Headlights bounced up and down as a speeding van hit a rough patch on the dirt road. Bobbie's head bobbed, and trees went by impossibly fast through the windows. Her head hurt, and she squinted at the driver's seat. The morning sun seemed to act as a spotlight for the ethereal man sitting in there.
Good morning, little princess." A bald man said, and Bobbie glared at him. "Someone thinks they're fierce."
Lunging forward, she was stopped with a jarring pain, and she flinched as whatever was binding her to the van dug into her skin.
"Where are you taking me?" She asked, sounding less tough than she intended.
"You want to know?" The man across from her smirked.
"Shut up, Frank." Anthony snapped, "You're too loud."
"It's not like anyone can hear us."
"Anthony!" Tears formed in Bobbie's eyes, and her throat tightened. "Why are you doing this? I thought you... you-"
"I what?" Anthony laughed, "Did you think I liked you? You're just a job. In fact, that girl at the park was more my type than you."
"Yeah, she was hot! Could take a beating too, it seems."
"But you said-"
Hot tears flowed freely down Bobbie's face, and Frank grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up. "The fatty is crying."
"Who cares! Just use the stuff to put her back to sleep. I can't stand that ugly b***** whining."
"I'm not ugly! Father says I'm not." Bobbie shook.
Anthony's cruel laughter cut through the air. "There is no way he actually thinks that."
"But he loves me."
"He's required to love you. He's your father." Anthony handed something to Frank and said, "Shut her up. I'm tired of listening to this crap."
"Don't touch me!" Bobbie kicked at the man as he approached her with a needle.
"Slow down, man! I can't get to her with us bumping around like this."
The car slowed almost to a stop, and Frank approached Bobbie with the needle once more. She kicked and thrashed before he pinned her to the ground, and a sharp pain pierced her neck. She breathed heavily as she fought off sleep, but whatever was in that needle did its job too well.
<0>
Bobbie woke up with her head beating against her skull. Where am I? Shuffling over to an opening in the building's wall, her eyes opened in shock. It was a view Bobbie had seen a couple of times in her life. The bustling city was situated between the buildings, on top of a series of bridges. Shopkeepers garnered the attention of people walking across the solid passages, while shady individuals made deals across the rickety ones.
A fog settled on the ground, far beneath, making it seem like the buildings were floating in the sky. Leaning closer to the crack in the wall, the chair tilted dangerously close to the edge. Just a little bit closer, and I will fall. From here, I'd probably die.
Closing her eyes, she forced the chair onto its side legs, and she could feel herself falling when something blocked her from her demise. The chair stuck on the wall, so she tried to shuffle and move, but nothing happened.
I should have listened to Father.
"What the hell?" Anthony pulled the chair back, and Bobbie found herself looking up at the moldy ceiling. "Do you think I tortured myself by following you around for you to kill yourself? Frick, I even had to kiss you." Anthony spit on the ground and wiped his face. "Now stay there and behave while I call your father."
Anthony pulled his phone out and dialed a number. When the ringing stopped, Bobbie could faintly hear someone talking.
Anthony's laughter boomed through the room, then he spoke, "What? No hello?"
Bobbie strained to hear the other person, when Anthony said, "Ask for yourself." Placing the phone by her ear.
"Dad!?"
The voice on the other end trembled, but there was no mistaking it, it was her father. "Bobbie! Sweety, are you okay?"
"I'm at Sky City above the third big bridge in the so—"
Smack! Anthony's hand smacked across her face sending her flying to the ground with a, thud!
Anthony brought the phone back to his ear and said, "I guess the cat's out of the bag now. But I'm guessing you have a lock on our location anyway."
The ground scraped against Bobbie's cheek as she waited for the conversation to finish playing out. She shifted uncomfortable as Anthony's face contorted into the most wicked smile she'd ever seen. Shivers ran up and down her spine as she thought, Somehow he's still so beautiful.
