Living The Prime Years

Official Rescue. (I promise)

(Your POV)

It's been a couple of days, the only reason you know that is because of the one window you have in your makeshift prison. You can see the sun rising and setting through it. That and also the figure. They'll bring you food three times a day, and sometimes tell you something about your friends, although usually they leave right after you finish eating.

This time it's different. They're just sitting there, staring at you. After you're done eating, you expect them to pick up your plate and glass and leave, like usual. But they don't. Instead, they grab a key ring from the pocket of their hoodie, and unlock the cuff around your ankle.

They pull you to your feet, and you stumble, falling flat onto your face.

"Really?" They have a feminine voice, but you know from experience that the sound of someone's voice doesn't mean anything. They pull you to your feet again, this time keeping a firm grip on you and lead you to the door.

"Your friends are so desperate to have you back? Fine, I'll give them what they want." The way they talk sounds menacing, and you gulp, trying not to shake as they lead you down a flight of stairs and out another door.

They put some sort of bag over your head, making it so you can't see. Taking probably necessary precautions, so you can't rat them out when the police question you. If they question you.

(Unknown POV)

Water's positive this time, or so he says. He swears up and down that he's found where Shelby is. Right now he's trying to rally everyone into helping him with this search, but most of us are too tired. Too mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted to try and find Shelby.

I'm sitting near the front door to Watty's house. That's where we've been gathering to talk about Shelby and progress we've made toward finding her. I roll my eyes, looking over at the door. I notice there's been a note slipped under it, and walk over to it, picking it up.

"Hey, Watty, I think you might have a secret admirer." I hold up the note, and she turns to me, her face clouded in confusion.

"What?" She walks over to me, taking the note out of my hand and reading it.

"I know where Shelby is," Watty announces in a deep, yet sad voice, "and we have to get there now."

(Your POV)

They take the bag off of your head, allowing you to see where you are. You're in the middle of a beach, near the ocean. As you spy the ocean, you can form many a likely plan in your head, none of them good.

"Don't worry, they should be here soon enough." You wish you still had your phone, or anything that could tell your friends of your location. After a few minutes, their words finally register.

"You mean, my friends?" Your voice is hoarse, like you haven't used it in months. Not that you haven't, it just sounds more so than you expected. "How could they possibly know where we are?"

They don't reply, but simply smile at you, still having to support your weakened legs. The parts of their eyes that you can see gleam with mischief, making their grin that much more sinister.

But, sure enough, a few minutes later, Water, Watty, Fiction, and Expo walk into your line of sight, Water's eyes widening in...relief, maybe? Something, but you aren't positive what it is.

"Alright, we're here. Now let her go," In Ex speaks up, his voice deeper than you last remember, and his stance threatening.

"You didn't really think that after all that, I'm just going to let her go? No, you're going to have to do something for me." As your kidnapper explains their plan, someone picks you up, and hoists you over their shoulder, covering your mouth so you keep quiet. The other are too trained on what your kidnapper is saying, so they don't notice.

But after a few moments of them talking, Ex looks over to see you being carried away.

"It's a distraction!" He yells at the others, bolting towards you and your current captor. You hear your captor chuckle, before they throw you into the ocean.

It wouldn't be so bad, after all, you know how to swim, except for the fact that your legs are still too weak to hold your weight, let alone keep you afloat.

"Gah!" You let out a gasp as the cold water hits your body, threatening to pull you under. You still attempt to tread water, though it's futile, and you start to sink.

(Unknown POV)

Why couldn't I have realized sooner that it was all a big distraction? Now Shelby's drowning, and it's all my fault!

Water and I bolt towards the ocean, but we veer off into different paths. I head for Shelby, and he heads for her kidnapper and their accomplice. Watty grabs Fiction and runs, making sure they don't get taken as well, since Fiction can't see her attackers, if there were any.

I jump in after Shelby, and see her (h/c) hair drifting as her body slowly sinks toward the ocean floor. I speed over to her as fast as I can, grabbing her by her waist and swimming up towards the surface.

As I gasp for breath, I notice Shelby's not. I head back to shore, checking for a pulse. She has one, but won't for long if I don't get the water out of her lungs in enough time.

"C'mon, Shelbs, stay with me." I lay her down flat on the sand, and start giving her CPR. Yes, I'm trained in it, get off my back about it.

Usually I wouldn't mind having to give someone CPR, but doing it to Shelby just feels wrong, like I shouldn't be doing it. But it's the only way I can save her, so I push my concerns out of the way. Her eyes flutter open after a while, and she starts coughing up water, while also gasping for breath.

"E-Expo?" I nod, hugging her tightly after she's done coughing.

"Yeah, Shelby, I'm right here." I promise to protect you with my life, even sacrificing it if it means keeping you safe. I've seen what you do to Water, and even as jealous as I might feel, I can't do that to him. I can't take you away from him. So I'll be over here, being his wingman, and staying a friend. Always.