Hey guys, another chapter for you! This chapter is intense, and I had so much fun writing it! Hope you guys enjoy reading it.

Please, don't be afraid to review, I love reading your feedback, what you liked, what you didn't like, and what I could do better.

Thank you Crinightnight for the follow and favorite on this story!

I did use some inspiration from the 2003 Astro Boy, his laser beam for example, I think it's a pretty cool power.

I do not own Astro Boy.

Chapter 10: Kidnapped

Cora's POV

The air seemed to go still in the hallway. Too still. Too quiet. I had taken my wetsuit off to sleep better, leaving me in my black tank top and leggings. I hugged the sides of my ribcage as a slight shiver coursed through my thin clothes and into my body. I turn my head this and that way, listening for the scratching sound again. Only the sound of my breathing echoing through my ears over, and over, and-

Something firm clamped down on my mouth, an iron arm hugged around my torso. Immediately, I jerked up, hoping to loosen the attacker's hold. But I was met with sickening adrenaline when another pair of strong arms grabbed my legs, holding them together. I tried to scream but the leather glove only muffled it. Adrenaline was rushing through my veins so fast. through my body, I couldn't think straight. I kept trying to jab or scratch the attacker holding my upper body, I felt them let go of my torso and then wrap their arm around my scratching hand, bringing it down to my waist.

Then we were moving. Fast. We passed under the faded yellow light, and I could see them. They appeared to be tall lean men covered head to toe in black clothing. What did they want from me? More fear and adrenaline coursed in my abdomen as that thought went through my head. They carried me down the hall and out into another hallway.

Everybody else had gone to sleep for the night. Damn it! Nobody at this time of night would hear my muffled scream. Except Astro. I kept trying to scream Astro's name, to the attackers to let me go, anybody to help me.

There was a third attacker, he didn't grab me, but just walked by the attacker that had grabbed my feet. He seemed to be taking the lead, checking each hallway and corner to make sure no one was coming. Please someone come. Please!

The third attacker motioned us to come as the hallway was clear. As we turned the corner, I went to rip my leg out of the attacker's hold and was successful. He went to grab it back, but I had already found my mark. He groaned and doubled over in pain as my foot connected with his groin. When the second attacker was on the ground, I made an effort and pushed my head up against the first attacker's chin. Pain numbed my scalp, but it worked, and he let go.

Breathing hard, I scrabbled off the floor and took off in a sprint. I turned the corner I had been carried through. I didn't hold back my voice and, "Help! Astro! Astro! Help! Astr-" Something knocked me to the ground, and I twisted around to see it was one of the attackers. I was guessing the first one that had grabbed me. My hand connected with his mask and grabbed a fistful of it and pulled.

Dirty blonde hair framed his face and cold eyes glared back at me.

My eyes widened. It was Riley. Why? Why was he doing this?

My shock only lasted for a second, meeting his glare with one of my own. I pulled my arm back to sock him in the jaw. He saw it and quickly dodged, as I missed, he quickly locked both of my hands in his own. Then he was yanking me off the floor into his arms, his hands still tightly around my wrists. I struggled in his iron grip, "Let go of me! Astro! Astr-murgg." His leathered hand clamped around my mouth again, harder this time. I bucked against him with no avail. His hold on me only tightening in response. I tried scratching his arm hoping to draw blood. He wouldn't budge.

"Troy, get over here!" Riley suddenly shouted over my head. "Now!"

Troy appeared to be the third attacker, he cautiously walked up to us, and attempted to grab my feet. I kicked at him, in the process of nicking his hand. He hissed, hugging his hand to his chest.

"You're going to have to grab her quick and hold tight. She's a tiger."

He nodded, and as soon as my feet left the ground, he sprang into action, striking like a snake had just found its prey. His brawny arms encircled my knees, tightening like a boa with every struggle I made.

Help! Somebody, help me! Astro!

Troy turned to Riley, "This is the way to the garbage disposal, right?"

I felt my eyes go wide again. It felt like a heavy weight had settled into my stomach. Did I hear them right? Garbage disposal?! A new fear ravished my mind, and I didn't care if their hold tightened. I bucked, squirmed, and shouted into the leather glove. I realized at that moment; they were going to kill me.

