Clickbait

by Evelyn Dar

  “This shit is all over the news, son.” Laughter. “Why you ain’t tell me her daddy was the attorney general?”

  A second male voice. “What difference does it make?”

  The first voice. “Dawg, we finna get paid.”

  Avery held her hand over her mouth and backed into Laylah’s room. She pressed her ear to the door.

  “What are you talking about?”

  The first voice. “It’s simple. Pops got the dough, and we got his daughter. Easy money.”

  “Nah, Stacy. I didn’t call you for that.”

  “Then what you call me for?” Stacy asked.

  “Bruh, he has all of Atlanta PD looking for her. I need you to help me find somewhere safe to dump her.”

  “Dawg, you got a fucking golden goose sitting in your lap and you tryna throw it away?”

  A loud crash made Avery jump.

  “I’m not a fucking criminal!”

  “Kendrick, chill man. You don’t gotta knock shit over.”

  Avery held her breath, afraid to make a sound in the ensuing silence.

  “You good?” Stacy finally asked.

  A heavy sigh.

  “Come on, dawg,” Stacy said. “Yo, ain’t she the one that hemmed up your auntie and cousin and got y’all living out here in the fucking ghetto?”

  Auntie and cousin?

  Goose pimples sprouted along Avery’s arms.

  Stacy continued. “I bet ol’ boy got a mansion out in Buckhead. Prolly got like three hoes, too. Them rich dudes always do.”

  “You think this is how we get a mansion?” Kendrick asked. “Yo, this is how we get a life sentence and that’s if we don’t get shot on sight first.”

  “Don’t be such a pessimist, dawg. We just gotta–”

  “I’ll tell you what we’re going to do,” Kendrick said. “We’re going to wait for Laylah to get here then figure out how to get Avery back without implicating ourselves.”

  Laylah.

  Avery gasped.

  “Implicating?” Stacy snickered. “Big words for a dropout.”

  “Man, then why don’t you leave!” Kendrick shouted. “I never should have called your ass.”

  “First of all,” Stacy said loudly. “You my boy and everything but don’t get it twisted, I will swing on that ass. And second, what about your cousin?”

  Kendrick laughed. “You think Laylah wants us to kidnap Avery? Are you psycho?”

  Avery held her breath.

  “Didn’t you tell me ol’ girl cheated and got into Yale or some shit?”

  “Harvard,” Kendrick replied.

  “Whatever. You said it yourself, she don’t deserve it. But Laylah does. And she’d be going if it wasn’t for shorty in the room back there.”

  “So?” Kendrick said.

  “So when you gonna stop being a pussy and start being a real man? A real man protects his family.”

  Avery’s heart pounded.

  “Bruh,” Kendrick said. “If we get caught–”

  “I’m telling you,” Stacy said. “All we gotta do is get a couple of ski masks and some of those voice changers they sell at the party store. I got a bunch of burner phones already.”

  “Don’t you watch movies, man?” Kendrick asked. “They always catch the bad guys during the drop. Always.”

  “Damn, that’s true.”

  Silence.

  “Yo, if we cut my brother Reggie in, he can take care of that part. He just got out, and he’s looking for some action.”

  “I don’t know, Stacy.”

  “Dawg, what else you gonna do? Start trapping? You don’t go to school enough to graduate so you damn sure ain’t going to college. How long you gonna lean on your auntie?” Stacy snorted. “Unless you tryna be a Wal-Mart greeter.”

  “Hell, no,” Kendrick said.

  “Then stop being a pussy,” Stacy said. “Is you down, or is you down?”

  Another long silence.

  “Aight, but she can’t stay here,” Kendrick said. “Auntie Gale’s working the overnight shift, but she’ll be home by 8 a.m.”

  “Perfect,” Stacy said. “I know a place we can keep her but uh, I gotta take care of something first. Give me an hour. Oh, and keep your face covered in case she wakes up.”

  “Aight.”

  “And ditch that lame-ass jacket, it’s all over the news.”

  “Aight.”

  “Hey, you still got my piece?” Stacy asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “Well?”

