Kidnapped, Again

BAM, BAM, BAM.

My muscles jump in surprise. My drink spills over the ledge and I put the side of it to my

mouth to keep the coffee from spilling onto my laptop.

“Come in.” My voice carries through the empty house to the backdoor. I set my cup

down beside me and wait for my best friend to open the door and dramatically drape herself

across the couch while she complains about her not-so-stellar grades.

From my sunken place on the couch I hear the doorknob shake, only to be followed by more

pounding. I sigh. The door is locked.

My computer clicks shut as I slide my computer off my lap and onto the couch. My sister

must’ve locked it on her way out this afternoon. She has been more paranoid about my security ever since her identity leaked and a few kidnapping attempts have been made. I say attempts because the successful kidnappings weren’t even for very long. Alex, being an elite superhero, had always been there to save the day.

I was halfway down the gray hallway when I heard more pounding. “I’m coming!” I run a hand through my red hair after glancing at my reflection in one of the picture frames. I got to the door and opened it. I was just about to provide a snappy one-liner to my friend about how patience was a virtue, but the face looking back at me took the breath from my lungs.

Blizzard, in his signature bomber jacket and ice blue get-up, is standing on my back

porch. His face hard to read through his blue mask, his white hair stands on end like he’s recently been electrocuted.

“What is wrong with you?” I ask. He brushes past me and walks into my house. I hesitate for a second before turning around to look at him. “Wha-What?” Normally, my kidnappers don’t knock, and they certainly don’t come in through the back door.

A normal person would be extremely frightened if a supervillain walked into their house,

but when I’ve learned it comes with the territory. I was more surprised about what he said. what he said. It really didn’t have anything to do with Alex.

I’ve become sorta friends with Blizzard in the last few months. He shows up every once

in a while, threatens me and Alex, does some minor damage while battling my sister, and then I wait and think of casual, snow themed insults for next time.

“Your date. The one with Eric Norris.” He looks at me like I’m the one who just ruined

his afternoon.

“What about it?”

His words caught me a little off guard. How did he even know about that? I felt defensive. What I did in my free time was certainly none of his business.

“Oh, come on, Cass.” He swung his arms dramatically. “He’s a player! He only asked

you out to get to your sister.”

“Excuse you?” We weren’t even real friends, how dare he. “What? You kidnap me twice

and you think you get an opinion on my dating life?”

He raises his eyebrows, taken back by my sharp tone.

“How do you even know about my date? Have you been stalking me?” I meant the last part as a joke, but his silence and guilty look confirmed my question. I put my hand on my

forehead at the realization. “I go to school with a supervillain.” I mumble under my breath.

“That’s not the point.” He quickly changed the subject. “The point is that you’re crazy if

you think you’re going on that date tonight.”

“I clearly am crazy, considering I let you inside my house. I can’t even believe we’re having

this conversation.” I walk around him back toward the living room. “You know where the door is.” I wave him off, all kinds of confused. When I get kidnapped by villains, they don’t

usually come back around to dictate my life choices.

He ran ahead of me, blocking my path. “I’m not letting you go tonight.”

“What is your problem?” I cross my arms and shift my weight to one side. “I’m going on the date. I agreed to it, and I want to go.”

He nodded his head back and forth as if considering his options. “Fine, if I can’t stop you

the reasonable way, then I’m going to have to take more drastic measures.”

“Really?” I waited for him to reveal his plan to kidnap me, again, but as soon as his mouth opened, I ducked around him and into the living room. I heard his footsteps behind me. I make it to the couch, jump on a cushion, and leap over the back of the couch. I land, only slipping slightly between the hardwood floor and my fuzzy socks, and spun around. To my surprise, he didn't mimic my actions.

“Do you really think running is going to help your situation?” He asked, with exasperation in his voice. He starts to circle around the couch, and I match his steps.

“Better alternative to giving up,” my eyes flicked to the stairs behind him. My room up those stairs and to the left, if I could get a good enough head start, I could make up there and lock myself in. That would give me enough time to call Alex to get her super butt over here.

Adrenaline pounding in my ears, I wiped my sweaty hands on my jeans. We continued to silently match each other’s steps until he was behind the couch and I was out in front. A switch from our original positions.

“This would be so much easier if you just came with me,” he said.

I pretended to consider his words. “Nah.” I bolt for the stairs. I heard him yell before something cold and slick erupts beneath my feet. I slip and fall into a pile of snow. The jerk had iced the floor. Before I could even think about getting up, he was standing over me, smiling.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” I grumble.

I glare up at him. “You cheated.”

“I don’t remember there being any rules.” He rebuked, stretching his hand out.

With a loud sigh I took his hand and pulled myself up. One foot falls out from under me, and

Blizzard caught me around the waist. My breath hitched at the close contact. He helps me back to my feet, and when he’s sure I won’t tip back over, he takes a step back.

“I’m not going to get out of this, am I?” My voice was quiet. He didn't answer, which I took for a no. I held out my hand. “Fine, give me the pill.”

He pulled out a small white pill from his pocket and gave it to me. I popped it in my mouth and crushed it between my teeth. A bitter taste filled my mouth and my head instantly felt lighter.

Blizzard placed a warm hand on my back. “Night, sweetheart,” I heard him tease before my world went black.