Taken Away

Twelve

* * * 

Alex and Harry spent that afternoon huddled around Cathleen's computer, trying to find their friends. After printing out a few maps, they got to work.

"Okay, so, here," Alex began, drawing a point around the town, "Is where we are. Here's a list of gas stations within a two–maybe three-mile radius, which is how far we walked. The boys, however, could be anywhere."

"So I guess we should start going to the gas stations?" Harry suggested.

"How would that help?"

He dropped his hands onto the table "I don't know, but it's a start, right?" Remaining silent, Alex nodded.

Within the hour, the pair had said their goodbyes (and thank-you's) to Cathleen and had secured a ride, Lucas. After gathering what little belongings they had, Harry carefully slipped the marked map into his jacket pocket, and they set out to each gas station. Around their sixth one, they started losing hope, until Alex recognized the sign.

"Harry, I think this one's it. Look! I remember that sombrero on the cactus out front."

"You're right."

They wished Lucas well (not before paying for his gas), and decided what to do next.

"I think we should ask the store clerk if he's seen anything or if we can spot some cameras."

Looking around at the desert across the road, Alex nodded. "Hopefully, we'll find something." Before they turned to head inside, a familiar van pulled into the station, and soon enough, the boys came tumbling out.

"Uh, Alex?" Harry pointed towards the car.

Feeling weak in the knees, Alex couldn't believe her luck. She broke into a sprint and nearly tackled them "Oh my god," she squealed.

Caught up in the commotion, everyone began talking over each other about where they had been, but Alex stopped their conversation.

"Wait, so how did you get here?"

Niall, Louis, Zayn, and Liam shared a look before Zayn began laughing. "Long story short, we made some friends and they've offered to drive us home."

"C'mon, there waiting," Niall said cheerfully.

"Yeah, let's go." I smiled back at him.

Once in the van again, I tried to ease my nerves. With so many bad memories attached, it was hard to calm down. Tentatively, Harry reaches out to hold my palm in his, reassuringly. I sent a quick nod in his direction.

"So do you know how to get to L.A. from where we are?"

"About an hour in that direction." He told them pointing forward. After an hour of driving. however, the signs on the interstate seemed disheartening.

"Something seems wrong," Alex mumbled to the boys in the back. Sliding her hand in Harry's pocket, she pulled out the few routes that she managed to print out, including a map Cathleen had handed her. 

Alex leaned over to Liam. "Did that just say route 70?" She traced her finger along the paper, "That's heading east, we should be heading west." She turned back towards them. 

"Boys," she whispered.

"What?"

"We're not going home."

 * * * 

Quietly, in the front seat, Jack and Jim planned their next moves. 

"So here's the plan," Jack began. "While our boss was on the phone, I heard him mention that this lot is in a famous boy band, probably worth millions, and the girl is Simon Cowell's daughter."

"Yes, brilliant. Do you know who wanted to set up the ransom?" Jack asked

"I think he left there number in the counter, which I have here," I said, pulling out the slip of paper, handing it to Jack. He spent a few minutes on the phone, before hanging up.

"Alright, so he told me to meet up in a place called 'The Tazewell Hotel' at six with the lads and the girl. They'll pay us after the delivery."

* * * 

"Well, they were smarter than we thought," muttered Liam at Alex's words.

"Can we prepare for this? What do we do, I can't end up in this position twice." Zayn mentioned, just as Jack and Jim pulled the van into an empty parking lot in front of a run-down building. 

 "Is that a hotel?" Alex asked rhetorically, peering through the front window.

"Guys, what do we do?" 

"We can probably overpower them; on three we rush out and tackle them– we're not tied up this time," Liam whispered.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Alex shook her head. "I think he has a gun."

The guards had reached the back door and stopped just before opening it. "Alright," Jack began. "Don't try any funny business or you'll end up hurt. Really hurt." The group had no choice but to cooperate until their heads were bagged and wrists tied. 

* * * 

"Alright guys we have to get out of here," Zayn said.

"No shit," I told him, earning a laugh from Niall. Zayn just rolled his eyes.

"Well, how do you suppose we do so Ms. Smarty pants." Liam defended

"I dunno, why don't we try uniting ourselves first," Alex responded, shaking her wrists.

"And," Harry said, finishing her sentence, "do the arrangement that we did before in the van," Harry suggested. 

"Yeah," Zayn scoffed, "because that plan ended up going so well." 

A few rolled their eyes but began undoing their knots. Soon, they were all untied and ready to escape, again.

"Now what?" Louis asked.

"Uh," Alex tried opening the door, but it was locked. "Since the doors are locked, we could try the vents or something."

"Well, your just a little genius today aren't you," Louis muttered, sarcastically, as they hurried to the vents.