Night Of August 3, 2023

We sprinted to the locker room and changed into whatever clothes Captain gave us. Which was a black, skintight hoodie, grey volleyball shorts, and black running shoes. Well, at least for the girls.

The boys were given black hoodies, jean shorts, and black running shoes, which wasn't too different from the girls.

We were all forced to wear black wireless headphones, so we'd be able to communicate at all times.

I felt like a SPY!

It was pretty cool.

We sprinted back into the room where Captain told us to meet, right when Captain was saying, "5, 4, 3, 2... Ah. You're all here on time."

We all nodded and Captain observed us, and we all awkwardly stared. I could only imagine what he was going to make us do.

"Isla, Cam, you're both dismissed. Enjoy your afternoon." Captain said, "ALRIGHT ROOKIES, TIME TO PUT THIS INTO GEAR."

Again, what's up with the army shenanigans?

I flinched in fear of his loud, booming voice.

"You okay, Princess?" Parker whispered, standing next to me.

Oh boy, Cat Eyes again.

"What's with the new nickname? Not going to call me homeschool anymore?" I whispered back.

"Oh no, I'm still going to do that, you just needed another nickname." Parker said, as if it were obvious.

Well he obviously doesn't change his mind all of the time...

I rolled my eyes and looked away from him.

"OKAY, YOUR MISSION IS TO GO SPRINTING THROUGH THE TOWN." Captain said.

"With all due respect sir," Luke said, "What does that mean?"

"It's basically like a scavenger hunt, kid. I'll give you and your team something to find specifically, and you'll find it." Captain said, giving up on the Army Sargent voice.

"What teams are we in?"a boy asked.

"Split up on your own, this isn't elementary school, I don't care who you work with." Captain said.

Well that's very straightforward.

Parker walked over to me and said, "Well?"

Great, return of Cat Eyes.

I rolled my eyes and said, "I wanted to be with-"

"You're Isabel right?" Luke said to her.

"Uhh, fine." I said to Parker.

Now I have to stay with Cat Eyes.

The pairs were Luke and Isabel, Parker and I, and two boys I didn't know the name of.

"Alright newbies!" Captain yelled, "You need to go to the Sleeping Elephant, and climb to the top and find the prize I've hidden for you there."

And the army Sargent is back.

The Sleeping Elephant was a mountain next to my house, so I knew my way around there, the only question was how to get there.

The teams began to talk and discuss their game plans, so I began to discuss mine with Parker.

"Alright, I know my way around the area, we just need to find a way to get there. Once we're there, we'll figure the rest out." I said to him.

"What do you think?" Parker said, "We can't run all the way there."

Huh, he's taking this more seriously than I thought he would.

"Bus?"

"No, it'll be too slow. A taxi will be faster."

So Cat Eyes isn't totally dumb...

"Okay, if you say so." I said, with a smile.

We ran out the door and out into the streets.

"Wait, how are we going to find a taxi around here?" I said, while we were running.

"I have Uber, we can run closer to the mountain, and tell them to wait there, while we're running there." Parker said.

"Okay." I said.

Parker kept running, and tried to pay attention to his phone at the same time, I knew it was going to end up badly if he didn't pay enough attention, but the rest of the teams were already running out of the building with their plans.

I always had a competitive side to me, and obviously everyone else here did too.

When I was little, I was timid during sport and competition, but I was a theatre girl in front of everyone else. Now that was swapped around, I was the bomb and extremely competitive with sports, and extremely awkward with people.

Parker got on the phone with someone, and began to talk to them, while I was still trying to figure out how to get to our destination the quickest.

"Where should I tell them to pick us up?" Parker said, covering the phone with his hand.

"Tell them to meet us at the Cracker Jacks, and to drop us off at the hiking center." I said quickly.

Parker gave me an affirmative nod and began to talk on the phone again.

"Yes, we're in a hurry." Parker said.

I'm glad I'm not the one who has to talk to a stranger.

I listened to the affirmative answers he gave the person on the other side of the phone, and it kind of got annoying how he acted polite on the phone, when in real life he is a demon.

"He says he'll be there in five minutes, think you're can beat me there?" he said tauntingly.

Oh Cat Eyes, it is ON.

I will never back down from a challenge, and will never accept it without the intention to win.

"Well, let's hope for your sake that you have more brawn then brain." I said, then began to sprint.

WHEN I SAID- I mean- SAID-THOUGHT IT WAS ON, I MEANT IT!

"Oh ho ho, homeschool is schooling me." Parker said.

Well that's one way to word it.

I laughed, and kept running down the sidewalk as fast as I could, while Parker stayed a foot behind.

There were tons of cars on the street, and a lot of random people around us that were probably thinking that we were about to rob a place with the clothes we were wearing.

We sprinted up to the front of Cracker Jacks neck and neck, while Parker has a last minute spurt of strength and bolted ahead of me.

Dang it. Cat Eyes is faster than I thought he would be.

He touched the light post and said, "It'll take a lot more than an attitude to beat me, Princess."

"And it takes a lot more than strength to get through middle school, but somehow you still did that." I said with a smirk.

You are just nailing it here, girl.

"Princess ain't so shy anymore is she? You're welcome, homeschool." Parker said.

We couldn't finish our conversation, because the Uber just then pulled up to the Cracker Jacks, and said, "Hello, are you Parker?"

Parker nodded and sweetly said, "Yes, sir."

Wow, so he's polite to strangers? And not to me?

