Ethan's p.o.v

"I'm useless. She's going to die because of me. What the fuck am I supposed to remember?"

I dropped off the couch down on the ground.

"Get up loser." Andy kicked me in the stomach and I instantly curled in a ball. 

Andy sat on the couch uncomfortably sighing. "They will not get their hands on that file anytime soon. Let me see that file you recorded." 

I handed him the phone and kept on laying on the ground.

He shook his head in disappointment."Go sit on that laptop." He told me. "I pulled up all information about that Nygel guy you mentioned. Try to figure out where he is keeping her."

"You have all his personal info?" I got up quickly. 

"Yap."

"Why didn't you say so?" I instantly ran to the laptop and started searching through the information. As I figured. Desk job really suits me better.

There were so many properties he owned, but there wasn't any underground warehouses like the taxi driver explained. He said he doesn't remember how he got there since he followed a gps map and got back with an uber, but the information he provided was useful. I searched for old subways near them since they were a more probable solution. I kept on searching through the maps. 

Come on, there must be something here...

THERE.

I zoomed in on the map. This seemed very similar to what the taxi driver explained.

"I think I found a lead. I have to go. Phone please" I told Andy getting up. He seemed deeply focused at my phone.

"Andy." I yelled and he snapped out of it.

"What?" I asked as he handed me the phone. He had a sour look on his face.

"Um my parent's tech app is mentioned in there few times. The one your parents said is a fraud and ruined my family. It's mentioned in the file multiple times."

My mouth hung open. "What do you mean? Do you think that's connected to this?"

He shook his head."I knew my parents would never scam, but this app ruined their whole career." He explained. "Ethan I think they were framed."

I walked back to him. "Look, I don't have time for this right now, but I promise the moment this is over I will clear your parents' name. I have a lot of redemption to do and I will start with you. I'll get to the bottom of this."

He hesitated but eventually put out his hand. "I really despise you, but for the sake of what Jackie said to me I'll give you a chance. Good luck!"

I shook his hand and then ran out to the street hailing a cab.

I quickly dialed Jackie's dad but the call was misdirected. Deciding it was best to just text him the address I stopped for a second to think. This was Nygel they were talking about. He was an operative, he had a whole stack of resources and probably guns too. What could I really do if I got there? Run into the warehouse and do what?   Sure I could knock out a few people but I still had no experience fighting professionals. What can I do other than wait around?What?

"Turn here." I told the driver.

Fuck it. 

My plush was in danger and I'm here contemplating what to do. She was probably leaning on me to find her so what kind of boyfriend would I be to let her down.

***

I arrived at what seemed like a normal looking neighborhood. Looking down on my phone, there was no answer from Jackie's father even though I had texted him the details. I guess I was on my own for now.

I took a deep breath and did the calculations in my head. If Jackie was anywhere  it must have been underground.

I looked around for any entrance and saw a sign for a parking lot. Hmm..sounded like a good shoot. 

I walked in there carefully and found that the parking lot went even further down. This was definitely the place. 

The dark hallway was damp but hot and I could feel sweat forming on my forehead and hands. I felt angry thinking about how scared Jackie must be. I swear someone will get murdered and I won't be sorry about it.

I heard smothered laughter and voices. There.

I snuck in closer and tried to peak the scene from the dark corner I was standing in. The neon green lights were strong enough for me to see the ten laptops and the people working on them. Damn, Andy could keep up with ten hackers at once.

Well, I assume that's what they are doing. And then I saw Jackie. She was tied and gagged and her cute little nose that I would pinch to tease her, was bloody.

I clenched my fist. Someone was going to die for sure.

"What's is taking you so long!" Nygel yelled at everyone.

Nygel you son of a bitch. You traitorous bastard. You were going to go to jail or going to die. Either way not getting out of this unscathed.

I looked around. There wasn't a power switch..maybe if i find some sort of a power line..

There.

I saw what seemed like a the main power source for the laptops. If I can just..

"Argh..!" I was pulled up by rough hands and pushed on the harsh concrete. I looked up to see two muscle heads behind me. I had caused the room to become quiet and everyone's eyes were on me.

Jackie spotted me as well and her eyes went wide. 

"Ethan? Oh I did not expect this! I'm having a field day." Nygel said as he approached me and leaned over me. "Come to save your little girlfriend. Ahh, kids these days. They never learn."

Everyone there laughed. 

"Let her go Nygel," I yelled. "This won't end up good for you."

Nygel raised a brow and then swung his long right at my stomach. He pulled out a cigarette. "Tie him up." He told the muscleheads and then approached the laptops. I guess I wasn't even worth an explanation. 

I looked at Jackie and I can tell she was worried. "Do you know why you were kidnapped?" I told her while I was being tied up on a chair. 

She nodded her head. 

It was useless. We were two brainiacs sitting here doing nothing. If only we were stronger and trained. What did I praise my skills on when I can't even protect myself and the girl I love.

Suddenly Nygel yelled out. "Is it over? You did it?"

There were clapping amongst the hackers. "Oh boy." Nygel laughed out and turned towards us. "Someone get me a bottle of champagne."

He seemed quite pleased with himself and then turned towards the muscleheads. "Kill them." He told them and pointed at us.

Suddenly teargas was thrown in the center of the place and panic arose. Everyone grabbed their laptops and started running away. 

No this wasn't teargas. It was a smoke bomb. My eyes weren't burning nor swelling. I couldn't see but I could hear more people probably officers approaching them. Nygel grabbed Jackie off the chair and vanished with the rest of them.

I fretted in my seat trying to get rid of whatever tied me up on that chair. No, they couldn't take Jackie. Suddenly someone approached me in a full on fbi suit and they untied me. 

"Where is Jackie?" The man asked.

"Nygel took her. He disappeared with the rest of the geeks. I think they got what they wanted, but they need Jackie for something.

The man nodded and then ran after them. I didn't think twice and followed him.

He ran through the hallways of the abandoned subway and he carried his weapon out.

I needed to be stronger and faster to save Jackie. Today I lost her twice. 

Suddenly we were at a crossroads. The man stopped and started cursing. It was quiet and we couldn't tell where they vanished. 

He took out his headshield and he finally noticed i was behind him.

"You shouldn't be here. Go back to safety."

"I'm not leaving Jackie alone. You have bigger issues than worrying if I'm following you or not."

"You better believe I'm having a say in it. This isn't a place for kids."

"Just because you are trained in this doesn't make you smarter than me. I bet I can figure out which way they went before you mister..."

"Don't you dare call me mister. I just turned 30 for fuck sake. It's Dylan...Dylan Mason."

You have to be fucking kidding me.