Chapter Ten:
Kiona sat at the tree in the yard quietly, doodling in her notebook. The other girls played around her, doing flips or running around. They talked very loudly, and Kiona didn't like it, but it was even louder inside the house.
Kiona brought her legs to her chest, breathing quickly. Sans hadn't come in several days, and the Pink Lady said he left her here. Kiona didn't want to stay here, by herself. She wanted her mommy!
"Everyone inside for supper!" The Pink Lady called out and all the girls ran around her, but Kiona didn't move. When the Pink Lady noticed she was the last, she sighed, and went to Kiona. Easily, she picked her up and brought her inside herself.
Kiona was screaming, "No! No, please! Za--" The Pink Lady hit her, a sharp slap across the face. Kiona was silent, her eyes on the floor.
"When I say it's time for supper then I want you inside for supper, do you hear me, Kiona?" The Pink Lady hissed. Kiona gave a small nod. "Good. Now, go inside and wash up."
"Yes, mommy," Kiona murmured, and walked inside, forgetting to pick up her journal.
~•~•~•~
Kiona woke up to sounds outside. It sounded like muffled talking. Slowly, she went to the window, her feet cold against the bare wooden floor.
Kiona peeked out the window looking down. There was a lady in the yard. She had long, dark hair and brown skin. It took her a moment, but Kiona recognized her. "Mommy?" She said, but the woman didn't turn. "Mommy!" Still, no response.
"What're you doin', Kiona?" A tired voice asked from one of the beds.
"Mommy!" Kiona cried, happily.
"Go back to sleep." She grumbled, and then fell asleep herself. Kiona didn't listen. She ran out the room, and down the steps, opening the door to go outside.
"Mommy!" Kiona cried, tears in her eyes. "Mommy, you came back!" Kiona remembered Frisk's promise to her a few weeks ago, and smiled.
"Kiona," Her mother said, waving to someone, then smiled at her. "Hey, baby, how are you doing?" Kiona ran to her, ready to leap into her arms and hug her. When she was less than a foot away, someone grabbed her around the waist, and placed a rag over her mouth and nose.
"Let's go," a deep voice said, and Kiona looked up. Zackiery was holding her, and running towards a car. Kiona screamed, but the sound was muffled as the two ran down the street.
Kiona's head began to feel light and her stomach churned. The world began to slowly blur around her, and get darker until she was engulfed in silence.
~•~•~•~
"She cannot just be gone," Toriel said. "She went to bed last night, maybe she's... Hiding around the house."
"I looked everywhere, Tori," Sans sighed, exaushted. "She's not here."
"I've already called the police," Ophelia said. "They have sent out an Amber Alert for her, but they can't call her missing until forty-eight hours has passed. It's protocol. I have every contact that I know on lookout for her, and--"
"Forty-eight hours?! She'll be gone in forty-eight hours!" Sans snapped.
"I told them that, but they wouldn't change their minds." Sans let out animalistic growl, his fists clenched.
"Do not worry, Sans," Toriel spoke softly. "I am sure she'll come home. She did it before." Sans scoffed, crossing his arms. "I have to pick up Frisk from school. They... Do not know what happened yet..."
Sans sighed, he had only heard the news that morning, well after Frisk was sent to school. "If ya hear anythin'," Sans said, and the woman nodded simply.
"Of course, you'll be the first I contact," Ophelia replied. Sans nodded, agreeing, turning to leave. A girl was sitting in the hall, staring at Sans, but turned her head as soon as he walked past, her eyes suddenly focused on the floor.
Ophelia stepped out of the room, turning to the girl. "Well, Denah, I suppose you're feeling better then, hmm?" The girl nodded. "Go to the study room then. Might as well learn while you're here," She nodded again, and turned to leave. Sans still felt the girl's stares as she had left.
~•~•~•~
Frisk stared at their mother, frozen. "Frisk, dear, are you alright?" Toriel asked gently. "I know this is a lot to take in, but the police are doing everything they can on it, and--" Frisk didn't hear the rest. They ran, racing up the steps and slamming their bedroom door.
Tears welled in Frisk's eyes. She couldn't be gone, they just got her back! Where did she go!? "What's wrong with you?" Flowey asked from their dresser, giving Frisk an odd look. "You look upset. It's disgusting."
"Kiona's gone," Frisk said, their voice a hush. "She... She went missing last night, and..." Frisk sniffed, swiping a hand under their nose.
"Oh," Flowey frowned. "She just... ? Does that Smiling Trashbag have anything to do with this? I mean, disappearing is his speciality."
"What?" Frisk glared, "Of course not! Sans loves Kiona, he would never kidnap her like... That's crazy, don't even say that."
"Just a suggestion, sheesh," Flowey muttered.
"Honestly, I'm not surprised your friend was kidnapped," Chara said, appearing beside Frisk, fiddling with their locks. "I was looking at this thing earlier -- do you know how much kid magicians are worth?"
"Why were you looking that up?" Frisk asked, confused.
"It just showed up," Chara shrugged. "That's not the point. My point is, kid magicians are worth alot. Like, if dad bought the city, a lot"
"What, so you're saying she was sold away?!" Frisk demanded, feeling nauseated from the thought. Kiona just got away from her mom's sick boyfriend and now this?!