  “Damn, man here. I didn’t want to hold it in the first place.”

  Stacy sighed. “Come on, dawg, fix your face. I’m telling you, this is easy money.”

  A few moments later Avery heard a door shut. Overwhelmed, she staggered back to the bed. It was obvious this Kendrick guy was Laylah’s cousin.

  As Avery puzzled over the implications of this new information, heavy footsteps pounded down the hallway. She threw herself on the bed and had just closed her eyes when the door clicked open, and those same footsteps shuffled in the room. She relaxed her breathing.

  “Hey.”

  Kendrick.

  She remained still.

  “Hey.” He gently shook her shoulder, and it took everything in her not to scream.

  He sighed, and a few moments later she heard the door shut.

  Avery waited five minutes before opening one eye. She peered around the room and once satisfied she was alone; opened the other.

  Okay, Avery think. You need help. How do you get help? You call someone.

  She rolled her eyes.

  No problem, I’ll just ask my kidnappers for a phone.

  She frowned. Where was her phone?

  Perhaps it was the fear-fueled adrenaline coursing through her veins, but Avery’s head felt clearer and when she looked around the room for the hundredth time, she spotted her coat lying in a heap in the corner.

  Avery kept her hopes low, but when she reached inside the front pocket and her hand wrapped around the familiar shape of her phone, she nearly squealed. She pulled it out, said a prayer, and tapped the screen. 47 missed calls. 22 unread texts. 40% battery.

  Thank you, God.

  She tiptoed to the door and pressed her ear against it but all she heard was the faint sounds of a television. She crept back to the bed and dialed 911.

  “911, what’s your emergency?”

  Avery cupped her hand around the receiver and whispered, “My name is Avery Bradley and I’ve been kidnapped.”

  “Do you know the address of your location?”

  Avery spun around. “I-I don’t know. Somewhere in College Park, I think. Can’t you geo-locate me or something?”

  “No, ma’am. We’re unable to pinpoint your location unless you’re using a landline telephone.”

  “Shit.”

  “Ma’am, is there anything with an address or a phone number written on it? A piece of mail or a prescription bottle?”

  Avery swallowed. “No, but I-I think I know whose apartment I’m in.”

  “Whose apartment, ma’am?” the operator asked.

  Avery opened her mouth but abruptly shut it as an image of Teddy prosecuting her kidnappers flashed through her mind. She knew Teddy would wield the full extent of his power, not only against Kendrick and whoever this Stacy person was, but also against Laylah and her mother.

  Avery had no idea how Principal Carter had rebuilt her life after Teddy’s slanderous investigation, but she knew rebuilding wouldn’t be possible after this.

  “Ma’am? Are you still there, ma’am?”

  Avery lowered the phone and stared at it for several seconds before pressing the end button.

  “Okay,” she whispered. “That was the stupidest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

  She replayed the conversation between Kendrick and Stacy in her head. Kendrick said Laylah was coming, and Avery might not remember everything about the party, but there was one thing she was sure of; Laylah Carter didn’t hate her.

 
; Avery’s eyes, along with the rest of her limbs, felt heavy and she fought to stay awake. Laylah didn’t hate her, and Laylah was coming. And maybe Laylah would save her. And if she didn’t? Avery closed her eyes. Maybe she didn’t deserve to be saved.

  ++++

  Something sharp poked Avery in the side and she opened her eyes. A man the size of a linebacker hovered above her, a pair of pantyhose covering his face.

  Shit.

  He grinned through the pantyhose. “Guess you woke up, huh?”

  Stacy.

  Avery sat up. “I-I was hoping we could talk.”

  “Get up,” he instructed.

  Avery stood slowly. Stacy nudged her toward the door and Avery walked out of the bedroom. The living room was empty. No Kendrick. No Laylah.

  Stacy pointed at the couch. “Sit.”

  “I know you want money,” Avery said quickly. “And I can get you money. Lots of money. But I promise you, Tedd–uh, my father, will not pay a ransom.”

  “How the fuck you know we trying to get a ransom?”

  Avery blinked. “I don’t. I just…assumed.”