<0>
The old elevator dinged once more. Bobbie had gotten tired of glancing over, hopeful that the next person to walk through would be her father. Yet, at the same time, she dreaded having to see him. He is probably so disappointed in me right now. Not to mention it would be dangerous for him to come here. Maybe it would be better if he left me to die.
She leaned back into her chair as she listened to a wannabe thug arguing with Anthony.
"Why do I have to stay here with that ugly girl?"
"Shut your trap! If you want any chance at moving up, you make sure that girl stays alive until her father comes to rescue her."
"I just don't understand why I can't be a part of the sniper team."
A loud smack caught Bobbie off guard, and she looked over to see the wannabe thug clutching the side of his head. "You are the worst shot out of all of us. If we are to kill President Clark, we need the girl to stay here. So shut up and guard her."
"Fine, I'll watch the kid. But I still don't understand why we need to use her. Can't we just get him while he's entering the building?"
"I'm done talking to you. Now make sure that kid stays in one place and don't let the President catch onto the snipers." Anthony looked over at Bobbie. "Make sure to gag her so she can't warn her father." He walked away, and the elevator dinged once more.
Mr. Wannabe walked over and looked around the room. "What the hell does he expect me to gag you with?" Snapping his fingers, he pulled off his shoe and then his sock.
Bobbie's eyes widened in horror as she realized what he was going to do. "If you try and stick that anywhere near my mouth, I'll bite you."
The man scratched his head, "Maybe it would be better to just knock you out."
The elevator dinged again, and the man turned and walked out the door. "Did you forget something? Also—"
Whack!
A second later, a man not much older than her father appeared beyond the doorway.
"Are you Bobbie?" He asked.
"Yes, who are you?"
"I'm Alistar, I know your father." He pulled out a knife and carefully cut the rope binding her.
"Thank you."
"Your father asked me to help get you out of here."
"Is he coming to get me?"
"With any luck, he's staying put, but knowing him, he will be here within the hour."
Alistar led Bobbie through the building up to a rickety bridge. It swayed with the wind and creaked loudly when he stepped onto it. The fog below thinned, and Bobbie could see a massive horde of zombies stumbling around. She had never seen so many in one place before.
"Come on!"
"Can't we take one of the main bridges?" She plugged her nose as an updraft blew the smell of death straight to her.
"The main bridges will be swarming with police."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"Not here, it's not."
Bobbie followed the man into another decrepit building. She hadn't remembered Sky City looking this run-down the last time she was here. But then again, the last time she was in Sky City, she wasn't a hostage.
A group of scantily dressed women walked past, and Alistar shielded Bobbie's eyes, but not before she could see what one of them was doing to a man around the corner.
"In here." Alistar pulled open a door with a picture of a woman on it, and when Bobbie looked inside, there was a shabby bed with the woman sitting on it. The room was small and dank with no windows. In another world, this room might have been a janitor's closet or something.
"What is this place?"
"Somewhere safe. My friend Romona here often hides people for me until I can get them out of the city."
"Come here, dear." The woman patted the bed she was sitting on. Bobbie moved closer; the woman's satin shawl did little to hide the lingerie she had on underneath. "I'll take good care of the girl, Al. You're all paid up, right?"
"Yeah, you'll get no complaints from Jimmy for the night."
"You know you're my favorite customer."
"Yeah, yeah, just keep her safe."
Romona stroked Bobbie's hair and the gentle movement of the woman's hands reminded the girl of when her mother would brush her hair. All the tension in her body released, and she choked while holding back tears, but it was no use. All her emotions came flooding out at once, and she began to cry. The woman hummed while Bobbie sobbed herself to sleep.
<0>
Bobbie woke to muffled yelling and a loud banging. A man on the other side was yelling for Romona. "I know you're in there! Get out here and-"
"I'm with a customer!" Romona yelled back. "If you have a problem with it, I can call Jimmy for you."
The man on the other side grumbled something before walking away.
"Does that happen to you often?"
"Most nights are like this. But occasionally, there are no kids to take care of, and I end up with customers like that one."
