Earlier that night, a few miles from the woods where Ralph, Felix and Calhoun were camping, Vanellope was in her home getting ready for bed after having taken a bubble bath. She was humming along to some J-pop song playing on the stereo in her bedroom after having just gotten into a set of teal striped pajamas. S-U-G-A-R.. She laughed. This song just gets so stuck in my head..
"Hmm.. A snack before bed wouldn't kill me.." Vanellope muttered to herself as she left her bedroom and walked into the darkness of her living room. Jump into your racing car.. "I don't even remember turning the lights out in here yet. Weird.." Less work for me though. I hope I don't stub my toe on anything.
Once she got into the adjoined kitchen, she cheerfully cracked open the fridge to grab a slice of cheesecake seconds before a foot kicked the back of her knees, which made her fall to the floor after losing her balance. Before she could even realize what happened, a strong hand pressed a cloth onto her mouth and nose while the other locked her arms at her sides. She was overtaken by shock and struggled uselessly against her attacker as an unfamiliar and lightly sweet, yet sickening smell forced its way into her nose as she desperately gasped for air.
The next thing Vanellope knew, she couldn't move.. and she was freezing. It didn't fully register, since she was still groggy from the chloroform having knocked her out, so she tried to move again.
"You're awake," a cheerful, yet dissonant voice stated. The voice was unrecognizable and didn't even sound human, as it had gone through a voice modifier.
Vanellope finally managed to slowly crack open her eyes as the voice sent chills down her spine. Her eyes instantly widened and she began to panic and struggle against her rope restraints in an attempt to get away. She was so focused on her captor and trying getting away that it took her a moment to realize that she had been completely stripped, in addition to being tied to a tree surrounded by darkness and even more trees. She tried to cry out and plead with her attacker to let her go, but the duct tape covering her mouth made it impossible for anything but muffled sounds to escape. This can't be happening!
Her captor walked closer, out of the shadows so that Vanellope could see their 'face'. It was actually a Guy Fawkes mask like what the members of Anonymous are fond of wearing. Her attacker was noticeably short, around four or five feet tall give or take, and had a katana, of all things, at their hip. They wore camouflage; gloves and hat included.
The smile her attacker was wearing was evident in their voice as they drew ever closer, "I've been waiting for a few hours, you know? You must have been so tired."
Vanellope flinched as her attacker calmly put one of their gloved hands on her cheek and jaw. I'm going to die.. No. No no no.. She turned her head away as tears ceaselessly streamed down her face.
"Yes, you're going to die today, Vanellope," her attacker said as bitterness wormed its way into their voice before becoming cheerful once more, "You deserve it, you know?" They laughed, "You deserve it, but it will be over quickly.."
Vanellope continued to struggle against her restraints and let out a few muffled cries through her nose as if she were trying to speak. She tried to lick off the duct tape covering her mouth as well, though it wasn't working. Nobody deserves this! What the hell did I do?! She thought for sure she'd hurl, as it felt as though it was already rising up.
"Shhhh.." her attacker cooed as they tucked some of her hair behind her ears, "It's okay. I'm not heartless. I'll let you fall back asleep first if you want. Would you like that?"
Vanellope mentally froze for a while and finally nodded in a slow, despondent way. How could I get away? If I'm just going to die anyway..
"So you would like to fall back asleep for this?" her attacker asked in a soft, sympathetic tone, "Are you sure?"
Vanellope closed her eyes tightly and nodded slowly again before going limp, no longer trying to escape. Just do it already..
"Very well," her attacker sighed in that same sympathetic tone, yet hints of satisfaction made themselves evident as they prepared another dose of chloroform and pressed it softly into her nose, "Just take deep breaths.. Goodnight, Vanellope."
Once her attacker could be sure she was asleep, they heaved a satisfied breath. To them, the adrenaline rush was amazing. The feeling of having so much power over someone, and that they were about to cause that person to die was almost overwhelming. Almost.
They slowly, yet anxiously pulled the katana from its sheath at their hip and admired the blade. "Magnificent.." they said in a hushed, excited tone. From the corner of their eye they happened to see the light of a fire and barely made out the silhouettes of people gathered around it in the distance. How freakin' long have they been there?!
Vanellope's attacker darted behind a tree and observed the trio for a moment before gritting their teeth. They've even got tents by the looks of it! It's too risky right now.. I'll have to try again later. Of all the rotten luck.. I go through all this trouble and this happens. They huffed frustratedly and left, leaving Vanellope behind.
Vanellope violently, and awkwardly shot up the next morning. She was still inside the dark blue sleeping bag that Calhoun had lent her. She hugged herself tightly and trembled at the cold, though she was still dressed in Calhoun's spare clothes, and was in a rather thick sleeping bag. She was alone in the tent, but she could hear two voices outside. She was relieved that neither of which was reminiscent of her attacker's.
"Are you sure we shouldn't wake her up?" she could hear a man ask. His voice was warm, yet rough, if she had to describe it. She couldn't put a name to him though.
