Taken Hostage

by Hutchins, Hollie

  Part of me, a small part, is ready to pitch a fit. I want to scream and throw things in a childish tantrum that I haven't gone through in years. What are they doing here? How did they look for me if they were on the opposite side of the country!? Why didn’t they want me? Why didn’t they come back for me? If they cared so much about me why did they leave me?

  A louder part of me, though, screamed in joy. I got exactly what I have wanted since I was a small child. My family is back. I have someone who cares about me… two someones!

  It took a few minutes to escape my feelings and the volatile mixture of dread and euphoria. I was simply now more aware of the world around me. Aware enough to feel the second arms wrapped around me.

  My father. My eyes traced and retraced his features. I needed to commit this to memory. I had his pointy nose and thick brows. I didn't inherit his sharp chin, crooked grin, or glittering brown eyes. Nor did I inherit the curly blonde hair.

  The style made me only think of sandy brown and a broken grin. Freckles and caramel skin that looked good enough to eat. Eyes that should be glittering with mischief, but were currently lying unconscious in a hotel room.

  No. No.

  Don’t think about that. Don’t think about him. I don’t need him.

  I have my family back. There is no need to be greedy.

  “We have to talk.” My mother’s honey sweet voice was so relaxing, that I barely noticed the steel underneath her voice. It filled me with even more dread so that I had to gulp. She was quite an intimidating woman. “I have some things you need to know.”

  "She's right, Sugar." My father's voice was smooth. It was a tone that anyone would listen to. Smooth as molasses and sweet as sugar. He didn’t have any steel in his voice, he was too kind for that.

  Was it wrong how I just agreed? To leave to somewhere I didn’t know with people I didn’t know, just on the off chance that they may have been my parents. The parents that did not want me. All thoughts of my Tom-Cat just vanished as I followed them to wherever they were staying. My legs were moving robotically. I wasn’t even paying much attention. Who cared what else is going on. I need to see everything on their faces, who cares where they live.

  Settings change. Places get destroyed, places change. People are forever. I need to be with the people I really care gone. That’s why I’m with them. The people who created me. I’ve been searching for so long, and now that I’ve finally found them, I don't need to search anymore. Nothing else really has to matter.

  “Now, Your father and I-” The woman began to speak, after I was sat down with a hot chocolate in my hand. When did that get there? I wish I could recall, but everything is so blurry. I sipped the hot chocolate as I listened.

  “Babs,” My father spoke. “Maybe, we should ease her into it. Sweetie,” He addressed me with the pet name and I blushed. The only one who had ever called me sweetie before in my life has been… Well, he doesn’t matter anymore. Tom does not matter anymore and I wish he would leave my mind and stop infecting my time with my parents. “Have you ever noticed anything… strange? A ripple in the air where they shouldn’t be. A man whose teeth are a bit too sharp. An ethereal quality to the air. A sense of wrongness that can’t be explained.”

  He…. Did he know? I always assumed I was just odd. Thomas is the only one who ever believed me when I would start talking about things like that. It's scary not to be trusted about your own feelings, but he understands. My father understands me.

  "Yes," I answered, without a moment of hesitation, bobbing my head up and down. “Do you see them too? They usually say I’m just imagining things but I know I’m not.”

  “Correct.” My mom, (Babs?) replied, brushing some lint off her clothes as if I was bored. “You are not imagining things. Your father and I are what is known as ‘Seekers’ we have the sight and-”

  I couldn't help but laugh. And cry. And laugh some more. Are they Seekers? I spent my whole life searching for them, and yet they are the Seekers! That's an irony that leaves me struggling for breath. They don't even get the irony. That's what makes it so funny. Because they abandoned me. And lying about searching for me. Seekers my ass.

  If I had noticed the way my ‘Mother Dearest’ pulled her arm back to strike me before being held back by my ‘Darling Father’, maybe I would’ve thought twice about everything. Maybe I would make less stupid decisions. On the other hand, I do have a life-long habit of making stupid decisions.