"Kids?"
"Alistar's a good guy. He's been helping kids escape from Sky City for longer than I've been working here."
"Why do they need to escape?"
"It's not a pretty city, sweetheart." Romona went back to stoking Bobbie's hair. "Many of the people who live here are here against their will. And the police aren't much help."
"Why can't they leave?"
"It's either in here or out there. Not all of us can turn invisible like you, dear. Plus, the entrances are either sealed or heavily guarded. They say it's for our safety, but they just don't want us to run."
"Why do you help Mr. Alistar?"
"He helped my own kids get out." She looked at a crack in the wall. "Knowing they are safe is worth all the help I can give that man. Plus, I get to hang out with adorable kids like you." Romona pinched Bobbie's cheek gently. "It might not be as good as being able to hold my own kid, but..."
"Why did you send them away?"
Romona smiled bitterly, "Let's just say that no kid should be in this city without an adult who can protect them."
The door opened, startling the two. Slamming the door shut, Alistar turned to them. His eyes were wide, and he panted wildly. "We have to go now! Turn invisible and follow me."
"What's the matter?" Bobbie asked.
"There's no time! Romona, you know what to do."
She nodded before turning to Alistar and saying, "Sorry in advance."
"Get out of here, you no-good pervert." A lamp flung out the door, just as Alistar rushed out. It crashed to the floor, and Romona yelled. "You know Jimmy doesn't allow that kind of play. You are banned for the week."
Bobbie glanced at the woman who waved for her to follow. The girl smiled before turning invisible and following Alistar out of the room.
Alistar led Bobbie through the most rundown buildings in the city, and on more than one occasion, she found herself squeezing through tight places in order to avoid the cops. But they persisted until they got to the bottom floor. Windows were sealed with wood, and doors sealed with anything and everything. Outside, Bobbie could hear the growls of zombies.
"It's not much further." Alistar crouched before checking around the corner. He chuckled, "You know this is the same route I took when I helped your father get out of Sky City."
"My father? Was he one of the kids you saved?" Alistar gave Bobbie a look. "Romona told me all about what you do for kids in the city."
"Yeah," The man smiled. "He wasn't exactly a kid, though. He was only a few years younger than I was, but he was trapped here. Originally, he was from the Hidden City, but at some point, he wound up here. Me, him, and... we were looking for ways to save others like him. Let's just say that we accomplished that goal. Whenever I save someone, one of his people come and pick them up." He moved a part of a barricade and crawled through.
Bobbie followed him, and just as she opened her mouth to ask another question, a blinding light beamed at them.
"I knew I'd find you here." Anthony stood atop a wall just underneath a rickety bridge with a group of soldiers. "Looks like your father didn't come get you after all."
Alistar stepped in front of Bobbie, shielding her. "He was going to come, but I stopped him."
"It's more like he took the easy way."
Anthony signaled and the soldiers snapped their guns up, aiming for Bobbie and Alistar. "The girl is no use to us anymore. Go ahead and shoot them both."
Alistar tackled Bobbie to the ground, and an array of gunshots went off. Peeking past the man's shoulder, Bobbie could see a cloud of smoke covering the wall Anthony stood on. More gunshots went off, but they were directed away from Bobbie.
She pushed Alistar off her. The man had gone limp. Bobbie's hands shook as she checked if he was breathing. Blood pooled around his body and fresh hot tears spilled from her eyes.
"Run Bobbie!" The familiar voice yelled from the wall. Through the smoke, she caught sight of an invisible force covered with blood and she willed herself to move closer through the firefight. Covering her ears she made her way to a hole at the bottom of the wall and dug out the dirt there just enough to squeeze herself through to the other side.
She was greeted by the forest and a beat up and bruised Anthony. He smiled, looking like a madman as he raised his gun.
Bobbie clenched her eyes shut and her fingernails dug deep into her palms. This is it, She thought, I'm going to die here, and I never got to tell father how sorry I am. Tears streamed down Bobbie's cheeks and she let out short, shallow sobs. I should have told him how much I love him.
