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Chapter 1- Taken away

I thought it was going to be a normal day. I hang out with Josh and Michael, my parents go out, all would be well. A normal Saturday. The house was clean, so I was outside, running around with Michael. Michael. 6’3, Italian, and extremely cute. A girl’s dream guy. Then there was Josh. 5’7, Irish, with bright red hair. He looked kind of like a leprechaun, but taller. Michael and I both mocked him constantly. I was thinking all this when we saw the black car go by.
Really, I should say more that had been happening these past couple of weeks. My parents had been fighting constantly because my dad did something stupid. He was sent 60,000 dollar check by an unknown person. 60,000 dollars! Can you imagine? Anyways, he was sent this check, and was told to cash it, take 15,000 of it and send the rest to a country in Africa. We had no idea where that money was going. It could be to a terrorist organization for all we know. But nonetheless, my dad sent the money anyways. So my parents had been fighting about that. In turn, I hung outside as much as possible with my friends, and we hung out in a treehouse in Josh’s yard.
That’s what we did when we saw the car pull into my driveway. We ignored it, as my dad was a pastor, and we had visitors all the time. We were hanging out in the treehouse, talking things we had said and done in the past. I was 15, Josh 16, and Michael 17, so we really didn’t have that much past, but we still found things to talk about.
The black car left, and we decided to hang out for another hour, then go inside. We parted our ways, still laughing amicably, and I stopped dead as I reached the door. Something was wrong. I could feel it. Our cars were gone, and the house seemed strangely empty. I ran inside, looking for them, but knowing I wasn’t going to find them. All of their stuff was gone, their passports, even my report cards. My belongings were all still in their place. The fight hadn’t been for nothing. My mom was right. The money went to a terrorist organization, and the government had taken them away, just like my mom said might happen. I took this in numbly then did the logical thing in any other case: I dialed my mom’s cell phone. Surprisingly she answered.

“Nikki?”

“MOM! Where are you? Are you hurt!?”

“Nikki? How did you…?”

and the phone was taken away from here.

“Hello, this is Brice Terence from the FBI. You will not be able to speak to your parents again, as they have committed crimes against their country.”

I admit, at that I snapped.

“WHAT FREAKIN’ CRIMES??MY PARENTS ARE TAKEN AWAY JUST BECAUSE MY DAD MAKES A STUPID MISTAKE AND YOU SAY HE’S COMITTED CRIMES AGAINST THIS COUNTRY?!!”

“Obviously you know the crime for which they will be punished.”

“Let them go! These are my parents! Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

“Not really, no.” the man said coldly, and hung up.
I fell to the floor sobbing wildly, feeling that my heart had been ripped from its chest. And here I sit, wondering what the hell I’m supposed to do now.


I called my father’s cell phone, again not knowing what to expect. This time my dad didn’t even answer it. A government official did. Her voice was rough but had a kindness about it, something that gave me the courage to go on. I spouted quickly

“Please, please, PLEASE let my parents go. I’ll do anything. I’m sure my parents would pay whatever you wanted, just please…”

I was cut off by the woman’s voice.

”We were expecting this call. Are you sure you would do anything to save your parents?”

“Yes.” I said quickly, almost cutting him off.

“Then you have just agreed to fight.”

“What?!”

”You will fight for your parents.”

“But I can’t fight! I’m a girl who definitely can’t fight, believe me!

“I’m sorry. All I can give you is the details. You will fight in 5 month’s time. It will not only be a battle of strengths, but a battle of intellectual skill on law and government and computer skills. If you agree to participate in this event, we will take care of everything involving your house and income.”

I calmed down a little then and said

”Where will this fight take place?”

“Just be in front of your home at 10 a.m. on March 26.

“Will I need to go back to school?”

”That is your choice, but we will take care of it if you choose not to.”

“Will I be able to talk to my parents?”

”No.”

I cried a little more then, sobs nearly overcoming my words.

“Will they know what I am doing?”

”The will be notified, yes. So do you choose to participate in this fight for your parents?”

“Yes.” I choked out.

”Then we will see you in five months time.”

As soon as I hung up, I had a million more questions that I had forgotten. I sobbed, harder that I had when my brother died, he was only two, harder than we moved away from my hometown, harder than I had when I found out that Santa Clause wasn’t real. Well minus the Santa part. That really wasn’t important. Five months. It seemed like so much time and so little all at the same time. How was I supposed to get ready? I knew I would have to get stronger, much stronger, and that I would have to learn to fight. I did not know how to take care of my parent’s jobs, so I decided to leave it to the FBI. I didn’t know how I was supposed to pay for clothes, or food. We had some money laying around the house hopefully, but I don’t think we have any credit cards left.
I had so much to do. I needed to learn to fight, study every aspect of government, and learn everything about computers and hacking. The learning to fight would be easiest. I could get law books from the library. Computers I would have to worry about later.
At school I had heard rumors of this ‘secret’ school for people to fight. The problem is that they only accept the best and only guys. I didn’t know how to get there, and I seriously doubt they would let a blonde, overweight girl in. Well not really overweight. But I’m certainly not skinny.
Josh called me, and Michael and I hung out with him, me acting like nothing was wrong. I casually asked if they had heard of that fighting school on the south side. They exchanged looks, and asked why I needed to know.

“Because I want to know.” I said, frustrated.

“Well, there is no reason for a girl like you to be in that part of town, especially in that particular place.” Josh said.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“That you are a girl, and girls can’t fend for themselves.” Michael added.

”How do you know? How do you know I can’t be just as strong as you are?”

“Because it’s not physically possible. Girls weren’t built to fight.” Josh said knowingly.

“What do you know? You guys are just stupid idiots!” I screamed, then stormed off.

Truthfully, their words hurt me more than I would like to admit. If girls really can’t fight, then I would lose. And I really couldn’t lose.