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Taken

reference for characters!
Jude Skyes
Hayley Zacharias
Danny Harrison

Prelude

It was dark. Too dark to even see the grooves of the wall I was enclosed in. The only light came from my glow in the dark watch, but I could hardly see the time since it was draped over the table in the corner. I knew it was a table because of the illuminating light my watch gave off. It was a circular table, with three legs in the middle. Not very big, but big enough to seat three people. And that's what it was doing.

They completely ignored me, other than glancing to see if I was still tied to my chair. Like I could even sigh if I wanted; my chest was going numb. My wrists hurt, my arms were cramped and my butt was sore from sitting for so many hours. Even my eyes hurt. I did not want to sleep; if I slept, they would move me, and I didn't want their hands on me again.

"So what are we going to do with her now? They know we have something to do with it." A man with shoulder length black hair gestured to me with his left thumb. I pretended to sleep, but I strained my ears. I knew they looked over at me then because I could hear their chairs screeching against the concrete floor. It was all I could do from trying to cover my ears; I hated that sound and they did it constantly. "The cops already checked out Barty. Sam and I have to be careful now. What did they ask, Barty?"

They turned back, I could tell, so I opened my eyes again. A tall and skinny man looked over at the long haired man. "I already told you, Potter. They came to me at work, asked me if I saw this girl before, told them no and they looked at me suspiciously. Told me to go to court and testify, since we have a witness. I told you I shouldn'ta been the one to grab her! Everyone around there knows me!"

I looked at the table again. They were all illuminated by my watch. I squinted to see the time. All I could make out was that it was one something AM. Why can't they leave so I can rest and put my brain back into relax mode? I mean, I've been on red alert since I got here at what? nine AM the previous morning? Wow, had it already been almost a day? It seemed like a couple hours ago I said good bye to Danny after leaving the cafe and was herded.

I heard the chairs again but I didn't get my eyes closed in time. The one named Barty yelled. "Oi! She's up, finally!" He came over to me as if he were going to buy a coffee, like he did before following me after work. I already hated his guts. I felt like stretching my leg up and into his crotch but I resisted, knowing what would cost me. "Hey sugar. Had a good sleep?"

I just glared at him. I took a breath and retorted to his smiling face, "If I had a good sleep, you'd be long dead and gone and in a hole dedicated to the runts of the family." I had no idea why I said "runts," because this guy was obviously not the runt of the family, but I apparently touched a couple buttons. He slapped me. Hard. I could practically feel the blood rushing to the spot. I could feel the hand mark embedded into my face.

"Stupid b***h. Don't you ever insult me or my family. You hear me?" He grabbed a handful of my hair and hit me again, but this time like he was getting a dog to listen when told no. I would never tell him or the other two asses how much the hair grabbing hurt. Never. He leaned back and hit the side of my head again. Then he caressed my sore cheek as if I were his lover. "Never again, my sweet." That's when I kicked his little friend.

I spent the rest of the night in the cellar practically bleeding to death. My lips was cut and my eyes were swollen. My arms were even more sore than before and my crotch hurt like Hell froze over. I was sweating and was lying down beside the table. I wonder if they'll let me have clean clothes since my other ones are covered in blood, sweat, tears and something else I know I'd rather not know.

"Hurry up, Jude! This isn't play time!" God, this manager was so infuriating. Why doesn't he become the waitress? He'd do a good damned well job of it, too! But why doesn't he? Because he cares too much for his manager belt. I swear if I ever get my hands on that thing I will throw it into oblivion!

"I know! Besides, I am going to leave in five minutes!" I was mad and didn't care. The last of the customers I was supposed to serve was strange. I slammed the plate onto his table and turned to leave when he spoke. It wasn't a complaint, just the start of a conversation. God, I wish I could get out of here.

"Hey. It seems like you're a bit bossed around here. Why do you take it?" He was tall and gangly. Well, I assumed since he was sitting, but still, his head was almost level with mine. He had glossy black shoulder length hair and was dressed casually but expensively. This guy must have some money. "I mean, a pretty girl like you shouldn't." That creeped me out. No way was I going to get involved with a perverted rich guy.

I just smiled politely and said that I needed the money and turned and went to the back of the cafe before he could comment again. For some reason, my palms were sweating. I noticed it when I took off my apron and set it on the hook. I wiped them on my jeans and took deep breaths. Why was I sweating and getting nervous? Why did I feel like something bad was going to happen? Why did I feel like lying down on the cool floor to prevent myself from shaking and hyperventilating? I was leaning against the chair when Danny walked in to take the last of the empty plates to the sink.

