1. Taken
-Vero, I’m scared. -
- Don’t be, everything’s gonna be fine.-I said trying to channell the calmness we desperately needed in that moment. But inside my stomach was churning. I wasn’t sure I even believed my words.
- How? We are in the back of a van, probably being taken to a remote location where they will kill us. - Alice’s vioce cracked with panic, and I could hear her breath quickening, her chest resing and falling faster. She was spiralig, and I needed to pull her back before it got worse.
- Freaking out won’t help, so stop it. - The words felt shap, event to me. I wasn’t happy about this sudden turn of events either. One minute, we were sitting on the couch, watching reality TV, and the next, we were being kidnapped. Definitely not how I envisined tonight would go.
-How can you be so calm?-
- I have a plan.- I said, even though my mind was racing.
-Care to share it with me? -
-Not really. It’s not foolproof but it will buy us a couple more hours.- I said, honesty slipping through.
-Sounds great- she replied sarcastically.
-Do you have a better idea? - snapped at her, frutation rising.
- I don’t even know your idea, but no, I don’t. You’re the smart one. - she was right about that one. Even though she went to college-unlike me,-it was rather for the parties and dorm vibes than for studying. I wouldn’t say I’m highly intellectual, but Alice rarely used her brain for anything other than picking up guys and shopping. Not that I was judging her .She was my best friend, and the one that got me through the last year with my mind mostly intact.
-Then trust me! - I ordered her, feeling my patience wear thin.
-Fine.- she exhaled- Not like I have a choice. - she muttered under her breath.
For a few minutes we sat in silence. She kept her breath steady to calm down, while I focued on channeling the confidence I pretended to have, organising my thoughts. I needed to get my A-game on to get us out of this situation.
After a while, we felt the car accelerate and pull onto something what felt like a highway. I concluded that we’d be here a while. We needed some distraction to get through the hours ahead.
- So, what’s up with the guy with the tattoos?- I asked, trying to start a conversation.
She smiled, her voice brightened as she started rambling about their last date, his interest, his bedroom skills, all the details. Initially, I only wanted her to calm down, but it worked great for both of us. We even laughed at some parts, forgetting about the scary guys in the front and the real possibility it would be our last hours on Earth.
