"You shouldn't, but you will." He shrugged, then he pushed me into the car and slipped in beside me. I was back where this all started: in a dark car, with strangers, alone. The only upside? No chloroform...so far.
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She was gone. I'd lost her again. I had gotten her tangled into this mess and instead of protecting her, she was gone. The thought of Lucas being anywhere near her made me sick, how could I have been so stupid?! Sarah was going ballistic, asking if she should call 911 or if we were safe.
"Sarah, I'm pretty sure whoever was here isn't anymore." I told her, looking up and down the dark, empty streets; which way did she go?
"But Harry, what about Astrid? Is she okay? Was that her screaming? Did she get kidnapped? Was it tha--" Sarah rambled nervously, her teeth chattering as the cold of the night swept over the city.
"Sarah!" I cut her off, "Sarah, just calm down it's fine just calm down, okay?"
She nodded quietly and I took a deep breath, why? Why did this happen? Why was he after me now? I thought I'd made it clear we were finished... I sighed, a stream of white air escaping my lips, and ran a hand through my hair. I didn't need this, Astrid didn't need this...and Simon would be plenty pissed I'd gotten a girl kidnapped.
But I couldn't tell him...I couldn't tell anyone or else they'd have to know the whole story and no one could know that. Not ever. No, I have to find Astrid myself. I squeezed my eyes shut and sighed again; which, unfortunately, is going to be easier said than done.