Chained - Jenlisa

Abducted

I watch on as Boonluang helps Lisa plug in her new game console to the TV in the living room. She seems ecstatic to have something new to do in her free time and Boonluang is clearly excited to have a player two. He can't stop talking about gameplay and missions and co-op. She nods along to his words, taking it in, but it's clear by her occasional questions that she has no idea what he's talking about. But at least she's willing and eager to learn.

"Okay, so you put this on," Boonluang says, scooting away from the TV and handing Lisa a headset. "We can talk and plan and stuff. The rest of the team can hear you, too."

Lisa adorns the headset and fiddles with the microphone portion of it. It clicks as she pushes it all the way up, then clicks when she drags it back down. I heard Boonluang tell her that the mic in the up position means it's muted so I assume she knows as well. "Who's the rest of the team?"

"This kid from my school and some other people I met online." Boonluang shrugs as the console starts up and gives Lisa her controller. I wonder who these other online people are and whether or not they're appropriate friends for Boonluang. "You can practice with me first so you can get better."

"Cool," Lisa mumbles, wiggling her fingers as she holds her controller, getting used to it in her hands. But then her whole body goes rigid before shivering like she was just washed with ice water. She shakes her head quickly and drops her controller. "Go home," she demands of Boonluang. "So we can play online."

Boonluang gives her a funny look, as do I. "What? Don't you want me to show you how to get started?"

Lisa stands and starts to nudge Boonluang towards the door. "I'll get it. I want to play a little on my own."

"But to get online you-"

"Don't worry. I'll figure it out." She scoots Boonluang out into the hall and shuts the door before he can argue anymore.

From outside Boonluang's tiny voice says, "Tell me your gamertag when you're ready," then it goes quiet.

I frown, worried, as Lisa takes off her headset. "Someone's here," she says, "and they're not supposed to be."

I wet my lips as Lisa puts on her shoes. "Who?"

She growls and squares her shoulders. "Witches."

They must have followed us home from the mall. But what could they want from us by using scare tactics? If that old woman from the shop wanted to cash in her favor then she could have come to me herself. I still don't entirely believe in witches and magic but, damn, Lisa is making these people scary. If she thinks there's a threat then there's definitely a threat. Or at least something she perceives as a threat.

"Stay here," Lisa instructs. "I'll go see what they want."

"They?" I suppose I should have known that. Lisa did use witches, plural. "Wait. Let me go. They want me, don't they?"

Lisa's weight shifts to one leg and she balls her right hand, her jaw twitching. "If they do, they cannot have you."

"I'm not saying I'm going to give myself up, but we could save ourselves a lot of trouble if I meet them. The favor is mine to give, isn't it?"

"Well..." She averts her eyes. "I'm not comfortable having them around you."

I approach Lisa and tilts my head to get her to look at me. "I'm more capable than you think."

"I completely trust in your abilities."

"And I trust in yours. You'll help me if I need it, right?"