The trio walked in somber silence, Andrew and Zen a bit ahead with Caroline trailing behind a couple steps, watching them intently. They got on the bus headed towards Leary Avenue, Zen's stop. Zen made pleasant conversation. Caroline didn't bother them. She replied if Zen asked her anything, but was otherwise content to stay at the back and observe them like a chaperone. It started to irritate Andrew. He decided that he needed to tell her off once and for all. It had always annoyed him just how naggy she was but recently he'd realized just how interfering she could be. He decided that when Zen wasn't around, he would pull her aside and tell her to stop sticking her nose into his business.

They got off at Leary Ave. and went to a nearby fast food place at Zen's suggestion. There as well, Caroline didn't speak much while Zen talked pleasantly about sports, pets, homework, and other such ordinary things. Andrew hoped that at the very least, Caroline was realizing that Zen wasn't actually a bad person. It was hard to tell what she was thinking; her face was blank and she didn't really look up from her phone the entire time they ate. It was dark out by the time they'd left the cafe.

They walked towards Zen's house, and at that point even Zen had become quiet. Caroline trailed behind them like a shadow for a while but then stopped. "Hey,"

The boys turned towards her.

"Is it always this empty here?" she asked.

Andrew hadn't realized it before but the neighborhood was suspiciously empty and eerily silent. Not only that, the houses were all dark; the only lights were from the street lights spaced so far apart they barely seemed to illuminate anything. Andrew felt a chill run down his shoulders. He hated semi-darkness more than absolute darkness.

"Well," Zen started. "It IS kind of spooky now that you mention it. My house isn't too far away now-"

The silence around them was broken as a loud bang went off in the darkness ahead. A flare had shot up into the sky from a rather small pistol, and illuminated the area. The light wasn't comforting, but rather dreadful. The man holding the miniscule gun was, in contrast, large and muscular. Behind him was a group of people. They all wore matching dark cloaks and menacing expressions.

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"Children," the man said, "let's skip the pleasantries, shall we? You-" he pointed to Andrew, "yes, you. Come with us quietly."

-------

Though everything seemed to be whirling around him, Andrew reacted to the incident with a surprising level of detachment. He didn't believe something so exciting could happen to him. He looked to his left and spotted a rather narrow alley. If they made a mad dash through that alley, they might be able to get away. Zen's house wasn't far and they could call the police. If they were lucky maybe some would be patrolling the area.

Andrew felt Zen grab his left arm and looked up at him. He wore a grim expression as he looked from Andrew to the alley. His grip tightened and Andrew realized that Zen had the same idea. All they had to do was scream for Caroline to follow and run like crazy.

Andrew contemplated on how smart that plan would be given that the other party had weird-looking guns. As his attention drew back to them, he realized the man was pointing his at him. "I don't like waiting..." he grumbled.

Andrew decided that plan might put Zen and Caroline at risk. Their safety was more important to him than his own. Though rather confused about the situation, the strange man mentioned that he wanted Andrew. He decided that giving himself up might be smarter if they would let his friends go. Upon reaching that conclusion, he was about to raise his hands in surrender when he was violently knocked sideways.

Surprised, he fell unceremoniously on his arm and grunted in pain as someone else landed on him. It was Caroline. "What-" he began, only to see the trail of blood trickling down the side of her leg. If she hadn't pushed him out of the way, he reckoned the shot would've gone straight through his knee. Be that as it were, running was definitely out; Caroline would no longer be able to run.

"We were told to take you back alive, not unharmed," the leader said, and then yawned. "You looked like you were thinking of running. Anyway, I won't hurt your friends as long as you come along without resisting."

"What are you doing?" Caroline's voice was hoarse. She couldn't stand up. Shifting her weight on her balled fists, she turned to Zen. "TAKE ANDREW AND RUN!"

Zen jolted and tugged at Andrew's shirt but he did not move.

"What are you doing?!" Andrew screamed at Caroline.

"Don't worry about me, run Andrew!" Caroline pleaded.

"Enough," the leader said, his tone dispassionate. "What is this? Some drama show? Shut the girl up!"

The lackeys emotionlessly aimed their guns at Caroline. "RUN ANDREW!" she screamed. It was followed by a round of loud bangs.