The Academy: Ashland

On a Boat

            I woke up on a boat. My hands were tied to the safety bar and my legs were tied at the ankle. As I woke, I groaned and looked around. The woman, Kaycee (I still didn't know her name), was sitting on a bench, a few feet from me, examining her nails. I groaned again. My head was pounding, my stomach was churning and the rocking of the boat was not helping.

            Kaycee looked up at me when I groaned and rolled her eyes, “Great, you're awake.” she said, sarcastically.

            “What the hell?” I yelled.

            “Relax,” Kaycee said. “You have no reason to freak out.”

            “No reason to freak out?” I yelled. “You just drugged me and kidnapped me!” I paused and looked around the boat. “Where are we going?”

            “You'll find out when we get there,” Kaycee said.

            I sighed and rolled my eyes, realizing I wasn't getting any real answers, and began to work on the ropes around my wrist, with my teeth.

            “Figures,” Kaycee said.

            “What?” I said, around a mouthful of rope.

            “You're smart, you know when you'll lose an argument,” Kaycee said.

            I loosened the knot enough to slip my hands out of the rope, “Yeah, I guess I am,” I said.

            “And cocky,” Kaycee added as she rolled her eyes.

            I grinned and began to work on the ropes around my ankles, “Thank you.”

            “What are you going to when you get those ropes untied?” Kaycee asked.

            I shrugged, “Nothing,” I said, “I just don't like sitting still and I'm getting rope burn.”

            Kaycee laughed, “I like you,” she said. “You are one of the funniest kids I've had to take.”

            I pulled the rope off my ankles, “Why'd you take me?”

            “The Captain will tell you when you get there?” Kaycee said.

            “The Captain?” I asked.

            “Yes, the Captain,” Kaycee said.

            “Okay then,” I said, sitting up on the safety bar I was previously tied to.

            Kaycee watched me with an amused expression, “Want some food?” she asked as she pulled a sandwich out of her purse.

            I shook my head and looked around, “I'm fine. How long until we get to our super-secret destination?” I asked before straightening my beanie.

            “A few hours,” Kaycee said.

            I tossed my beanie to the floor and groaned, “I'm bored,” I declared.

            Kaycee laughed she said, “Of course you are, I forgot you genius types need to be constantly entertained.”

            “How else do you expect us to stay sane?” I asked. “What's your name?”

            Kaycee stared at me and for a moment I thought she wasn't going to answer me, but, after a minute, she said, “Kaycee.”

            “I'm guessing you already know my name,” I said.

            Kaycee nodded, “I have a whole file on you, Ashland. You're quite the trouble maker.”

            “I try,” I said with a grin.

            All of a sudden, the boat made a sharp turn and I fell backwards, off the safety bar, into the water. My head went under for a moment, and I was glad I tossed my beanie onto the deck, before I resurfaced.

            “Crap!” I heard Kaycee yell. “Edwin! Stall the engines!”

            After a moment, Kaycee's head appeared and she tossed me a bright orange ring attached to a rope. I caught the ring and Kaycee pulled me back onto the boat.

            “You idiot,” she said as she began to laugh.

            I groaned, “Shut up. Today is not my day.”

            “You think?” Kaycee said before yelling, “We're good.” After the boat started up again, Kaycee began to go through her bag.

            I picked up my beanie and tucked it into my pocket, “Do you have a towel?” I asked

            “No.” Kaycee said.

            I watched Kaycee as she sifted through her stuff and asked, “What are you looking for?”

            Kaycee ignored me for a moment before pulling out a needle and saying, “As interesting as I find you, I know how smart you are. So I'm going to have to drug you.”

            I sighed, “I figured.”

            (Have I mentioned how much I hate getting needles? It seriously sucks. I swear I can feel the needle go into my skin and through my vein. It's horrible. I hate, hate, hate, hate needles.)

            Kaycee laughed, “Sorry, I know the drug makes you feel like crap.” she said.

            “Just don't forget my beanie,” I said as Kaycee nodded and pushed the needle into my bicep. “Is it too late for the sandwich?” I mumbled before I blacked out.