  “How long you been awake?” Stacy looked her up and down. “Shit, you got a phone on you?”

  Avery took a step back and shook her head.

  “Girl, don’t lie to me.” He stepped forward. “Where’s your phone?”

  Avery glanced at the front door and considered making a run for it, but Stacy was too close. She’d never get the door open in time.

  Stacy took another step toward her, and Avery panicked. She shoved him as hard as she could and raced down the hallway without looking back. She ran into Laylah’s bedroom and shut the door, but Stacy rammed his shoulder into it, splintering the door frame.

  Avery leapt back and grabbed her phone from under the pillow, but as she unlocked it, thick arms wrapped around her waist and she hurtled forward.

  The last thing she remembered was an excruciating pain erupting inside her head. Then

  darkness.

  ****

  “Kendrick?” Laylah surveyed the empty living room and kitchen.

  “Jesus, I can’t see shit. Wasn’t there a lamp in here?” Maddy closed the front door behind them. “Ugh, and if I never get questioned by the police again, I will live a very happy life.”

  Laylah started down the hallway, her anxiety growing with every step. After checking her mother’s room and the bathroom, she opened the door to her bedroom and flicked on the light switch.

  “I have to say,” Maddy continued. “I’m hella impressed we got an Uber at 4:30 in the morning. And in College Park no less.” She ran into the back of Laylah. “Hey, what’s–” Maddy gasped. “Is that blood?”

  Laylah stood frozen under the damaged door frame of her bedroom.

  Maddy stepped around her and cautiously approached the bronze-colored stain on the carpet in the middle of Laylah’s bedroom. “Look.” She pointed to the smaller matching stains on Laylah’s crumpled bed sheets.

  Laylah’s stomach roiled, and she backed into the hallway. She slid down the wall and buried her face in her hands. Maddy sat beside her, and they didn’t speak for several minutes.

  “Laylah,” Maddy whispered.

  “We don’t know what happened,” Laylah said quickly. “We don’t know if that’s Avery’s blood. Or if it’s blood at all.”

  She could feel Maddy looking at her, but refused to look back. It was easier to believe the lie if she didn’t.

  “It’s okay. Everything’s going to be fine.”

  Laylah heard herself saying the words, but couldn’t decipher their meaning. She looked at Maddy. “Right?”

  Maddy closed her eyes.

  “I’ll call Kendrick.” Laylah pulled out her phone. “I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation for–”

  Maddy’s clutch vibrated. She opened it and pulled out her phone. “It’s Charlie.” She frowned and raised the phone to her ear. “Hey, hon. What’s– whoa, whoa, slow down. What’s wrong?” She furrowed her brow. “What? No, the kidnapping thing is a huge misunderstanding. We’ll drop Avery off and–” Maddy’s eyes went wide, and she shouted, “What?”

  “What is it?” Laylah asked.

  Maddy held out her hand. “Give me your phone.”

  Laylah handed over her phone and Maddy expertly navigated through the pages of Instagram, stopping at a page with only one video that had ten thousand views and counting. She pressed play.

  An image of a blindfolded Avery sitting on a chair with her hands tied behind her back, filled the screen. A line of blood rolled down the side of her face and a strip of duct tape covered her mouth.

  A deep, synthesized voice spoke. “Attorney General Bradley. We have your daughter. She is alive. For now. We’ll be in touch.”

  The video cut and Laylah got up in just enough time to make it to the bathroom.

  ****

  The pressure around Avery’s aching head loosened, and her blindfold was removed. She squinted under the harsh fluorescent lights and recoiled from the man in the ski mask kneeling in front of her.

  Avery tried to speak, but thanks to the duct tape muzzle, her words were nothing but indecipherable mumbles.

  Her captor sighed and peeled the duct tape off.

  “Please don’t do this,” Avery pleaded.

  “Shh!” He looked over his shoulder and stiffened as if waiting for someone to burst through the door.

  Avery followed his gaze and held her breath. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been unconscious. One moment she was running for her life and the next, she was zip-tied to a chair in the middle of a…classroom?

