Justin tried removing the bag from his head, wondering if his family was going to be safe. "What do you want with me?"

One of the men tightened their hold of Justin. "Don't do that, unless you want us to bring out the duct tape," he said in an affected voice.

"Be quiet," another man said, also changing his voice.

~~~

"I don't know who you are, or what you think you're doing, but if you don't stop this van and get out, you'll be sorry!" Chloe shouted. Then she looked around. He was driving toward Maralyn and Justin's house.

Justin was not going to be stopped by the threat of duct tape. "At least tell me who you are! Please! I deserve to know!" He wondered if they were people from his past or just a bunch of thugs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miley prayed for her brother and thier family, praying that everything will be alright. SHe sent Peter a text. "HELP PLEASE!"
~~~~~~~~~~
Peter was headed home with his buddies, when he recieved a text form Miley. It sounded urgent. He rusdhed into the house. "Miley!" No answer. He turned to his friends. "Sorry. I just recieved a text from my cousin. SOmethings wrong." He quickly texted her back. "What's wrong?"

The minivan suddenly screeched to a stop. They were in front of Maralyn's house. The man opened the door and jumped out. As quickly as he had come, he disappeared.

~~~

One of the men shoved Justin against the door of the van. The man driving turned around suddenly. "Didn't you hear what he told us. He didn't want him hurt." The man turned back to driving. "And don't say anything," he said over his shoulder.

Miley turned to Chloe. "What's he doing? Please get in the front and take me home. I texted Peter and I want to be there to tell him what happened."
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Justin prayed for safety of himself and his family. He quickly got out his phone and texted Peter. "CAll teh cops! I'm being kidnapped!"

"He's gone," Chloe said, comforting Miley with a hand on the shoulder. She opened the minivan side door and helped Maralyn out of the car. "Okay, I just have to say this. That was weird."
~~~

One of the men grabbed the cell phone from Justin's hand. He looked at the text that was written. Justin hadn't pushed 'send' yet. The man smashed it against the van floor. "Tie him up," he ordered in the affected voice. The other man pulled out a a roll of duct tape and tied Justin's hand behind him.

The van stopped with a jerk. The door slid open with a grating sound. The two men pulled out Justin by the arms. They lead him into an old concrete building that looked to have been used as a parking garage. The men's footsteps echoed as they dragged him into a darkened room.

Justin felt his dark bangs swoosh around his eyebrows, as he truend his head trying to fight back, even as they entered the building.
~~~~~~~~~~
Peter frantically texted Miley back. "Where are you?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miley got the text and texted back. "Oh Peter. I'm at Maralyn's. Someone kidnapped Justin."
Thinking irrationally, Peter grabbed a pair of keys near the door. He didn't care. He didn't care if he was underage. He didn't care if he would get in another wreck. Even if his head got shaved as a result of juvie or a wreck, he was going to help his cousins.
Then, he turned to declan. "Do you, by any chance drive? My cousin is at her brother's and someone kidnapped her brother." Maybe he cna drive us in his own car instead

The two men set Justin down hard on a chair. They released his arms. Roughly, they jerked the burlap bag from off his head. They left his hands still tied behind him. The room was cool. It had nothing in it except the chair Justin was sitting in, and a long table. At the other end of the table sat a man in another metal chair. He seemed relaxed, his feet propped up on the table. His arms were crossed casually over his chest. He showed no movement except his shoe tapping back in forth to a rhythm only he could hear. His whole demeanor was relaxed and casual, until one took a look at his face. It was cast in granite. A hard, stone face. His eyes peirced Justin through.

"Hello Justin," the man said.

It was Brad.

Justin smoothed otu his short, dark hair that reached the back of his neck with his own hand.What? I thought he was dead! Why is he looking at me like that? "Brad?"

"It's been what? a little over a year? I thought you would like to know that I'm alive." Brad still sat in the same position as he spoke. Then he swung his legs down. "Oh, and you don't need to worry about your family. They were not harmed."

He turned to one of the four men that were still masked. "Have they arrived?" The man pulled out a device that resembled a smaller, slimmer Blackberry. He glanced at it, and then gave a single nod to Brad.

"Leave us."

All the men left, closing the heavy metal door behind them.

~~~

Chloe looked at Miley's white face. "Are you okay? Here why don't you come inside and grab a glass of water." Chloe reached into the car and pulled out the carseat with Sarah in it.

