Fame: A Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys Mystery

14. Nancy (Part 2)

My gag tightens. I start to panic as less and less air comes through my mouth and the cloth threatens to end me. I can't breathe at all and I start to panic. The air flowing through my nose is thick and dusty enough to make me want to cough and I stop trying to gulp in air. A noise calls in the back of my throat and the pressure immediately loosens and I breathe a sigh of relief.

"Sorry," Jake whispers into the black. "I think your gag is hooked onto me. When I leaned forward it choked you."

I inch backward and try to work the gag off. With the space that I have I can almost sip it out but then Jake moves again.

"Nancy, careful, please. You're attached to my neck."

I am tempted to give an irritated groan but I am too polite.

"Wait! Stay like that. I have an idea." He whispers excitedly. Jake begins to wriggle around in his seat. His hands hit mine over and over and my wrist begins to protest. "Almost, almost, almost, yes! I slipped my wrist out; stay like that while I work the other one out." Jake's hand bangs my wrist and I moan. His head brushes back again mine and I feel my gag loosen a bit. Suddenly, the pressure from his head is gone and so is my gag. The black cloth falls into my lap and I lick my lips.

"Sorry, I have to untie my feet before I can loosen your wrists," Jake apologizes.

"It's fine," I say, moving my stiff jaw back and forth. "Is she telling the truth? Can we get out?"

Jake appears from the nothingness that stretches out before me. "We don't have anything to worry about." He leans over me and starts untying a cord. "I believe this room is mostly underground, maybe a basement or a crawlspace, or even a tunnel, meaning that even if the Hardys get here they wouldn't find us unless they happen upon that one window." He tugs on a rope and I grimace. "Sorry." He leans over and uses his mouth to hold a cord while he unties it. He stands up and moves to squat down next to me. My fingers fumble to try to untie the knots but I seem to be making a bigger mess so I let Jake work the cord.

   "I think once we get through this door it should be pretty straight forward getting out. Like I said earlier, Penelope is about as smart as a rock. You should be free. Are your ankles tied?"

I shake free my hands from the leftover cord and massage my injured wrist. "No, she left mine free." I stand up and suddenly get a head rush. My vision blurs and I can barely see Jake standing a couple of inches away from me. I blink and collapse back into the chair, nearly tipping it over.

   "Nancy, are you alright?" He kneels down and supports my head in his hands.

   "Yeah, I think so. Help me up, would you?" He clasps his hand with mine and pulls me up effortlessly.

   "You don't look so good, Drew. Do you want to stay here and-"

   "No," I clutch my head and blink profusely. "I'm fine. Did Penelope conk me on the head or something?"

   "She must have. She dragged you in here like a dead weight. Having you tied to me was like having a huge sack of potatoes as a weight. That is why I was trying to untie you earlier. No way was going to get anywhere dragging you along."

   "No duh," I mutter shaking my head.

   "Were you dreaming earlier? You kept grabbing my hand and whispering, "Kiss me, kiss me."

I blush. "You are such a movie star. Of course, that would make the perfect scene if I was begging you to kiss me." I decide to ignore the dizziness. "Where is the door?"

   "Straight ahead. Can I?"

   "Can you what?" I question, walking forward.

It is locked.

   "Kiss you?" he replies.

I give him a look but then I realize that he can't see me either. "No, pervert. There is a bobby pin in my hair somewhere..."

   "Oh, allow me." Jake's fingers run through my hair and I have to resist the urge to punch him. He hands me the lone bobby and I kneel down to jimmy the lock open. Jake leans his arm on the door over me and it is almost too much.

   "Why do you ever like me anyway, Jake?"

   "You are beautiful, and smart and different but at the same time so normal and familiar."

Normal, I have never been described as normal.

   "And, like, the only girl I like who doesn't like me."

   "Really? That is silly." I can't help but laugh. I lean my ear into the door and listen to the tumblers click and jingle. Come on door, open for mama.

   "That is why I'm going to prove my point." Jake leans down and I feel his breath on my neck right before he gently kisses it.

The tumblers click and the door is suddenly thrust open. Jake flies out over my head and rolls out on the floor. I can't help but laugh as he struggles to stand and dusts himself off. I use the door for support and stand and grin at him.

   "You." Jake sputters. "You!"

   "And yet you keep on chasing me. Sometimes a girl is playing hard to get because she doesn't want to be gotten." I stab a finger in his chest. "This girl plans on being single, not attached to a movie star she doesn't like."

He looks defeated and shakes me off. "Come on, let's get out of here, find Frank and Joe, and call the professionals."

   "Frank, Joe and I aren't professional enough for you?" I tease.

   "Nope. You don't have have any handcuffs."Jake starts down the dimly lit corridor.

   "And I wouldn't carry them even if I did, because of situations like these," I head down the dark hall after him, my hand on the wall to find my way and keep my balance. The hall makes a sharp right and Jake, not being careful, bashes into the wall. The sound is louder than it should be.

   "Shh," I whisper.

Another bang follows.

   "Jake, this isn't funny!" I hiss. I turn in a circle trying to spot him.

Bang!

   "That isn't you?" Jake's bewildered voice is close behind me.

   "No."

Bash!

I begin to walk faster. I really hope that is not what I think it is. I come up to the end of the hall. Jake's warm body crashes into me.

   "What?" he whispers.

   "It must be a door," I pray as I pat down the wall with my hand. I push, hoping something will give. My hand strays over a dirty keyhole and I pull my mangled bobby pin out of my pocket. I stick it in and bend down to listen.

   "Please hurry," Jake whispers as another bang echoes down the corridor through the darkness.

Crash.

Click. I pull my bobby pin out hurriedly and peek through the inching open door.