The Forgotten

Okay Then, Attempted Kidnapping

A/N: The picture is Janessa. Not Ana Mulvoy Ten.

I leave Jess' house without running into a maid, or anyone else. Once I'm out, I just stand on the porch. I need to get to the jailhouse. I need to find out what happened after Shain and Raven left the party. Shain might have been the last person to see my sister alive. I have to know.

I decide walking is the best (and only) solution. I stroll through the freshly cut front lawn and begin my long trudge to town. I have no idea how many miles away it is from the Banks' house. It might not even be miles. I should have paid more attention when I was being driven around.

I get a sudden image of how Shain, Jersey, Raven, or any other rich girl would react to having to walk somewhere. I snicker. I would pay my last dime to see that.

I hear a car behind me. I quickly move out of its way. It doesn't pass me though. I look back and find the windshield is reflecting the sun into my eyes. This prevents me from seeing who they are. I don't know if this was intentional or not.

I quicken my pace. This could be a maniac, or a murderer. Perhaps even a maniac murderer.

Their car begins to go faster too. I risk a glance back. Now that the sun is in a slightly altered position, I can see an outline of a guy in the driver's seat. I still can't see if anyone else is in the car.

Deciding to make sure they are or aren't following me before I start to panic. I cross the street and walk the other direction. Sure enough, they make a U-turn and follow me.

Raven would probably run for help, as I'm not too far from Jess' house. That's not how I'm going to handle the situation though. I'm going to stand my ground.

Unless they have guns. If I see any sort of long distance weapon, I'm going to run like the wind to get help.

I turn around and face the car. At first, it seems they're going to run over me. To my relief they stop. I was not looking forward to becoming the next victim in a hit and run.

It occurs to me, as I'm waiting for the people (or person) in the van to make their first move, that these might be the very people that killed my sister. I had myself thinking she died due to a personal vendetta or a dark secret. It's possible she was mugged or raped. That would probably be more embarrassing to the Bristills then if she were murdered,

A murder could drag someone else down.

The people in the van don't get out. They just sit inside. I suppose they're waiting for me to make the first move. Yeah...like that's gonna happen.

We both stay where we are for a few minutes. Finally they seem to understand I'm not going anywhere, closer or further.

The driver's door opens. The sun blurs their face, but their perfectly visible attire indicates they're endowed.

I'm finally able to see their face when they get close enough I could touch them.

"York?" I ask, taken aback. "Is this about Shain? The 'game'?"

He grimaces. "No, get in the car."

I cross my arms. "Are you insane? I'm not getting in without an explanation."

He grabs my arm. "Get in the car, Raven, or I swear to--"

He doesn't get to finish. His car horn goes off. He turns around and yells at the vehicle.

"Knock it off; I've got this under control."

A girl gets out of the passenger's side.

"No you don't, York," she replies. At first I think she's Shain. She turns out to be Janessa.

"Raven, are you really going to resist your best friend's boyfriend?" she asks. "What's he got to hide?"

"A relationship with you," I shoot back. "And from what I've heard, Jess is her boyfriend." Her face turns as red as her dress.

"We're not, why would you?" she stutters. York, also surprised, loosens his grip on me. I take advantage of the situation.

I wrench my arm out of his grip and take off running down the road. I don't know where I'm going. The Bristills? The Banks? I don't care. I just need to get away from these maniacs.

It occurs to me after five minutes of running that they should have got up to me by now. Not that I want them to, but they're in a car. There's no way I've outrun a car.

I see Jess' house. His is the nearest. It's the second last place I want to be (even jail is preferable in this situation), but it's better than the last place.

I know on the door, praying there's still here. The car's here, but most rich people have two.

To my relief, the little boy I spoke to earlier opens it.

"Someone just tried to kidnap me," I blurt out. "Please, help me!" He nods and opens the door further. I slip inside.

"Thank you," I tell him.

He locks the door once we're both inside.

"Who's after you?" he asks.

"York Hampshire and Janessa Cromwell," I breathe. I'm not used to running-another thing outlawed in the Forgotten Compound. The effort was worth it, but I'm surprised I survived it. Thank you adrenaline.

He looks worried.

"Jess!" he hollers. Then he runs in what I believe to be the direction to the parlor. Is he getting his parents? What will they say? Will they believe me, seeing as this involves fellow aristocrats? Actually, it's fellow aristocrats' children, but still...

Jess comes thundering down the stairs.

"Jet, what's going--"

He trails off at the sight of me.

"Raven...you're back," he states.

"Obviously." He may not have been my boyfriend, nor would I ever want him to be, but he still cheated. I'd be pissed at any boy or girl who cheated, unless both would be cheating. Or maybe I'd just be mad at both.

Ugh. The outside world is so confusing.

Jess and I stand there awkwardly.

"So?" he asks. "What's up?"

I take this opportunity to get out of the death-like silence.

"York and Janessa tried to kidnap me."

He looks surprised.

"No way," he says. I roll my eyes.

"Yes way," I retort. "They told me to get into a van. They refused to tell me why. I think they're together." Jess wolf-whistles. I continue.

"Isn't kidnapping a felony?"

He frowns. "Um, in case you haven't realized, they didn't actually kidnap you." I huff.

"Okay then, attempted kidnapping." Jess shrugs.

"I don't know," he admits. He sighs. "It's a good thing you didn't go with them," Jess tells me. I raise an eyebrow.

"Well, duh. But what reasons did you have in mind?" He looks dumb-founded.

"The Remembered," he hisses. "They must know."

"Know what?" I inquire. I hope this isn't something Raven should have memorized or imprinted on her brain. It would absolutely suck to screw up after a day and however many hours as her. Not that I necessarily like being her anymore than being a Forgotten?

Jess sighs and glances around. The boy-Jet-hasn't come back yet.

"I guess Shain didn't tell you," Jess states.

I suddenly remember Raven mentioning "the remembered" in her diary. I quickly fabricate an explanation.

"She told me about it, but I'm not sure why I'm involved." He nods. I didn't think it would make that much sense. I must be better at lying than I thought.

Jess lowers his voice to a whisper. "While you were...absent...Shain and I discovered York is a... Forgotten."