Astro's POV

My head shot up from the cot, for a second, there was a scream and someone shouting my name, then it was gone. I frantically glanced around our small room Emir had given me and dad. My dad slept soundly on the other side in his own cot. Had I dreamt it? It sounded so real.

Pulling back the covers, I tip toed across the room and silently twisted the old-fashioned doorknob. The hallway was empty, no one in sight. "Astro?" I pulled my head back into the room to see my dad sitting up. "What's going on?"

"Sorry dad, I didn't mean to wake you. I thought I heard a scream or something." I tilted my head, letting my hearing expand beyond human range. There, something was there, a rustling of some sort and then- "Let go of me! Astro! Astr-" My super hearing snapped back into normal range. I gasped, "Cora." Then I was taking off like a bullet towards her screams.

My dad calling after me, "Astro, wait!"

But I was too far gone, and I disappeared into the maze of halls.

Cora's POV

BEEP!

A wide metal door slid open, my attackers struggling to keep me in their hold as they carried me into a room lined with metal all around, their feet echoing off the concrete floor. I looked to the right of me to find what looked like to be a conveyer belt, like the one you might find at the grocery store, but this one appeared larger and longer.

The only thing that stood out was the thick glass covering the top half of it like a dome. The conveyer belt was attached to the opposite wall of us leading to, my only guess, the open ocean.

Suddenly, Riley let go of my face. I squirmed from underneath his unbreakable grip, "Astro! Help me!"

"Scream all you want; the walls are soundproof. No one can hear you... especially your horned haired boyfriend." Riley muttered into my ear.

I stopped screaming for help and instead, tried to turn my head to face him, seizing him up, well tried to, "I wouldn't be so sure of that." I challenged.

His eyebrows wrinkled for a moment, almost like he was about to question me. His eyes found his buddy and then... "Get her in the tube." Then they were moving me towards the conveyer belt.

I gasped, "Riley, no! Please, don't do this." Troy let go of my legs and moved towards a control panel and pressed a button. I started screaming for help again for anyone who could hear me as the glass dome slid back and opened. "Go guard the door." Riley said to Troy, and he left.

Riley jostled me back and forth until I was face to face with him. I reacted, suddenly bringing my knee up to his groin. He groaned, but his hold on me didn't loosen. "Let go-" Then I was crumbling onto the biting cold floor.

My vision was going black and then blurry with dark colors. Pain spread from my nose to my forehead, without thought my hand went to touch my nose and was met with stickiness. I coughed as the taste of metal met my senses.

My weight left from under me, as I was placed onto a rubber-like base. I cleared my throat and forced my eyes to open; I was grateful that the blurriness had cleared, then my eyes widened as glass slid over me.

I looked over to see Riley pushing some buttons, my hand met with the glass, and a slight sob escaped my lips. "Riley, please let me out. Why are you doing this?!" I grimaced as a headache started to form.

Riley moved and let his hand hover over a big red button, he looked back at me, determined. His lips moved, his words sounding like muddled gibberish through the thick glass. Maybe this room was too thick and Astro couldn't hear me. I was too late. I was going to die, I realized. I felt a single teardrop plop down my cheek and whispered, "Astro, if you can hear me... I love-"

A beam of light flashed before my eyes, it was so fast, it looked like a bolt of lightning. The light nicked Riley's hand and he cried out. I felt my breath leave me as I recognized that beam of light. Actually, not a beam of light, but a laser beam. Astro's laser beam.

Riley hissed, as he met Astro's glare standing in the now opened doorway, his laser finger glowing with energy.

Astro's POV

I had little time to react, but I reacted quickly and clearly. After I heard Cora's cry for help, I followed it right to a room that I'm quite sure Emir had said was the garbage disposal. I quickened my pace as I heard Cora scream my name again. Knocking out the two guys that had been near the door, I swiftly took two steps inside before my gaze landed on the glass tube, Cora encased in it, both her hand and the lower half of her face were covered in blood. Her wetsuit was nowhere in sight, only a black tank top and pants covered her. She saw me and her hand pressed against the glass from inside.

