The Kids Aren't All Right

Cool Motive, Still Kidnapping

My legs flail wildly and I try to scream, but all that comes out is a muffled sound due to the hand on my mouth. I kick my legs into the air repeatedly and twist my body, but their grip remains strong. I dig my heels into the ground but the soil is too fluffy, dirt is just sprayed in front of me. I stop resisting and try to accept my death. This will probably make my dad regret sending me here. I start thinking about what songs I want played at my funeral when the grip releases. It takes me an entire second to process but when I realize, my natural instincts take over and I take off running. Well, attempt to run, because the person takes ahold of my wrist and spins me around. I can't help to gasp, due to the fact I was expecting a demon or vampire or some monster. But instead, it's a normal boy. Probably my age.
He must see my panicked expression and quickly shakes his head, not yelling but speaking quietly.

"Stop! I'm not going to hurt you. Be quiet, alright? I'm trying to keep us safe."

I realize I recognize him. He was one of the demigods who rescued me from the empousai.
"What the fuck is going on? Why are you kidnapping me to keep me safe?"
I try speaking quietly but it comes out as a yell. He shushes me.
"Listen, I was walking back to my cabin and saw you so I hid. I thought maybe you were one of those demigods on Chiron's Avengers team. I didn't want to get in trouble. But then I saw this thing, it was following after you. I knew it wasn't a demigod. You weren't noticing, it was getting closer, so I just decided that getting you away would be the best method."
"You think you couldn't have approached me and said, 'Hey, I think you might be killed. Let's go somewhere safe!'" I whisper, sarcasm heavy in my voice.
"And have that thing chase after both of us? No thanks."
I see his reasoning but can't help to be angry over the fact that five minutes ago I was accepting the bittersweet embrace of death and had never been more scared in my life. That includes cheerleaders turning into donkey vampires and trying to feast on my blood. I stay silent in defeat for a few moments before speaking again.

"What's your name?" I question.
"Trigger. And you're Elsa." He responds.
I give a nod and ask hopefully, "Can we go back now?"
"Yeah, but we have to be really qui-"
He's cut off by the loud sound of the tree ruffling near us, maybe a couple feet away. Branches snap once more. I freeze and widen my eyes, Trigger seems to be the only one here with his head screwed on straight as he grabs my wrist and bursts into a sprint in a random direction.

We tear through the woods, the stray branches giving me nicks and tiny splinters on my arm. I don't think he knows where he's going or even had a destination in mind.

"Faster!" He screams, not daring to look behind him to meet my gaze. I gulp, quickening up my pace as we finally exit the woods and stop. We're met by the sight of the vast and blue lake. Trigger looks behind me, pursing his lips before glancing around us.
"I think, we," He coughs, obviously out of the breath, "lost it." He wheezes again as he puts his hand on his knees, breathing hard.
My throat is dry and on fire, I wish I would have remembered what my PE teacher told us about breathing through your nose when running.
"Yeah, I think you're right." I say feebly, placing a hand on my tired chest. Sadly, we hear the same sound. More branches snapping. The only positive side is that it sounds more far away.

"Shit." I mutter.
"You have to be kidding me." Trigger says irritably. He looks up the sky before jumping into the water. When he finally comes up for air and sees I'm still on dry land, he rolls his eyes and mouths, "Come on!"
I take a step closer to the water hesitantly. I hear something in the woods and immediately dive in, all cliche. Surprisingly, the water isn't too cold. Trigger begins to swim towards the dock, I follow after him and duck under the dock. There's barely enough room for my mouth and nose to stay above the water, but I can still breath, thankfully. I lock my eyes with Trigger and we both stay silent. I hear the sound of sand being shifted; footsteps. I try to take slow and quiet breaths and not to panic as they grow closer. I look sideways at the water and bite down harshly on my bottom lip.