I do not own Gundam Wing.

Chapter 1

It felt comfortable at first. The darkness was familiar and reassuring. My body was gently being rocked, lulling me into dreams. I didn't fight through the haze, but gave myself to the alluring whispers that hummed softly, promising rest. But where was I? The question slowly formed, a gentle wave rising. The whispers rushed to settle the wave, keeping my mind calm, pulling me further under. My body continued to rock gently. A boat? How- I dragged my mind through the haze, the question splashing out in frustration. With a moan, I opened my eyes, reaching the surface of consciousness.

I blinked.

Nothing.

I couldn't see anything. Something wasn't right. My eyes quickly alerted my other senses. They woke with a startle. What the hell? I could feel my arms and legs pressed tightly together, laying on my side. My muscles ached as I tried to sit up, but I couldn't move my arms. A nauseating sense of panic began to grip my gut. Yanking my arms forward, I found they were tied behind my back. I wiggled my fingers. Tightly tied behind my back.

Trapped.

Sharp and unsteady breaths began to fill the silence and my heart raced as alarms sounded in my head. Trapped. A wave of panic soaked me in sweat and I held my breath, trying to stay above the fear. Don't let it pull you under. Focus. Curled on my side I began counting and slowly released the breath I held.

Okay, where am I?

A small thud jeered my body. I sighed and allowed my head to flop down in defeat. I was in the trunk of a car.

I allowed myself one more moment of pity, you gotta be fucking kidding me, before assessing my predicament. What the hell happened? No. I needed to focus on what I knew. But what did I know? How long was I unconscious? How far had I traveled? The questions sparked and continued to spread, engulfing my mind with hows? and whats?

Focus dammit.

The car seemed to be driving quickly on a smooth road. A highway? I tested my arms to see what had them pinned back. Duck tape. I moved my legs and was relieved to find they weren't bound together. I gently slid them against the floor of the car, searching for any useful items. Nothing. I tilted my head down towards my feet, hoping my eyes would adjust soon. That's when I felt it. Along my neck, something dry was caked over my skin that cracked when I moved my head. My nostrils flared and I focused on the smell. Blood. I released another sigh of self-pity-

Not able to move my hands to investigate the wound, I focused back on my feet. I tapped my foot lightly along the back of the trunk, trying to locate the taillights. A hollow thud told me a plastic cover was hiding them. With resolve, I slowly rocked and twisted my body, forcing myself to flip. Each movement jerked my shoulders and uncomfortably stretched my tied hands. It was a small space and my face was pressed against the roof of the trunk as I maneuvered myself. It felt like I was drowning and gasping for air before the ship went under.

Small and dark, just like your cockpit. I forced back the urge to scream, choking on it as it gripped the edge of my throat. Just like your cockpit. I repeated it, easing the panic back.

With a grunt guiding my final move, I used my legs to push myself over. I finally laid with my back facing the trunk and my head, throbbing from the jarring movements, facing the car's backseat. My breathing grew shaky from the exertion and I began to notice how warm it was. With a huff I scooted my hands back and they fumbled along the trunk, trying to find the access panel to the taillights. Beads of sweat lingered on my forehead and trickled down my neck, mixing with the dry blood. I felt the car continue with its steady speed, maybe 60 mph? As my fingers scrapped at the plastic cover I listened. I hadn't heard any noise since I had awoken, but now that I was closer, maybe I could make something out. Anything.

My focus went back to my fingers as they felt a dip to grab the cover by. I wheezed and tried to blow the bangs clinging to my sweaty face out of my eyes. Slowly my eyes were beginning to adjust to the dark. My index finger carefully hooked the cover and I yanked. I pulled for another minute until finally it gave way and a satisfying click sounded before the plastic cover flipped off. I felt like I had won a game of skill at the fair and smiled at the small victory.

But now I had to turn back over. My muscles tightened at the thought of the difficult manipulation. Clenching my mouth shut to stop from grunting, I began to slowly force my body to awkwardly bend in the small space. Conscious to avoid hitting the backseat with my feet, I finally flung back to the position I had awaken in, but now on the opposite side of the trunk. Sweat gathered uncomfortably on my back and my clothes began to cling to my damp skin. It was so damn hot. I licked my lips, trying to sooth the rough dry cracks forming. I needed water. My eyes slowly closed. The heat and darkness began to swaddle me, beckoning me to sleep.

No. I opened my eyes and bit down on my lip, forcing myself to wake up. I shook my head, fighting back the comfort of sleep. Focus. I tilted my head and listened, but only heard the humming of the tires below and my own shaky breathing echoing in my head. Well, if they hear me now, nothing I can do about it. My foot tapped the exposed taillight and I pulled it back.

1-2-3!

I slammed the heal of my foot into the light and was rewarded by the sound of plastic and glass cracking. Light began to filter into the trunk. My eyes were grateful for it, but that meant no one would notice a broken taillight, at least not until the sun went down. The fresh air reached my nose and I greedily sucked it in. I hadn't noticed how unpleasant the musty carpet and the smell of my own blood and sweat had been. The car continued to drive, the noise had gone unnoticed.

I moved my foot and heard the happy sound of plastic below my boot. I slid it forward along the carpet before scooting my arms back as far as they could reach, my body tightly squishing into a bawl of muscle and sweat. The tips of my fingers blindly reached for one of the shards of plastic. I grimaced as I forced my body to stretch further until I finally grabbed one. I smiled. Another small victory.

I released the tension and felt my muscles deflate as I flipped the piece of plastic between my fingers. Carefully, I gripped it and began to rub the sharp edge against the tape. I tried to keep it steady, but my arms ached from being held back for so long. The constant jarring brought tears to my eyes, or was that sweat? The car shuddered as the tires hit a bump and my body flew into the roof of the trunk, absorbing the hit while the car's suspension failed. I bit my lip as my head landed hard on the floor and I fought to hold onto the plastic shard that had nicked my wrist. Blood began to drip between my fingers.

The car came to a stop and my stomach dropped. My hands were still bound. I could leap from the trunk if they opened it and try to charge through them. I heard the driver and passenger door open and close. Shit. Even if I startled them by jumping out, how far could I get? My muscles were cramped from being trapped and my hands were still tied. Two sets of footsteps plodded on the ground.

I closed my eyes as the trunk began to creak open.