As I trotted to Gabe's car, a mixture of horrible emotions filled me.  Anger, at myself and Gabe.  Fear, for, again, myself.  And that gut-wrenching sadness that had refused to leave my side since last night. 

I pressed my fingers to my forehead, trying the stop a headache.  What had I done wrong on this mission?  Pfft, I could probably list a hundred things I'd done wrong.  I pictured Alison's face when I'd tell her I'd failed.  The only thing I could imagine was disappointment. 

Letting out a sigh, I spotted the car and moved toward it slowly, trudging my way through the fresh cut grass.  I'd miss this place.  I loved Maine; it was so peaceful and gorgeous.  How could I give it up?  But I'd have to.  I'd failed my mission.  That would mean...what?  Where would I go after this?  The Institute wouldn't let me stay here in Maine, that was for sure. 

I leaned against Gabe's car, refusing to get in.  This was my last chance to be outside for who knew how long.  I'd be carted off to the Institute, forced into more classes...maybe even dumped. 

A soft noise came from behind me, but I knew it was only other kids arriving for class.  I checked my watch.  It was only 7:18.  Which meant...

I twisted around just as the bag came over my head, blocking my sight and pinning my arms at my sides.  I let out a shout and kicked at my attacker, but I only hit the car.  I tried moving my hands up to tap my tracker on my shoulder, but a rope suddenly tightened around my waist, cutting off any movement of my arms.  I swung a leg up in a kick, knowing that someone was doing this to me and they had to be near.  Unfortunately, without my arms, I didn't have a lot of balance.  I felt arms shove me from behind and I tumbled into the dirt, instantly feeling a dozen scrapes on my elbows and knees. 

I shouted at the person, but even I didn't know what I was saying.  I was just a mixture of terrified and annoyed.  I couldn't reach my tracker, which meant no backup was coming.  On the other hand, this person might be from the Institute, here to bring me in. 

A small pinch came from my wrist, and I knew from the sweet smell that it was sleeping narcotic. I was out in seconds. 

~~~~~~

I woke with a groan, feeling a throbbing headache pounding behind my eyes.  I tried to reach my hands up to massage away the pain, but my hands were locked behind me in an uncomfortable position.  From the achy way my body felt, I'd been in this spot for a long time. 

Opening my eyes slowly, I blinked at a sharp light coming from the window beside me.  I muttered softly, trying to focus.  Why did I feel like someone hit me with a brick?  Maybe they had.  That thought brought my memory back.  Aria, Gabe, the car, someone kidnapping me. 

Actually, I didn't even know if someone kidnapped me or if I was just being brought to the Institute.  I forced my eyes open completely and gazed around the dim room.  The only light came from the window beside me. 

"Gabe?" I croaked, my throat dry.  A door was to my left, but it didn't have knob.  So I wouldn't be able to pick the lock.  That reminded me of my wrists, and I set to work untying the knot while I examined my surroundings. 

Leaning back, I glanced out the window.  There was only open air, like I was on a mountain cliff.  The sun seemed only inches away, and the air burned with heat.  Which was odd, because if I was really on a high mountain, it should feel cold. 

"Hello!" I called, finally dropping the rope and stepping forward, rubbing my wrists. Nothing answered.  I went to the door and ran my fingers along the cracks, and tapped at the hinges.  I tried twisting the screw on the hinge, but it was stuck fast. 

Nervously, I reached up to touch my tracker, but before I could, the door opened and slammed into my face.  I screamed as I tumbled to the ground, clutching my nose as a black masked figure entered the room.  I kicked myself backwards while the man followed me intimidatingly.   I could feel the blood sliding down my face from my broken nose. 

"Who are you?" I asked, struggling to remember that I was the spy; I was the one who was trained to handle situations like this. 

The man didn't speak.  Faster than I could move, he grabbed my shoulder and yanked me forward.  A pathetic yelp came from me, and I winced in shame.  Why wasn't I doing anything? The door was wide open behind the man, all I had to do was take him out and leave.  But something held me back; I knew deep down I wouldn't be able to leave the fight alive. 

The man reached into his pocket and brought out a knife, and that brought me back to reality. He obviously wasn't from the Institue, which was bad.  Really, really, bad.  With an extra sprinkle of badness. 

I scolded myself mentally.  This was not the time to make jokes.

The man leaned forward, and I could see his brown eyes through the slits in the mask.  They regarded me with interest, like I was a rare bug. 

"What do you want?" I questioned as my heart raced in fear.  I could feel it thumping, like someone turned my senses on to hyper drive.  My nose also hurt with every word I spoke. 

Then the man promptly stabbed me in the shoulder - right where my tracker was.  I fainted as soon as I glanced down at the wound.  Blood was spurting, and I could see a bone streaked in red.  I won't go into detail, but it was not a pretty sight. 