When the creepy men left the room, Justin asked, "What is going on, Brad? Why did you have them come after me like that? You know better than anyone on this earth how much I worry when attacked by random people and when my family is in possible danger."
~~~~~~~
Miley felt her arms shake. "Please take me home to Peter. I need to see my cousin and tell him everything. He's probably scared and doesnt know what he's doing when scared."

Brian hated how Logan shunned him after the ball game, and all the way over to Peter's house. There was an invisible tension between them. Something nagging and pulling, provoking each of them against each other. Brian shot glares at Logan, wondering if he saw him staring. Why is he so mean? I don't understand....he lost the game and yet acts as though he didn't. He barely even acts like I exist! It was horribly frustrating and irritating especially since he was finding himself attract to Emmy. Would Logan even let Brian near Emmy if he knew he was beginning to like her? He sighed and thrust his hands into his jacket pockets. Even after winning the basket ball game, and proving his skill he still wasn't happy. Logan still acted like the arrogant jerk. Though I hadn't expected him to change....maybe I just thought he be a bit more defeated biting his lip, he dared a glance at Emmy's back as she walked a few paces in front of them. Her hair was swishing back and forth and he smiled, contented to looking at it's wavy tresses. But pretty soon their hike was over, and he had to interrupt his staring as Peter suddenly burst out in panic. He said something about Miley needing help and it was urgent. Brian thought for a minute, realizing what was going on, and as Pete came back out with car keys and he asked Declan if he could drive..."No!" Brian said coming to Peter's side. He placed his hand on his shoulder "Peter I know your worried...so am I....but doing this won't help. Especially if we are caught or rec. I know it's slower but there are a bunch of bikes out back. We can hop on and go. Plus Justin's house isn't far from here” then turning to Logan, Emmy, and Declan he said "Guys if you don't want to come you don't have to" his eyes then strayed to Emmy "It may be dangerous and I would want anyone hurt. But if you want to come hop on a bike and let's go"

**
Melisha screamed, for that was all fear drove her to do. The grip tightened considerably when she did, and a hand clamped firmly over her mouth. The hot sweaty fingers that brushed and covered Melisha's mouth were coarse and lined. But she didn't care how they felt. She struggled and bit down on his index finger, causing him to release and let out a string of mild curses. She stood and as they other gave chase. She thrust her bag toward him. The weight of the inside contents propelled it back and into the face of the man behind her. she saw him topple and she kept going weaving her away through the pillars then down a dark hall. All the way she heard the cries of he them men behind, slowly catching up to her. The feint screaming of the woman came closer and she listened harder for her pitiful begging. But as she approached the door where the crying had been, it suddenly stopped and all was silent. Melisha jumped back at the sudden quietness that surrounded her. She backed up, right into they arms of her captors, who tightly grabbed her and thumped her on the back of the head with a crow bar lying near...

In they end, after much pleading and some heated words Ian was allowed to stay the night at Susan's estate. He walked in, keeping his eyes on her figure the whole way. He wipe his feet and discarded his coat.

Susan took it, and hung it gingerly on her coat rack before turning, an expression of perturbed disgust on her face "Who are you?" she asked in a tone as hot as that of an inquisitor

Ian melted under her gaze, and found his cheeks turning into a light shade of red. He brushed a scraggly strand of hair from his face and tucked it behind his ear "My name is Ian, Miss Susan." he swallowed and continued "I came to you, not for shelter from the storm but because I dreamt of you some time before, while I was in jail"

Susan gasped and found they idea of this strange man, dreaming of her while he was locked up, for a crime, very upsetting. She made a face, as if his name was distasteful "Ian I.....what!??"

Maralyn was shaken. She looked down at her hand and fingers and noticed the pale tone of her skin, and how her limbs shook. She look around first at Chloe, who was trying to comfort Miley, then at her baby who was sleeping even still in her car seat. It had all happened so fast...and...where was Justin? She shook herself out of the dazed shock and didn't see her husband anywhere. Where was he? Had they taken him? Why had they taken him? She watched as Chloe took Sarah from the car. "Chloe wait..." Maralyn begged quietly and unbuckled herself shakily standing from her seat and attempting to get out of the minivan.

Brandon would have really like to know the same thing. Why had they taken him here, with no consideration of his wounds, or the bullet still lodged murderously in his side? "If it isn't too much to ask...may I be taken to the hospital? A man who has been shot has certain rights to ask to be healed, you know" he knew that his witty comments were not appreciated. Thow has fallen into a nest of hornets Brandon...ones with stings far greater than your own. At least they aren't stings from that movie Lord of the Rings!! he thought with a chuckle.

***

Abigail gulped the glass of water until she felt her insides calm down. When she was finished she gasped "He was dead.....we all knew he was dead....this can't be happening. It was a boating accident. He was away, and it was in the paper. All passengers died....and...He died with them!"

Peter dropped the keys on the counter, trying to process everythign Brian just said. He ran a hand through his hair, okay. "Let's ride bikes."
He turned to the girls, Jen Emmy and Maya. Even though he meant Jen especially, he siad, "Why don't you girls stay ehere? I don't want you to get hurt. We will fill you in."
Jen stroked Peter's hair, glad it was back and worried for her boyfriend. "re you sure you want to go? Something bad always seems to happen to you.."
Peter gave her a kiss. "I have to. But please stay. I don't want you to get hurt."
Jen looked at him, watery eyes. "Okay. I'll be waiting for you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Amanda asked, "What? Why were the cops after him then?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miley recieved a text from Peter, saying they were on their way and comign by bike. She turned to Chloe. "Peter will be here with his buddies shorrtly. I hope they're safe." She shook her head, trying to stop teh tears. "Why do people always have to go after my brother? Why does everyone hate Justin so much that they feel they can do anything they'd like to him? Why can't they go after Susan or Johnny instead?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The police finally admitted Brandon to the hospital, telling them everything.

Emmy's eyes darted between the boys as they discussed running off on some emergency. It was all happening very fast, but she knew one thing; while she did care anyone in trouble, she didn't want to go rushing into danger herself. "I'll stay here," she said quietly, hoping no one would pressure her into coming. Soon Jen decided to stay as well, and Emmy was relieved.

Logan, however, was quicker to respond affirmatively. "Count me in, I'm going. Now, what exactly is going on?"

Peter said, "My cousin, Justin has been kidnapped. So, we are riding to his house to see what we can do, because my cousin who lives here is over there."