KIDNAPPED

Chloe and Nicola left the following morning, slipping away before anyone had the chance to notice. Now, they were walking in Brisbane City, among the crowds and undetected by the passer-by's. "Where is it we're going, again?" asked Nicola as she hurried to catch up with Chloe, who took long strides as she walked. "I was thinking we head to the cinemas…or the museum. Just spend a little time together," Chloe said in response, turning to flash a small smile as Nicola, who smiled in return. "The cinema sounds nice…what's on?" she asked, and Chloe shrugged. "I was hoping we just see what's on when we get there and choose something we both want to see." Nicola nodded, and minutes later they came to a stop outside the large cinemas. A few dozen people were there as well, the line stretching outside and down the footpath.

Chloe shrugged and easily stepped into the line near the front, Nicola beside her. No one questioned it, and when it was the old woman's turn to pay in front of them, they slipped unnoticed after her, posing as her grandchildren. The woman never noticed, and once inside the two giggled together and looked at the long list of movies on display. "Any lovie-Dovie movies?" asked Chloe, and Nicola shook her head, "Those ones always gross me out. Let's watch a thriller, or something action-packed," she suggested, and Chloe agreed. It took them almost no time at all to settle on NOBODY, the action movie supposedly making John Wick look like a child using toy guns and plastic knives. They settled into their seats in their screening room, although it seemed as though nobody else had seen an interest in the movie, because they were the only ones who had decided to watch it.

"It's pretty empty," Nicola noted uncertainly, and Chloe nodded, smiling a little, "Just means I get to cuddle you without being judged." Nicola giggled, and the lights slowly dimmed. The advertisements came first, as usual. They were boring and worth none of their time, so the two hugged together, waiting for the time to pass so that the movie could finally begin. Then, the movie trailers. Chloe and Nicola watched those, partially because it was interesting to see the trailers of movies that hadn't been released yet. "What do you think?" asked Chloe after the Mortal Kombat trailer ended, and Nicola chuckled, "The remake looks way better than the original movies, that's for sure." The two giggled again, and finally, the lights cut out completely, indicating the movie was mere seconds away from beginning. The starting screen came on with Hutch Mansell, the main character and played by Bob Odenkirk, taking a cat and tuna out of his jacket in slow motion while sitting in a police station.

"Who the fuck are you?" asked the detective in front of him, staring at Hutch with disapproving stare in her eyes. Suddenly, the screen flickered, the picture fading in and out before ultimately cutting to black. "Just a glitch, I think," Chloe muttered, staring around the dark room uncertainly. One of the cinema staff stepped behind them and hurriedly said, "Sorry, the cinema is experiencing some technical difficulties. Maybe you would like to come back later?" Something about the man's voice struck Chloe as odd. It was familiar. But she couldn't imagine were from. "Or another movie?" the staff member insisted, and finally it dawned on Chloe. The TV screen…. the serial killer hijacking the news. Chloe whipped her head around fear in her eyes as she found herself face-to-face with the terrifying gasmask strapped around the man's face. Chloe thought quickly as the man suddenly straightened his posture.

She struck her hand to the side and smashed her knuckles against the back of Nicola's head, and Nicola pitched forward, crumpling into the aisle unconscious and now hidden by the large seats. The killer didn't seem phased by the sudden movement, yet he withdrew a syringe from his pocket, took one swift, calculating glance at Chloe, and then plunged it forwards, all in two seconds flat. A small scream came from Chloe's mouth as the needle pierced her skin, and the man injected the clear substance. Chloe struggled, trying to grasp the syringe in her neck, and the man pulled away, gazing at her as Chloe dropped from the seat to her knees, coughing and trying not to gag. She felt awful, like the liquid had already reached her heart. Her vision was blacking out. She could barely see. "Sleep," came the distant echo of the murderer's voice…and Chloe finally collapsed.

***

Andrew sat with Rachael at the table in the middle of the day, both of them either joking around or discussing music with one another. Vironica had come home as well, her arm in a sling, but other than that she was unharmed. "So, what do we do Andrew?" asked Darcy as he sat opposite the two, and Andrew leaned forward, the smile wiping from his face as he became serious. "We can't have you openly working with the police, but we need to find someway of being able to track this guy down." Darcy slowly nodded, a small frown on his face as he thought of possibilities. Bang, bang, bang. Three knocks struck the front door hard, making it shudder in its hinges as Andrew leapt to his feet, pistol already drawn. He cautiously approached the front door, unlocked it and then flung it open, weapon raised and ready to fire.

It was Nicola, the side of her face bruised and eyes wide in panic. "Nicola, what is it?" asked Rachael as she ran forth to embrace Nicola, who shakily returned the hug. "What happened?" asked Jacob as he walked into the hallway, concerned, and Nicola shook her head wildly. "H-h-he took her!" she half-screamed desperately, biting back her sobs, and Andrew cocked his head to the side in confusion. "Who?" Again, Nicola shook her head panickily, trying to find the right words before yelling. "Him! Him!" It didn't take long before Jacob's eyes widened. "She means the killer."