Lance and Jessica stopped dead on their tracks. Slowly, they turned around. Lance�s grip on Jessica�s hand tightened considerably, and the sad thing was, she didn�t feel even it.
�Keep your hands where I can see them,� the stranger said gruffly.
The stranger had a long, black trench coat on over a black shirt. His black jeans were baggy and covered his black boots. His black boat hat covered his sunglasses. He stood, poised with a gun in his gloved hand. He was only about 2 feet away.
The only sound that broke the silence was the sound of Jessica�s and Lance�s teeth chattering.
�Hand over all your belongings, NOW,� the stranger said lowly.
Jessica gulped and took off her left earring, followed closely by her other gold earring. They were a present from Jada for her 16th birthday, but right now she couldn�t care less. She handed them over.
Lance paused hesitantly. �What�s going on? I am SO glad I left that ring at home��
When she noticed that Lance didn�t move, Jessica nudged him. He snapped awake and handed his silver watch to the stranger. The cold was getting the better of him.
�I know you have more, hand it over!� the outsider barked.
Slowly, Lance extended his hand, which had his wallet inside. He had carefully slipped out his credit cards, and was glad he didn�t bring ALL of them along (hey, what teenager doesn�t have bunches of credit cards?). All there was in there were some cash, his license (he could get a new one, couldn�t he?) and some pictures.
The stranger looked through frantically, and pulled out the wad of bills. He (thinking of the voice and basically stereotypes�) stuffed them in his pocket. Then he glared at Jessica. �You. More.�
She handed him her purse. It was pretty much full of make up and a bunch of other stuff�her cell phone was what she was most worried about. She prayed that she wouldn�t have too much of a bill�of course, this guy was obviously not gonna be nice and hand her her cell phone and keep the make up.
He looked through the purse also, then stuffed that into his pocket with the cash. The stranger looked at them both accusingly. �You�ve got to have more money than that.�
They both shook their heads fearfully.
�Most of it probably fell into the lake when we fell,� Jessica whispered bravely.
The man slapped her across the face. �You lie.�
Lance felt his anger rise as he held Jessica close. Her crying was silent, hoping not to get hit again. He restrained himself from lashing out. I mean, the stranger IS the one who has the gun!
�Nothing left?�
The scared couple only nodded.
Click! The gun was cocked.
Jessica�s heart stopped. �Oh my god�
�You lie again,� the stranger said, irritated. �Now, give me the keys to the car.�
Lance fumbled in his pockets before throwing his keys to the mysterious man.
Nothing could hide the sinister grin on his face as he pushed past the shuddering, frightened two to the car.
His last words were �Nice doing business with you!� and he left.
As soon as the car disappeared from view, Jessica broke down. �Oh my god�oh my god��
�It�s ok Jessie�it�ll be ok�� Lance coaxed.
�God we�re gonna die�nobody knows where we are Lance! What if they never find us?� Jessica panicked. �What if the don�t realize we�re gone? What if-�
�Stop.�
Jessica silenced herself.
�We have to think. Who cares if he has my car�my grandfather�s watch�my money�everything�who cares?� Lance added a slight laugh. �We�re lucky we have each other.�
�Oh my god�how can you think that way at a time like this?� Jessica sobbed. �We�re gonna die of pneumonia, I know it.�
�You�re cold?� Lance asked, hugging her closer.
�We just fell into a lake, and you ask me if I�m cold?�
The smile came and went as Lance hugged her tight. �We�ll be ok.�
*-*-*
Meanwhile�
The angry man sped down the road as fast as he could go. He picked up the cell phone as soon as it rung.
�What?� he asked, irate from the past events.
�Jessie?� came a female voice. �Is that you?�
�So that�s who your friend is huh?� the man smiled wickedly. �Well prepare to say goodbye girly-cuz she ain�t comin� back.� Without another word, he hung up on her.
*-*-*
Ally stared as her arm slowly fell to her side. �cuz she ain�t comin� back��
�OH GOD DAMMIT!!� she cried, her head falling onto the table.
�What? Shh!� everyone at the table hushed.
About 30 pairs of eyes were on the table, all of them focused on the mad woman who banged her head on the table.
�What have I done?�
�What? What happened?� JC asked confusedly.
�They�re in trouble,� Ally whispered.
Everyone�s eyes widened. �WHAT?!�
�I just called Jessie�but she didn�t pick up�� Ally started to cry and her voice went up an octave. �It was a guy�and he says to me �better say goodbye cuz she isn�t coming back�!� Then she broke down as Jada hugged her friend.
�Oh my god�Lance�� Justin gulped, scared for his friend.
�Where�d they go?� Chris asked immediately, obviously the only who could think at this traumatizing moment.
�I don�t know�� Ally sobbed. �I don�t know��
�Well what are we WAITING for?� Kate shouted, standing up. �We have to find them!!�
Everyone started getting up and hurrying out the door, leaving 30 spectators behind, shocked and worried.
