AN - Sooo, it's been like . . . 3 months since I updated give or take. Sorry about that. ;) But you know how it gets during summer, eh? Whee! But I'm glad summer is over and I'm planning on getting this story finished . . . . I think there's only a couple more chapters left. There could possibly be a sequel, depends on if I have the time and if people would be interested in reading it. Anyway, here is the next Chapter. I really am sorry I left you hanging for so long. Here's some extra special cookies and brownies for being so patient =D

Chey

White Flag - Chapter 9

Syd's POV

Oh My God! That hurts! I moaned at the pain running through my head, the sounds muffled by the gag placed in my mouth. I tried to remove it, but my hands were held fast by the coarse ropes tightened around them. Shoot! Lifting my head I glanced around me, hoping to find something to let me know where I was. It was complete blackness save for a tiny ray of light coming in from a crack under a door in the corner opposite me. I thought back to the last thing I remember. I remember hands closing over my mouth, lifting me up. But the very last thing I remember is Mike grunting in pain. I wonder what happened to him?! What if he's in here, with me?

"Michael?!" I called into the darkness, hoping, praying, for some response. My voice echoed off of the walls, coming back to me empty. In a way I had hoped he was here, so I wouldn't be alone in this cold, scary place. But in a way I also hoped he wasn't, because that would mean that escaped and got back to the camp and could get some people to come and get me out of here. Oh, I want a hippopotamus for christmaaas! And only a hippopotamus will doooo! . . .Wait . . . why is that song stuck in my head? Freaky. This place is making me go craazy. Crazy? I was crazy once. They locked me up in a rubber room; I died in that rubber room. They buried me 6 feet under, in a room full of rats! Rats?! I hate rats! They drive me crazy. Crazy? I was crazy once . . . All of a sudden I thought about the rats. No! I hope there aren't any rats in here! I subconsciously draw my legs in closer to me, folding my arms over top of my knees. That would be just freakin' great if there were rats in here . . . just my luck. Not to mention dying in a rubber room . . . I hope that doesn't happen either. Why am I thinking like this? I don't even no why I am here, no need to scare myself. For all I know it could be some kid who was upset about the quality of food here at camp and is holding my hostage until the agree to only serve pizza for the remaining time left here . . . hmmm, pizza, yummy. lalalalalaaaaa . . . . . I can't feel my hands, is that bad? I wiggled my fingers, trying to get the blood flowing back through them. Shifting my body to a more comfortable position I brushed against something, creating a loud 'Crash!' . . . . Whoopsie. I heard loud footsteps as someone ran towards the door. I closed my eyes against the brightness as the door opened. Through my eyelids I could see a flashlight pointing at me.

"What are you doing in here? You're too noisy, be still!" A gruff voiced warned me. I opened my eyes slightly to see a tall, broad shouldered man standing over me. He was dressed in black, with a ski masked pulled over his face. Hmm . . . For some reason I'm starting to count the disgruntled kid theory out. "Ya hear me?! He asked sharply, kicking my side. I grunted in response, pulling my legs even closer trying to get rid of the pain. Tears watered up in my eyes, I nodded, making sure he saw. He huffed then left me alone in the blackness again. Yuup, definitely not a disgruntled kid wanting pizza. So then what is it? I'm starting to get scared now . . . I mean, I was scared before, but now I'm really, really scared. Who did this? And what do they want? I closed my eyes as a bolt of pain went up my side. Dear God, Please, let me be okay.

Michael's POV

He- Hey! What is that? I bolted upright from the ground, the world spinning around me. 'Clonk!' there it was again! Pinecone after pinecone raining down on my head. Bleh, what's up with that? I looked up at the tree hovering above me. In the twilight I could barely make out the shape of a small fury animal. I quickly moved and got out from under it, before it decided to hit me again. Okay, if I'm here, then Syd must be too. Hoping that this not so logical logic would be true, I started searching franticly for Syd. Throwing rocks, kicking logs, it was no use.

"Syd?!" I yelled. Maybe I just couldn't see her. "Sydney?!" I yelled louder this time. My ears yearned for a response but were not rewarded.

"Michael?!" I stopped walking. Wait . . . . is someone calling me? Turning around toward the voice I heard it clearer this time. "Mike?! Where are you?!" Eric! It's Eric!

"I'm over here Eric!" I yelled back, racing towards his voice. A few seconds later I almost ran into Eric as we both stumbled over a root.

"Where have you been Mike? We've been worried sick!" Eric shouted angrily at me. It was then that he noticed that Sydney wasn't with me. "Um . . . . Where is Sydney?"

"Well, you see Eric." I started. And that was how, 30 minutes later I was in Derek's office telling him all that had happened earlier that day.

"And you say you didn't see either of their faces?" Derek asked for a second time.

"I'm positive." I assured him. "There were only two of them and they were both wearing ski masks. But that's all I saw before I blocked out."

"Hmm . . . "Derek rubbed his chin deep in thought. "Why don't you two go wait out in the Mess Hall. I'll be out in a few minutes. I started to protest, but Eric quickly lead me out.

"Are we going to do anything?" I asked angrily. "Who knows where she is right now? She could be . . . "No, no that isn't a possibility. Don't even think it.

"Don't think like that Michael. You know she can take care of herself." Eric put his hand on my shoulder and tried to calm me down with his reassuring words. "I bet she's giving those guys that took her enough trouble that they wish they had never taken her." He chuckled at this thought, I elbowed him in the ribs.

"That's not funny Eric. She could be in danger!" I sat down on a bench and brought my face to rest in my hands.

"I know, I'm sorry Mike. I was just trying to lighten things up." He said softly.

"I know Eric. Thanks for that. Really." With that I sighed as I tried to shut out the unwelcome images entering my head.

Derek's POV

Running my hand through my hair I picked up the phone with my free hand. Dialing a number that I knew fairly well from the daily updates I made to the person on the other end.

ring, ring

"Hello?" His voice filled the line.

"Jack?"

"Yes? Is that you Derek? Is Sydney okay?" Jack's the usual stoic demeanor was dropped and replaced with worry and concern.

"Sorry to be the one to tell you this Jack, but Sydney . . . She's missing."

"Missing?! What do you mean missing?!" I flinched at the anger directed towards me.

"I'm sorry Jack, but she was kidnapped this afternoon during Capture the Flag."

"This is great. I thought I could trust you to keep her safe!" Before I could speak The line went static. Shoot!

Jack's POV

I was trying to calm myself down after Derek's call so I could handle the situation clearly. First thing I need to call Amelie and get her to help me. Lifting up the phone I was about to dial when it rang, suddenly.

"Hello?" I asked in to the phone.

"Hello, Jack. Sure is nice to talk to you again." My blood stopped cold.

"What do you want, Arvin?" I asked rigidly.

"Well, I'm sure by now you know about Sydney' disappearance."

"What did you do to her?!"