-

I'm feeling so evil omg...

-

Ethan raises his eyebrows at me when I stare at him longer then necessary as he drives through the streets of Spain. I don't try to be subtle with my staring as he gives me a look that says, What the hell are you staring at, bitch?

Or, I don't know what it could mean, but I know he's wondering why I've been staring at him.

"I'm trying to figure you out," I finally admit. He rolls his eyes.

"It's just..." I paused. "How can anyone go that long without talking?"

He shrugs.

I laugh. "I know I couldn't go that long without talking."

He smiles.

"How long have you been...not talking?"

He purses his lips, thinking about it as he took a right turn before shrugging again.

"All your life?" I guessed. He nodded.

I tilted my head to the side. "How old are you?"

He begins to lift up his fingers as if to show me, but then must have remembered we only have ten fingers. I giggle when he frowns, and I decided to help him by guessing.

"Seventeen?"

He shook his head, pointing his finger up.

"Twenty one?"

Head shake. Finger down.

"Twenty?"

Head shake. Finger down.

"Nineteen?"

Head sha- just kidding. He nods with a grin.

I gasped. "You're nineteen? You're only two years older then me and you're in a gang?" He nods.

Wow, if he was nineteen now, then he must have been in the gang ever since a young age. I'm about to open my mouth to ask him how long he's been in the gang, but the car suddenly halts and he takes the keys out of the ignition. We were here.

-

"Oh. My. God," I gasp and press my face against the glass. "I've never seen such amazing looking chocolate before in my life. It's...beautiful."

Ethan grins and opens the door for me, gesturing me to go in first. I smile. "What a gentleman."

As soon as I stepped foot in the store, I felt like I was in heaven. The smell of chocolate was strong, and there was chocolate everything. Chocolate cakes, cupcakes, cookies, candies, strawberries...you name it, and it's here.

"Well, well, well, look who it is," a man says from behind the cash register. He has a thick, Spanish accent. "Haven't seen you since last time Keith was here. Ethan, how are you?"

Ethan shrugs.

"Still not a talker, huh?" he teases and Ethan smiles in response. I know your struggle, I think inwardly.

Cashier guy's gaze moves from Ethan to me, and he gives me a friendly smile. "Who's this cute girl?"

"I'm Vanessa," I introduced myself with a small wave. "And I love chocolate."

Cashier guy laughs. "Don't we all? I'm Julio."

-

"I now pronounce you, Julio, as part of the Cow Armada," I say, dubbing Julio as part of the clan. He places his hand on his heart, touched. "Moo."

"I'm honored."

I grin, I like this guy. I look towards where Ethan is sitting, and his whole face is covered with chocolate. Aww, doesn't he look adorable AF.

Ethan's phone suddenly starts ringing, and he raises his eyebrows at me and raises his chocolate covered hands. I shake my head and grab the phone, noticing the contact name says Blu, and sliding my thumb across the screen.

"WHERE ARE YOU?! WHERE IS VANESSA?!" a voice that was not Blu answered.

I cringe, pulling the phone away from my ear. "Lower your voice, Keith, gosh."

"Where are y'all?!" he demands.

"Ethan is buying me chocolate."

A pause, before I hear a sigh of relief. "Well, next time, leave a note or something, okay?"

A smile tugs at my lips. "Why...were you worried?"

He scoffs. "Psh, no."

"Mhm."

"Just...make sure to always stay by Ethan's side, okay?"

"Mkay," I agree, and break off a piece of chocolate from a chocolate bar.

"I mean it," he says as I plop the piece in my mouth. "James' man could be lurking all around town. And now that they know what you look like..."

"Got it," I nod. "Be careful, don't get caught. Easy."

How hard could it be?

-

"Bye, Julio!" I wave as we leave the store. We've been there all day, and I think Julio was glad we were finally leaving because we ate almost all of the chocolate in his store.

He makes a hashtag sign with his fingers. "Respect The Moo!" he calls after me.

"Respect The Moo!" I call back, laughing.

We climb into the car, and Ethan puts the keys in the ignition. I place my hand on his arm.

"Thanks for the chocolate, Ethan," I say softly.

He smiles at me and gives my head a pat before backing out into the street. I lay my head back against the seat and close my eyes with a sigh. My mind drifts back to the phone call from earlier, and I frown, thinking about my brother. I wanted to go home, I did. But...I've already gotten used to the gang, and it would be weird without them. I-

Wait, what am I thinking? These guys kidnapped me! I should be glad that they're going to be caught. I should be glad that they're about to be sentenced to jail. I should be glad that I'm going home.

And I am glad...aren't I?

-

I didn't notice that I've fallen asleep until Ethan shakes my shoulder. My eyes flutter open, and it takes me a while to realize that I'm still in the car.

I lift my head up off my seat and rub my eyes. "Are we back yet?"

Ethan shakes his head. I squint my eyes in the darkness and realize he's covered in dust and soot. The hood of the car is propped open.

"Did the car stop working?" I ask. He nods. "Why don't you call anyone?"

He gives me a sheepish grin and holds up his phone, pressing on the button to show a sign that said to charge the phone. I look around at where we are parked. We are in front of an alley way on an empty street.

The door opens, and I snap my head back to see Ethan exiting the car with a flashlight in hand. How he got that, I have no idea. I sit in the car while Ethan tries to fix the vehicle and rub my arms together, hoping he can fix it fast so we can get back.

THUMP!

I jump at the sound, and try to look out to find Ethan, but I can't see him behind the hood. Then, there's a groan, and at first I think it's the car, but it sounded too human.

"Ethan?" I called out. No response.

Well, duh, he doesn't talk, inner me says.

Shut up, I snap at her. Now is not the time for you.

I hesitantly climb out the car, shivering when the cold, night air hits me. "Ethan?" I say again, and walk to the front of the car, gasping when I see the familiar figure laying on the floor.

"Oh my god!" I cried, rushing towards him and crouching down. I shake his arm, but Ethan doesn't move. I almost think he's dead, but he still has a pulse. I stiffen when I hear a stick snap.

"Hello, darling," the chilling voice says. All of a sudden there's a bag on my head and I scream, kicking my legs and arms out in a desperate attempt to get away.

Kidnapped. Again.

Is this all there is to life?

-

MOOHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!

So, I lied. I said that there were only a few more chapters, but then I had this brilliant idea and now there will be MORE CHAPTERS!

SAY YAY, KIDS!

Moo🐮