Ugh, it feels like I've been studying for hours- and I'm not even close to being finished yet.
I'm pretty sure the nearest convenience store is a 24-hour one… and I'm in desperate need of another energy drink, so it wouldn't hurt to go out now.
It's been around twenty minutes since I left home. The bag of energy drinks and protein bars is swinging in my hand, and I'm just about to cross the street-
"Ow!"
Did I trip on a rock or something? Why does it hurt so much..? Yet, my thoughts pause when I hear a lower voice behind me. I tense up.
"Damn, was the prophecy some sort of April Fool's joke? You're way too pathetic."
"Hey, get away from me!"
I kick my legs like my life depends on it, but I hear footsteps approaching from the opposite side of me, and moments later everything goes dark.
"Come back here, I think the dumb kid's waking up."
Her voice sounds familiar, but I'm not sure where I know her from. My vision is still blurry and my whole body is laying sideways, hands bound together with rope.
"Look, if you have anything against Genesis7-"
"Hah! You really are a fool if you think we'd do all of this for some nonsense boy band… unless the others have powers, too?" My blood runs cold as I realize what this is about- Jeremiah told me there were other cupids and anti-cupids. But I won't tell them anything.
"I don't have anything you're looking for."
"Oh, well how can you be so sure of that? The rest of us can't teleport like you can- and she would've been more generous than that, so there's certainly other things you can do, too."
She? Who is he talking about? I still feel so dizzy… I wish…
"Jeremiah-"
"Max?"
Am I still dreaming? Did they take him too?
"Wait, I think I just heard your voice! Where are you?" "I don't know- what's going on?"
His next words are partially audible, partially little murmurs that slip past my ears. I can sort of piece together the words… telepathy. I didn't even know I could do that.
"Please, just look around and tell me what you see="
"Bricks and a concrete floor. There isn't any light in this room."
"Who took you? Why did they do this?!"
"A man and a woman… do we know them?"
I can even sense the cursing in his mind, and clearly he's distressed. And for some reason, it takes that for me to feel a little bit more horrified,
"What are they going to do to me, Jeremiah?"
"I don't know- but keep talking to me. Don't close your eyes, I can't lose you."
So I stay awake with my eyes half-open for what seems like hours. I have no idea where either kidnapper has gone. What time is it?
"Hey!"
The man's booming voice creeps up on me from behind, and my heart drops. My crippling fear is met from taunting from the woman.
"Ha, look at the poor thing! I think he peed himself!"
Against Jeremiah's wishes, I shut my eyes tightly, wishing I was anywhere but here, wishing I had never gone out so late at night like an idiot.
I flinch again at the loud sound of a metal pipe swinging, and various thuds of things hitting the ground. But this is all happening behind me, and I'm not in a position to turn my head around and see.
"Max!"
Jeremiah's face is suddenly right in front of mine, both of us tearing up at the sight of the other again. Somehow, I feel the rope against my wrists loosening.
"Who-"
Immediately sitting up, I can see Jeremiah's dad. His voice is quiet, almost drowned out by the sound of sirens.
"Everyone's been looking for you. The police are on their way now."
Jeremiah clings to me as we make our way outside (or it might be the other way around), and I hear my name being yelled at once more.
"Max!"
Dylan wraps his arms around me in a tight hug, despite my dirty clothes and the dried tears on my cheek. I can't even bring the strength to lift my own arms, but he doesn't budge.
"Dylan, I didn't run away-"
"You don't have to explain… this hasn't been pleasant for any of us."
Jeremiah, Gabriel, Zachary, Asher, Elias, and Luke all join me at home for a sleepover. I don't think they could ever understand how much this means to me.
"Thanks for coming, guys. everything that happened has just been…"
"You don't have to think about it right now if it's too scary, big bro!"
I ruffle Asher's hair with a soft chuckle, appreciating the sentiment. We've been playing video games and eating pizza for the most part (though they did especially recommend for me to play Tetris). Gabe then shows me his phone.
"Do you know how many fans have been recording videos of themselves crying since your disappearance? Everyone's relieved that you were found."
While I do feel somewhat relieved, I know I might have to testify, help them piece together the evidence… yet I don't even know how. I feel utterly useless.
"I'm going to the bathroom."
Jeremiah stands up, and I let out a quiet yelp as he drags me along to go with him. The voices of the other boys are drowned out.
"I know that the prophecy might have some part in this, but I'm not letting you overthink things right now."
"Sorry-"
He catches me off guard with the softest kiss, and my hands cling to the wall behind me. My own voice is a whisper.
"Promise me you'll always come find me when I get lost."
"I promise, Max."
A few minutes pass, and we spend the rest of the night telling funny stories, trying out different filters on social media, and watching YouTube videos. It's fun, and free.
"I was given makeup dates for some of the exams. I think I'll be okay."
Two weeks have passed since my kidnapping, and things have become relatively normal once again.
Clarissa has asked me for some of the details regarding the situation, and I know she might've been worried as our old manager. So I admit some of the truth, just nothing about the woman.
By the time I was found, she was gone- so I didn't say anything. Neither did Theodore (the guy that they did arrest).
Jeremiah and I are at the park one day, and I admit that I do smile as he murmurs his own commands in my ear.
"See that couple over there?"
My hand waves, and I watch the flowers in the air… until they're suddenly gone.
"Huh?"
"You have-"
"Clarissa?"
Before I can process much, Jeremiah grabs the both of us and teleports us to our dorm.
"You seem surprised. Can you not teleport?"
"No…"
Clearly she's surprised, yet I am as well. I didn't think another person with powers would be so nearby. I did think they were a bit more globalized and spread out.
She then looks around, her jaw open again. It's honestly a little funny.
"Did you guys teleport me to your dorm?!"
"Do you think we'll try something on you? Max and I are dating."
Clarissa seems oddly unreactive to what Jeremiah's just said. Was it obvious? Or maybe her mind is preoccupied with other things…
But the guy right next to me seems the same. He begins to interrogate her, as if she would know anything about Theodore.
"It's over now, Jeremiah-"
"We don't know that."
The uncertainty is scary, I know. However, I can't even get myself to argue with this foolish idiot. When he asks Clarissa for help, I don't reject any ideas.
We brainstorm possible causes for why they might've taken me. That is, until she mentions something that makes my head turn.
"Dylan's an anti-cupid, too."
What? The thought remains on my mind for a while. Insecurity creeps in and I don't know why,
Did he always know I was a cupid? Is that why he adopted me?
After a successful recruitment, Dylan actually mentions having some sort of fun with this. I don't have the most optimism, which is probably why I'm so shocked at Clarissa's efforts.
"An empty warehouse? That you've managed to repurpose into a makeshift gym-"
"Well, it's nice to have! And I have spare keys for each of you."
The only people very excited about a possible training montage are Jeremiah and Clarissa, and I let out a sigh that I don't feel like saving for my future exhaustion.