Claws

Chapter Eight

      "Wakey wakey eggs and bakey!" I roll over and face the thing above me.

"I sincerely think you say that just to annoy me. The eggs and bacon are appreciated, but you could just say, I don't know, 'Time to get up'?"

"Now, why would I do something sensible like that?" He asks in response. I rub the sleep out of my eyes.

"No clue. I'm going to get changed." I get up and rummage through my pack of clothes, picking out a bright blue shirt and some black pants. Then I go into the bathroom, stripping down and pulling back on my clothes. I pull on my gloves and slap my hat on my head, and when I exit, I make sure to grab the mask off the couch.

I fix myself a plate for breakfast and eat quickly before pulling on my mask. I head across the room, where Adrian is waiting for me, swinging his keyring on his index finger and whistling. He looks up as I come over, and breaks into a grin.

We go into the hallway, where Adrian locks the door. We then lock eyes and...

"Wait, wait, wait! Alexis, isn't today Wednesday?" Adrian asks.

"Uh, maybe?"

"Then why didn't you tell me so, roll over and go back to sleep?"

"Uh, reasons? I have something stupid I'm doing today."

"What are you doing today that's stupid?" Adrian asks, squinting his eyes.

"Trying to get myself kidnapped. Now, race, come on."

"You're trying to get yourself kidnapped? What the heck, Alexis! Why?" Adrian shouts.

"Complicated reasons. Me and Jean visited the robber yesterday and basically he told me I need to talk to the leader, and to do that I have to get myself kidnapped. I'm coming back, Adrian."

"Okay, whatever. But be back by four!"

"Okay, okay. Now, come on." I insist. We race and do the normal thing, but I can tell Adrian's mad that I'm trying to do something so stupid. We part ways exiting the lobby, and I start my normal route to work. I stop on the street where I got cornered yesterday, hoping to see the gang again.

"Hello?" I call. I don't see anyone on any buildings, or dressed all in black. And I can't hear anything distinguishable from the sounds of normal daytime activities. Wait! Someone's coming up the street from behind me. Several someone's. I turn around, only to see a group of people about my age, not at all close to the gang I was looking for. My shoulders slump in slight disappointment, and I don't even bother looking for details on any of them.

"You aren't who I was looking for. Sorry." I turn back around and continue down the street, keeping a lookout for big figures behind buildings and motorcycles parked in alleys. All of a sudden, the people behind me start running. I turn around quickly, jogging backwards.

"Who are you? Who do you work for?"

"I'm not sure you'd recognize the name." Calls the one in front, stopping, and calling his men to stop.

"ARSON?" I ask.

"Just shout it to everyone, won't you?" He jokes. "Grab her, boys." He gestures for them to move, and I stumble backwards.

"Wait!" I call out, throwing up a hand to stop them. "I want to come with you willingly!"

"Why the heck do you want that?"

"Because someone explained what's going on, and I want to look into it. I wouldn't have come this way if I hadn't."

"Because you knew there'd be an ambush?"