Maxine's Pov:
They sedated me and took me away.
*
*
I groaned out of sleep, feeling so much pain in my joints - everywhere. 

Urgh! My head ached a lot. 

I struggled to sit up and discovered my hands were tied to the back. 

My eyes adjusted to the dimness in the room, and I realised I was locked in an empty room and made to sit on a dirty floor. 

Oh! My God!

Why do I have a feeling...I already know who it is?

Noah!!!

My mind suddenly drifted to see him, and I flinched. 

Oh my God!!! Where's he??

I can remember - he was shot!!

Yes - the animals shot him! Where's he!!

Just then, the door opened, and I looked to see it was Oscar. 

Oh my God!!

My guess was right.

The monster. I had a hunch he was behind it. I should've known an animal would always be an animal.

He walked in with some boys, and a smirk ran across his lips.  

"My dear sister is awake, huh?" He teased as he squatted in front of me, and if not for the fact that my hands were tied, I'd have punched him in the face. 

"I can never be your sister", I said angrily, and he laughed. 

"You monster. Where's Noah?? Where's he?" I demanded. 

"Oh! Please, I've got no business with him. He should be...wherever. I don't know and don't f**king care," he spoke with so much nerves, and I felt my anger building up. 

"If anything happens to him - I'll kill you. I swear to God, I'll kill you," I warned tearfully, and he laughed. 

"Seriously?? Can a dead man kill a living soul?" He asked, laughed again, and I gritted my teeth.

"You're gonna do something for me. You're gonna drop the charges against my parents so they can be free. And after that, I can decide if you get to live or not," he said. 

For a while, I stared at him speechlessly like he was joking or something. Then, I laughed. 

"It seems the current change of situation has made u mad, Oscar. What makes you think I'd ever set your criminal parents free?" I asked, and immediately, his hands sliced through the air and landed on my cheek. 

What???
I gasped as I turned my cheek away. How dare he??

It was so painful that I almost cried. 

"Trust me, Maxine. You're gonna do it. By the time I'm done with you, you will," he smirked and stood up.

"I just wanted to give you a hint. So, I guess we're done here. Have a nice time".

And he left with the rest of the boys afterwards while I bent my head and wept. 

No; I'm never going to do it. It's never gonna happen. 

Even if it means me losing my life, I'd die just to make sure those animals pay for what they did to me. 
*
*
Noah's Pov:
I heard little muttering voices that sounded far away but got clearer over time. 

My lids fluttered and finally opened, and the first sight I caught was that of a drip.

"He's awake!" I heard a familiar voice say, and slowly turned to see Mum, Charlene and the ABC girls.

"Oh, my God! Son," Mum cooed and held my shoulders.

"He's really awake", Alexa said. 

"How...How're you feeling? Should we get the doctor?" She asked, but I didn't say a word immediately. 

"Maxine", the only name I could think of, suddenly escaped my lips.
I shook restlessly as the image replayed in my head. 

She was taken away - right after I was shot. 

"Where's She?" I asked weakly. 
"Maxine...they took her away. Where's she?" 

My eyes were fixed on Mum, who looked perplexed. 

"D...Don't worry, Noah. The police are seriously searching for her. She'll be found," she replied, and my head spun. 

Whaaaat??

I tried standing up immediately but noticed my hand was wrapped as a result of the gunshot, and Mom and the rest pinned me down.

"Noah, please, I beg you with God's name, just stay calm, please. Maxine will be fine, I promise. Don't move," Mum said tearfully, and I felt weak. 

No; I still needed to find her. 

I couldn't breathe normally, knowing she was probably in danger.

"Noah, please, you need to calm down. Maxine will be fine, okay? Please," Alexa also said, but the only thing stopping me from leaving the bed was the fact that I was weak and felt so much pain. 

"Maxine..." I mumbled and shook sideways. 

"Noah, please. Get the doctor!!" I heard Mum say, and running footsteps followed afterwards.

No;

Maxine!
*
*
Ruby's Pov:
"Oscar, are you sure of this?" I asked in a half-whisper as I stood in front of Oscar in the room. 

"Are you sure we should be doing this? Kidnapping Maxine and trying to force things on her. It's illegal".

"Come on, Ruby. Grow up!  I'm doing what's best for the family. Don't you want mum and dad to get out of jail??" He asked, sounding pissed off. 

"Of...Of course, I do. But I never thought it'd go through this process. What if we get caught? We might serve a lifetime in jail!" I poured out my fears. 

"That's never gonna happen, okay? So, quit panicking! I've gotten everything completely under control. Maxine will get our parents outta jail, and we'll leave the county immediately".he enthused.

"But...", I paused and sighed. 
"I'm just scared, brother. This is illegal, and I don't like it. Besides, mum and dad were wrong. They murdered Maxine's parents. Do we still have to hurt her?"

Immediately, he gripped me roughly by the arm. 
What?

"Listen to me, Ruby and listen very well. It's either you're with the family or against us. It doesn't matter what our parents did. We still have to save them. Do you understand?" He growled, and I just nodded perfunctorily. 

Christ! I've never seen this part of him. 

"Good", he mumbled and let go of my arm before walking out of the room.