  “We are sorry we never came back for you, but it was unsafe.” My father purred, reaching for my hand. “Here, it will be easier if you just see. If you understand.”

  Hesitantly, I reached back for him. The moment held my hand and I hissed, falling into his arms as my eyes saw so many things one by one yet simultaneously all at once.

  Monsters.

  They exist and they are a danger to good normal human beings. As a seeker, my eyes allow me to see them when I start looking. I can sort of notice them without any training but the more work I put in, the stronger my skills will be. My destiny is to one by one, destroy all trace of these vermin off of the earth.

  My parents didn’t come for me at first because they wanted me to have a normal life, only my showing of powers convinced them that was a folly. That my visions brought me right to them, meant this is where I was destined to be. For the rest of my life, I was to be with my family.

  I wanted to believe it so much. My whole life I ached for a reason that I wasn’t wanted, and this was finally it. They wanted me to have a better life than I would have with them.

  I wanted to believe it so much, that, like a moron, I did. I wholeheartedly forced myself to believe in this stupid idea.

  “And now,” My father sounded proud. Just like in all my fantasies. He was proud of me. He was proud of the woman I grew into. “Your training shall begin.”

  Chapter 5

  Training was the textbook definition of hell. I was beaten, cut down, spat on, and informed my tears were a sign of weakness. Every bit of my baby fat was burned away as I didn’t get a second of respite.

  It didn’t matter though, every morning I saw pride in father’s eyes. I would go through any amount of agony for that. No matter how much pain is in my future, the emotional scars are being healed. And that is enough.

  My mother might continue to insult me… a lot more than necessary to just be a teasing mother, but it was okay. She loved me. I mean, she never says she does. But I know deep down that she does. That she will be proud the way Dad is.

  Every day I got a little bit stronger. One day, I’ll be enough to make them really proud. On that day, I will be able to toast to my success.

  It didn’t help that when I close my eyes, I still saw sandy locks, a teasing smile, and the most adorable freckles in existence. Every night my dreams were plagued by his face, his hands touching me. And I’ll never see him again…

  Not that I want to! I am so much happier here with my family. And the happiness isn’t hollow. I definitely don’t feel like there is a hole in my chest that seemed to get less easy to ignore every night I woke up and realized there were no beautiful chocolate eyes to focus on me, sparkling with laughter from another stupid prank. That would be stupid.

  Of course, emotions are often incredibly stupid. But that…

  That would be so incredibly stupid.

  I have everything I ever wanted right here with me, and there’s nothing that can tear me away. I have to give them my loyalty and love. I have to earn their love and attention if I ever want to be able to keep it.

  They took me on my first mission, and afterward, I puked. I shivered and wanted to run and escape. I couldn’t help it. I had never harmed another living thing before. I used to make Thomas kill the bugs, I cried when he had to kill that rat that was loose in the garage. Even if they are vermin. Even if they are worthless and deserve to die. They hurt people and only worsen the world around them. And yet still…

  That doesn’t mean one of the vampires in that coven didn’t hurt me
to kill. He had laughing eyes. Just a child with a cherubic face and the softest pink cheeks. He looked like a little baby cupid and I felt like I was hurting the concept of goodness to harm him. He didn’t want to hurt anyone, but his very existence is predicated on hurting others.

  So I had to slit his throat and watch as he bled out. I set his body aflame and threw his ashes in this weird jar of ashes of the dead my parents keep. Like a trophy.

  He whimpered and cried out for help and struggled as he died. The sight haunted me every night for weeks and I could not breathe.

  The worst thing, I think, is how life is okay now. How I have gotten used to it. Killing these monsters barely made me flinch anymore. The twist in my stomach was easy to be blamed on nerves.

  “Oh, Jenna. My sweet child,” My mother cooed, barging into my bedroom. Her eyes were alight with this devilish mischief and it made me so… so uncomfortable. “We have a new mission for you.”

