
Amy was clinging onto me all day long. Zack had yelled and argued with her a couple times, but it was no use. She was staying until I left. The only time I had to myself came at night. It had been a long two days, and I decided that I would call Jake before I went to bed tonight. The phone rang a few dials and then someone picked up.
Matt: Hello?
Me: Hey. Is Jake there?
Matt: Who is this?
Me: It's Xura
Matt: Oh. This number isn't from this country, are you sure you're her?
Me: How in the world-.. You amaze me, Matt. You should really try and get a career in something good.
Matt: Thanks. I'd like to get a career at Oscorp downtown.
Me: Oscorp? I hear that Harry Osborn is very attractive. Sounds like a good job, what's keeping you?
Matt: I keep sending in my letters but they keep denying me, they've said that they're too full.
Me: That's too bad. Either way, I'm sure you'll find a job where you can put that mind of yours at work.
Matt: Yeah... Maybe.
Me: Don't worry Matthew, it'll happen.
Matt: Thanks.
He hesitated.
Matt: I don't know what I would've done if I hadn't met you in that Apple Store
There was a slight pause.
Matt: ... I'll go get Jake
His sudden thought made me feel a little less and a little more homesick. Zack is the kindest host, but I've had home tugging at me ever since I left it. I could hear distant chatter on the other line.
Jake: Uh... Hello?
Me: Hey Jake
Jake: Oh hey Xura. Where are you?
Me: Well...
Jake: Don't lie to me
Me: Heh... Ok. I'm in Japan.
Jake: Why in the world-
Me: It was more or less an accident-!
Jake: More or less?
Me: Well, that's the best way to put it
Jake: We'll talk about this when you get home. Christmas is in four days, are you going to be here by then?
Me: Yeah, I miss you, ya'know.
Jake: I miss you too, it's hard when you're gone
Me: I'm sorry.
Jake: Xura, where do you go all the time?
I inhaled a sharp painful breath
Me: Jake, do you trust me?
Jake: Of course.
Me: Good, then you'll need to understand that what I'm about to tell you is-
I heard the gentle press it takes to lean one's ear against the door, someone was listening to me.
Jake: Xura? You there?
Me: uh.. Yeah.. I have to go.
Jake: Alright, we'll talk about this later though.
Me: Okay. I love you.
We hung up and I opened my room door. Amy fell onto the ground.
Me: Eavesdrop much?
Amy: pfft. Not eavesdropping... Just casually listening to conversation outside of your room. How's Jake?
Me: Rightt... He's fine. Any particular reason you're interested in spying on me?
Amy: First of all, allegedly spying on you- I don't admit to anything. As for having a reason... Uh... Well, I... Um..
Me: forget it. Come on in.
She stepped in, shut the door, and flopped down onto the bed
Amy: Aren't you going to sleep?
Me: I've been having nightmares lately, so I'd prefer to stay up. I wish my games were here, at least those would get me through the night.
Amy: What? Am I not good enough?
I laughed
Me: Aren't you going to sleep?
Amy: Nah. You always want to sleep with one eye open in this place anyway. I don't trust Zack, Koda, or their father for a second.
Me: Oh.
I thought back to the conversation between Koda and Angie had yesterday. I can see how Amy might find this family hard to trust, especially since they don't trust each other.
Amy: Anywayyy, what do you want to do to pass the time?
Me: Uh... I don't know.
Amy: How about a game of cards?
I saw her do that impossible bridge thingy with her fingers.
Me: agh... I don't know :T
Amy: Come on, it's fun. We can play find the queen-
Me: everyone cheats in that game
Amy: -Blackjack, Texas holdem-
Me: I'm sure you'd find a way to rig those
Amy: Go fish?
Me: Nah, I think we should just-
An alarm sounded that instantly put Amy and I on our feet. We heard the stomps of many footsteps and commotion in the hallway
Me: What's going on?
Amy pulled a dagger from the side of the nightstand.
Me: How did that get there?
Amy: A prisoner escaped, so they're sounding the alarms. I'm going to go help find them, stay here! It's going to get dangerous.
Me: But-
Amy: Stay here! I mean it. You're not trained for stuff like this
She left the room and locked the door behind her. It became cold and alone when she departed. I shivered, grabbed a blanket, and sighed. I would have to stay up again tonight with no one to keep me company. I dragged my blanket with me around the room and went over to the almost empty bookshelf, Maybe I could find something to read. I lifted a book and was suddenly swung into a hidden passageway!