  Avery turned her head to see more of the room and almost passed out from the pain. She squeezed her eyes shut and moaned.

  The man in the ski mask pulled something out of his jacket pocket and reached for her face.

  Avery flinched. “Don’t.”

  He rolled his eyes and held up a piece of gauze and a roll of medical tape.

  Avery nodded, and when he reached for her, she forced herself to stay still. While he dressed her wound, she examined as much of the room as she could.

  According to the corkboard next to the door, they were in Mr. Shelly’s Awesome Algebra 1 Class. She noted the books and papers scattered over the floor, the overturned desks and the paint-covered windows. She had a feeling Mr. Shelly and his awesome algebra 1 class were long gone.

  Avery shivered, and her acting nurse paused. As he gently but firmly applied the last piece of tape, their eyes met.

  “I brought your jacket,” he whispered.

  Kendrick.

  “We can’t run the heat, so you’ll need it.”

  A tear rolled down Avery’s cheek. “Please, let me go.”

  “Look, nobody’s going to hurt you, okay?”

  Avery looked pointedly at the tape in his hand, and Kendrick looked away.

  “I know it wasn’t you,” she whispered.

  Kendrick cleared his throat. “I’ll be back with your jacket.”

  He stood, and as he turned around, the classroom door opened, and in strode Stacy. Although Stacy had traded out his pantyhose for a ski mask like Kendrick’s, his hulking frame and swagger-filled walk made him easily identifiable.

  While her captors whispered together, Avery studied Stacy. He was tall, at least 6’4. Muscular, maybe 250 lbs? He wore well-fitted clothing, but they were knock-off brands and his teeth were exceptionally white.

  Avery closed her eyes as a dizzy spell swept over her, and she wondered how much blood she’d lost.

  After several seconds she forced her eyes open and tried to resume her inventory, but her concentration was shot, and her eyes kept stubbornly returning to Stacy’s lower back. There was something about his back that didn’t look right…it was sticking out – no, bulging out. A bulge on his lower back…above his waistband…a bulge sticking out of his waistband…

  Avery’s eyes widened.

  A gun.

  She bit down on her lip but couldn�
��t stop the sob from escaping her throat.

  Stacy growled and stomped toward her. “Girl, you better shut the hell up before I give your little spoiled ass something to cry about.”

  “I’m s-sorry,” Avery said, unable to stop.

  Stacy scowled. “Where’s the damn blindfold at?”

  Kendrick handed it to him, and he roughly tied it around Avery’s throbbing head.

  “Bruh, you don’t have to treat her like that,” Kendrick protested.

  Stacy sighed. “Look, you my dawg and everything but you can’t be acting this soft when Reggie gets here.”

  Kendrick scoffed. “I’m not soft.”

  “I guess she must have taped up her own head, huh?”

  “Being a decent human being isn’t soft,” Kendrick replied.

  “It is to Reggie.”

  A few moments later Avery heard the door open and shut. She let her head roll to the side and silently cried.

  ****

  “You can run,” Maddy suggested.

  Laylah rested her head on the arm of the couch. It was 6 a.m. and she was so tired she could barely see straight. All of her calls to Kendrick had gone to voicemail and her numerous texts remained unanswered.

  She yawned and rubbed her eyes. “What are you talking about, Maddy?”

  “I’ll buy you a plane ticket to Mexico,” Maddy explained. “Once you’re safely across the border, I’ll go to the police and tell them everything.”

  “That’s ridiculous.”

  “And don’t be weird about the money. It’s not like it’s mine.”

  “Maddy.”

  “Babes, I really think–”

  Laylah laughed.

  “Seriously?” Maddy asked. “This is funny?”

  “No.” Laylah wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “I think I’m delirious. This is…a lot.” Her smile faded.

  Maddy patted her thigh.

  “And it’s a sweet gesture Mads, but it won’t work. Despite every heist movie ever made, Mexico extradites prisoners back to the U.S.”

  “Wait, you’re saying Thelma and Louise lied to me?” Maddy crossed her arms. “I swear I’m googling everything from now on.”