Slammed

Kidnapped

I'm not sure what time I woke up. My head was still throbbing as I turned my head to read my digital clock on the table next to the bed; it was 2:00 p.m. At least I don't have to go to school today, I thought. I tried to get out of the bed, but only managed to sit up and notice a bowl of chicken soup behind the clock on the table. I knew it was mom's cooking just by the smell. I took it up and started to sip it.

"Your mom makes great soup," said Blake as he stood at the doorway, his arms folded across his chest. I didn't notice this before, but his biceps were huge.

"Thanks for everything." My voice sounded raspy.

"No problem," he said.

"Where did you learn to fight like that?"

He hesitated, and then chuckled. "Practice, "he said. "Years and years of practice."

"Years?" I grimaced.

"I was just kidding. More like weeks," he explained with a small smile.

"Oh!" I laughed, then I remembered the mask guys, I stopped. "What happened to the masked guys?"

Blake frowned, then stuck his hands in his pocket, looking away from me. "About that –"

"Garth!" Mom rushed into the room, her red hair tied in a knot. Her clothes were mismatched, which was unusual of her. But I guess she was so busy taking care of me that she didn't bother to dress properly.

She wrapped me in a tight hug, almost squeezing the life out of me.

"I was so worried about you," she whispered, her voice sounded as if she was going to break down crying.

"Mom, I'm fine." I hugged her back.

"Thanks to Avan here." Mom smiled, then finally released me.

"Avan?"

"That will be me." Blake raised his hand. "Blake is my last name. And it's what Ms. Auden calls me."

"You should stay for dinner." Mom turned around to face Avan. "Do you live far away? I could give you a lift home."

"I'm fine, thanks," Avan replied, politely. I couldn't understand why he would get called to the principal's office so much. He seemed like a nice guy. Maybe he was just misunderstood.

"I should get home now." Avan slipped into his leather jacket. He smiled at Mom. "It was nice meeting you Ms. G".

He strolled over to me. His eyes scanned my face for a second, as if he was looking for some kind of reaction in my face. He took me by the shoulders.

"Take care kid," he said; his voice was soft and sounded concern.

He nodded at mom and left.

I slept all Tuesday. Mom decided to stay home to take care of me. I couldn't stop thinking about the masked guys who attacked me yesterday. Why did they attack? And who was this 'Boss' that they kept on referring to? What happened after I blacked out? Did Avan beat up all of them? Did they decide to quit?

Why was he so reluctant to tell me what happened? I remembered when he was leaving and told me to take care. What exactly did he mean? Were those mask guys still after me?

I threw the sheet off me and slowly sat up. My jaw still felt hurt, but the pain in my body wasn't hurting as much as it used to. I got up and made my way to the bathroom. My brown hair looked like a rat's nest, and my face was covered with cuts and scratches.

It wouldn't hurt to comb my hair, I guess. I looked in my drawer for my brush, but couldn't find it anywhere.

"Mom!" I shouted, "have you seen my brush?" I rummaged through my drawers. Mom knew where all of my stuff was. She's always coming into my room and moving my things.