I had already experienced this with the lamps on the wall, but this tunnel was different. I could hear everything from the rooms, opposed to the hallways. I walked near Zack's room- he was talking to his father.
Zack: Dad, I'm not leaving you here. If the prisoner happened to go after you, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself
Raku: I'm telling you that I'm fine. If there's anyone you should protect, it should be that girl.
He hesitated.
Zack: She's fine, I'm sure. I know she's safe. Amy said that she locked her in her room
Raku: You're very stubborn.
Zack: And you're very foolish, thinking that I can just abandon you here.
Raku: It should be your brother Koda here with me. You need to be off doing things of your own interest. I wish he contributed more.
Zack: Father, Koda already has a love interest he needs to protect.
Raku: Nonsense! He may have my blood but he will never be my son. He's prideful, rebellious, and selfish, and all his flaws outweigh every "good" he's done.
Their father definitely has favorites. I stumbled further down the hallway. Anddd... Out of clumsiness, I tripped over a peice of wood and fell flat on my face.
Me: what the diaries-! Oof!
I slowly stood up and rubbed my eye.
Me: OWWWW...
I groaned and leaned my hand against the wall, which evidently lead to a trap door which also lead to a secret marble office.
I saw a mirror across the wall. I saw my eye was swollen.
(ゝ。∂)Yikes. That doesn't look good. I covered it up with my hair and of course, just my luck, I heard someone about to walk in. I quickly hid in the most logical place. No, not the closet. Not back through the trapdoor. Not even behind that rather large potted plant over there... No, I hid somewhere much better than that. And by better, I mean worse. I hid underneath the desk.
Now in movies, everyone hides under the desk and they make it seem so comfortable or like its not even really a problem. But I promise that's not the case. 3 men walked in. I was able to recongnize two of the voices.
???: He's here. Show me the money now, Himorji.
Koda: Of course. You've done well.
I heard the clicking of a metallic case.
Koda: half a million dollars, like we agreed.
???: Heh. Good. I hope we can do business again in the near future.
I heard the mysterious man walk out to leave only Koda, the other person, and me in the room.
Emerald: So, why'd you free me?

Great. Just, great
Koda: I have a job for you. You're still a good shot aren't you?
Emerald: I do well enough. Why?
Koda: Zack needs to go.
I stifled a gasp. Even after what Angie said he's going through with it.
Emerald: Why do you think I'm the man for the job?
Koda: A little bit of revenge wouldn't hurt anyone, would it? I've been working very hard to get you out of our jail, where Zack put you. When it comes to my brother, I don't exactly have a say. Not to mention, but did he also humiliate you in front of a crowd? He beat you. The strong, mighty, and fearless Emerald looks like nothing but a weasel in my brother's shadow.
Koda's way with words is kinda attractive. What? I'm stuck under a desk with nothing to do but write and hope I make it out of here alive!
Emerald: Alright, I'll do it.
Koda: Good. Everything you'll need is in the closet, I can lure my brother to the main room. Shoot from above next to the window so you can make an easy escape.
I've got to stop this! I thought of all my options
A) I can jump out from the desk and start making a run for it in a place I clearly haven't explored yet with a 96% chance of being caught and shoved into a closet
B) i can jump out and try and fight my way out (2% chance of success) and get shoved into a closet when I lose
... These aren't very good options.
Emerald: Alright
I heard some rummaging and then the door opening.
Koda: Good luck.
There was a grunt and the door was shut. Koda sighed and there was silence for a moment. I heard Koda walking towards the desk, and I knew that if I wanted to do something, it would be now or never. I crawled out and stood up.

*temp photo, may change later
So that's the infamous Koda. Hm. He looked surprised.
Koda: Who are you?! What are you doing here?
Me: Uh.. Hello to you too. Pfft, that's how you treat guests? I'm from the future!
Koda: What? O_o
I shrugged, it was worth a shot. He pulled out a gun.
Koda: I'm serious, Who are you?
Me: Woahhh dude, Put that thing away! Listen, I'm just as confused as a chameleon in a bag of skittles! I have no idea where I am and I'm a little fuzzy on how I got here. Some weird jumbo shrimp happened last night
He lowered his weapon.
Koda: What?
Me: Ding! Did you hear that? It sounds like my microwave Pizza is done cooking, I gotta go! Nice meeting you!
I ran out of the room as he stood there trying to process what just happened. I can't believe that worked! I wasn't wearing any shoes, so I skidded around the wooden floors in socks. Koda was already on my tail and he clearly knew this place better than I did.
Koda: Come back here!
Me: Yeah, right! Why don't I just tie my hands together and knock myself out while we're at it?