"Hey Jude? What's wrong?" I heard him dump the things in the sink and then felt his hands on my shoulders. I took another breath and plastered a casual look on my face. I shook my head and shrugged, telling him it was nothing. All I could do was hope he wouldn't think I was getting hyped up over something or becoming a drama queen with our work load. We left and it was already dark. I noticed the same man I had served watching me, so I turned and pretended I didn't see him. Man, I was shaking again. Good thing it was a bit cold; I didn't have my jacket.

Danny ignored that fact the rest of the way. when we finally got to Kristopher's house, it was packed and loud. I saw Hayley dancing with him and smiling the whole time. Maybe she would keep him. Maybe.

Danny asked me for a dance as friends and I said yes. Well, who wouldn't? Not only is Danny a great artist, he's an excellent dancer as well. When the song ended Hayley came up to us and told us about Kristopher. Again.



To be perfectly honest, I though Hayley was the type that would get drunk in only two drinks. I was wrong. She was still perfectly right after her fourth. Very surprising, seeing as Kristopher was drunk after three.

Danny and I were walking to the subway alone again, since Hayley decided it best to wait until Kristopher's parents got home; he was a hazard to anyone and anything shorter than him, which was almost everything.

As we waited for the train, Danny fiddled with his pen and paper - writing a new poem I assumed - and I stared down the long tunnel, waiting. I didn't even notice when Danny was behind me, and when he spoke I jumped then giggled. "Sorry," he said, smiling sheepishly. "Any sign of light yet?" I shook my head. "Fine. I'll look at the times on the pole over there. Call me if you see light." I nodded and shoved my hands in my pockets. I didn't notice that Danny and I weren't alone in the station.

It was maybe five minutes before I noticed him staring at Danny and then shifting his gaze to me constantly. I couldn't see his face, thus I did not know who he was. All I could see was his hood moving from side to side, staring. I ignored him, thinking he was just wondering why we were out so late. I shrugged it off.

Well, until I felt a pair of hands on the small of my back. I thought it was Danny, turned to tell him to quit playing so close to the edge, but was a bit late as the pair of hands suddenly shoved me forward.

I hit the ground. Hard. I could feel my twisted ankle growing, but I didn't move a muscle. I stared at the yellow line before me, praying at once to God - whom I didn't really believe in - thanking him with all my heart that I did not land on the yellow streaks. That would be even worse. Let's just say I'd be a fried chicken if I did.

I didn't register the fact that the metal beneath me was shaking until Danny appeared above me suddenly and yelled my name. I looked at him, dazed, surprised at what just happened, and then looked to my left side. That's when I saw the light.

All I could think was Oh my God, oh my God, I am going to die. I am going to get run over by a train and I am only sixteen. Oh my God, oh my God.

The hairs all over my body raised as my body didn't listen to my brain. It was shouting for me to roll under the groove of the platform, but my body was now disconnected with my mind. Mind and body always have to be together. Oh my God, I am going to die.

That's when my body reconnected with my brain's voice and made me lie down and roll for my life. I managed to get myself under the platform just as the wheels squeaked to a halt where my head had just been. I knew then that Danny must have done the first thing he though of; touch the bright red button for the electricity to stop. I heard angry and annoyed voices, but the only one I focused on was Danny's.

"No! She fell onto the tracks and was almost run over!" I heard him shouting into the intercom as the bells of the train told me that the doors opened. I heard another voice, closer, mixed with Danny's. It wasn't the intercom. My body was its own again. I was cold and didn't even know my own name.

"Excuse me, young man, but what seems to be the problem? My passengers are restless that the electricity has stopped the train." The driver was a man I could tell.

"My friend! It's my friend, she fell onto the tracks! Jude! Where are you! Are you OK?"

I found my voice, but it was just audible enough for him to hear over the edge. "I'm OK ... I guess ..." I heard his sigh of relief.

I was soon taken from under the platform and my foot was placed in a cast for the sprain. I was sitting on the bench beside Danny when Hayley, my dog and my parents walked in, all with worried and frightened faces.

Well, this couple weren't my real parents. My biological parents were supposedly only sixteen years older than me. My mother was sixteen when I was born; she and her boyfriend, my dad, had gotten carried away and produced me. I could only say silent thanks to my mother for not listening to other people to get an abortion. My life has been the best. I've even met my real parents; they are nice and funny and know how to be cool. My father is really good looking and my mother is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. The only one that compares to her is my foster mom.

Anyways, they all came in and my mom and dad spoke to the police, wanting to know every little detail. I knew I was going to go through the same interrogating when we got home later. Sigh. Hayley came up to Danny and I with Jasper, my Labrador puppy, all white faced and scared. For once in my life I saw her true self; she wasn't a sneaky gossip; she was my best friend.