Kidnapped

Chapter Four

I woke up groggily to sunlight streaming through a large window, and closed my eyes again.

Then I sat up with the realization. I had fallen asleep! I looked next to me and saw Jake asleep, too. Victor had never made me go to the basement, and I was definitely glad. This had been much more comfortable.

Jake sat up next to me. "Oh," he said, looking embarrassed. "Did I fall asleep?"

I laughed. "Yeah. But I did first."

"Hey sleepyheads," Victor said dryly, passing through into the kitchen.

"Aubrey fell asleep on Jake, you guys," Evelyn announced loudly, stepping into the room.

I felt my cheeks turn red. "We're...just friends!" I protested.

"Yeah, of course. But since when are you friends?"

"I don't know. We just are," I said.

Jake smiled at me.

"You do know he kidnapped you, right?" Evelyn continued.

"Yeah, well, so did you! And he didn't mean to kidnap me, either. You all meant to kidnap Audrey."

"Oh, shut up. All I know is that your name is Audrey, we all kidnapped you—not by accident—and that you like Jake," Evelyn said bluntly.

I was sure my face looked like a tomato. I didn't like him!

Did I?

I didn't know. All I really knew was that Evelyn was super annoying, and that Jake was my friend.

But did I really like him?

Jake hadn't said anything, and when I looked over at him his face was also red.

Evelyn walked away, apparently satisfied with our silent responses.

I dared another glance at Jake. His eyes met mine and he gave me a half-smile.

"She can be...a pain," he said, his face still red.

I nodded, chuckling as I stared at my feet. "I know."

The rest of the day flew by, with Jake and I having fun doing everything we could think of (including finishing our Jurassic World marathon, which we did not do at nighttime). Suddenly, it was 9 pm, and Victor was corralling me into the basement. Apparently he didn't think I would try to escape because he left without tying me to the bed.

As I was trying to fall asleep, I thought about how long I was going to be here. Would anyone respond to the ransom note? Did my parents realize I had been mistaken for Audrey? I could imagine the scene after I was kidnapped, Skylar screaming for me and running to my apartment; telling my parents what she thought had happened between sobs; my parents running outside to see if they could see the car, running back inside and calling the police...

I wish I could somehow tell them I was ok.

I needed to get out of here, but would I ever see Jake again once I did?

Wait.

Why did that matter? I needed to get home!

Wait.

Was Evelyn right?

Maybe I did like him.

***

I woke up the next morning and, for the first time, got up and opened the door. It wasn't locked. I padded out and saw Jake eating bacon in front of the tv.

"Hi," I said, sitting down next to him.

"Hi," he said. "Elara! Bring Aubrey some breakfast!" he yelled towards the kitchen.

"Yes sir!" came the reply.

Victor walked into the living room. "Aubrey," he started.

"Yeah?"

Then I realized what he'd said.

"W...wait," I started. "Did you say—"

"Yes, I did. I got replies from both ransom notes. The one I sent to Audrey's house sounded like the writer was very confused and I don't blame them now that I know that you're Aubrey. The one sent from the apartment was basically asking if the residents—your parents—could pay it monthly afterwards or something because they didn't have enough money right now to do it all at once."

"So. You finally realize I was telling the truth?" I said smugly.

Victor rolled his eyes. "Shut up."

"Whatever."

Jake grinned at me. The look on his face said, I knew it.

"So I can go now?" It seemed too good to be true.

Victor glanced at Evelyn and Brick as they moseyed into the room, sitting down on one of the other couches.

"Well...no."

Jake looked angry when he heard that.

"What do you mean, no?" I screeched.

"Calm down. It's simple: you know too much. If I let you go, you'll tell the police and warn Audrey we're coming for her."

"Well, you can't just keep me here forever!" I yelled. I couldn't believe this was happening.

"Actually, I can," Victor said.

"What if she promised not to do those things?" Jake said.

"And then how would I know she was going to keep her word?"

"At least tell my parents they don't need to pay!"

"Why? I'll take some extra money."

"But they would pay and still not get me back!"

"So?"

I wanted to punch this guy in the face so badly.

"They. Don't. Have. That. Kind. Of. Money."

"Sorry."

"HOW ARE YOU SO MEAN?!"

"Shut up, or you'll regret it."

I looked at Jake.

"Come on, Victor, you're already gonna get a bunch of money from the Filatsons. You don't need even more from people who can't afford it. Especially if they aren't even getting anything out of it!" Jake was trying not to yell.

Victor narrowed his eyes. "Well..."

"Come on. We have enough money and you're about to get even more."

"Fine," Victor said reluctantly.

Jake smiled at me.

"So you're still going to kidnap Audrey then?" I sighed.

"Um, yeah."

Whatever. At least I would have some company.

Another girl I mean.

Anyway.

"Aren't her parents going to be a little suspicious after that ransom note?" I asked Victor.

"Maybe. But they aren't going to be watching her the very second she gets out of school."

"Am I coming with you?"

"To nab Audrey?" Victor said.

I nodded.

"Well, yeah. You think I'm gonna leave you here by yourself? But. Coming with us is also not an opportunity for you to escape, got it? Because you won't be able to."

I rolled my eyes. "O-kay."