On the side is Finn! I love him so much <3 Anyways back to the story :)

As I was losing speed, they were gaining some.

I felt like the Zaph in my dreams that can't seem to run for shit, yet the bad guys are all Olympic tract stars. 

I had been running for what seems like forever, yet it seemed like the men behind me hadn't even broken a sweat, whereas I was over here dying. Oh, did I forget to mention I have exercised-induced asthma? No? 

Well I do, so life sucks.

I was now nearing the locker rooms, which is exactly where I had planned on going. I ran into the girl's, and whipped around wildly in search of anything that could help me keep those guys out for as long as possible. All I needed was time.

Time that I most definitely did not have. 

I located a little broom in the corner, and quickly shoved it through the door handle, attempting to successfully block them out, something that I had seen work in the movies.

Just as I had rammed the broomstick through it, the door jerked forward when someone on the other side tried to push on it, smashing my fingers in the space between the door and where I was trying to place to broom. Biting my lip, and holding my throbbing fingers, I slowly backed away from the door as the men kept beating on it.

Then all of a sudden the banging just stopped. I just stared at the door expecting them to barge in at any second, but after what seemed like couple of minutes of only hearing my heavy breathing, I thought they had given up.

BANG.

I slipped, startled, and flipped over one of the benches in the room, knocking over a crate of jump ropes in the process.

The broom was smashed into pieces on the tile floor as the door swung open by the men's sheer strength. They were slowly approaching me, but all I could do was back up slowly, as I discreetly attempted to detangle myself from the jump ropes now wrapped around my ankles. My heart felt like it was about to burst, and my underarms had become slightly damp from the strain I was placing on my body.

They charged at me, and that was all it took for me to sprint out of the, thank God, other locker door. I didn't want to take my chances with this door a few moments ago because I was afraid that there would have been people on the other side, but now, it was my only hope. I held on tightly to the jump ropes that had previously been my enemies, and ran down the thankfully empty hallway.

I could hear their feet gaining on me by the second, and if I didn't think of something quickly, I was going to get cornered. I accidentally ran into a trashcan, but recovered fast enough. The men behind me, however, were not so lucky because of how close they were. They didn't have time to react, and a few face planted, causing others to trip over them as well.

"Oomph!" I ran right into a hard chest, and fell down, trying to catch myself, but to no avail. 

The person quickly yanked me back up and pulled me into a nearby classroom, throwing me into even more darkness before I could catch a glimpse of anything. I was struggling and kicking with little success; my assailant had me pinned against the nearby wall with both of my tiny hands in just one of his. His hand was covering my mouth as his body was pressed up against mine.

I could feel push pins digging into my back, as I tried to fight off whoever had me immobile. Tears began to fall freely from my eyes, because I had never felt so helpless in my life. All I wanted to do was go home, and now I might not even be able to see my family again.

I wanted to scream so badly, but his hand was covering my mouth, therefore all I would accomplish was a small sound and a hoarse throat. I was too afraid to look at who was in front of me, not even sure if I would be able to see him in this darkness.

"Calm down, I'm not going to hurt you. I just didn't want you screaming," the person said, taking his hand off my mouth.  I released the pressure from my eyes at the familiar voice, opening them to see striking blue ones staring back at me.

Luke Reynolds, one of Jacen buddies, was standing only a few inches away from me, with a pool of concern swirling in his oceanic orbs. I let out a deep sigh of relief when I recognized him and gave a timid smile before looking down. However the relief was short lived because there was a silhouette of a person standing right outside of the door.

The doorknob turned slowly, and it was slowly starting to open. When Luke pulled me into the room, I was so focused on getting out of his grip that I didn't listen to where the men who were chasing me had gone. Horror enveloped me when I realized they had probably seen me stumble into this room.

"Oh God," I breathed when the door started creaking even more.

Luke took me pushed me behind him, his body getting into a fight position, ready to pounce on whoever was about to come in. But we paused when a cute dirty blonde guy squeezed his way through the door, shutting it behind him.

"I couldn't find her but-" he cut himself off as he saw me standing behind Luke. "It seems like you did." He whispered. He gave me an easy smile, as he made his way towards me. Luke let out a sigh and eased from his defensive stance.

"Finn," Luke said with a frown. "Where're Spence and Jace?"

Finn rolled his eyes. "Jacen ran off somewhere and told me and Spence to stay together like we are a couple of kids. Spencer's outside the door keeping watch, so would you quit worrying so much? I told you I had it covered," Finn said with the same carefree smile lighting up his face.

I was admiring his dimple, until I realized that I was currently involved in what seemed to be a life or death situation with a couple of guys who were the last people I would have expected to see here.

I raised my hand and cleared my throat, "As happy and confused as I am to see you both, right now, all I want to do is get out of here. What are you guys even doing here anyways?"

Finn and Luke shared glances before Finn said in a questioning manner with a raised eyebrow, "Uhh, would you believe us if we said we don't know?" I gave him an irritated look.

"Well for two guys that don't know why they are here, you are acting disturbingly calm when there are men running around with knives. And since you're here with me now, they probably won't be too keen on letting you guys get away either."