~~~~~~

I woke because my shoulder felt like it was on fire.  Groggily, I opened my eyes and glanced down at it.  It was wrapped in a white cloth tied neatly.  My fingers shook as I scratched at the cloth.  I needed to see the wound. 

A hand stopped me.  I glared upward and blinked at the bright light above my head.  I could just barely make out the black mask.  It seemed to float in the darkness behind the bright light, and the world seemed to spin. 

"Gabe...?" I muttered.  I could feel tears welling in the corner of my eyes and blinked them back quickly.  My best friend wasn't with me.  I was alone with the masked man.  My tracker was destroyed.  No help was coming for me.  I allowed my eyes to close as unshed tears burned behind them. 

~~~~~~

I slipped in and out unconsciousness for days.  Sometimes when I opened my eyes, I thought Gabe was standing beside my cot.  Other times it was the masked man.  Once it was my mother.  I reached out for all of them, begging them to kill me.  The pain in my shoulder was beyond anything I ever felt.  I was feverish, and I knew my shoulder was infected. 

I woke once when the masked man was beside the bed, cleaning my shoulder.  I glanced at the wound and hissed in pain when I saw the green tinged skin.  Blood was oozing from the slice, and I saw bits of metal from my tracker.  I glared at the masked man. 

"How could you?" I snarled at him.  He only shook his head and dabbed something on the wound.  I screamed in pain as the alcohol was rubbed into my shoulder.  I blacked out seconds later.

Another time I opened my eyes and watched my mother and the masked man arguing.  I opened my mouth and muttered, asking for water.  The masked man rushed to my side and tipped a plastic bottle to my mouth.  The cool freshness was better than anything I'd ever tasted. 

"Thank you..." I whispered.  My mother shook her head sadly and left.

It was probably two weeks in all before I finally opened my eyes for good.  The room was empty except for my cot and a table beside it.  I glanced at my shoulder and saw only a fresh pink scar.  Finally. 

I stood and crept to the window, where the same blinding light seemed to blast in.  How long had I been out?  I really didn't know. I touched my nose, and the break seemed healed, so it had to be a while. 

I sorted what I knew from what I didn't: I knew I'd been kidnapped.  My tracker was destroyed.  I'd been  asleep for at least two weeks.  I was alive.  What I didn't know: Why the Institute wasn't looking for me?  Why did I see my mother in my hallucinations?  Why was I kidnapped?  How did that masked man know where my tracker was? Why me?

I let out a frustrated sigh and sat down slowly beside the wall.  I didn't know more than I knew, if that sentence makes any sense. 

A creak from the door made me glanced upward.  The masked man stood in the doorway.  Then he reached up and tugged the mask off. 

That was a long chapter!!! Sorry it took so long to write, but I've been really swamped with homework.  I got sick so I finally had twenty minutes to finish! YAY!  Anyway, please comment, vote, follow!

Also, check out my other story, A Twisted Tale. 

I almost forgot: comment a name you think the masked man should have!

Yup that's all my announcements.  I'll post the next chapter sometime next week, hopefully. Ok bye!