14 Wasn't Expecting That

An hour later I find myself sitting outside, next to a park with a double scoop of strawberry ice cream. I frown at the park as I lick the ice cream and wait for Thane to come back. Did he... did he bring me to a playground?

I look to the ice cream before looking back up at the playground full of kids. They ranged in age but I was still slightly... shocked. Do I really seem that young to him!? When Thane finally walks back over with a bag, he hands it to me and sits down next to me. The guy looks delicious in street clothes but I currently want to dropkick him in his stupidly handsome face!

"Those are yours and when you get done with your ice cream, you can go run off some steam." He says pulling out his com device. My mouth nearly falls to the ground as I look at him in disbelief. I slowly look down into the bag he handed me and see a large bag of suckers in different flavors.

My eye starts twitching as my anger rises. I toss my strawberry ice cream into the trash can beside us and wipe my hands. Thane is still busy on his com device so I decide to get up and leave. The prick can enjoy the playground all by himself.

I open up the bag of suckers and pop one in my mouth as I look up at the bright sun. At least he got the good suckers... Maybe I can explore the city a little and get more accustomed to it. As I'm walking, I'm suddenly hit and knocked over!

I quickly catch myself as I fall and look up to see a girl around my age on top of me and in tears. "I'm sorry!! Please help me!!" She grabs onto me as two large men walk up and try to pry her off. Something about this wasn't right...

I hold on to her and ask "What do you two think you're doing?" The girl quickly says "They tried to grab me and put me in a white van! I don't know them, please help!" The two men look around real quick before looking back to me and saying "Look here little brat, hand over the girl before we kick your ass."

I quickly try to put her behind me as one of the men grabs the front of my shirt. He pulls back like he's about to hit me so I reach up and quickly punch him in the throat. He jerks back and grabs his neck as his buddy pulls out a blade.

The guy with the blade suddenly starts screaming as the blade freezes to his hand. As I turn to my right, I see the bottom of a large, black shoe coming straight at us. Thane kicks the guy right in the face, causing the guy to fly back several feet and hit a light pole.

The first guy curses and quickly pulls his buddy up before running away. Thane turns to us and snaps at me "What the hell are you doing?" The girl breaks down in tears and falls to the ground behind me, sobbing loudly as she says "Thank you" over and over.

After explaining the situation to Thane, we walk the girl over to the nearest police station. After taking the girl to the hospital, the older officer turns to us and asks "You two said you were in the Academy?"

Thane and I nod as Thane pulls out an ID. The officer nods and says "I appreciate both of you stepping in and helping the young woman. We've had multiple cases of women disappearing lately and we think this might be part of it. Can I speak to your instructor?"

Thane and I glance at each other in confusion before Thane pulls out his com device and calls someone. After a few seconds, he hands the phone over to the officer and turns to look at me with a frown.

Thane leans in close and asks "Did something else happen while I was gone?" I shake my head and shrug as I say "I'm just as confused." Thane flicks my forehead, causing me to suck in and glare at him as I rub my forehead in pain.

"What the hell was that for!?" I hiss out in anger but he's just as angry as he snaps back "THAT was for walking off without saying anything! What if I hadn't found you? What would you have done then?"

I look at him with utter disbelief as I say "I would have taken care of them, Thane. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. And did you seriously take me to a playground to "run off some steam!?!" Are you kidding me!?? What am I?? THREE!??"

I'm practically foaming at the mouth when the officer comes back and says "Alright. Your instructor Titus is heading over with a few other students so they should be here shortly." As he hands the com device back to Thane, he continues "I asked for the school's assistance in trying to get these guys. They avoid guys like us so we can never get close enough but if if you guys... I feel like you're young enough to go unnoticed."

"We finally got a lead and know where they're camping out and snatching women. With your help, we might just be able to take these guys down." Thane frowns at the officer as I awkwardly clear my throat and say "If it means saving young women from something horrible, we should all do what we can to help. Do you know what's happening to the women who go missing?"

The officer sighs and says "We've heard a few things about the black market... I think they're snatching up the women and selling them on the black market." My eyes widen in shock as Thane takes on a look of disgust.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out why they're selling them at the black market... This needs to stop!