Re: Caught in the Crossfire

Re: Caught in the Crossfire

By Kevin Ivy

Author's Note: Before this chapter is over I'll probably lose half of the ten readers I had. It just starts piling up from here.

II: Blazing Encounter; The First Blood Falls

Blossom flung open the front door, kicking off her shoes rushing for the stairs. Her head was spinning, and frankly she still felt utterly embarrassed by her shameful defeat at the park. She slowed momentarily, hearing a voice call out from the living room.

“Hey! Blossom! What took you so long?”Buttercup called out. Blossom paused at the foot of the stairs. Judging by the sounds coming from the living room, the two were playing a video game. She heard the tell-tale beep of the game pausing and realized she was about to be interrogating.

“Blossom? You wanna come play with us?” Bubbles asked, a tinge of worry in her voice. Blossom bit her lip, turning cautiously back toward the living room. Her cheeks flared up and she quickly shook her head.

“N-No everything is fine I'm...I'm gonna study!” As quickly as she could—without looking suspicious—she rushed up the stairs and closed herself away in the bedroom. Bubbles frowned and leaned further, trying to see the stairs around the corner. It wasn't typical to hear her red-haired sister so flustered. If anything she, Bubbles, was the one to act that way.

“She seemed funny, Buttercup. Do you think something is wrong?” Bubbles realized that there were noises in the background and whipped around. While she had been distracted with Blossom, Buttercup had taken the liberty of resuming the game. By the time Bubbles noticed, “Player 1 Wins!” was flashing victoriously across the screen. Bubbles flared up and hit Buttercup with the nearest pillow.

“You cheater! I wasn't ready to start playing again yet!” Buttercup laughed and tore the pillow from Bubbles' grip, grinning smugly at her irate blonde sister.

“Hey, you gotta want to win!” Bubbles fumed and crossed her arms, glaring at the mocking display on the television. Buttercup was still laughing, making her angrier with every chortle. Bubbles whipped around at Buttercup and hit her with her harshest glare. Buttercup only snickered and waved her hand dismissively.

“You're making such a big deal out of a stupid game,” Bubbles huffed and pointed a finger at Buttercup.

“You're a cheater! You cheat every time and then say its my fault!” Buttercup grabbed Bubbles' finger and pulled her close, so the two were eye to eye. Buttercup just grinned.

“Tough,” Bubbles frowned and shoved her sister back. Buttercup glared and grinned mischievously. Bubbles swallowed, recognizing the look. Before she could climb to her feet, Buttercup lunged at her, pulling the blue puff into a dishearteningly uncomfortable headlock. Bubbles hissed and whimpered, with one arm pulled up over her head, the other pinned behind her back, and her head itself locked in the crook of Buttercup's elbow.

“Ow! Stop! I can't breath!” Buttercup rolled her eyes and roughly tussled her sister's blonde hair. Bubbles whined and struggled to pull away.

“Say it!” Bubbles tried biting Buttercup's arm, but she was just out of her reach. Bubbles cried—half seriously and half playfully—and sighed.

“Alright! I didn't want to win! Now let me go!” Buttercup chuckled and released her hold. Bubbles sat up, rubbing her neck and sniffling. She kept her blue eyes on the floor, between her feet. Buttercup sighed and crossed her arms, staring at the still flashing television screen. After a few seconds of sniffling and silence, Buttercup turned to Bubbles with a raised eyebrow.

“You alright?” Bubbles nodded, and wiped her eyes.

“Yeah, I'm okay,” Buttercup nodded and playfully punched her in the shoulder. Bubbles giggled and picked up her controller. The two started the match over, this time free of cheating or sneaky victories.

“Buttercup! You're cheating again!”

“I am not!”

Oblivious to the action taking place downstairs, Blossom lay on her part of the bed still shared by the sisters. Scarcely blinking, she stared up at the spinning ceiling fan. She breathed in slow, deep breathes. The helplessness was really beginning to set in. It wasn't uncommon that they encountered an enemy that was difficult but...

“We've never...been so...so outclassed...” The Rowdyruff Boys were somewhat stronger, but they were still on the same level. Mojo had yet to build a robot they couldn't eventually tear apart. Even Him...well they had never truly fought Him, had they? Of all the enemies they did fight though...

“I couldn't even touch her...” Blossom gasped and jumped, sitting up abruptly at a knock on the door. The door creaked open and the Professor peaked in, smiling comfortingly. Blossom relaxed and slowly smiled, looking down at her feet, toes brushing against the carpet.

“Hey Dad...sorry I was late coming home,” The Professor sat down next to her, putting an arm around her shoulders. Blossom looked up, wincing when she noticed the worry etched on his face. Blossom tried to offer a disarming smile, but it felt wrong, even from her end.

“What's wrong, honey? You seem upset,” Blossom sighed and rested her cheeks on her hands. The Professor became even more worried, watching his daughter grapple with whatever had happened. Blossom finally nodded and licked her lips.

“If I...if I tell you, you have to promise to not tell Bubbles or Buttercup...please...” The Professor nodded, hugging her tightly.

