Chapter One

Disclaimer: I don't own them. THAT WOULD BE AWESOME. But I don't.

Author's Note: This is my first story; let me know if I have any talent as a writer. _

"AH!" Nate gasped as a sharp ring broke the silence. Slightly disoriented, he had to scramble for a second before his thoughts came back to him. He looked around and realized that he had fallen asleep on his couch, reading a book.

Another ring shot through the room, and he grabbed the phone. He frowned as he saw the caller ID; Sophie Devereaux.

It was two in the morning! Why was she calling him this late?

Ignoring the part of him that wanted to switch the phone off and go back to sleep, he picked up the phone. "Sophie, what are you doing awake at two in the morning?" he asked. "Is everything OK?"

"Hello, Nathan." An unexpected voice said. "Remember me?"

Nate stopped breathing. Not you!

"How could I forget you, Ian?" he asked coldly.

Ian Blackpoole chuckled over the line. "I was rather hoping you wouldn't. You see, I have a bit of a problem. Ever since you threw me out of IYS, I haven't been hired anywhere. I'm out of money, and quite honestly, my life is awful."

"Well, that sucks for you." Nate said unsympathetically.

"Now, Nathan." Blackpoole continued. "You might want to be a little more understanding of my situation. You might even offer to help me."

Nate scoffed. "And why would I do that? We got you where you are, and you deserve it!"

"Why would you help me… Why would you help me…" he muttered. "Oh, I know! Would this help?"

There was a scuffling over the line, and then Sophie's voice came over the line. "Hello, Nate?" she asked shakily.

Nate's heart changed to a block of ice. "Sophie? Soph, are you alright? Did he hurt you?"

"No," she murmured. "Just a bit of sweet…." She trailed off.

"What? Are you-"

"That's enough of that." Ian said, coming back onto the line.

"Ian, whatever you've done to her…" Nate growled, trailing off.

"Nathan, relax!" Blackpoole said, laughing. The nerve!

"Listen," he continued. "I'll make you a deal. You agree to give me 100 million dollars, and I'll let her go."

For once, Nate had nothing to say. 100 million dollars? Where will I get that from?

"Oh, and Nathan," Blackpoole added suddenly. "If I don't have the money in 48 hours, I'll kill her. If you tell the cops, I'll kill her. If you try to pull one over on me, I'll kill her. Now, we don't want that, do we?"

Nate gulped and asked, "How do I get you the money?"

"Text me at this number when you have the money." Blackpoole said. "I'll let you know then. Don't try to pull any tricks, Nathan. You wouldn't want to be responsible for someone else's life, now would you?"

"YOU-" Nate began to shout, but a dial tone met him.

Blackpoole had hung up, and he'd taken Sophie's future with him.

So? Should I continue?