"What would you even use them for?" Flowey asked. Frisk felt a blush rise up their cheeks.
"Why are we talking about this?! Maybe, Kiona just went to go see her mom again, like she did last time."
"I mean, other than... You know," Even Chars had the decency to look embarrassed. "Magicians have strong reserves for magic and kid magicians even more so."
"What do you mean?" Frisk asked confused.
"Okay. So, you know how Alphys always kept talking about how humans are so awesome because they all have some kind of magic, blah blah blah?" Frisk gave a hesistant nod. "Well, since a human's magic draws on their energy, kids tend to be more powerful than adults because they're able to use magic for longer time periods. As they get older, they get weaker and die."
"What does this have to do with Kiona?" Frisk asked, eyes narrowed.
"You know how the CORE was powered with the magic that monsters emanate?"
"Yeah..."
"Well, people have been using kid magicians to power stuff like that, but bigger, since a human is more durable than a monster." Frisk gaped at Chara, who seemed pleased with themselves. "Crazy, right? And I thought I was insane!"
"That's... They're..." Frisk closed their eyes, gripping the end of the bed. "They're using Kiona like a human battery."
"Well, they can't use Kiona, she doesn't have magic," Chara shrugged.
"But what about that thing Frisk said, when she turned their soul grey or something?" Flowey asked, intruiged.
"I saw that, and I noticed something," Chara grinned.
"What did you see?" Frisk asked.
"Hmm..." They sighed, "I just had it too, but I can't seem to jog my memory. Damn, oh well~..." Frisk pulled out a Hershey's bar from under their mattress and broke it in half. Chara grinned, entering Frisk and chowing down on the her easily. When they finished the half, Frisk took their body back.
"What do you know?" Frisk demanded. They didn't like chocolate all that much, but Chara loved the taste of eating it, since they couldn't enjoy it anymore. Not while they were a ghost.
"Your friend is basically a sponge." Chara said simply. "You give out the emotions and other stuff to her and she soaks it up and turns it into energy that she can use. Her soul is empty when she's not using anyone's emotions. They can use her just like that, sucking up people's emotions and magic, and they'll use that to power whatever the hell they need."
Frisk stared at the ground. "Whoever did this... They had to know she was magic, and nobody does! How would they have known?"
"Did you tell anyone?" Chara asked, smirking in delight.
"No! The only ones who knew were us! The only person I told was...--" Frisk was still, their eyes wide in shock and horror. "Oh god, I told her mom."
"Ding-ding-ding! We have a winner!" Chara said sarcastically.
"But, how would she have found out where she was?" Flowey asked curiously. "We didn't give her directions."
"I did," Frisk sighed. "I wrote it on that newspaper. I thought -- I thought I was doing the right thing!"
"Well, look where that got you," Chara laughed. "Ah, this is just too good! Just wait 'til Mom and Dad hear how their amazing child actually let their bestfriend get kidnapped!"
"That's not going to happen," Frisk spoke angrily. "That's not going to happen because we're going to find her."
"'We'?" Flowey laughed. "You dug this hole yourself, idiot."
"We are going, because I would never had gone if you hadn't suggested it. This is just as much my fault as it is yours." Frisk said, fiercely.
"Don't try to turn this on me," Chara said, hands raised. "For once, I'm innocent."
"Yes," Frisk agreed, "But, if you don't help, I'll never eat another piece of chocolate for you, and I won't speak a word to you for the next month!" Frisk knew they hit a soft spot, Chara hated not being spoken to -- being ignored. Even if they didn't admit it, it was one of the things that scared them to the bone. Not to mention Chara would actually to insane if they didn't get their beloved chocolate.
Black ectoplasm filled their mouth and eyes -- something that frequently happened when they were upset, or wanted to scare someone. "You wouldn't dare!" Chara hissed.
"I would, and I will," Frisk spoke, their tone hard. "You're both helping me get Kiona back -- period."
~•~•~•~
Kiona woke up in a dark room. She was cold and a little wet from lying on the floor. Kiona tried to sit up and looked around, but found that her hands were tied behind her, and her mouth was forced open by a rag.
"Mmmhm! Mmm!" She cried, but was unable to make coherent words. The sounds, however, drew people to her because she heard heavy footsteps. Before she could move or say anything else, a familiar man squatted down in front of her.
Kiona screamed immediately, trying to move as far away from Zackiery as possible. Zackiery chuckled, "Are you really that scared of lil' old me?" He teased darkly. Tears formed in Kiona's eyes, and curled away from him, sobbing.
"Leave her alone, Zackie," Kiona heard her mother say. "She needs to save her energy for when the buyers get here."
"C'mon, can't I have a little fun with her? It won't hurt anyone," Zackiery said smoothly.
Hoana scoffed, looking away. "Hurry up." Zackiery smiled and began to unbutton his pants. Kiona screamed again, trying to wriggle away, but Zackiery had already grabbed the back of her shirt, dragging her back to him forcefully. He undid the gag on her mouth and Kiona immediately started screaming.
