Chapter 9- and so it begins

I wasn't sure about Vince or Mikey but I was defiantly holding my breath. The boys didn't need to be told to keep quiet; they saw the men and knew I was in trouble.

'Come on.' Vince crawled round the van. I nodded to Mikey so he knew I was going. We followed Vince round the cars silently till we exited the parking lot. Vince turned back to me not saying a word. The men couldn't be far and wouldn't miss our whispering voices

'Spinelli, where are you?'TJ's voice came though on my head peace.

'Quiet.' I muttered into button. 'I'm in a kind of situation.' I took the head peace out putting it in my pocket. I looked to Mikey. 'You need to get out if here.' he frowned folding his arms adamantly.

'And Vince? You just going to let him help? He's never got into a real fight in his life.' Vince stud up straight heading to the bog guy.

'And that's something to be ashamed off? Besides I'm faster, I'll be more helpful.' Mikey stud up with him squaring up to him.

'Shut it.' I hissed. 'And neither of you are helping. You're both leaving, NOW.' they turned on me glaring.

'Men are after you, I saw guns.' Mikey said blankly. 'I'm not leaving you that on your own.'

'You're not. I've got...people helping me.' I gritted my teeth; I really couldn't tell them who those people were. It'd be like a kick in the face- no, worse, it'd kill them.

'You took that ear thingy out. You've got no one coming to help.' Vince added. 'I'm staying too.' I groaned staying close to the ground.

'I don't want to fight. I want to get away from them.' I hissed. 'What do you think the running was for? Jokes?'

'Then we'll get you out of here, take you home.' Vince looking round checking for the men.

'I can't go home. They're at my house.' I hissed looking at them both. 'This isn't as simple as sneaking into the schools kitchen or pranking a teacher. This is real and dangerous and scary.' they didn't look detoured as I talked. 'You need to go. When did you all get so stubborn?'

'There!' a man spotted us rushing forward his hand lost in his jacket for a moment. I stud up moving in front of my friends. The suited man's hand pulled a black handle from his inner pocket. I ran forward ready to take the shot. So it was really coming to this? My heart was in my throat again, even though I tried fighting I was going all because of my stupid friends, no my old friends. My old and only friends. I would say that it was something like a worthy cause but it wasn't I was pissed and this wouldn't have ever happened. I didn't even know why.

The man stud in front of me holding the gun out straight, it was aimed directly at my head. I stopped; he was waiting for me to approach?

'Come here slowly.' he ordered, his hand wasn't shaking. He was completely calm and composed. He was the real deal. It was nothing like the old movies or countless horrors I've watched with Dad- this guy looked like he'd really shoot me.

'What do you want?' I said clearly not moving an inch closer. The man lowered his gun a fraction.

'If you come with us you'll get your story. All you need to do is follow me and we'll get you with your parents.' I clenched my fists glaring at him. I really wanted to follow. I wanted to know what the hell was going on. I wanted to see my family again and just get close enough to kick those suited gits in the balls.

'No deal.' I hissed. 'Tell me what's going on.' he raised his gun again. I was well aware the more time that passed the more men would gather here (possibly, it depends on whether they really wanted me). The man scoffed.

'You're just a girl. You don't get demands. So just come here.' he ordered again. I didn't move. I was just getting the growing need to punch his face. I wonder if he'll still give orders after he's missing a few teeth. 'I said get here NOW.' he fell. I blinked staring at the man crumpled on the floor.

'You don't just get to block us like that.' TJ stud behind the man on the floor rubbing his knuckles. I stared at him actually shocked. Had he really just knocked a guy out with his fist? What happened to the chubby boy I had known and loved? I shook myself forcing myself back to earth.

'What are you doing? He had a gun! You can't just go punching him; he might have gone mad and shot at me!' I stormed forward. 'I was trying to get him to tell me what he wanted!' I growled turning running my hand through my hair. 'You're such an idiot.' I paced before staring at the man on the floor. Should we tie him up? Should we just leave him? I looked around trying to spot the other man.

'TJ? He's your help?' Vince ran up to us. 'I'm not going to let that pass.' TJ passed me glaring at the athlete.

'What are you doing here? Someone like you wouldn't be able to help.' he kept his voice low. 'What are you going to do? Run round a bullet, you're not that good.'

'And risking Spinelli's life works? Great idea.' Vince snarled. 'I can see you just won't change.'

'Guys!' Gus and Gretchen were running though the car park. 'What are you doing? There's no time to be arguing.' Gretchen panted stopping in front of the boys.

'Why is Mikey glaring at us?' Gus muttered folding his arms.

'I actually helped Spinelli, got her away from that man.' Mikey joined us pointing at the man on the floor.

'Then why is he here?' Gretchen tossed her head. 'You're little effort obviously didn't work.'

'It was more than you two could do.' Mikey jabbed a finger into Gus's chest.

'Hey, don't you touch me.' he rubbed his chest. 'You fat ape!' and that kicked it all off. I stared at them all fighting, shouting and just drawing attention.

'Shit.' I muttered looking round. 'Shit.' I looked up at everyone. They were totally oblivious. 'SHIIIT!' I stomped my foot. They all stopped. 'Where's the other man, there was two of them.' they looked back with blank faces. 'Shit.' I hissed turning running my hands through my hair walking away.