“Of course, you know I'm no jabber jaw,” Blossom giggled softly and nodded. Her smile vanished, becoming a distant stare of discontent. She fiddled with her hands in her lap and bounced her heels against the bed. The Professor swallowed, bracing himself for the worst. He hadn't seen her so distraught since the day she forgot to study for a test in second grade.

“I was...I went to the library...just like I said. I found a lot of really great books, I think I'm going to really enjoy reading them!” Her excitement tapered off and disappeared once more. Blossom lowered her head. She clasped her hands and looked back up at the Professor.

“I saw this girl...she just came out of nowhere and started to talk to me. I admit, I behaved in a very immature fashion, but I got nervous while I was speaking with her and tried to leave. She just...attacked me...she said she came to Townsville just to beat me up!” Blossom swallowed and laid her head against the Professor's side. She was abridging the story, no doubt, but the actual details of her fight weren't important. The Professor rubbed her shoulder, nodding.

“I see...judging by how you've been acting, I assume she won the fight?” Blossom nodded, biting her lips again. Her father gave her a kiss on the head and a tight squeeze.

“I...don't tell anyone, but I'm afraid. Dad, it wasn't even a fight! It was just her knocking me around...I don't think I even hit her once!” That stuck a chord with the scientist. Protectively, he pulled her just a little closer, pulling her into a tighter hug. Blossom sniffled and laid against him, hands still fidgeting with her skirt.

“Well don't you worry...we'll think of something,” The Professor pulled back and gave his daughter a wry grin, “If anyone can figure this out, it's the two smartest people in Townsville, huh?” Blossom giggled and blushed, puffing up with pride. Her dad chuckled and lovingly tussled her hair.

“That's my girl. Now let's go downstairs and get some supper,” Blossom nodded and followed the scientist out of the room. Though they were both smiling, inside both were working at a mile a minute, trying to figure out a way to overcome the seemingly invincible new enemy that had appeared.

The following day, when school had let out and the children of Pokey Oaks Elementary School were set free on the city of Townsville, Bubbles and Buttercup found themselves alone. Blossom flew home with barely a goodbye. So, rather than rushing home and wasting a warm spring afternoon, the two decided to go flying through the city.

“Blossom and Daddy are both acting funny,” Bubbles said as they passed over the beach. While they flew, Bubbles flew down and watched her reflection race across the waves. Giggling, she dragged her finger through the rushing water. Buttercup rolled her eyes and watched in mild amusement.

“I dunno, probably ain't important,” Bubbles looked up, flying on her back and lightly trailing her fingers through the water. Buttercup had to admit, the ripples it left behind looked very cool from above.

“You really think so?” Buttercup nodded and started to fly higher, as the coastline started to come into view ahead of the two. Bubbles frowned and quickly joined her sister in the clouds. She couldn't accept that nothing was going on. Blossom had seemed to distressed the night before. She kept rubbing her stomach and looked like she was in pain.

“What do you wanna do now, Bubbles?” The two drifted down to a lazy hover, casually swimming through the fluffy white clouds that filled the Townsville sky. Bubbles shrugged, peering down at the city below. She blinked and quickly rubbed her eyes. Bubbles gasped when she saw it again. Two people had just appeared from nowhere in the middle of Townsville park.

“Buttercup! Look!” Buttercup opened her eyes and rolled over, zooming in on the two individuals Bubbles had pointed out. Two girls, both around the Utonium sisters' age. One had shock white hair tied up in two messy pigtails; the other had long ash gray hair. Buttercup shrugged, floating down closer to Bubbles.

“What about them? They have stupid hair, big deal,” Bubbles shook her head and began to descend as subtly as she could. It wasn't often that Bubbles got intense, Buttercup wasn't about to question her; the brunette followed her sister toward the grassy ground below. As they hovered toward the Earth, they could scarcely hear the conversation between the two. White Hair was clearly displeased with Gray Hair's presence.

“I can't believe this...of all the humiliating assignments I could be given, I was sent on a recon mission with you!” White Hair barked, her voice rough like broken glass. Gray Hair sighed and looked to the side, ignoring that her hair spilled over her face.

“I'm sorry...” White Hair huffed and crossed her arms, keeping a lethal glare on Gray Hair. The thought of White Hair's vicious orange eyes killing anyone seemed none too far-fetched. Bubbles and Buttercup ducked into the trees, trying to keep a close watch. White Hair stalked over to Gray Hair and jerked her around, holding onto her collar.

“So where are they? Huh? I thought you said they were here? I don't see them!” The last part was spat in Gray Hair's face. To her part, Gray Hair remained somewhat steadfast, though the sisters puff could see a few tears slipping down her cheeks.

“I...I swear. I know I saw her, I saw Belial here, just yest...just yesterday!” She swallowed and looked away from White Hair, trying to subtly wipe her eyes—failing miserably. White Hair sneered and looked away, audibly growling.

“This is so humiliating...all of my power wasted sucking down Earth air with a pathetic little crybaby!” Gray Hair wiped her eyes faster and glanced back at White Hair. Bubbles and Buttercup tensed up when they saw the gray-haired girl slowly look up and stare directly at them. She swallowed and stood up straight, putting on what qualified for a more determined expression. White Hair noticed the change in her cohort and glanced back, following her line of vision. When her eyes met the puff's, a sinister grin broke out across the first girl's face.