"No! No! Please! No, no, no, please! No--!" Zackiery struck her and her head fell to the side her eyes closing for a moment.
Zackiery took her face and forced her down, Kiona screamed again, which only resulted in a sharp punch to the stomach. Kiona doubled over, her ribs burning. Zackiery took that chance to shove it down her mouth. Kiona gagged, bile rising and falling out of the corners of her mouth. Zackiery grinned devilishly, and continued relentlessly.
Twenty minutes later, he finally stopped, and pulled away from her. Kiona turned and vomited immediately, her throat burning as she kept heaving up bile and the food she had barely eaten the night before. Zackiery laughed, as Kiona continued, tears flooding down her cheeks. Finally, she fell to her side, breathing heavily.
"They're here," Kiona's mom spoke, standing. Zackiery pulled his pants back on, and put the gag back on Kiona.
Several minutes later, three big men walked in, solemnly. "You have the girl?" One of them asked.
"You have the money?" Hoana replied tursley. The man grinned and pulled over a lime green suitcase. One of the men beside him opened it to reveal stacks of cash wrapped in cheap rubber bands. "Non-traceable?"
"We made especially sure it wasn't," he replied simply. Hoana stepped forward, but the man drawed it back. "Show us she's magic." Hoana and Zackiery looked over to Kiona, who was lying on her side still, trying to get her breathing under control.
Zackiery went over and picked her up easily. "Here," he grunted dropping her at his feet.
Her mom bent down beside her, and Kiona turned dully to the woman. "Kiona, sweetie, could you show us a bit of your magic?" Hoana's soft sounds made Kiona tear up. She hadn't heard her mother talk to her like that in years.
"Mommy," she blubbered. "Mommy, help--"
"You're magic!" Zackiery interrupted and Kiona flinched. "Show us your magic!"
Kiona still looked at her mother, waiting for her permission. "Kiona, show them your magic," Hoana spoke sternly.
"Yes, Mommy," Kiona murmured. She focused on one of men, and slowly, a green heart floated away from his body. Every stared at it as it slowly turned from green, to blood red.
The man's eyes slowly began to fill with rage. And he turned to the man beside him. "I know you slept with Maia," he hissed.
"What--?"
"Don't try to fuckin' deny it! I heard you and that slut!" He growled.
"It was only one night," the other tried to reason.
"One night my ass!" He glared, "I should kill you, and that whore. In fact," he pulled out his gun, his movements sloppy, as if he were drunk on his own rage.
"Whoa. Wait a second, Donny," The second man said, glancing to Kiona. "Make her stop! Now!" Hoana began to shake Kiona, trying to bring her out of the trance she was in.
"Fuck you," he growled, and three shot rang out. At the sound of the gun, Kiona screamed, ducking her head. The spell was broken and Kiona was trembling.
Kiona heard a thud as the man fell on his back. The other groaned, holding his head. "What the hell just...?" He looked at the deadman, shocked. "Mikey? Hey?" The man said, shaking the his shoulder. "Mike! What the--!? He's bleeding! Someone shot him, who--?!" The man looked down, noticing the heavy weight of the gun in his hand. "What the fuck did she do to me!?" He hissed, glaring at Kiona.
"The deal's still on the table," The first man spoke smoothly. "Give us the girl."
Hoana moved to grab the bag, but Zackiery grabbed her wrist. "Wait," he said, narrowing his eyes. "We want double."
The man laughed, "Don't be silly, boy. Give us the girl."
"That's not normal magic. She's worth double."
"Don't get greedy, we agreed on that price--"
"Which was before we knew she could do that. Give us double, or you get nothing and we'll find some other dealer that'll buy her."
The man grinded his teeth, angrily contemplating. "Go get some more money from the car, Don," The man spoke coldly.
"What? Really, Ral, you're--"
"Did I fucking stutter?" The man, Ral, turned to Don, his eyes blazing with fury. "Go to the car and get the money from Leo." His voice was so cold it sent chills down Kiona's spine.
Don moved immediately, leaving the four of them in silence. Twenty minutes later, Don returned with another dark purple suitcase of money.
Zackiery grinned, and kicked Kiona, his foot driving into the small of her back as he pushed her towards them. Kiona trembled as she hit the ground, trying to move away, but failed. Don grabbed the back of her shirt. From being this close, Kiona could smell the sharpness and stink of her mother's favourite drink. It didn't smell good, but her mother always drank it so she learned to ignore it.
The man glared at her, "M'gonna make you pay for what you did to Mikey."
Kiona began to cry, squirming in the man's hands, "M--Mommy! Mo--Mommey, please, he--help--" the man slammed his fist into the gut of her stomach. Kiona whimpered, curling up as her chest burned in pain.
Don laughed heartily, as Ral waved, "This will be our goodbye. I cannot wait until we meet again, hopefully under better terms."
Then, the sharp sound of sirens pierced the air, and Kiona tugged against his hands, glowering down at her. "Police," Hoana muttered. "Must've heard the gunshot and came. Damn."
Kiona finally got his grip loose enough to move. Kiona fell away, her head landing on the concrete with a sharp crack and immediately the world went black.