Peering into shadows (Httyd)

Chapter 18: Hunting Hunters

Astrid's POV

The winter holidays were a blast, and a month has almost passed. Ruffnut, and Snotlout as well as Cami, and Tuffnut had officially gotten together. Valentine's day was slowly approaching, and all the girls were wondering what their boyfriends had planned, myself included.

It was now after school, and Hiccup, Snotlout, and I were walking to the café two blocks away to meet the others, when a black van cut us off as we were walking along the sidewalk. Hiccup, and Snotlout suddenly each grabbed my arms as they turned to run, but a black SUV cut us off from the back. As our backs were turned we were grabbed, and dragged into the van.

The van doors were shut as we were slammed against the other side of the van. I saw the man who had shut the door point a gun at us.

"Not a sound, or else." The man said.

"Savage we got him, let's go." The armed man yelled to the driver.

As we sped down the road, I huddled into Hiccup, who I saw clenching his pendant.

The van had no windows, and the drive was long. It seemed almost like half an hour before we came to a stop. The driver then got out to open the van doors. We were ushered out at gunpoint into a abandoned looking warehouse. The salty air was prickling my nose. 'We must be near a harbor' I couldn't help but think.

The two men shoved us into an empty room with no windows, and barred the door. From the other side parts of a conversation could be heard. "......get the boss.............", and ".........Alvin........ Happy..."

"Don't worry Astrid. We'll be alright" I could hear Hiccup assure me, yet I couldn't stop shaking.

"Snotlout, whatever happens don't give away......." Hiccup says indicating to myself. "I think these guys are hunters."

"H...How can you be so sure?" Snotlout asked taking a look around the room nervously.

"Their tattoos. I've seen those on hunters before." Hiccup says.

Just then the door opened, and a large burly man with a long black beard stepped through.

"I thought you said you got the Jorgenson's boy. Why do I see two more!!!" The man turned to the two men by the door.

"They were with him at the time. Would you have wanted witnesses!!" One of the men said irritated.

The burly man just grunts, and looks at us.

"W..what do you want w..with.. us?" I hear Hiccup timidly ask.

"If the Jorgenson boy over here cooperates we won't hurt you." The man says indicating to Snotlout, who started to get nervous.

"Now who are ye two?" The boss asked us.

"I'm H..Henry, t..th..this is.. As..Astrid." Hiccup introduced not letting go of my hand.

"Wh...what do.. y..you wa..want with h..him?" Hiccup asked pointing to Snotlout. I then realized that these guys had no idea who they had just kidnapped, and Hiccup was trying to get as much information out of them. 'Well he certainly can act' I couldn't help thinking.

The man laughed. "I might as well tell ye. Nothing you lot can do anyways." He says, and then pointedly looks at Snotlout.

"You boy are going to ensure that Stoick Haddock follows our every demand. He wouldn't want his own nephew to be hurt now would he."

"What demands?" Snotlout asked getting some of his confidence back.

"The support he gives for the equal rights of vampires to cease of course. The Haddock's have been a thorn in our side for far too long. Simply trying to eliminate them didn't seem to work." The man states.