"Well I dunno, Ralph.." she could hear another man say with a pronounced southern accent, "You sure that's wise after what someone put her through?" She thought he sounded kind of adorable in a way, though thinking about men was far from her top priority, which was just getting the fun out of there so she could try to get her life back to normal after dealing with the cops about the situation she found herself in.
She hesitated a while before rolling her eyes, heaving a deep, anxious breath, and finally decided to unzip the tent and properly meet the people who saved her life.
She was taken aback when she saw Ralph and Felix, and felt uneasy. She immediately considered them the most unlikely pair, what with their size difference. Felix's shortness made her even more uneasy, and adrenaline briefly shot through her system before she realized that he couldn't be the person who kidnapped her. It wouldn't make sense for it to be him.. Besides, he looks way too weak.
Calhoun, the only one there who Vanellope had actually met so far, was digging through 'the rations' in the back of her large, black truck. She was looking for some snacks since that's what Vanellope had asked for. Vanellope never did end up eating something before going to sleep. Poor girl must be starved by now.
"Good morning," Ralph said nervously as he looked away and scratched his head. Well this is awkward.. What do you say after something like that?
"Mornin'," Felix said with a nervous, toothy smile before running off to 'help with the rations'.
"Hi.." Vanellope muttered flatly and avoided eye contact as well then squeezed her arms over her chest for warmth. This is the guy that found me, I guess. That means he saw me like that.. She couldn't help but furrow her brow in annoyance and clench her teeth, though she was relieved that she was at least safe from that maniac. It could be so much worse..
"You can use my coat if you're cold," Ralph muttered in response when he noticed her shivering. I don't really think I'll be wearing it for a while..
Vanellope closed her eyes and cradled the bridge of her nose with her fingers. I just gotta say it. "Thanks," she sighed.
Ralph cringed nervously and said, "You're welcome.. Don't mention it. Whatever.." He facepalmed and went sit in one of three black tailgate chairs which were placed around the campfire that had long since been put out. He bent down and sighed deeply into his hands. What are we gonna do now? Calhoun has been so tight-lipped that she hasn't said a word to me all morning.
Vanellope came back out of the tent wearing Ralph's coat and crossed her arms as she sat in another chair nearby. Normally she wasn't one to cry, but under the circumstances there wasn't much she could do. She closed her eyes and sighed, just barely managing to dam the tears which threatened to make her feel even more miserable.
She couldn't help but brood over how powerless she had felt, and how easily she had given in to her attacker's suggestion of being put to sleep so that she at least wouldn't have to be awake when she died. Was there even anything I could have done differently? A small pack of snack cakes made their way onto Vanellope's lap as Calhoun sighed and sat down in the remaining chair.
Felix frowned sympathetically and stayed sitting in the back of the truck with his legs hanging over the open tailgate. This is a pickle..
"Feeling better?" Calhoun asked somewhat distantly.
"I guess," Vanellope said as she reluctantly opened the pack of snack cakes and took a large bite. She looked at one of her wrists and furrowed her brow worriedly. The rope burns were just one more reminder that it all really happened. I hope they don't leave scars..
"So what would you like to do, Vanellope?" Calhoun asked, "Would you like us to bring you home now? Or would you prefer to stay here with us a while longer?"
"Neither here nor there would be safe though, right?" Ralph said pointedly and flinched when Calhoun shot him a glare, "I'm just saying.." She's about the only cop I trust. Even though some officers would likely be assigned to protect 'Vanellope' for a while, that doesn't mean she's safe.
"Where would be safe then?" Vanellope asked Ralph reluctantly with a strong hint of bitterness, "I don't know what to do. I've never had something like this happen to me before. About the closest I've even seen is from shows like CSI and Monk." She heaved a few deep, even breaths. I need to calm down. None of this is their fault..
Calhoun stroked her temple with her thumb and sighed, "Do you have anywhere else to go? There would probably be better.." I can hardly believe Ralph has a point.
"My sister has a place with her boyfriend," Vanellope shrugged slightly and briefly forced a half smile, "but I don't even know where we are."
Calhoun took some time to explain where they were.
"Is that anywhere near the Niceland Apartments?" Vanellope asked in an uncertain tone as she raised a brow, "I.. don't do much traveling.." She looked down and finished her first snack cake in one bite.
"It's not too far," Calhoun said with a single nod, "Is that where your sister lives?" Weird coincidence that it would be where we live.
"Yeah.." Vanellope said reluctantly, "but I don't want to cut your trip short.." I really would rather get out of here though.
"I think we ought to, considering the circumstances," Ralph said softly.
"Can it, Wreck-It," Calhoun spat. He didn't really even want to come in the first place. "He's right though. For all we know the guy who did it could still be out here." I'd better call it in when we get there too.
Author's Note: I'll be continuing 'Sugar Rush: Version 2' as well, though both will only be updated so long as I know you guys are still interested in them. It's not so easy juggling 4 separate stories, after all.