  Chapter 6

  “I-I’ll be an official seeker if I finish this?” I stuttered out, staring up at the cold eyes of my father. “A dragon?”

  Hissing in a breath between his clenched teeth, my father began to repeat all that he has already told me. He really hated to repeat himself. “A dragonling. Not a dragon. Dragonlings spend most of their lives in a human form. This means this worthless creature can blend seamlessly into normal society.”

  “Well, yeah, but… has he…” I stuttered. I don’t know why. Maybe because the dragonling was my age. His scales were a familiar sandy brown. Maybe it was because I was daydreaming about Thomas earlier and I still feel bad. I left him in the hotel room. And I never came back. I just dragged him across the country and then abandoned him and I’ll probably never see him again.

  "By nature of his existence, he is committing crimes.” My father was less than happy, and I hated seeing the dark look that overtook his features.

  "I understand," I told him, pushing all the emotions away. I can't disappoint them. If I did, then I would prove that they shouldn't have been training me. Mom was against training me, but I had to prove myself.

  “This is the last step of your initiation.” My mother declared. “In order to kill the dragonling, you must cut out their heart and burn it. They will be able to heal from anything else. In order to become a seeker yourself, you must do this yourself. Hunt him down, burn his heart, and bring the charred remains home.”

  My eyes narrowed in determination. “I’ll do it.”

  It took longer than I expected to hunt the dragonling down. I could feel their power in this confusing trail. I kept mistaking it for something else and it kept being altered. It was fascinating, He must know I was hunting him. That, or he had no real idea about where he was going or what he even thinks he is doing.

  That can’t be true though. He must be a genius if I am being distracted. Because I am very good at everything when I am not distracted. Holy shit, I can almost hear Thomas’s voice mocking me for that idea.

  I finally ran into the dragonling, he was dragon form right now. I froze, it was… it was magnificent!

  four feet tall on all fours and eight feet wide. Glittering scales that shined like diamonds in the sunlight. Each scale was some variation of a sandy brown shade that forced my heart to skip. Oh no. It reminds me too much of-

  The eyes hold the intelligence of a person, they glittered with a chocolate brown shade I was all too familiar with. The playful glint was gone, there was only anger, hurt, and betrayal.

  I convinced myself that it couldn't be him. He would never look at me like that so, it must not be him. Besides, I know my Tom-Cat. An innocent person. Kindness was practically his middle name. I don't think he even lifelong harm another living thing. He wouldn’t be so vicious, and he certainly wouldn’t have claws.

  Dragonlings can shapeshift. It obviously was trying to emotionally manipulate me. With a scream of indignant rage, I aimed my dagger into the whites of the monster’s eyes. I twisted the dagger and yanked out the eyeball. Disgusting, gory, but effective.

  AH!

  The sensation of razor-sharp teeth embedding themselves into my arm and slamming me into a wall was somehow simultaneously extremely sharp and a dull, persistent ache. And my vision went blurry as I watched the dragonling transform itself into a humanoid shape, blood pouring out of an empty eye socket.

  Chapter 7

  When I finally had my sight back, in front of me was, indeed, the boy I had seen as my best friend from childhood. Well, almost, there was a dark look in his eyes, well the one I could see. The other eye was covered by an eye patch. He probably didn’t want the sun to effect it until it was fully healed. Regenerating limbs was nothing for a dragonling.

  We were also in some kind of hotel room. This must be his room. I hate it.

  I really wished it wasn’t him. Oh god, how I wished it wasn’t him. But this just had to be him. If it wasn’t him, there is no way it wouldn’t have just killed me when it had the chance.

  “I would say I regret what I did and wish I never did it, but you never did like liars much.” His voice was as deep as ever, deepened by his own hurt. He was so upset, and it killed me a little bit inside. I never wanted him to be upset with me like this. I usually got upset just when he pouted. “I don’t regret anything I did to the person you are. I would never want to hurt My Genie, but you’re not her.”