The gunshot sounded, and she slowly opened her eyes only to see smoke steaming off the ground in front of her. Anthony was struggling against an invisible force, and the gun flew out of his hands. Bobbie's survival instincts kicked in as she turned invisible.
Anthony cursed and pulled a knife from his belt. The still invisible person struggled against him. Then the knife disappeared, Bobbie held her breath as she watched the invisible's body reform from his feet up. The man clutched the knife as he fell. Then he looked right at her, and blood spilled from his mouth, and Bobbie's eyes widened with shock as her father's face formed. He sputtered and coughed as Anthony approached him after retrieving his gun.
With his last word, her father yelled, "Run!"
Bobbie covered her mouth as she took off into the forest, chased by a single gunshot. She tripped over a branch, tumbling down a hill as a stampede of soldiers followed her. As she stumbled into a brush, the men fired erratically in her direction, and she muffled a cry as something sharp pierced her side. But she didn't stop, running faster than before.
Her breathing was heavy, and her legs felt like two sacks of potatoes. A symphony of helicopters chased her. Lights beamed down, and she fell to her knees as one spotlight caught her. It lingered for a moment before flying off in the direction of the Hidden City.
"There is nowhere to hide, fatty." Anthony's voice cut through the noise. "Your Hidden City is doomed, and you're all alone. Just come out and I'll give you a quick death."
Muffling a cry, she watched as Anthony trekked through the forest, getting closer to her. He looked around, then right at her. Her entire body trembled, yet despite how scared she was, she still couldn't help but think about how beautiful his blue eyes were. She grit her teeth, searching for a way out when her hand happened upon a sharp rock. Like those arrowheads from the time of the natives, before the world fell into the hands of zombies.
Anthony took a step closer, "If you don't show yourself soon, I'm going to be angry."
He was right in front of her now. If she so much as breathed, he would be able to hear her.
"I know you are here, fatty."
Bobbie couldn't help but let out a quiet whimper, but that was all Anthony needed. The gun was pointed at her head, I don't want to die!
Her hands trembled as she clutched the rock tightly, and it sliced through her palms. Anthony smirked as he watched blood drip from between her fingers.
"I found you, fatty."
The man reached down grabbing at the air until he clasped a handful of her hair, hoisting her up off the ground. Bobbie whimpered in pain as the man toyed with her, yet... She grit her teeth as her heart beat wildly. How does he still look this good even with that evil expression on his face?
"There's nothing left for you to do but die. Your father's precious city is about to fall along with all the people who live there."
"What?" She said, "What do you mean the city will fall?"
"As long as your father isn't there to fire his arsenal in retaliation, The Twelve can do whatever they want with the city."
"Are you working with zombies? But you said..."
Anthony's beautiful blue eyes twinkled, "Did you believe me? You really are dumb, you kno—"
Bobbie plunged the rock into Anthony's eye. Hot tears streamed down her face, and with shaky hands she pulled the stone down and across the man's face. He screamed in pain as he pulled her away from him, shoving her to the ground. Bobbie tried to crawl away, and he stepped on her hand. She screamed as a loud crunch echoed throughout the forest. Once more, the gun was aimed at her head, and all she could do was wait for her death.
Bang!
Bobbie watched in shock as Anthony fell to the ground. She wailed as she backed away from his body, and when a hand landed on her shoulder, she swatted at it. But when she finally looked up, she saw Torrez.
Jumping to her feet, Bobbie hugged the big man while sobbing. "It's okay. I'm here."
"I thought I was alone. I thought everyone died."
"The city may fall, but the people live on. Your father made sure of that."
"Father!" She could no longer hold back, "Anthony- stabbed- him."
Torrez patted her head, "I'm sorry we cannot mourn him now."
Streams of light searched through the forest, and Mr. Torrez led Bobbie by the hand, back towards the Hidden City. She gripped tightly as they disappeared from the world.