I rolled my eyes at his dorky front, and climbed into the car.

Parker and I had quite the adventure ahead of us, and it pretty much all started that night.

________________________________

We had been in this car for hours, and I was honestly scared. We'd gone past the mountain, and were almost in the middle of nowhere.

Parker and I had stayed quiet for hours, when he said to the driver, "So, when are we going to get to the mountain?"

Cat Eyes and I were, again, wondering the same thing.

The driver didn't respond.

I was terrified, because I could tell what was happening. We were being kidnapped.

Oh jeez oh jeez oh jeez oh jeez oh jeez oh jeez oh jeez oh jeez

But I almost thought that Parker didn't, but he gave me a look that said, "Should we try to get out of here?"

I gave him a shrug, and a scared look.

He stared at me sympathetically, and looked downward.

The driver said, "Okay, kids. Elephant is just up a little ways, you can get out here."

What is he going to do?

We hopped out of the car, and the driver was typing something on his phone, and I whispered to Parker, "Should we make a run for it?"

"No, that would be stupid, he would catch us in an instant. We need a plan." Parker whispered.

WHAT PLAN, CAT EYES?!

I felt like crying.

Remember a while ago when Luke called me, and I told you guys that strangers are my biggest fear? I was basically about to have a heart attack, and felt like fainting.

Parker could tell, because he patted my back, and said, "Don't worry, I'll get us out of this."

And that 'DEFINITELY' reassures me, and the fact that he changes his mind all of the time doesn't make it any better.

"Please get your hand off me." I said shakily, still trying to keep my reputation.

The man came around the car and over to us, and said, "Well, are you guys going to go up there or not?"

Oh jeez oh jeez oh jeez oh jeez oh jeez oh jeez oh jeez oh jeez

There was no mountain in sight, only wasteland and open desert.

Apparently Parker thought he knew what he was doing, because he said, "Sir, I don't see the center."

Seriously Cat Eyes?!

"I'm giving you one last chance." the man said, "Go ahead."

Why me why me why me why me why me why me why me

Parker gave me a look and said, "Alright then."

WHAT THE HECK IS HE DOING NOW?!

Parker walked around the car, and I reluctantly followed him, confused and scared.

The man said, "Kids, the center is that way." he said, pointing to the side of the car he was on.

"No, sir. I think you're confused." Parker said.

No duh...

"I know my-" the man cussed, "way around here."

Well he seems pleasant.

"Do you though?" Parker said with an attitude.

WHAT THE HECK CAT EYES?!?!

"Parker..." I said through gritted teeth.

Parker gave me a smirk, and the man began to search for something in his pocket.

"Looking for this?" Parker said, pulling a gun out of his pocket.

HOLY FRIKIN-

The man looked at him in shock, as did I, but also in fear.

I gasped and said, "How the he-"

Parker pulled me an inch away from him and whispered in my ear, "You hijack the car, I'll deal with him."

WHAT, CAT EYES?!?!

"But, Parker-"

"Just do it. Trust me if you can, homeschool."

Do I really have a choice?

Parker pointed the gun at the man, and I opened the car door, and hopped in the front seat of the large SUV.

I opened the dashboard and attempted to find the certain wires I was looking for, and began my long search for the right ones.

Parker still had his gun pointed at the man, and was inching closer to him.

The man pulled a second gun from his other pocket.

"I have an extra for meddling kids like you." the man said.

"Isn't that a knockoff of a line from Scooby Doo?" Parker said.

"Pull the trigger or the girl gets it." the man said with a smirk.

HOLY CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP

My heart raced, and I felt lightheaded.

WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME?!

I froze.

"Lauren. Calm." I heard Parker yell to me.

HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO STAY CALM, CAT EYES?!

I took a deep breath, and began to attempt to hotwire the car again.

"Oh you're a brave boy, aren't you?" the man said.

I managed to get a spark in the car wires, and the car was started. The engine roared to life, and Parker, slowly backed away to the car door, and opened it, not taking his eyes off the man.

"Oh ho ho. Trying to get away, are you?" the man said.

What else would we be trying to do? Listen to Taylor Swift on the radio?

He started shooting at us, and I slammed on the gas.

We were home free!

One problem. I never learned how to drive.

The car skidded on the side of the road and we swerved like crazy.

Parker and I both screamed as I attempted to get control of the vehicle.

It took me about 10 minutes, by then, I was driving safely.

"So. I think we lost that competition." Parker said with a laugh.

"Are you seriously joking around?! We could've just died back there!" I screamed.

"Hey, hey, hey, Princess, calm down. I have a feeling that this going to be happening way more often. And it's not like we did die." Parker said.

"Well I'm sorry if I've never ALMOST DIED BEFORE!"

"I think you should be THANKING ME! I JUST SAVED YOUR LIFE!" Parker yelled.

We stayed quiet for a moment, then I meekly said, "Thank you."

"I'm sorry, Princess." Parker said meekly, "I know it's a rough thing to deal with."

"What do you mean, 'you know'?" I said.

"You know how I moved here from Colorado?" Parker said.

"Yeah."

"Well, I didn't really move. I ran away." Parker said quietly.

Cat Eyes certainly shifts his weight around...

"What?" I said confused.

"I ran away from home, then got abducted and couldn't escape, Lauren. I'm still living at their house. They're going to kill me, and probably you too, for me telling you." Parker said, putting his head on the dashboard.

Well that's some heavy info.

"Oh, Parker, don't worry, we're getting you out of that mess." I said determined.