A/N: Um, hey guys? How was Valentine's Day? Well, I found out something pretty interesting. My Creative Writing teacher used to be an FBI agent...and he used to carry a gun...and he actually shot someone...
I really don't know if he killed that person. I asked, "Have you ever killed someone?" and he answered, "Mm-hmm."
…
…
…
"Mm-hmm 'yes' or Mm-hmm 'no'?"
...
Chapter 52
Annie's vision was blurred. She tugged on her hands and found that they were bound by something heavy and metallic. She tried to move around but then she realized that she was restricted. Wherever she was, it was small and compact. The sound of people talking caught her attention. They were distant but were loud enough for her to hear them clearly.
"Why did you bring her here?"
She recognized the voice to be a woman's.
"I saw her and took the opportunity. It seemed like a good idea at the time."
The second one - a boy's.
"You idiot! They have others to work the super computer. She can't even deactivate the tower! What makes you think she is so important as to hinder them from their duties?" asked the woman in a harsh tone.
"She is essential to all of them in a way that will definitely distract them. They will come looking for her," said the boy.
"And what will happen if they find our hiding place? I have worked too hard and too long for all my hard work to be ruined by these juvenile vigilantes!"
Annie's head raised at the woman's raise in voice. The boy's voice was a lot more calmer than the woman's.
"Fine then. I'm sorry. I will move her somewhere that will not reveal our location," he told her.
"Move who?"
The pinkette's eyes snapped wide open when she recognized the young girl's voice. She searched around the little space she was put in and felt that her surroundings were made of wood. Annie concluded that she was stuck in a closet. A sliver of light came from in front of her and she peaked through it. She could barely see anything other than white. She caught sight of a wave of purple-highlighted black hair as the teen girl walked past the closet.
"Who are you?" asked Jace.
…
Katerina looked at her pupil as the teenage girl stared at the boy's unfamiliar face. She had to look up, of course, since the green-haired boy was 5'7". At first, she thought she was staring at him because of his obvious attractiveness but Katerina eventually figured out that she was scrutinizing the boy. The woman didn't blame her. Jace had no reason to trust any man. The bruises on her arms proved the consequences and actions men could perform. Katerina silently thanked God that XANA had no perverted side. Only anger. The bruise on Jace's face had begun to fade away but you could still see it. She wore no sweater or jeans right now because she wasn't going out. She was dressed in a black T-shirt and purple shorts.
To make a long story short, Jace looked like someone had just beat the hell out of her.
"My name is Angelo Botticelli. I'm of Italian descent. XANA brought me here to work for him. Though I do not entirely understand my duties, I understand that I am here, at least, to help XANA destroy the world," he said in an emotionless voice.
Jace raised an eyebrow.
"And you're completely fine with that?" she questioned.
He shrugged.
"XANA took me in and I plan on following whatever orders he gives me. I owe him so much already," he answered.
Jace rolled her eyes and turned to Katerina.
"Where did XANA get this guy?" she asked.
"He was working as a slave in some country in the Middle East. Illegal slavery, of course. XANA wanted someone strong and smart to carry out his duties because he doesn't trust us and doesn't have enough time to be activating towers and taking over people. Angelo was desperate and knew a thing or two about repaying a debt. He won't hesitate to do anything XANA – his 'master', I guess – tells him to do. He's practically brainwashed," she answered, speaking about him like he wasn't even there.
Angelo paid no mind to them and proceeded to open the closet containing his latest captive. Inside, Annie was chained to the back wall of the closet. She blinked rapidly at the sudden rush of light. Jace stared at her in awe.
"Y-you kidnapped her..." she trailed off.
"Obviously," he said, grabbing her neck and tilting her head back.
He pulled a small vial out of his pocket and Jace lunged forward. He tried to shake her off while she herself tried to take it away.
"What the hell is that stuff?" she asked.
Angelo scoffed.
"I don't plan on killing her," he said. "Just knocking her out."
He poured the contents of the vial into her mouth and she was out like a light. Jace stared at her friend helplessly before hearing the front door open and turning to watch the man XANA was controlling this time. He was tall and dark-haired with tanned skin and big, green eyes. He noticed the girl in Angelo's arms and raised an eyebrow.
"Well, care to explain to me what's going on?" he asked.
"Angelo kidnapped Jeremie Belpois's daughter. He mindlessly brought here and now he's just taking her to a separate location so as not reveal our hiding spot," Katerina answered.
XANA looked to Jace.
