Phoenix

Chapter 5: New Talents and a dangerous car ride

I start to regain feeling and movement in my arms in legs as the men carry me through the front yard of Sidney Webbers and over to the road where an old van and two silver cars are parked in a line. The man that is carrying me walks over to the van and the boy in front of us opens the doors. I can't see in, I can only see what's behind the men because I am stuck on this guys shoulder and can hardly move. In other words, whoever decided to get in the back of the van can stare at my butt without me knowing.

The man shifts me and lowers me from his shoulder. I now feel my limbs, and struggle as more arms appear out of the back of the van to receive me.
"Leave me alone!" I kick and scream and punch the air repeatedly. I feel my left fist connect with flesh and I think I can feel a nose on my knuckles.
"Sh*t!" I hear a man voice his profanities and I feel a pressure on my neck, choking me.
"Shut her up." I hear another voice mutter farther in the van.
I feel a hand cover my mouth and muffle my screams for Aron. I feel something restrain my arms and I am turned around. I gasp as I see about 4 shadowy figures in the van, and two restrain me on one side, holding my mouth and arms. I try to kick my way free but the more muscular man to my right puts his left leg over mine, pinning my lower body
into place.

The man that carried me out hops into the van in a flash of a red coat, and sits opposite and to the left of me. One of the men yells to the driver, and the van lurches forward. I struggle a bit more, but me pitted against 5 grown men, and a driver didn't make my chances to great. The back of the van has a bench on each side, and bared windows on the doors. I see Sidney's house disappear in the distance, along with Aron's red jeep.

My hope of escape starts to diminish as I see a man run out of Sidney's house followed by another man. I can barely see their forms, but I already know that they are my last hope. I don't know how, but I just know that my last hope is the men standing in the yard. Nial and Ryker.

I stop struggling after I see only blurs of trees out the windows.
"About time that you gave up." I turn my head to see that the one who had spoken was the man closest to the drive on my right.
"Now." he leans forward towards me, "Where's the stone."
"The stone?"
"Where is it?" his face is close to mine but I don't dare shrink back. I think I know what he's talking about, but I've never given up the spoils of my labor particularly easy.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I stare defiantly back at the man who looks to be in his late forties.
"That only works in the movies kid." I see a flicker in his eyes and brace myself for what I know will come.
"Where's the damn Phoenix stone?" he yells into my face, but I don't flinch, I just blink.
"What the hell is a Phoenix stone?" I retaliate by spitting the words in the man's face.
"You know damn well what it is you little child from hell!" He grabs me by the left collar of my shirt and shakes me. Hard.
"Leave me alone!" I struggle, but the men are still holding me.

"Sir?" I look to see the man who carried me out of the bar had spoken.
"What is it Austin?" The man let's go of my shoulder and turns his rage to the man apparently named Austin.
"I think she has it on her."
"What?" the older man's eyes don't have as much anger in them now, but I know how quick he can get angry. My burning shoulder and whiplashed neck can prove it anytime.
"I think I felt something solid when I carried her out."
I pale as the older man turns back to me. I don't know how far they're going to go to get the stupid necklace, but I don't really want to know.
"Where?" the man just glances at Austin, "Show me."

The man named Austin carefully moves over to me and looks at the collar of my shirt. His cheeks start to blush as he realizes what he has to do. At least he won't enjoy something like this.
"I'm sorry." I hear his mumble as he reaches his hand towards my chest. I recoil from his hand, but there isn't exactly anywhere to go but to the wall of the van.
I breath hard as Austin pulls down the collar of my shirt with one finger, his face turning redder and redder by the moment. He plucks the gem off of my chest and unclips the chain from my neck.