Anger brewed inside my chest, and my hands clenched into fists. I turned to see Riley and his hand hovering over a red button. The words, "I have to keep my family safe," came into my ears. My eyes briefly met Cora's tearstained face; I saw her lips mouth my name. No!

I turned and pointed my finger at him. The mechanics in my finger twirled and twisted until- Piingg! Riley backed off as a cry escaped his lips, his arm hugging his injured one. He looked at me in shock, trying to comprehend how I had nicked him with a laser that was coming from inside my finger. "What the-"

I narrowed my eyes, and kept my arm raised, my laser waiting to ignite again.

"Step away from the controls, Riley."

A scowl quickly replaced his flabbergasted expression. He hissed, "I knew there was something off about you."

I growled, "Riley, move away."

"I can't do that."

"Why?"

Riley winced, as he tried to move his hand. "Haven't you noticed lately, has she complained about having a headache." He said, knowingly.

I had noticed when we were alone after dinner. I thought it was due to dehydration or not having food for a while. His face was serious, and I could tell he was not lying. I took a step closer as he dared to move an inch more to the controls. "It's the first sign. I have seen it happen over and over and over again. Then they start getting sick, then you think they're getting better, and that's when they turn."

"So, you just kill anyone who starts showing symptoms." I spat. A little voice in the back of my head told me that this had not only happened once but multiple times.

"It's the only way to keep the people alive," Riley said, "She's already turning into a wraithe."

My laser lit up with energy, "I'm not going to let that happen."

He scoffed. And moved suddenly, his hand coming down on the button.

"No!" I had just fired my laser at the glass container, as an alarm sounded off, then I was being sucked across the room. Before Cora could be sucked up the tube and out to the ocean, my arm reached around her waist and held tight. I grunted as I slammed into the wall. That's going to leave a dent.

Glass flew past us and into the tube. The air being sucked out of the room came rushing in my ears. My hand had found a crevice in the wall and held firm as I tried to hug the wall with my leg. Cora's body was floating in the air, the air sucking her dangerously closer to the other end of the tube, and if it opened, without her wetsuit she would explode within a second. I tightened my hold on Cora. She was slowly slipping.

"Astro!" Cora yelled through the strong current, fear coating her voice.

"Don't worry! I got you!"

She grunted, her dark hair whipping in all directions, as she tried to move her hands to the curved ledge of the opening and pull herself up. But the air was stronger, so strong, cutting swiftly like a knife and sent her arms flailing back above her head.

I turned my head to find Riley hanging on by an overhead pipe, his legs kicking through the air.

I tried shouting through the wind, "Riley, can you shut it down!"

But I already knew that he couldn't do anything as he held on to dear life, he shouted back, "I can't!"

I looked back at the controls. I blinked, my scanner turning on without so much as a thought, there was the big button, other small controls, except for-

I lifted my arm again, knowing my mark. Piingg! Piingg! The controls erupted in sparks and the wind died down.

I slumped against the conveyer belt aggressively, my arm still holding her in a death grip. I turned to find Riley had fallen and was now splayed on the ground, knocked out. Sparks were still singeing from the buttons behind him. A few deep breaths later, I finally let go of Cora and instead reached my hand up to cup her face. Her eyes were closed. Dried blood was caked under nose and was slightly on her mouth.

"Cora?" I whispered, trying to smooth her hair back.

Her eyes fluttered open, her voice coarse. "Astro?"

"Yes, it's me, I'm right here."

Her eyes were fully open now, they franticly moved over my face then turned to the controls, then finally Riley's unconscious form. "I couldn't- I was trapped- The glass- Riley was trying to-"

I rested my hand on the other side of her face, stopping her, "I know. You're okay. You're safe."

She continued to stare at me with wide eyes, she inhaled unsteadily as she tried to calm her still restless heart rate. I stopped stroking her forehead, as I saw tears well up in her eyes, she didn't waste one more second and her arms encircled my neck, pulling me close. I paused, then quickly wrapped her in my embrace. She sobbed quietly into my neck, and I hugged her tighter. "Shhhh, it's okay. I got you. You're safe." She hugged me back with all the strength she could muster, and my chest tightened and warmed. We stayed in each other's embrace for a while, not wanting to let the other go.