Arcade's Dungeon

Hunter Hero 15: The Aftermath

"Where are we going?"

     That was the first thing Nita asked when she opened the back door and reached out to feel my head. She promptly shut it and ran over to the passenger seat, letting herself inside.

     Ed drove off.

     "I don't think going to her home is a good idea, and mine's right next door. Just...away."

     "Why are you looking back?"

     "I'm trying to see if that guy is following. He was just sitting in the parking lot when I left, but when I looked back down the road his car was gone."

     "What does it look like?"

     "A silver sedan. It's a white guy in a suit."

     "Should I call the police? Maybe we could go to the station. Or, Cade's dad-"

     "Do you have his number?"

     "No, but-" Nita turned around in the seat, glancing back at me. I was heating up and bumping around in the back and it wasn't doing wonders for my head. An empty stomach made me feel so nauseous. Had I eaten anything at lunch? I couldn't even think about it. "Do you have her bag?"

     "I-...no."

     "Let me see if I can call Savannah. She's helping with concessions right now, but maybe she could catch ahold of one of Reed's friends and they can call him."

     "Where should I turn? Where are we going? I told that guy I was taking her into the neighborhood just across the field."

     "Then...let's go to my house. We'll see if he's coming. I live in an empty field."

     The truck pulled to the side. All the weight in my body left it limp, blood swirling out to my head.

     "She's not picking up. Do you think I should just call the station and see if they can give me her dad's number?"

     "Maybe, I don't know. Try it."

     "Or-Or, her mother? Her mother's number would probably be listed on her firm's website, that's probably easier...what was the name of the place? Or, it'd just appear if I..." Nita trailed off, swallowing. "There. Hold on, it's ringing."

     Selinker. Selinker. Selinker.

     All I could think about was how I didn't know where he was, but he was probably going to find us. Somehow. Somehow. Somehow.

     "Hello - Mrs. Bell? Hi, it's me, Nita. U-Um, well, I just..." Nita swallowed again. My eyes peeked open to see her hand on the side of her head bent over. "I...I-"

     "I-I can't tell if that's him. Nita, look in the mirror."

     "It's too dark, I can't tell either. Oh, I'm sorry Mrs. Bell, I just...it's actually a bit urgent. Cade's in the backseat of my cousin's truck right now and she looks - no, she is - really sick. We wanted to take her home, but...there's someone following us from the school. He tried to take Cade while claiming to be her uncle? Hold on, I'm putting it on speaker."

     "That's right. He told me his name was Peter something, but while I was talking to him, it just didn't feel right. The things Cade had told me and the things that guy told me just weren't matching up."

     "Who are you?"

     "My name is Eduardo Velazquez, Mrs. Bell. I'm Cade's boyfriend. I just happened to be moving my truck to the stadium parking lot from the front of the school and I saw him holding her. I talked with him enough until he gave her to me, because she wouldn't let go of my hand."