.
{Lucy POV}
"Hey, Natsu—?"
Swish.
I turned around, and walked back the way I came, feeling around for Natsu. He was gone.
"Huh, I never knew he could walk so fast..."
Suddenly, my stick bumped into something on the floor.
I groped around for it until a soft, wavy material touched my hand. Curious, I picked it up and felt it.
"Isn't this..." Worry started to fill me as I started to realize what might have happened. "Natsu?"
I called worriedly for him. Looking around wasn't an option either.
"No, I'm getting a bad feeling about this..."
I ran home, making sure I didn't trip or fall.
"Sting! Mom! Dad! Laxus Nii-Chan!"
No reply. At first.
"Huh? What is it?" It was Sting's voice. "Oh, welcome home."
"Honey! How was your date?"
"Woahhh, did Natsu give that to you?" Sting asked.
"Guys...I'm getting a really bad feeling." I said. They stopped talking.
"Bad feeling? About what?" Dad asked.
"Natsu...I think he's in trouble or something..." I explained about what happened before I came in.
"And he just disappeared? Just like that?" Nii-chan asked. I nodded.
"And there's no way he would've dropped his scarf." Sting said. "It's the most precious thing to him..."
"Now do you see what I'm trying to say?" I asked. "Something's up..."
"We should go check around the area just to check." Dad said. "Laxus and I will go."
"Thanks, Papa. Nii-Chan."
They left, and I sat with Sting on the couch. I hugged the scarf, taking a deep breath. His scent tickled my nose.
"He'll be okay, right?"
"Hey, lets not jump to conclusions, okay? Maybe he's just—"
Briiiiiiing! Briiiiiing!
I flinched.
"Ah, sorry." Sting said, as he took out his phone. He gasped suddenly, making me flinch again. "It's Natsu!"
I widened my eyes as he tapped his phone. "Natsu? Hello? Dude, where are—"
{Sting POV}
"Hmm, I was looking for the girl, but you answered instead, little boy." A deep voice said. "Why don't you pass your little sister the phone?"
"Who are you?" I asked, trying to sound tough. "And why do you have Natsu's phone?"
"Now, you can't recognize me?" He chuckled. "Or is it...You know who I am, but you're denying it?"
I gulped. I knew full well who he was. His voice forever engraved itself into my head long time ago.
"So? How is he? Is he okay? Is he home?" Lucy asked, shaking my arm.
"Oh, that must be your sister." The man said. "Be a good boy and give her the phone. Now."
"Where is Natsu?" I asked, trying to calm my voice. Lucy stopped shaking my arm.
"What...Sting, give me the—"
"Where is he?!" I yelled, standing up. Lucy flinched back. "Where did you take him?!"
"Now now, yelling won't do you any good." He said. The calmness in his voice annoyed me.
"Sting! I'm fine! I have no idea where I am, though! And mister, who the hell are you?!"
"You're blindfolded, you twit. And shut your trap before I slit your fair skin."
"You didn't have to describe my skin like that, but ok—"
Silence.
"One more word and I will kill you."
"G-Got it."
I clenched my fists, but before I could do anything, the phone was swiped from my hand.
{Lucy POV}
"Natsu—!"
"Oh look, the girl replied."
"What?! Lucy—!"
"What did I just say?"
All the blood in my veins seemed to evaporate at that moment.
"N-N-N-Natsu...?" I asked, feeling my face pale. "Y-You're not..."
"Hello, dear. Miss me?"
"W-Where's Natsu?" I asked, almost at the brink of tears. "Where's my boyfriend?"
"Oh, he's right here with me." The man replied. My breath was shaky, and I was frozen. My thoughts were mushy. "Now listen carefully..."
{Natsu POV}
My hands were tied to the chair. I was a dark room, with a small, white lightbulb over my head, which lit up a circle around me. I glared at the man, who was on the phone with Lucy.
"Now listen to me carefully..." He said. He smirked at me all creepily, before walking towards me. "Come by your school at the East Gate at exactly 12 PM next Wednesday."
He stroked my cheek. He wore a hood over his head. He was a young man, probably in his late 20s. I struggled against my bonds.
"W-What happens if I go?" Lucy's voice was barely audible.
"I'll return your lovely boyfriend here." He said, rubbing his hand on my neck. I lifted my chin, trying to avoid his touch. "Bring your brother with you, got that?"
"W-Why?"
"If you don't come..." He suddenly grabbed my neck, and I released a cough. "I'll bring your boyfriend's dead body in a plastic baggy, just for you!"
I heard her gasp. "N-No!"
"Yes." He said, smiling creepily. "I'm being chased by the police because of you, you need punishment."
"L-Leave her alone!" I yelled. He glared at me, before walking away. I gasped for breath.
"You turned blind because of me, hm?" He sneered. "How pitiful."
I ground my teeth, trying not to lose control of my emotions.
"Hm, how about this?"
He ran towards me, and stopped in right in front of me, making me flinch and close my eyes.
Swit!
"If you don't come with everything on the list I'm about to send you..."
I opened my eyes slowly, and widened my eyes as a blade was held right in front of them.
"Your boyfriend will go blind as well."
