Powersurge

Captured

     Ashton and the boys had dark sacks put onto their heads, then were shoved into a steam vehicle. A window overhead cast sunlight down of Ashton's head. She watched the light patterns carefully, making sure she memorized everything. Then she felt a quiet tap on her knee. She identified the finger as Alek's.

"What?" She attempted to make her voice sound like one of the creaks of the steam vehicle. It worked.

"How do we get out?"

"Give it some time."

She hesitated, then spoke. "Pass it along to the others."

"Okay." He scooted uncomfortably towards the person on his left.

"Pspspppsspsss. Sssspspspsssss. Ssppsppsss spsppss. Sssspspsps ssps." Was all she heard of the exchange. Then they heard the follow from ahead.

"I assume you  want to know why you've been taken." The follower said in a fairly pleasant voice. Ashton rolled her eyes. Bad people made their voices sound friendly. She didn't trust this guy. She heard Jacob's voice. "I would also like to know why I was held at gunpoint and blindfolded." Ashton raised her eyebrows. impressed. So Jacob had some courage too. She waited for the follower's response.

"I think it would benefit you to respect me." He said, his tone suddenly icy.

Jacob shot back. "I wasn't disrespecting you, I was asking an honest question."

"Well, then." The follower said in a somewhat surprised tone. "If it was an honest question, I'm obligated to answer you." She heard something like a laugh. She didn't like it.

"Just answer." She heard her voice say. She briefly wondered why she'd said it, then realized that she didn't care one way or another.

"Oh, so you're the smart one." The voice chuckled a little. "Are you the leader as well, little girl?"

She felt a warning tap on her leg. She ignored it. "Yes, I am. It's obvious you don' have respect for people f my age or gender. I don't have respect for your type. We let each other be, we'll both be find. Otherwise, this is a boss fight, brother."

Alex winced under his sack. Ashton was walking on thin ice.

Jacob raised his eyebrows. He didn't think she had the pure mix of stupidity and courage that was necessary to say something like that,

She heard a chuckle. She growled angrily under her sack. She hated this guy.

He replied, a hint of mirth in his voice. "Beat me in a fencing match. Then we talk."

Ashton smiled under the sack. "Get me a sword."

The steam vehicle stopped. The follower ordered guards onto the rest of the boys, then removed Ashton's hood. "Your eyes." He muttered. Ashton rolled her eyes. Almost every male under the age of forty was attracted to her. She jumped out of thee steam spider.

"Get me a sword." She repeated forcefully. The follower nodded.

"Guards!" He shouted. They came like obedient puppies. "Tiee this girl up while I get her a sword."

Ashton waited until the follower left. Then, with a quick movement, she swept her bound legs under all the guards' feet. Using her bound hands, she got to her feet and started hopping away,

She felt a hand close around her arm. She grunted, more annoyed that afraid. Why did this happen every time?

"Hey!" the follower said mildly. "We didn't do our fencing match!"

Ashton snarled and grabbed a sword out of his hand. "Okay. Fine. Let's do this." She twirled the sword deftly. She was ready for a fight.