Never Find Out

(Luke’s View)

By:  Bay 6th grade

I turned the key in the lock gently, the motor coming alive and purring gently. I looked in the rearview mirror and saw her walking down the street. Smiling a grim smile, I watched while she walked by in the crisp autumn air, her soft tan Ugg Boots being surrounded by red, orange, and yellow leaves as a small gust brushed them up and around, one of them landing on her long, coal-colored hair.

“Violet Parker.” I whispered, looking down at the small photo in my wallet that was now outstretched in my hand. I began to drive slowly, glancing to my side as I passed her. Only a few more blocks until she got home. I turned onto her street, and checked the driveway. There was a gold SUV sprawled over the concrete. I cursed. Her father was home. I continued my drive, acting as though I was going downtown. The 14 year old turned the corner just as I headed towards the library. I frowned, and gripped the steering wheel tightly.

Easy, Luke… Soon enough… Soon enough. Be patient… the time will come…

The next day, at exactly 3:45, I pulled up to the street corner by her high school. After waiting for 5 minutes, I knew she had detention. Violet seemed to get in trouble a lot… this happened quite often. But maybe today would be the day. Today was Wednesday. Her father always worked an extra 30 minutes today. Maybe… just maybe…

I drove my Q-7 around town aimlessly, not really going anywhere. At 5:00, I pulled back to perch at the corner. I watched as Violet emerged with her backpack slung over one shoulder, her hair bouncing as she jogged down the school’s steps. She passed by the lone alleyway on the street, and I realized this was my chance. I emerged from my car, my sandaled feet hitting the street with a small thud. I closed the door quietly. She didn’t notice. I clutched my pistol in one pocket and squeezed it before progressing.

I began to walk as though I was crossing the street to go to the school, but I suddenly rushed out, grabbed her around the waist with the crook of my elbow, and shoved her into the alleyway. Swiftly, I cupped my hand over her mouth right before she was about to scream.

“Don’t move and you won’t get hurt.” I had taken my gun and held it pointed at her head, and cocked it. Violet’s eyes widened in horror, and she immediately began to squirm and writhe, eager to escape my grasp. But I expected this. Quickly, I took my hand and squeezed the pressure points on her neck. Instantly, she slackened, her body drooping limply into my arms. I hurried over to the car, opening the back door and tossing her in. I made sure she wasn’t visible from the windows, and then I turned the key in the lock; and we were off.

I sped through town, running red lights and narrowly avoiding pedestrians. I pulled into the parking lot of an abandoned warehouse that used to be owned by a paper company. I grabbed Violet and went inside. I opened the door to my office, and sat Violet down in the corner. I grabbed a rag from my desk and used it as a gag for her, then bound her arms and legs with a rope.

I sat at my desk, and in front of my cheap computer; which was being held together by duct tape. On top sat the only piece of modern technology about it, a high-quality webcam. I turned this on, and waited patiently for the computer to boot up. I removed my shoes, my toes relishing the cool concrete of the abandoned building. I adjusted my pant legs so they barely covered the tops of my feet, and returned to waiting for the accursed computer to load.

After a painstakingly slow 15 minutes, I loaded up the webcam program, as well as a special program I had made myself that would help me hack into the Parker’s computer server. Her father was most likely home by now, working. He was a computer programmer, he was sure to be using it right now.

I swiftly began typing, entering the codes to break into the server. After a few minutes, I was in.

“Alright… time for the message.” I adjusted my webcam, and pressed the enter key.

I gave a smile. My face was reflected on the computer in a small screen. I could only imagine Mr. Parker’s surprise at seeing a 22 year old boy on his computer screen.

“Martin Parker. I bet you’re wondering where your daughter is right now. Or maybe you aren’t, what with your computer business and having no time to spend with your children. I have captured your daughter and I am holding her in this very room. If you give a care at all about her safety, welfare, and life, then you must pay me exactly 15,000 dollars. If you do not pay this sum within three days, your daughter will be brutally murdered. Thank you for your time.”

The small screen disappeared, and I turned the computer off. I walked over to Violet, and knelt down next to her.

“You’re going to pay off, little Violet. You will pay quite a bit…”

When Violet woke up, I was sitting at my desk, crouching in my chair, my sandals laid neatly next to my desk, and eating a cup of Chef Boyardee Microwave Mac and Cheese. I glanced over at her, and placed the cup and fork down. I slid off of the chair and walked over.

Violet moved slightly and she opened her dark purple eyes. Her dark hair was a mess around her. She tried to say something, but she found that she couldn’t talk.

“Hello Violet.” I said, and crouched next to her. She squirmed, apparently in either anger or fear, and attempted to speak. Through her gag, I couldn’t understand a word she was saying.

“My name is Luke. You don’t know me, but I am holding you for ransom. 15,000 dollars, to be exact. If your father doesn’t pay that amount within three days, I will kill you. If the police come to break you out, I’ll still kill you, no matter what they offer. If your father does not pay, that just goes to show that he couldn’t care less about his oldest daughter.” I said smilingly. Violet’s face contorted in rage.

