The bumpy road has no effect on me as I'm jostled. All I can think of is that Skulduggery didn't even try to help me. He didn't call out for me and didn't move, that's when I stopped fighting back. I'm bound and a sack is over my head, inside the car is quiet. I frown. I'm not magically bound, what idiot does that? Clicking my fingers, a spark of hope forms in me... This disappears when I realise that there isn't a spark forming in my hand. I try air this time but... Nothing.
I have no magic.
I don't move for a while, they're good. Ice and Daughter. A little too good, I take my phone out and call Ghastly. I don't say much and he arrives quickly, bringing questions with him.
"Where's Val?"
"Why isn't she with you?"
"What do you mean you don't know?!"
"She's been taken? Where were you for her?"
I answer each question without emotion, without feeling. Because if I feel then I accept that I've failed her.
That she's gone and I didn't do a single damn thing to stop them.
That I wasn't strong enough, smart enough or quick enough to save my bestfriend- the one person that means the world to me.
If I can't save her, who can?
Fear grips me and holds me tight, this is bad. I felt safe before I knew I had magic, now I feel lost. Open to anyone, like a book or a puppy. I have no protection from anything now.
Doesn't mean I'm not going to try something beyond stupid though.
I lean forward into a sitting position and wiggle to the door, I lean forward again so that my face is in my lap and I try to find the door handle. After successfully finding it and taking the lock off I grin. I pull on the handle sharply and push my whole body weight against the door, and it flings open.
I drop onto hard tarmac but I can't see because the sack is still on my head. Tyres are screaming all around me and horns are blaring. I stumble into a car and scream for help. "Oh dear Lord, child what have you done?" An older lady takes the sack from my head and looks shocked. "I'm ever so sorry but could you untie my hands as well? I was kidnapped." As the lady goes on a rant about how I should be in school I look around. I'm on the side of a motorway surrounded by trees and forest. "All done, would you like me to take you home dear?" I look past the old lady to see Daughter stalking through the traffic, her eyes on me. I can't use the old lady, she'll have a heart attack...
I turn and sprint into the trees.