The Hunters of Artemis

Chapter 26: Saved

Before I could react, there was a cloth pushed against my face and my body went limp.

When I woke up again, I was tied up behind the 7Eleven. I could tell because the garbage dumpsters that surrounded me had the 7Eleven logo on them. I groaned; the garbage smell was overwhelming. I gagged and found my mouth duct taped shut. I tried to move around, but my legs were bound and my arms were tied up. I could see though, and that was a plus.

It was still morning, but the sun was a little higher in the sky. Standing before me were three men. Surprisingly, it wasn't any monster men, just regular thugs. They were all burly, and broad shouldered. The one that looked like the leader had a ski mask on and was staring at me menacingly. 

"Mphf!" I mumbled through the tape.

The first guy moved forward and tore off the tape, which I would not recommend to anyone unless they want to get rid of a layer of skin along with the hair above your upper lip. "Alright, girly. We have orders from people high up, and they want to meet you. Your coming with us. You will be quiet."

I snorted. "Yeah. Good luck with that. Just ask my friends. I'm not familiar with the 'quiet' thing."

The first guy reached forward and slapped me. I turned my face to the side and breathed hard. My cheek was on fire. "Ow."

"Don't get snarky girly," said goon number two. 

I rolled my eyes and one tried to hit me again but I bit their fingers. Then I spit out the horrible taste. "Ew! What do you touch, moldy cheese marinated in spoiled milk? That is disgusting!"

The first guy held a hand over my mouth and hissed, "Be quiet. Someone will hear you!" I could see his face clearly now. It was all pockmarked, and a bit bruised, like he'd been in a lot of fights lately. His eyes were mud brown and uninteresting. 

I widened my eyes in mock shock. "Really? You mean, someone might come to help me? Oh, gods forbid anyone come and help!"

"Shut up. You look like you're worth a good amount of money. Whose kid are you? Some movie star?"

"Pfft. As if. Let me guess. You want to kidnap me for ransom?" I raised my eyebrow. "Well, that ain't gonna work." Under my breath, I added, "Idiots."

I earned another slap. I heard someone call out from the front of the building, "Kat! Kat, where are you?"

"HELP!" I screamed before the first man clapped his hand over my mouth and brought out a switchblade. I froze. Now, whatever people might tell you, we Hunters can still get hurt, and yes, this would technically count as a battle, so technically I could get killed. 

This made me stop moving and struggling. I heard footsteps coming around the building and the guys scattered. I saw the first guy run around the side and the other two hide behind the dumpsters. Crap. They were going to jump whoever came to save me. 

I hated this. Not only the bound part, but the fact that I needed to be saved. 

I saw Hannah come around the corner. She saw me and her eyes widened. "Guys! I found her!"

"Hannah! Go back! Warn the othe--" I began, but the thugs jumped out and started towards Hannah. I bet they were expecting her to scream and run away, but she just looked them in the face before whipping out her bow and arrows and aimed one at the face of the first one. (Hannah had never been one to shy away from a fight.)

While she had them distracted, I looked down at my bonds and began to move my arms, which were behind me, underneath me and underneath my legs. 

You see, when I was younger, I had some friends who were police. Okay, they were my Mom's friends, but I was friends with their daughter. Anyway, they had taught me how to get my hands--if they were handcuffed or something--from behind me, to in front. Don't ask me why the police were giving me secrets so I could escape if I was captured. I slid my hands until they were under my knees and then bent my legs. I brought my hands underneath of my feet and then relaxed. Now, I had my hands in front of me. They were still bound though. 

I used my bound hands to untie the knots around my feet. I untied it in seconds. Obviously these guys needed some knot lessons. 

To my left, I saw Liam's head poke out and spot me. I motioned for him to come over. To my right, I saw Robyn and Rhea join Hannah, who was shooting arrows past the goons' heads to freak them out. It was working. 

I pushed my back against the brick wall of the 7Eleven and eventually stood up. "Liam, untie my hands," I said, holding my hands out. 

"Kat, we were so worried! What the Hades happened?" he asked, grabbing my wrists. 

"Long story. Now, just untie the cloth." It took seconds, because again, the knots were made so amaturely, and when I was free, I rubbed my wrists. While they knots sucked, they were still really tight. 

I got out my bow and arrows, (they kind of just appear when we need them, although, that would have been helpful when that cyclops appeared back at the school), and joined the other girls. But they didn't need any help. The guys were running into the woods behind the store. One had an arrow sticking out of their sleeve. No blood though, which means it didn't pierce the skin. 

"Kat! Are you okay?" asked a concerned Rhea. Atlanta and the others had come around just in time to see the grown men run away like babies. 

Smiling faintly, I nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. My wrists are just a bit sore. Where's Apollo?"

Atlanta rolled her eyes. "He went to get a coffee or something. He said he'd be back soon. Whatever that means."

I laughed. Let's just say Atlanta and Apollo haven't exactly had the best relationship ever. You know, him abandoning her as a child? That kind of thing. I felt similar, but not to the extent that she did.

Anyways, let's just say that Dad didn't come back for half an hour. I doubt it takes that long to get coffee, but whatever. We were back on the road... well, road-ish,  and flying to Ethiopia. Again.