Car rides. I hate them. But there weren’t any airports near her town so there was nothing for it. Nobody seemed to be too curious about a lone teenage boy with nothing but a bag slung over his shoulder. It was better that way. The only one I wanted to notice me was her. Everything about my trip was wrong. I shouldn’t be driving on my own. I shouldn’t be doing what I was about to do. I shouldn’t even be here. Within a few hours, I would be a fugitive. I didn’t want any trouble before I needed it. The sun was sinking low in the sky. Perfect. I would be in Susanville soon. Right on cue, my phone rang. I answered it.

“Hello?”

“You sound tense. I hope you’ll be more relaxed when you come to kidnap me”

“I’m not used to driving… the last thing I need is to get pulled over. Especially now I’m so close”

“Oh really? How close?”

“Just entered Susanville I’ll be at your house soon.”

“Excellent! See you soon then, love!”

“I love you, Jenna!”

“I love you too, Gabe!”

I hung up and, suppressing a mad urge to hug the steering wheel, drove off. I’m going to see her soon! I suppressed my excitement. She was right. I needed to keep cool for this job. Even when the victim is willing, kidnapping is a bitch. And after all, I had to make it convincing.

I drove up to the house she had told me. One window was lit up. Hers. I suppressed a shudder. I couldn’t believe what I was about to do. Don’t think. Act. I took my bag and closed the car door softly. This part was crucial. I had to screw up just enough so they knew how she had disappeared but careful enough so I wasn’t caught. I reached into my bag and pulled out a narrow strip of metal, which I slipped into the crack just above the lock on her door. I then slid a hairpin into the lock and began to push the pins up and out of the way. The lock clicked and the door opened. I was inside! I crept through the halls until I got to her bedroom door. I opened it quietly.

“Sleeping beauty, I presume?” I said dryly