“The mall! ! !” She exclaimed. This is not my day!  I thought with a moan. I told her that this was a game, where she must put her arm around my back, and I hers, and we must walk through the mall. She agreed and we did this. We stopped many a time at a store, but I convinced her not to buy anything. We exited the level, just in time.

“You’ve made it, I’m impressed.”  said the voice. “Now here is your friend Michelle. I’m keeping Laura here until a week has passed. I’ll contact you then.”  We were out on the lawn. Tricia and I returned to our previous clothes, the raid clothes, and Michelle was in her uniform. She fell to the ground. We helped her up, and took her to the roadside. Seeing no cars, we slept in some trees near a pond.

I awoke in the morning and got the other two up. Tricia and I went to the pond, and Michelle went to the road, to look for Noah. Tricia hugged me sideways. She then fell back to sleep on my shoulder. I sat there for a while, thinking how much trouble I was in because of her. I had not yet figured out how we were going to get Laura out, but right now, I was trying to think of a way to break this to Noah, he was to be married Wednesday!  I gently awoke my sleeping secretary.

“Tricia?”

“Yes?”

“I want you to go and look for Noah with Michelle.”

“Okay.”

“When he comes, tell him that I’m fine. I’m going to offer myself as a hostage so that they will let Laura go. Don’t try to stop me, and don’t follow. If I’m not out in a week, send in the Police.”  She wearily agreed, and I helped her up. She started to walk away, came back and gave me a kiss on the cheek, then left. I went to the front door of the house and knocked on it.

“Yes?”

“I have to speak to Matt, can I come in?”

“Yes.”  Noelle said, leading me to the living room.

“What do you want?”  Matt said.

“I wish to make a trade. I want to trade my freedom for that of Laura’s.”

“Is this some sort of trick?”

“No. I’m much more valuable to you than Laura, who is needed outside.”

“All right, I accept. Noelle, go get Laura.”  After a space of time of about five minutes Noelle appeared and had Laura. She was bound and gagged, and had a blindfold on. She was released, and saw me.

“What’s going on.”

“Young chivalrous Adam, here, is going to take your place.”  Matt said.

“No!”  Laura responded.

“You are free to go, but the same rules apply to you, as did Adam. Do not attempt a rescue, I will meet you in a week at the Smoking Gun, at eight.”  Laura reluctantly left. I was bound, gagged, and blindfolded. The next thing I knew I was in a dark pit. All my bindings were off. I could see very little. Near to my left hand was some water. I lay down and fell to sleep. This day and the next went like this, not knowing day or night. Three times a day, some food was dumped into the pit, but I could not see it.