Astrid Stronghold, cousin to Will Stronghold, lost her father to a Sidekick turned Villain and yet she still chose to become a Sidekick. Lash Livingston, Hero turned Villain turned Hero, would do whatever it takes to save Astrid, if she was ever in...
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Leaves rustled beneath their feet and the trees cast an ominous shadow on the two Heroes and the Sidekick. The moment they had entered the woods, the warm sunlight had been cut off, plunging them into a cold night. Upon hearing about the kidnapping of her best friend, Natalia had refused to let them leave her behind and she had screamed at Speed until he allowed her to tag along. Ensuring that she was safely between him and Lash, the trio hunted for the cabin in the midst of a dense forest.
"Do you think she's hurt?" Natalia asked, tone hushed for fear that if she spoke too loud it might make the words real.
"If she is, Penny better run. And fast." Lash growled menacingly.
"Thank you."
"For what?" Lash questioned, eyes not diverting from scanning the trees.
"For saving my best friend, and loving her. She needs someone to care for her." Natalia admitted. "Although she'd never admit that. With the life that she's had, she thinks she has to be the strong one."
"I wouldn't thank me. I haven't done a very good job."
Guilt and disappointment ignited in him but he shook his head and used it to fuel his determination to find the woman he loved.
"You have. I mean, yeah, she got kidnapped but that's not your fault. You can't watch her every minute of the time. You carried her to the bus after she passed out, you made sure she was returned to her mother safely and most importantly, you loved her. Your job for the evening was done and that's all you need to do. You need to make sure that you love her as much as you do now forever."
Sniffing, Lash ignored the tear that strolled down his cheek at the girl's words. Guiding them through the trees, he ignored the clenching of his heart when Speed reassuringly took Natalia's hand. He had never told anyone that he loved Astrid but of course he couldn't keep it from Natalia. Now he just hoped that he would have the opportunity to tell Astrid.
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Groaning at the agony in her body, she ignored the aches and knots that would take forever to ease. Being shackled to a wall meant that the sparse amount of sleep she managed to achieve was uncomfortable and the thin blankets did little to keep out the cold. Even though there was a pillow beneath her, sitting on the floor constantly left her with a sore back and a numb backside. Sweat had caused her clothes to stick to her body as the burning of her ribs refused to ease.
Two days had passed but it could've been months with the never-ending darkness. Penny had taken to visiting the girl every two hours and the torture she inflicted upon the blonde left Astrid panting and bruised. Astrid couldn't wait until she was rescued and able to heal herself. However, some injuries would never heal.
Cringing at the creaking door, Astrid tucked a lock of greasy hair behind her hair and tried forcing herself to her feet so as to face Penny. Her legs had given out hours ago and she was too weak to make it all the way there but she refused to be looked down on. Using her chains, Astrid forced herself to her knees and decided that was the best she was going to get.