'Where you going?' TJ called as I heading to the street.

'No idea.' I growled, I knew it wasn't really loud enough for them to listen to but I had enough.

'You can't just walk off, you know what's out there for you.' he called again.

'SO WHAT?' I clenched my fists 'YOU ALL GO HOME.' I just started walking away feeling ill. This was getting out of hand and nothing even happened.

'Stop.' I felt two hands grab my shoulders. TJ and Vince were holding me back. 'Leaving won't do any good.' Vince groaned.

'Neither will shouting, arguing or standing around where one of them' I turned pointing to the man on the floor. 'Is still hanging around, I don't like this. It isn't a game. Got it. Not. A. game.' the other three caught up looking a little taken aback.

'We never thought it was a game.' Gretchen muttered looking down at her shoes.

'Yhea and that's why you all try taking a bite out of each other like stray dogs. I'm fine with it at school, I accept that's what your sick little people have become but this is my FAMILY. They are in danger and so am I. I'm better off alone.' they stud in silence.

'no.' Mikey frowned. 'You'll get shot or strangled or buried alive! You're the only one who doesn't just avoid me now, do you know how lonely it gets when everyone is too scared to talk to you?' I didn't have to answer to that. He was getting just a tad melodramatic.

'Yhea, what if you're dead by the end of the weekend?' Gus perked up. 'You're the first person to come to my house for a friendly thing for years. I can't have you disappearing.' I folded my arms.

'This isn't the time for touching moments. I get it. You're all lonely because you have no other friends. Oh no how sad your life is...well most of you.' I looked at Vince. 'You have friends.' he rubbed his head looking away.

'I have team mates...I have lunch mates...and a brother and his collage friends that drop round all the time. I just talk all the time, I don't know if you'd call them friends. I don't think I've had any real friends since you lot.'

'Me either but...minus all the mates and siblings.' Gretchen muttered.

'I get it.' I folded my arms. 'And now you all hate each other for some stupid reasons.' I growled. 'But now I don't care. Right now I'm worried shitless.' I clenched my fists. 'So fight all you want away from me. I don't need this.'

'We'll stop.' TJ said firmly. 'No fighting round you.' I folded my arms looking at them all. They weren't even talking anymore. 'They're not going to leave you and I'm caught up in this so I just want it over with fast. The only way I can see that happening is by having help and these guys are offering.' he didn't look away from me as he spoke. It was like the plan was already there. I couldn't change a thing. I looked at them all as they nodded. I sighed looking round.

'Fine, but if I hear the smallest insult or anything I'll beat you all and kick you out.' the nodded. I sighed looking to Gretchen. 'So what do you suggest we do now?' she cleared her throat looking back at the man.

'Relocate away from the man with the gun.' she said and we hastily moved off. Just like that my old gang was my team and we were "relocating".

None of us really knew where to go but Gretchen moved as if she already had a plan. We followed and before we knew it we were at the school, Third Street high looked all too creepy after hours. Just like an abandoned prison.

'here.' she announced to the group. 'Come on.' we all looked at each other. Could we really go into the school? She seemed to think so by the way she walked straight up into the building.

'You sure this is ok?' Gus kept his voice as a whisper.

'Yes, I've got keys to the labs and doors.' she grinned. 'Besides it's perfect as a place to keep fort. I have cameras everywhere, it's our turf and we can lock the doors after. No one's ever there on Saturday too so it's perfect.' even if she did say that I couldn't help feel ominous about approaching building. It just didn't feel right. No one should ever go to school on Saturday.

Gretchen opened the front entrance as we all hurried into the school. I felt tired, it was still morning and I had already been up too long. I looked across at my team- they look equally as unsure. I hurried up to Gretchen.

'You sure this is a good idea, what if we're caught? They could possibly call the police and that's a dead straight way for getting caught.'

'No one's going to get arrested. I'm meant to be here and I can just say that you're my helpers...or my Guiney pigs form some experiment. Either way we're fine.' I didn't believe that but we were already here.

'Ok.' I nodded as we carried on walking down the hall to Gretchen's locker.

I wasn't sure how the guys were going to get into the locker. Well...maybe Gus but his shoulders were rather broad now. Gretchen and I sized them up.

'What?' Mikey frowned as we ended up just staring at him.

'We're going into the locker.' I said as Gretchen turned to open her privet room. The boys all seemed confused. 'You all turned to stupid.' I groaned following Gretchen into the monitor room. 'Close the door behind you.' I walked in just as Gretchen turned the lights on. She was already heading to the monitors.

'No way.' she muttered taking a seat to start typing frantically on the key board.

'What?' I dropped my bag walking behind her. I had already lost her to the computer world. She kept typing hurriedly, almost desperately. There was a groaning scraping sound as the guys all fell through the locker doorway. I wasn't even sure how they managed but they were here now gazing round.

'Wow.' Gus smirked. 'The school really does love you.'

'Bloody amazing.' TJ whispered striding into the middle of the room.

'Guys stop gawping around and look at this.' Gretchen tapped the screen in front of her. I looked back and my heart fell. She zoomed in onto the figure of man in black suits filtering out of a van at the back entrance to the gym.

'no.' Gus leant over Gretchen chair. 'They couldn't have found us so easily this fast.' we all stared at the men approach the school. It was a complete nightmare.

'Shit.' I growled.