"OK," Landon now spoke aloud. "I'm taking off your gag. You try to sound off, and I will hurt you." It wasn't a threat, just a fact.

"Oh god oh god oh god" was running through her head. He laughed. Adako fought to reign in her thoughts.

"Who are you?" She asked.

"I'm Landon," said the one who would hurt her if she screamed.

"And I'm Monty," she heard. "Nice to meet you."

Silence. "Wasn't there three of you?" She tried. Someone came up behind her and wrapped their arms around her, their lips touching her ear.

"Soud off," he wispered. "I want to hurt you." Adako was not a scaredy cat, and she didn't scream except when chairs fell on her toes, but she really had to bite her tongue to stay silent this time. This guy wanted her to scream and she wasn't going to do it.

"That's enough, Luke." Landon pulled him off her, and spoke to adako. "So now that you have your formal introduction, let's go."

"Wh-what? You're taking me with you?" She cried shakily. "But you're just supposed to like take my money and let me go!" Her voice mounting with each word, she started to panic. "Let me go let me go!" She screamed.

"I warned you," She heard Landon say. "Silence!" Came roaring through her with such fury, she was in so much agony she couldn't speak. Her tense muscles went limp and she collapsed, knowing nothing more as Luke caught her before she hit the ground.

"Let's move," he said. The other two nodded in agreement.

"Wait, guys!" said Monty. "She's got keys! Let's take her car!" For once, Luke agreed.

Adako's car was an older one, a 91' camero, and it had a pretty sweet sound system in it. Her older brother, Kelly, had installed it for her with a few subtle hints at the fact that his time wasn't free. She had rolled her eyes and ignored him.

Monty tapped Luke's shoulder. "I'll take her and sit in the back seat, if you wnat to sit in the front.

"No!" Luke snapped. Monty frowned. Luke usually almost knocked outhis daylights if he tried to sit in front. Luke shoved Monty out of the way and carefully placed Adako in the back seat, then he climbed in himself and lifted her head to rest in his lap. he released the clip that held her hair and spread her golden tresses over his lap, admiring the shimmering hilights.

"Luke!" Finally registered in his brain. Landon was leaning over the driver's seat.

"What?" He growled fiercely.

"Don't get any ideas!"

Luke closed his eyes and felt his fury build, pent up and ready to explode. He shoved it down and added another brick to the wall surrounding his heart. It hurt that they still didn't trust him.

"Go to hell, Landon." He barked, quite literally.

"Jeez, dude, no offense."

Adako stirred and Luke stilled, brushing her bangs out of her closed eyes. Monty mentally nudged Landon.

"You think he fancies her?"

"I only hope that's a good thing."

The air was crisp and fresh, and the chain turned easily as she pedaled her bike down the road- the gray skies matched her mood, as she sat on the bed with her mom trying to ignore a lecture on her music-the trees seemed to go up forever as she lay on her back in a patch of soft moss, looking at each trunk individually, trying to spot a tree mushroom- No, no something wasn't quite right about this sketch. It just didn't look right as she held the offending picture to the light, then crumpled it and tossed it into the fire- Selene in the underworld's reaction, shooting out the circle of floor to escape the lycans- eating lunch at taco bell- fear foiling in her stomach as the gag was tied, her hands bound- the freak Landon threatening her- the terrible pain in her head-

Luke withdrew from her mind. She was waking up, she could tell because her memories were refreshing as she woke up. he felt her body tense and waited for the explosion. Her eyelids fluttered open, revealing emerald green eyes. Recognition came in a flash and she bolted upright out of Luke's lap.

"Take me back!" She shrieked.

"Ahh!" Monty bellowed, awaking from a sound sleep. Startled himself, Landon sterred the car back into the proper lane.

"What are you going to do to me? Why do you need me?" Adako cowered as far away from Luke as she could. "Hey!" realized. "You stole my car!"

They all laughed.

"Not exactly," Monty grinned. "See, you're the owner, and you're in it."

"Hijacked it then! Whatever!"

Luke broke the sudden stillness. "You're going to help me on the runs during the day."

"Runs for what?"

"Just stuff!" he snapped. Adako shut her mouth and stared out the window. He mind was painfully churning back and forth. How was she going to get out of here? Out of the three guys, she liked Monty the best, just because he hadn't hurt her- at least, not yet. She observed Luke, who was resting against the window.

He had dark brown hair that looked like it had been dyed a few times. Currently he had it tipped with bright blue, and apparently he really dug the out-of-bed-out-of-shower-do-nothing-to-your-hair-let's-go look. It stuck out about every way possible. He also sported sideburns that ended at the beginning of his jawbone, and a five o' clock shadow that gave him a rugged look. He wore a plain T-shirt, with no symbols or logos, and she could see that he was used to hard work because he was well toned. He had a slighter build, and she thought he was probably around 5'9 or 5'10. Her gaze traveled to his hands. he had big hands, plenty of calluses, but not too many. She loved guys hands, except when they were soft like a girls and looked as if they got a manicure every week. She figured those guys would probably croak if they ever owned a callus. His jeans were standard cargos, and she could see that they were south pole cause of the blue and white striped candy cane stick on the pocket.

Overall, he was a nice looking guy. She frowned. You know, come to think about it, maybe she was approaching this all wrong. Maybe this would be a great adventure. She thought back to the warehouse episode. It had been Monty who had shouted, scared witless. he had done it again when she had yelled at Luke. She giggled, then fought to stifle it. Only Landon heard it, and he looked back at her with a worried expression through the rear view mirror.

She looked over at Monty, who had bright red curly hair that just peeked out beneath the black beanie he was wearing. He was also wearing a black hoodie and black faded jeans. She smirked and wondered if he was always so freaked out or if he was just high strung at the moment. She glanced at her watch. She had gotten it for Christmas from her dad. Even tho she usually didn't wear one, she wore it cause it was from her dad.

Wow, it was almost morning.