"And...do you have any objection to his decision, Jasmine?" he questioned.
The girl just turned tail and walked out the door. XANA turned back to Angelo with a satisfied smile.
"Take her to the cage. Catch up with Jace. Tell her that I told her to show you where it is," he told him.
Angelo nodded and walked out the door. Katerina stared after him with a defeated look. XANA frowned at her.
"Don't you have work to do?"
…
Angelo ran – or tried to run – after Jace. He had thrown Annie over his shoulder so he was slightly thrown off-balance. Years of being a slave and lifting heavy stuff had really come in handy. Finally, he caught up with her, slowing down as she walked forward, anger coming off of her in waves. Angelo took the time to notice how short she was. This girl couldn't be more than 5'2" and she had the gall to stand up to a man like him. Granted, they were probably the same age but he was bigger and could easily overpower her. She glanced up at him and quickly looked away, seemingly unsatisfied with his presence.
"XANA said to tell you to show me where the cage was," he said.
Jace stopped, looking down at the floor. She looked deep in thought.
"Jasmine," he said, extending his hand out.
She flinched away from him, glaring daggers. He pulled his hand away.
"Follow me," she said in a distant tone.
They walked through the forest for about ten minutes when they finally came to a big, rusty cage. It looked old but it was still very strong. Jace opened it up and turned to Angelo. He placed Annie in it and she closed the door. He looked at her as she stared at the cage as if she was reminiscing.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"This is where it all started," she mumbled, rubbing her bruised arm without really thinking about it.
"What?" he asked in a confused tone.
She glanced up at him and shook her head, snapping out of her daydream.
"Nothing. I'm going. Stay and watch her. Don't do anything reckless," she ordered, looking at him with a suspicious glare.
Without another word, Jace turned and walked back the way they had come.
Angelo stared after her with a perplexed expression on his face. He sighed and ran after her. He grabbed her shoulder about to announce that he didn't want her to keep secrets from him when she grabbed his wrist and with a flick of her hand, he was on his stomach. She twisted his arm behind his back with her right hand and kept her left hand on his neck. She glared at him and pulled slightly on his arm, making him grunt in pain.
"Stop! Please!" he begged.
She narrowed her eyes at him before letting go and backing away from him. Angelo stared up at the little girl in front of him, amazed that she had made him submit so easily.
"Touch me again and next time, I'll rip your arm right out of your socket," she hissed before walking away.
...
The Lyoko Warriors were all standing in the forest except for Kevin, looking for signs of their missing comrade. Aaren and Caleb studied the ground while everyone else searched through everything else.
"Well, obviously, she was kidnapped," concluded Caleb.
"By who?" asked Jasper, trying to keep his emotions under control.
"XANA, I'm guessing," he answered.
"Hey, guys! I found her cell phone!" called Emma, waving the pink object high in the air.
"She must have dropped it while the kidnapper was taking her away," said Mina.
Aaren stared at the pink piece of technology.
"Damn! We can't even track her now! Where the hell is Kevin?" he asked Emma.
"He's at the counselor's office. He couldn't cancel," she answered.
…
(A/N: For the record, this part was sort of influenced by the episode 'Plagued' where Jeremie receives an aptitude test.)
The dark-haired boy sat down in the counselor's office, staring blankly at the old man in front of him. His name was Hans Klotz but he referred to himself as 'Mr. Simone'. Kevin leaned back, annoyed that he was stuck here talking to his guidance counselor when he should be helping to look for Annie. The old man fixed some papers and folded his hands together.
"Mr. Stern, I have found that you are a very gifted student, possessing an IQ of 146. As you may well know, that is past the point where you are labeled as a genius," he answered.
Kevin grunted and nodded in response. Mr. Simone smiled.
"Well, I'm going to give you an aptitude test to see where you are at," he said.
"And if I pass?" Kevin asked.
"Then I will take into my own hands to see that you consider your options. After all, passing this test means that you are a very gifted student. Gifted students belong to places where they can enhance their knowledge and become the best of the best. Passing the test means that I'll be looking into possible changes in your educational curriculum," he told him, handing him a paper and a pencil.
Kevin rolled his eyes a grabbed the paper, picking up the pencil. He looked at the first question.
What year did the Korean War end?
Kevin sighed and quickly wrote down his answer.
1953
…
A/N: Ending it there for now. Yeah, I suck but hey! Be happy that I updated at all! ^_^ Anyways, please review! V-Day madness has got me freaking busy as hell! Sometimes, I really hate school! -_-*
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