Kidnapped

Chapter One

   I grabbed my backpack and jogged out of the science classroom as the bell rang.
   Phew, I thought. I am so glad to be done with that.
   "Hey, Aubrey!" said my best friend Skylar, walking towards me from a different class.
   "Hey," I said. "Wanna sleep over tonight?"
   "Sure," she smiled. "See you after dinner."
   I headed down the hallway towards the exit, passing a lot of other people on the way—including Audrey Filatson. She was easily the most popular girl at Stony Lake High School, always surrounded by girls. Now she was laughing with her friend group at the lockers.
   It was crazy we could be so different when we looked so similar. We were both 16 years old with curly auburn hair and green eyes, and had practically the same name, but our lives were totally different. Audrey lived in a mansion with her father, a wealthy businessman. I lived in an apartment with my parents and little sister. But anyway.
   I hopped on my bike once I got outside and pedaled towards home, three blocks away.
   Suddenly I saw something. A shadow flitted across the alleyway next to my apartment complex.
   I stopped and tried to get a closer look, but then the shadow disappeared. I shrugged it off and started up the stairs to my apartment. It had probably just been my imagination.
"I'm home," I shouted, unlocking my door and stepping in, slinging my backpack onto the floor.
"Hi, honey," my mom said from the kitchen. "How was school?"
I shrugged. "Fine, I guess."
"Hi Awbwee!" my two-year-old sister yelled, skipping into the kitchen with my Yorkshire terrier running after her, barking.
I scooped her up into my arms and swung her around. "Hi, Lily! Did you have fun today?"
"Yeah! Momma took me to the park and we had ice cream!"
I smiled. "I'll play a game with you in a few minutes, ok?"
"O-kayyy!" Lily skipped back off to our shared room, singing 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star'.
I laughed and sat down next to Oreo, my puppy, petting him as he tried to lick my face. " Skylar and I were going to have a sleepover tonight, is that fine?" I asked, turning back to my mom.
"Sure, honey. Make sure you get all your homework done, though."
"Ok."
I headed into my room to play the promised game with Lily.
"Charades!" she shouted immediately when I walked in.
"Ok," I giggled.
We played until our mom called us for dinner, Chinese food (Lily won every round, by the way).
We sat down at the table just as my dad walked in.
"Daddy!" Lily yelled, banging her spoon on the table.
"Hello, all!" he said, setting down his bag and coming to the table. "Ooh, Chinese food," he added. "My favorite."
"Hi, Dad," I said, taking a bite of cashew chicken.
"Hi," Dad said. "Skylar coming over today?"
"Yup," I replied.
About fifteen minutes later there was a knock on the door. Luckily I had just finished eating, so I got up and opened the door for Skylar.
"Hiii," she said.
"Skywar!" Lily giggled.
"Hi Lily," Skylar said.
"Come on," I told Skylar, heading for my room.
"So whaddya wanna do," Skylar said.
I shrugged. "You pick something."
Skylar giggled and flopped onto my bed. "You know Cade Myran?"
"Good choice," I laughed. "What about him?" Cade was the hottest guy in school.
"He was looking right at me in math today!"
I leaned forward eagerly.
"And then when I caught him, he SMILED AT ME!"
I pretended to faint and then accidentally fell off the bed. We burst into an uncontrollable laughing fit.
"No—way—girl," I managed to say between laughs.
"Yes—way!"
"He's—so—hoooot!"
"I know—right!"
Skylar finally was able to stop laughing. "You know the dance this Saturday?"
I stared at her until I realized what she was getting at, then fell off the bed again.
"No way!"
"Do you think he would?"
"You—would be—the luckiest girl—in the—whole—school!" I had started laughing again.
"I know!" Skylar squealed.
I studied her. She was pretty, with long blonde hair and sparkling golden eyes, a nice figure, and good taste.
"Maybe," I said.
She gave me a look.
"Ok, fine," I grinned. "I mean, he was looking at you, and that doesn't happen often; with anyone, really."
   Skylar squealed again.
We kept chatting, then at around eight we decided to take Oreo for a walk.
"We're taking Oreo for a walk bye!" I whisper-yelled to my mom (Lily was asleep).
"Ok, girls, don't be out too long," Mom said.
"We won't," I promised, putting on Oreo's leash.
Oreo practically dragged me down the apartment steps, Skylar at my heels.
"Slow down!" I laughed.
He barked in reply, but didn't slow down.
I was finally able to slow him to a walk once we got to the street.
   "We'll just go around the block," I told Skylar.
   "That works," she agreed.
   After a few minutes I handed Skylar Oreo's leash.
   "Your turn," I grinned.
   "Fine," Skylar said, but smiled. I knew she loved Oreo.
   All of a sudden I saw another shadow flit across the street. I caught my breath but decided it was nothing, because I knew people would be out at 8 pm. I mean, it's not that late.
   Skylar grabbed my arm abruptly. "What was that?"
My heart started pounding. "What?"
Oreo started barking furiously.
I looked around the street wildly. I couldn't see anything.
Or anyone.
"Aubrey," Skylar said.
I glanced at her, silently communicating with her, and then we raced down the street. I heard footsteps behind us and ran even faster. We must be getting pretty close to the apartment complex by now.
Suddenly someone grabbed my waist and pulled me back. I managed to scream before they covered my mouth with their hand.
"Aubrey?" I heard Skylar cry in alarm. "Aubrey?!"
I tried to get away from the person but he held me tighter, dragging me back down the street and towards an ominous-looking black car.
I was being kidnapped.
And then something hit me on the head. The last thing I heard before losing consciousness was Oreo barking...