Finn smiled at me and looked over to Luke. "I like her."

Luke scoffed and grabbed my arm gently guiding me over to Finn. "Go with Spence to get her out of here safely. Then come and meet me back here. Take this," he said as he handed him a knife.

I choked in shock, stumbling into wooden desks in an attempt to put space between me and what should only be used as a cooking utensil. "Does everyone around here own a knife or something?" I squeaked out nervously.

Finn looked down at me, and with devious smile he said, "Why," he inched closer to me, "Does it make you nervous?"

"Finn stop messing around and get out of here already," Luke said, irritation present in his voice as he tinkered with some strange looking gadget thingies in his bag.

"Aye Aye, Captain," he said in mock salute before stiffly turning and walking out of the classroom door. This guy is way too relaxed for his own good. Finn grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the classroom with him.

"I love you brotha!" he shouted over his shoulder as we walked away from Luke.

I looked at him in horror as he shouted out, quickly slapping my hand over his mouth. Was he not at all bothered by the fact that someone might have heard him and followed the noise? 

He gave me a strange look and then his gaze fell to my hand, before I understood that he wanted me to remove it. I quickly yanked my hand back, looking at the ground, and away from him. Spencer came to walk on my other side, and Finn looked over at him with a smile.

"Spence, this is Zaph. Zaph, Spence," he said gesturing back and forth, looking bored.

"Oh trust me I know all about her," he said with a mischievous glint in his eyes while still being alert with his surroundings.

I looked up at him in curiously.

"You do?" I asked slowly and then turned to Finn," Wait, how do you even know my name?" I hadn't said it back in the classroom, I don't think.

Finn just smiled as Spencer said,"Jacen keeps us updated."

Jacen? I had never made any physical contact with the guy until this morning. Yet with all of the recent events, it felt like that happened years ago, not this morning. I was forcefully pulled out of my thoughts when Finn pulled me down behind a counter.

"Hey, when did we get in-" I started to ask, because I didn't notice when we had entered into the cafeteria, but silencing myself quickly as I looked to Finn.

He put a finger to his lips in a shushing motion and peeked over the counter we were currently behind.

He sat back and looked at me with a serious expression on his face.

"I am going to go out the side door and come back around. The door to the cafeteria is being blocked from the outside. The only way to get you out is through this cafeteria, and that can't happen unless I take that guy," he pointed at the man by the door, "out."

I looked at Finn with wide eyes. Take him out?! I hope he doesn't mean what I think he means.

"Like," I gulped, searching for my voice. "Take him out, take him out?" I squeaked. 

He pulled out his knife and handed it to me.

"Zaph, I'm going to let you hold onto this, but if everything goes right, you won't have to use it- hey," he said noticing my reaction, and making me look up at him, "everything is going to be ok, I promise. Plus Jace would have my ass if anything happened to you," he said in a whisper with a small smile.

He grabbed my hand and squeezed it for a quick second before giving me a wink and leaving me with the knife. I turned it over in my trembling hand, doubting that I could ever bring myself to use it.

Wait, where did Spencer go? I wondered as I looked around. I definitely need to be more focused because I didn't even see him leave.

I heard a grunt in the back where we had come from, followed several more footsteps. I debated whether to go and check to make sure he was alright, but I think it was safer for me to stay in here. 

I bit my lip. This was a situation where you either put your wellbeing first or another person's. Right now, I just had to trust that he was skilled enough to take on a couple of guys.

Hopefully.

Taking that as my cue to exit the cafeteria cautiously, I stood up with shaky legs, gripping the knife like my life depended on it, knowing it very well could. I exited the cafeteria and made my way down another dark hallway until I finally spotted another window, similar to the one from earlier, that had been smashed. I started walking towards it slowly, taking in how deathly quiet it was.

Almost too quiet.

It was suspicious but I disregarded the fact since I was less than twenty feet from freedom.

Almost there.

I was so close when, out of nowhere, two arms wrapped around my waist and hands, pinning them to my side, and pulling me back into a body.

I looked up to see the man that had been talking to the five guys at the beginning of this nightmare, the one who I assumed had called me and got my cover blown. Fear tugged at my heart. I had just made that too easy.

"Where do you think you're going sweetheart? The party is just getting started."

I froze as I saw Luke, Spencer, and Finn all being dragged towards us by some large men by their arms. I assumed they were breathing, I hoped they were, as they were thrown on the ground by my feet. I held in a scream, as the situation's seriousness hit me with full force. It didn't look good for me if the only people who could help me were unconscious on the floor.

The guy behind me let out a deep chuckle that was nothing short of creepy.

"Let her go Colton."

The guy, whose name is Colton I guess, turned around toward the source of the voice, roughly pulling me along with him.

It was Jacen, and to say he was unhappy was an understatement.

"Why would I do that Matthews? We have only just started to get to know each other," he said stroking my cheek with his calloused fingers. A sickly slimy feeling crawled through my body at his touch, and I tried to pull away. 

I froze when I felt something cold and hard graze my skin.

"After all, what's a better time than now, when I have everyone's full cooperation."

Colton had just pulled out a knife, and it was now being pressed against my neck.

:0

Oh Snap.