  “My name is Jenna! And yes, I am her.” I barked out, feeling backed into a corner. How dare he say that to me? As if I’m the one who lied for years? As if I was the monster and he was merely an innocent bystander? As, if!

  “No. The girl I grew up with was sweet and kind. She loathed hurting another living soul to the point where she cried when we had to call animal control over a rabid raccoon. She was loyal to her friends even when on a mission. Even when she wanted to leave, she couldn’t do it without saying goodbye.” His words would have made me blush. How he saw so much good in me. How he said words I had longed to hear from my parents and have yet to, simple and complete acceptance of all that I am.

  His continuation, though, killed all the good feelings. It was as if he placed a dagger in my chest and twisted until he broke something deep down within me. Something I can barely admit even existed. “That girl can’t be the one standing in front of me. So I assume she died, and you are the hollow shell left in her place. A mockery of the girl, beautiful both inside and out, that I have befriended as a child and grew up with. She would never have left without even a note, never to be seen again. She would have never become this violent, monstrous creature who kills the innocent. Who would attack an innocent being, who has not done a single thing, with a dagger with the intent to kill. Who wishes I were dead.”

  I wanted to scream and rage. I was better than that and he should know that! He isn’t seeing what he is. “I didn’t lie, at least!” I screeched at him. “A monster! Lies and slander are all that have ever dribbled from your disgusting lips. Nothing more than honeyed words and lies. Pretending to be a good, normal person. Pretending you were a good man!”

  “Lied?” He laughed harshly and I wanted to fight him. I wanted to hurt him. How dare he make that noise. The noise of a playground bully who has the upper hand and knows it. "I never said I was normal. In fact, I used to tell you how normalcy was overrated or did you forget? I said you would be great, and you deserved so much, and you know what. You proved me wrong."

  I hissed and smacked him. The sting on my palm didn’t provide any outlet for my anger other than an increase in the fury that was boiling my blood. God dammit. How does he affect me so much? Make it feel like all my nerves are going haywire. Feel as if I can’t even breathe or think. “Lies by omission!” I snarled. “You never told me the truth. So you therefore lied.”

  “That’s not how it works!” He snapped, not even seeming to react to his now red cheek. "And you want the truth? Huh? Well, fine! If you want the truth so bad, what kind of a friend would I be to deny you of it." He sneered the word friend as if we were neve
r really friends in any way. That might’ve been the most hurtful thing in his entire speech. “I am an orphan because my parents were murdered by worthless, bloodthirsty Seekers. I thought I would want revenge, but I didn’t. The quest would have poisoned me, and I had so much more to give to the world, then vengeance and hatred. Here’s more of the truth. I was in love with that girl whose smile lit up the world. I am still in love with that dead girl, but this thing you became. Nobody could really love it. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that’s the truth.” He gave me a look of utter disgust. “You are simply unlovable, Babe.”

  A snarl of fury ripped through my throat, and I threw myself at him. I slammed my lips onto him, so hard our teeth clanged together.

  Chapter 8

  It was so wrong. Everything about this is so wrong. But I couldn’t control myself. Some volatile mixture of emotions so strong I couldn’t deal with it just began to attack me all at once. Lust and embarrassment and righteous fury and I could feel this tsunami of uncontrolled emotion struggling to push me to the ground. It filled the hollowness in my heart, but it wasn’t what it once was.

  Instead of a soft glow, the softness was replaced by violence and destruction and need. This primal need that I had never really felt before. I needed to feel him. I tore at his clothes and he tore at mine.

  There was no gentleness in our movements.

  Afterward, we were panting, sweaty and covered in rug burns. The pain was delicious at the time, but now, it was… this was an awful idea. Why did I think that this is what I wanted? And how is it that we were too violent and needy to use the bed. I was now just embarrassed, and ashamed of myself for my behavior.