Kidnapped

Chapter 7: The Hideout

"Hey Nicole," Madison smiled. "Hey," I said without enthusiasm. "Look, I have to get to History class." But Madison still persisted on annoying me. "How are things going with you and Luke?" "Listen Regina George," I said. "There is nothing going on between us. We are just friends."

"Yeah right," she snickered. "Did you guys use to date or something?" I sighed. Luke grabbed his history textbook and walked in our conversation. "Hey Luke," Madison squealed. "How are you-" "Leave Cole alone," Luke interrupted. "Everyone thinks you are so nice and sweet, but deep down inside, you have the heart of Satan."

Madison swallowed a gulp. "No, I don't," she whimpered. "You are a spoiled brat," Luke continued. "And I want you to stop harassing Cole, got it?" Madison turn to look at me. "This isn't over," she insisted. I thought about it for a moment. "It kinda is," I said. Madison stamped her foot like a child then stormed away.

"You alright?" Luke asked. I nodded and looked back in Madison's direction. "What's up with her?" I asked. "Her parents are wealthy lawyers," Luke explained. "Okay, but why does she hate me?" I asked. "I used to date her," Luke sighed. "But then she gets jealous whenever I talk to a girl. We broke up a year later."

"Oh," I said. "Yikes." "Let's get to Mr. Aston," Luke replied. Over the next ten minutes, Mr. Aston is discussing the differences between World War I and II. I quietly took notes while I stared at the time. As Mr. Aston was getting to the middle of World War I, the bell rang for dismissal.

We all get up from our seats and snatched our bags leaning against the chairs. While Luke was putting my science textbook in his locker, I tapped on his shoulder. He looked up at me then grinned. "Since it's Friday," I said. "Do you want to go do something fun?"

"What do you have in mind?" Luke asked. "We could binge watch Scooby-Doo and read Sherlock Holmes," I suggested. "Maybe later," Luke said. "I have to do grocery shopping for my parents."

"Can I help?" I asked. Luke nodded. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a sheet of paper. He read the paper then tossed it in the trash.

"What was that?" I asked. "It was the grocery list," he answered. "I don't need it." "But you need it just in case you forget." I said in a puzzled tone.

Luke looked at me as if I was crazy. "I never forget," he said. "I got the list in my head." "Really?" I snorted. He took out an empty vanilla ice cream carton from his locker and handed it to me.

I looked at him in disgust, but took the carton. "Let's do a bet," he challenged. "If you win, I watch another episode of Scooby-Doo, but if I win, I'll take you to my hideout."

"You have a hideout?" I asked. "What is that your code for tree house?" "We'll see," Luke snickered. "Okay," I sighed. "Go." Luke closed his eyes and started telling me an entire list of ingredients of ice cream. "Milk ingredients, modified milk ingredients, sugar, glucose...."

He went on and on as I stood there amazed, unaware that I dropped the tub of ice cream. I immediately went to pick it up. "Well?" Luke said. "What do you think?" "Awesome," I responded. "Where's your hideout?"

"Follow me," Luke answered. I followed him out of the school building and pass my house. "We're going to my room." My eyes widened at his response. We walked until we stopped at the front door.

"Hold on," he mumbled. Luke climbed up on the roof and slipped through his open window. I tapped my foot, waiting for Luke to open the door. For a moment, I catch a glimpse at his mother. She had brown hair, green eyes, and pale skin like Luke's. She wore a white bathrobe and appears to be staring at something.

In her right hand, she carried a glass of wine. Her lips were covered in oozing sores. I watched as she sipped her wine and sighed. Just then, the door automatically opened as Luke popped his head out of the crack.

"Come in," he said. I took a deep breath then reluctantly stepped inside the house. The insides of house looked like a horror film. The white walls reminded me of someone's dry skin, the wooden floors creaked and moaned whenever I step, and the furniture has been caked in dust.

Luke led me upstairs until he stopped. "What's wrong?" I asked. Just then, an overweight tired old man hobbled around the staircase. When he glanced at my way, he stopped. "Luke, is this your friend?" he asked. He wore a black t-shirt and plaid pajama pants.

His kind brown eyes darted at Luke and me, like a hungry bird's. " Yes," Luke answered sharply. "Cole, this is my dad." "Nice to meet you sir," I greeted. His dad smiled and waved. He swept back his wispy grey brown hair and told Luke that he's going out for a jog.

"That's great," said Luke, not smiling. "I'm going to take Cole to my room." "It's nice seeing you Cole," Luke's Dad said. "You too," I said back. Luke's Dad glanced at his son one last time before he left to go to his room.

"Your Dad is nice," I said. "He's not nicer than you think," Luke replied. I raised my eyebrow, wanting to know what he had meant. We continue to walk upstairs until Luke opened his door and invited me inside.

Much to my surprise, his room was tidy and neat compared to mine. His small bed was made. Books were neatly dusted in his bookshelf. The grey carpet was free from bits of food, clothing, and papers.

On his desktop was a laptop, cds of classic music, and a stack of neat papers. There were no chairs. "Why are there no chairs?" I asked. "Mom and Dad borrowed them," Luke stated. "Probably for something important."

"You call your bedroom your hideout?" Luke ripped the rug from off of his floor and opened the latch. "Woah," I said. "Come on," Luke said. "There's more adventure than you think." He slid down the dark hole and didn't resurface. Intrigued, I went inside the hole.

I landed on something soft and almost slippery. When Luke turned on the lights, I almost fainted. This room was like his laboratory or something. Bookshelves were aligned besides his desk. Little glass tubes sat perfectly on the white table straight across from me.

Books, pencils, and papers nearly covered the desks. Movie posters of Marvel characters glued on the walls. The same grey carpet covered the floors. "Wow," I breathed. "This is amazing. Where did you-" "My grandfather built this house a long time ago." Luke explained. "He used to be an extremely wealthy private investigator. He built a lab so he wouldn't have to get out of the house."

I lifted a tube of yellow liquid then swished it around. "Does your parents know about this?" I asked. Luke shook his head. I placed the tube back on the table then walked towards the bookshelf. I ran my fingers on the raggedy spines.

Every book was Sherlock Holmes, both in paperback and in hardcover. "Did your parents buy them?" I asked. "I wish," Luke snorted. "My grandparents bought them for me when I was eight."

"Cool," I said. "Is Sherlock the reason why you love crime?" "It's kind of hard to explain," Luke said. "The only reason why I want to become a forensic scientist is because I want to see how-" My phone suddenly hummed.

"Sorry," I said. Luke nodded as if he understood. I reached the phone out of my pocket, pressed the Answer Call button,and held it up to my ear. "Hello?" I said. No one answered on the other side.

That's when I heard someone breathing.

Cast

Robbie Kay as Benjamin Hamilton

Cole Porter as Zendaya Coleman

Elizabeth Mitchell as Willow Porter