He grunted and sped up as I reared a corner. Luckily, I won the socks-across-floor-marathon back in 05, so I had the advantage. Of course, I was only competing against myself in that race that was in my not-real mother's office. She was always busy back then and I had to find ways to keep entertained; Thus, sock-racing became my sport.
We raced into the dining room that I was in this morning, the moonlight hardly provided any light, and I crashed into a wall. Koda came running into the room, and saw me just as I was standing up. His gun was already up, I slowly raised my hands in the air.
Koda: Looks like the end of the line for you. Now tell me who you are!
I bit my lip. I saw a familiar bob of green hair swing upwards as Emerald snuck up behind him and whacked him in the head with a frying pan.
Koda crumbled to the floor instantly.
Emerald: You're next
Me: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
Emerald: Seriously? Whose going to hear you?
And... BAM! He knocked me out with the frying pan.
I woke up tied to a chair with Koda. My hands, legs, and body was bound tight with rope that burned against my skin if I struggled against it. I had never seen this room before, and it was dimly lit.
Koda: What.. What happened?
I couldn't see him, but I could feel his hands against mine.
Me: We were taken out by the man you sent to *faint your brother
Koda: What? I freed him and this is what I get?
Me: What did you think was going to happen? Did you even know why he was in prison?
Koda: Welll... I guess I overlooked that small detail
Me: .-. Uh-huh
Koda: The question is, why did he take you?
Me: UM... heh *cough* that's not important. Wrong place, wrong time, right?
Koda: Unless you're his target... You're not Xura, right?
Me: Uh... No?
Koda: Of course you are .___. He must have known you were under the desk
Emerald: That's right, Himorji. It's sad you were a pawn in all this, but not my problem. Thanks for freeing me by the way.
He walked in smugly and sat down... I just wanted to slap him.
Koda: You got the girl, why do you need me?
Emerald: Leverage, in case things go wrong. Also, I need a way out of here that doesn't have a herd of guards waiting for me.
Koda: You know I'll never give you that.
Emerald: I have ways of making you talk
Me: Oh, it's never good when anyone says that. Tell me, man named after a gemstone, do any of these methods involve a feather, perhaps a bowl of water?
He snickered.
Emerald: Are you always running your mouth?
Me: Actually, I've been training for a marathon recently. I'm running for the 5k mouth race, wish me luck.
He rolled his eyes.
Emerald: I've been asked not to harm you, Xura, but keep in mind that I will if I need to.
Me: Duly noted. However, my friend here-
Koda: We're not friends
Me: -Would very much benefit from not being harmed either. You see... His features, like mine, are quite stunning. I'd prefer if you could avoid damaging it
Koda: That's oddly thoughtful
Me: Thank you, good-looking people have to stick together.
Yes, and I have proof. Ex: Hiddles and Hemsworth. That right there, says enough.
Emerald: No promises
Me: Are you afraid of commitment?
He flipped a chair.
Emerald: That's enough! Just keep quiet and tell me what I need to know!
Me: Woah man! Calm down. If you have some anger probs I know a guy that can help. No need to take it out on us
Koda: You're making a bad situation worse.
Koda shook his head. His hair tickled my neck and I tried desperately to hold back my laughter, but I couldn't help it. I just started laughing and I couldn't stop.
Emerald: What's so funny?
Me: Nothing... *tickles again* BAHAHAHHAHA.. *cough, ahem* I mean, uh.. Nothing.
He sighed.
Emerald: You two are hopeless.
He pulled out some electrical supplies and started to set them up in the outlet next to us. Koda and I whispered quietly to each other
Me: Do you have anything that'll get us out of this mess?
Koda: Nope
Me: ugh, of course not. Well, I guess we can talk
Koda: I'd strongly prefer not to
Me: So does Angie know yet?
Koda: Know what?
Me: That you're the one who broke out Emerald
Koda: That's none of your business
Me: Well, I'm a curious person and I like to distract myself in life-or-death situations
Koda: Pfft. He has no intention of causing that much harm
Me: Maybe not to me...
Sparks flew a little as the electrical cord hit the outlet. Koda squeezed his hand into a fist
Koda: I broke it off with her earlier
Me: Whatttt????
Koda: I-I don't know. She just wasn't the one, we met 2 weeks ago.
Me: Thats not long at all. .__. Weren't you planning to run away with her?
Koda: So? I'm a little impulsive.
I sighed. Emerald finshed and smiled darkly.
Emerald: Last chance
Koda: Never
Emerald: let the torture begin!