I looked closely at her, and saw how angry she was, and how all she wanted to say was what she would do to me if she was free. I chuckled. She wouldn’t be able to do that anyways. I would kill her no matter what. I reached over and untied the gag, and was immediately enveloped by a curtain of screaming and rage.

“So, you’ve been following me around?!!” She screamed. I smiled.

“Do you have the Q-7?” She asked, flipping her hair out her face with the flick of her neck quickly, before returning her gaze directly at me.

“Yeah... I guess you could call it mine… I ‘borrowed’ it from a man on the street… nice guy. Didn’t call the cops on me.” I said, looking up slightly as I remembered the carjack. I stood, and returned to my chair. I crawled on top of it on my knees, and proceeded in placing my bare feet on the wood of the chair, and crouching in place, leaned back. I placed my hands on my knees, and proceeded to flick the tines of the fork back and forth. A small metallic ‘spring’ noise filled the air. Things were going perfectly.

“Do you know about my little sister, Jade?” Violet asked.

“Of course. I’ve been spying on your family for the past year and a half.” I said happily, and grabbed a Fun-Size Hershey bar from the bowl on my desk and eating it.

“You do know my father hates me, don’t you? He doesn’t care about me at all. I’ll come home form detention and he won’t even notice me. But Jade is his little girl. Nothing could ever happen to her.” Violet said sadly. She said her sister’s name with her voice full of spite. She must really hate her, I thought.

I started to think about what Violet was saying. Yes, I thought. Violet wasn’t worth much…her father apparently paid no attention to her. But If I had both of them, I would be even richer.

I walked back over and untied Violet’s legs, and grabbed my pistol on the desk. “This way.” I said, holding the gun to her head as I led her down the hall like an abused dog on a chain. We walked down the hallway, and I opened the door to the parking lot. We went over to the Q-7, and I opened the passenger door.

“Get in.” I said, pushing her on the back before she could actually do anything herself. I got in on the other side, using one hand to turn the key and drive, using the other to hold the pistol to her head. “Where’s your sister?” I demanded.

“Going around the neighborhood making world peace.” She said, her voice soaked with sarcasm. I glared at her as we drove through a stop sign, and repeated my question, this time more forcefully.

“Where’s your sister?”

“Probably at home watching Hannah Montana or something stupid like that. How should I know what the losers do these days?” She said, and I gave an exasperated sigh.

“If you say one more thing like that, I’ll shoot you right now. So shut up, you little-” It was at this point I began to curse profusely at her for a few minutes before we got to her house.

When we reached Violet’s house, which was as huge as a mansion, I pulled the car out in front, and grabbed Violet.

“You’re coming with me. If you do anything to try to escape, I’ll shoot you and your sister. Get out of the car.” I said, motioning the pistol outside the car, and opened the door. I grabbed her by the collar and dragged her to the door.

“Oh wow, why would I do anything? This is way more exciting than my ordinary life, and believe me, if you shot Jade, my life would be perfect.”

“Shut the *&@$ up!” I yelled, cocking the gun and shoving it hard at her head. I kicked the door, and there was a cloud of dust that was spewed in our faces. There was a small cry that emerged from two rooms over, and I tightened my grip on Violet’s collar, and jerked her towards the source of the sound. I could hear the sound of footsteps stomping down several flights of stairs. Her father must be in the attic.

Jade was sitting in the parlor, with the TV blaring Hannah Montana. She stared at me, then at her sister.

I pointed the gun at her, and said, “Come with me, or I’ll kill you.” Jade began to tremble violently.

“Get the #%!* over here!” I screamed, and the little girl hurried over, clutching her shoulders in fear as she shivered. I held the gun to her head and motioned towards the door.

“Go.” I said, my voice quiet now. I tugged at Violet’s collar, and we headed towards the door. I hurried towards my car, but was stopped in my tracks as I saw two men standing by my Q-7.

I cursed under my breath. So, their dad had called the police. Why hadn’t I thought of this? I had thought everything out so well.

The younger of the two policemen, who had no uniform, pulled out a gun and pointed it straight at me. I felt Violet jerk out of my now slackened grip and snatch Jade and run towards the policemen.

       “Drop your weapons and follow me to my car.” The younger policeman said, his voice calm yet firm, like someone trying to tame a hungry lion at the circus.

I gave a grim smile, and looked down, dropping my gun onto the pavement with a clatter. They had won. I began to walk towards the police van, but when I was right in front of the un-uniformed policeman, who was blocking the path to my car, I suddenly darted away, and began to charge down the street. My plan had worked.

“Hey! Get back here!” The older man shouted, and they both began to chase me. I pumped my arms and struggled to breathe as my feet slapped against the pavement. My heels burned as I ran over the gravel and asphalt of driveways, but I ignored it. I quickly glanced over my shoulder, to make sure the policemen were far behind, and my eyes widened as I saw Violet rummaging through my car.

I screamed out a curse in anger, and skidded to a stop, crashing into a mailbox. She would find the photo… and then I would be ruined. No… I just had to keep running. They were still far behind. Just keep running, and never come back. Change my name. I darted into a backyard, and began to run like crazy. The police were far behind. I had lost them. They would never find me now.

They would never find out that I am Luke Parker.