Paradise Loners

Chapter Fourteen

---Kristen---

The days got longer and worst. I don't know who is the master mind behind my kidnapping but for some strange reason I have this hunch that it is definitely not Dude.

Which kidnapper becomes their hostages best friend.

However, I did have a hunch.

About two days ago, I woke up to a new face. She looked my age but looks can be deceiving. She looked armed to the teeth with two swords across her back and a billion pockets through out her outfit with daggers.

She only stared at me for a few minutes before she muttered something in another language and left. I hadn't seen her since.

The only thing Dude told me about her was her name.

Anna.

As the days past the markings on my hand began to itch and I became paler. Dude had made sure that I had eaten but not a drop of blood had touched my lips and I knew it wouldn't be too long before I died, again, but there wouldn't be any returning this time.

I missed Lane. I tried not to think of him because whenever I did my hand didn't only itched but it burned.

"Kristen," Dude called pulling me back from fantasy isle.

I blinked twice to clear my vision.

"Where were you? Mars?" he joked.

"I wish maybe there would be a better place than here."

"Gotta agree with that."

"So are you ready to tell me what you know about certain girl? "

"I can't. Not here."

"Okay," I said knowing who he was referring to.

He began searching a cross bag he had slug across his shoulder. After tossing and turning things in his bag he finally pulled out a single silver key.

I frowned.

"What are you going to do?" I asked as he crossed the room.

"What do you think I'm going to do?"

"Something that I would," I said grinning.

He began opening the locks on the chains that kept me from moving.

"You're a free woman," he held out his hand to help me up.

"Free indeed," I rubbed my wrists.

"Come on," he said helping me up.

I stood and was suddenly hit by a wave of nausea. My feet gave way and I fell forward and would've hit the ground if he hadn't catch me.

"Numb all over? " he asked.

"Yeah," I agreed.

"It'll get better. " he assured me.

I looked around,"So how are we escaping?" I asked bewildered.

"You're going to need strength for this. Hold on."

I leaned on table as he took something out of his bag. He passed me a blue bottle.

"Drink up."

"What is it?" I asked turning the bottle in my hand looking for any idea as to what may be in it.

"Nourishment," he replied.

I opened the bottle and sniffed the contents. It didn't smell bad but it's scent was very strong and alluring.

I raised it to my lips.

"Bottoms up," Dude said.

The thick liquid ran down my throat and I felt the hunger in my stomach, the tiredness of my muscles and my nausea die as I became stronger.

"What kind of nourishment was that?" I asked straightening my stance and putting down the now empty bottle on the table.

"We have to leave. Now. "

Dude snatched the bottle off the table and shoved it in his bag.

Dude walked to somewhere in the center of the room and jumped.

Since the ceiling was flat I was wondering what he was going to hold on to but when his palm touched the ceiling they seemed to stick and he swung up his legs until he was in a crouching position. He pushed up two floorboards and slipped through.

I stared up at where he was with my mouth hanging open until his head appeared from the hole in the ceiling.

"Come on," he said reaching for me.

"I don't think I can jump that high."

"Well you better cause you're not going to get another chance at surviving. In less than a minute Anna is going to come through that door with friends of hers and there are going to beat you to a pulp before your execution... which is by hanging by the."

"Give me the keys!" I heard Anna hissed from the other side of the door.

I looked up at Dude.

I jumped. Not the badass jump, the average jump where I am barely off the ground.

I tried again and I think this time was worst.

"Focus, " Dude told me.

"Gracious father do I have to do everything! Where is the goddamn key!"

"I think Alex has it." someone told her.

"Well go and get it!"

I took a deep breath and jumped again. My fingers brushed Dudes and I fell back to the floor in disappointment.

When I landed I heard my ankle break. I bit down on !y tongue to muffle a scream.

In my agony I heard Anna snapped at who ever was with her to be quiet.

I felt my ankle begin to shift in place and I stood again.

"Here's the key."

I heard the rattling of keys and I jumped again. I couldn't die. That isn't my path.

I grabbed Dudes hand by the wrist and wrapping his hand around mine he pulled me through the ceiling. As soon as I was beside him he put back the boards.

"Be quiet," he told me and about a second later I heard a for open a footsteps below us.

"Find her!" I heard Anna barked,"Useless."

"Come on, let's go," Dude said pulling me up off the ground, "They know where we are, they've heard us."