*-*-*
�C�mon where could they be?� Justin cried, looked around the area.
�Calm down Justin,� Claire said softly. �Just think.�
�THINK? How can I THINK when one of my best friends is out there, who knows what happening to him?� Justin exclaimed. �How can you just THINK when one of your closest friends is in trouble?�
�CUZ I KNOW IT�LL SAVE THEM!� Claire shouted angrily. With a last �huff� she stormed off.
Justin gulped, suddenly feeling remorse.
*-*-*
�Think, think, think!� Jada cried, pacing around the vicinity. �Where can they BE?�
�Jada, STOP,� Joey said, stopping her forcefully. �We have to think.�
�That�s what I�ve been trying to do!� she snapped.
�Think this way: where would Lance take Jessica?� Joey said slowly, hoping to calm her.
�Joey�that�s IT! Come on!�
�Whoa!�
*-*-*
�GUYS!! GUYS!!� Jada shouted. �Get over here quick!!�
Alerted, they all rushed over to her and questions were fired.
�What happened?�
�Did you find them?�
�Are you and Joey going out now?�
Jada ignored the last question. �I know how to find them!�
All ears focused on her as she explained Joey�s stroke of genius.
*-*-*
�Lance�Lance it�s so cold,� Jessica shivered, trying to get even closer to Lance�s also shivering body.
�They�ll find us soon�they�ll have to,� Lance prayed more than comforted. �Everything will be ok.�
The wind had unexpectedly picked up in the last half hour, and left those two incredibly frozen. They were huddled together under a tree in the forest, trying to evade the harsh wind. The trees were waving with the wind, making it worse.
�I can�t feel my body now�it�s been over an hour Lance�why aren�t I dry yet?�
�I don�t know Jessie�just pray. Pray to live.�
Lance�s eyes closed as exhaustion and the cold got to his system. He was out like a light.
*-*-*
�When did they leave?� Chris tried to think, trying to be logical. His brain clicked. Around 6. He tried to think of where there was to go during 6�not clubs�too early. Not to the house�too safe� What went on at 6? Chris got it. �SUNSET!�
Everyone looked at him. �WHAT?�
�They went to see the sunset!� Chris said excitedly. �Where can they see the sunset?�
JC spoke up. �The��
�LAKE!� they all exclaimed, jumping to their feet and running after the only car left-Ally�s Expedition. How many could fit? Who would stay? Who would go to save their friends� lives?
�I�m coming, no matter what!� Justin said firmly.
Then they all started arguing, their voices clanging in the otherwise still air.
�STOP IT!� Claire shrieked. �We can all go! Just�get into the trunk!�
They all looked at each other, then clamored into the car. Ally was driving; JC was in shotgun; Justin sat between them; Chris, Joey, and Jada sat in the back; and unfortunate Claire and Kate sat in back.
�Floor it!�
*-*-*
The Minnesota winds blew hard�blew against the trees�against the waters of the lake�against the two freezing people lying on the ground, helplessly unconscious in bitter cold. The clock was ticking� Tick�tock�tick�tock� When would their time run out?
*-*-*
�God where are they?� Ally said frantically as they pulled into the parking lot of the 3rd lake they�d been to. �Where are they?�
�Search c�mon!� JC ordered. �Chris, you�re with me, rest of you, just find someone!�
They all dispersed, frantically searching. Were their friends hurt? Or even worse, dead?
Joey looked around helplessly at the forest. He scanned over the area once�so he went over it again. Then he saw it. Two lumps on the ground. His heart racing, Joey ran as fast as his long legs could carry him. His heart stopped.
�G-� he cleared his throat. �GUYS! HELP!!�
*-*-*
�Guys! Help!� Justin heard faintly. His head shot up quick and he spun around fast, trying to pinpoint the sound. He saw Joey-or SOMEBODY-waving their arms. Justin ran.
He saw everyone else come after his lead. Justin stopped dead on his tracks when he saw them.
�That�s not�that can�t be them,� Claire choked. �They don�t look like that.�
�JUST HURRY AND GET THEM TO THE CAR!� Ally cried angrily. �WHY ARE YOU JUST SITTING THERE?!�
Everyone scrambled for the pale, icy bodies of their friends.
�Oh my god why are they wet?� Kate asked.
�That�s why they�re so cold,� Joey said. �The wind�s blowing hard I hope you noticed!�
�Sorry! I was busy concentrating on something else!� Kate snapped.
�Stop it you guys!� JC said seriously. He was sick of all this bickering. �Just get them into the car, ok?�
�God why did winter decide to come a little early?� Ally muttered.
Justin ran and opened the trunk. With a few grunts, they managed to pull their friends up into the car. Then, after a few minutes of arguing, they decided that JC and Ally would be the ones to be in back with Lance and Jessica.
They clambered back into the packed Expedition and sped off back to the nearest house-Chris�.