Stolen

"As Ready As I'll Ever Be"

"Cooper, where's Mom," Megan said as she shook Cooper awake.

"Did you check her room?"

"Yeah, smart allick."

"I don't know."

"She's not here."

Cooper sat up and looked at her. His face turned white. He cautiously stepped out of bed and walked into the hallway. He looked at the wallpaper. Just like he had thought, there were scratches on it.

"It took her."

"What are you talking about," Megan said tilting her head to the side.

"The Nukkus took her," he replied. "Tyler!" He ran down the hallway and looked in his room. He saw and empty bed. His heart dropped.

"Coop..." Megan started.

Cooper turned around with his face wet with tears.

"It came two times last night," Cooper murmured.

"How do you know it didn't come in one trip," she argued.

"I watched it take Mom. Tyler did too. That's why it came back for him."

"Why didn't it take you too?" she questioned.

"It probably was morning by the time Nukkus went back. He only takes people at night. I read it online. Everyone that has gone missing was taking while their family was sleeping."

"We have to go get them!"

"I know," Cooper responded. He had a look in his eye. An unforgiving one.

Cooper walked into the kitchen and pulled out a piece of paper. He immediately came up with a plan. Megan walked in after him and watched him sketch and scribbled down words.

"What do we do, now?"

"We wait. Starting now, sleep during the daytime. At night, we have to stay alert. One of us will be taken by the Nukkus. If I am taken, don't interfere. Follow the monster until it takes me to its 'home'."

"Get in the car," Megan said as she picked up her car keys. "We are about to get ready."

After Cooper climbed into the car, Megan pulled out of the driveway.

A few minutes later, the two arrived at a sketchy house. Cooper warily got out after watching Megan walk up the driveway. She knocked on a door and a tall kid with shaggy black hair greeted her. He gave her a peck on the lips and invited her in. She waved at Cooper to come in. He looked into the boy's green eyes as he walked in. They gave him the chills.

Megan explained what was happening to the guy, all while twisting her honey ginger hair around her finger and batting her eyelashes.. He listened intently.

"So what do you think, Aidan?"

He nodded his head.

He came back in the room holding a case. He latched it open and turned it around for Megan and Cooper to see. Cooper's jaw dropped and Megan smiled.

"Perfect."

Cooper looked at the plethora of weapons. The weapons ranged from pocket knives to handguns. Megan picked a handgun up but it was slapped out of her hands by Cooper.

"Are you crazy," he shouted baffled at Megan's behavior.

"This is the only way to keep us safe Cooper. If you don't like this, go sit in the car."

"Gladly," Cooper smugly replied. Cooper grabbed the keys and unlocked the doors. He climbed in and stayed there until Megan came out.

Megan scared Cooper when she tapped on the window, after Cooper had fallen asleep.

Megan opened the trunk and threw the case in. She hopped into the driver's seat and looked at Cooper.

"You ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," Cooper said with a shaky voice.