“Maybe you aren't a total failure,” The white-haired girl commented while slowly turning to face the puff's fully. Realizing that they'd been caught, the sisters vacated their hiding spot and faced down the two. White Hair quickly frowned and growled, turning to Gray Hair in a fury.

“That's not them! You stupid little idiot! They aren't the Malebolge brats!” Gray Hair blinked, keeping a careful watch on the puffs. Her resolution faltered and she looked away, rubbing her eyes again. The white-haired girl scowled and turned it on the Powerpuff Girls. As she sized them up, she seemed to get angrier every time her eyes twitched. Knowing that one of them would have to, Buttercup stepped into the leader position.

“Alright who are you two? And uh...why were we spying on them?” She turned to Bubbles at the end, giving her sister a questioning shrug. Bubbles swallowed—again Buttercup was stunned by her sister's intensity. She put on her game face and turned back to the newcomers.

“I saw them...just appear out of nowhere!” Bubbles explained quietly. Buttercup nodded and kept her fists at her sides. White Hair turned on Gray Hair again, bristling.

“Someone saw us?! Do you have any idea how to do your job? It's not like its difficult! We can't even create an easier job! You were supposed to make sure it was clear before we passed through!” Gray Hair had her back turned to them, but given the rigidity of her form, she was on the verge of tears once more. The others could just barely hear her mumbling under her breath. White Hair shook her head and turned to the Powerpuff Girls, growling.

“Who are you?” Buttercup narrowed her eyes, taking a protective step in front of Bubbles.

“I asked you first!” She retorted. White Hair slowly clenched her fists, her knuckles crackling loudly. Her snarl faded away, but her eyes—now deadly slits—stayed focused on Buttercup. Bubbles gulped nervously and decided to take the higher ground.

“We're the Powerpuff Girls! We just want to know what you're doing here,” Blood gave Bubbles a sideways glance, and then turned her eyes on Buttercup again. The orange-eyed girl spit, and relaxed her hands, clenching them again.

“I'm Blood...now get lost...I'm waiting for someone I'm supposed to kill,” Bubbles and Buttercup tensed up, instinctively getting into fighting stances. Blood growled and hunched slightly. Her cheeks turned red, and her entire body began to tremble. Buttercup narrowed her eyes and slid a bit closer, again trying to get between Bubbles and Blood. The other girl still had her back to them, but now she was glancing at Blood.

“You ain't killing anyone,” Blood lowered her head and swallowed hard. She turned abruptly, glaring at the Gray Haired girl.

“Blaze, deal with the blonde. I'm going to tear every single bone out of this big mouthed pathetic human!” Buttercup growled and took a step forward to attack. She gasped. She wasn't ready for the fist knocking her, not just off her feet, but flying into the treetops behind them. Buttercup flew so hard, she came out of the canopy spiraling uncontrollably. Bubbles gasped and spun around.

“Buttercup!” Blood jumped into the air and floated there, throwing a dangerous finger in Gray Hair's direction.

“You hear me Blaze! Take care of her! Can't you handle that?!” Blaze slowly nodded, turning toward Bubbles. Bubbles turned around to face Blaze, who took a step backward.

Blood took off through the air, colliding with Buttercup in the sky. Buttercup had any air she'd managed to recover forced from her lungs. She forced her eyes open, watching helplessly as a fist crashed into her nose and knocked her into a hole in the ground. Buttercup started to sit up, but screamed out—choking up blood that poured down her lips—as Blood landed feet first on her stomach. Blood jumped back and breathed heavily, glaring at Buttercup. The green puff slowly climbed to her feet, promptly doubling over and vomiting out blood.

“What? That's it?! Don't you dare be serious! You had better be joking! I swear in the name of Hell, you'd better be joking!” Blood screamed, overflowing with an uncontrollable fury. Bubbles watched in horror, starting to run to her sister's defense.

“Buttercup!” She stopped when she heard a weak voice behind her.

“Wait! You...you have to fight me! Not her!” Bubbles turned around and stared at Blaze. The gray-haired girl took another nervous step back. Peaking through her hair, Bubbles could see her dull red eyes. Bubbles stood up straight and narrowed her eyes. As hard as she was trying to be strong, she realized that if Blaze was even half as strong as Blood, her odds of winning weren't good at all.

“What are you two doing in Townsville? Just tell me and we can stop this!” Blaze bit her lip and looked to the side. She watched Blood and quickly shook her head.

“I can't tell you...” She whispered. Bubbles sighed and took a lunge at Blaze. She could hear Buttercup taking a beating behind her, she didn't have time to waste asking questions. Blaze stepped back, avoiding the attack. She brought her fists up to her chest and clenched them, chewing on her lip. Bubbles took another swing at Blaze and another, every successive attack just as ineffective as the one before it. She caught her breath and glared at Blaze.

“Just fight me! I...if I can't save Buttercup, at least give me a reason!” Blaze blinked and stared back in confusion. Bubbles took that opportunity to charge her. Blaze blinked and managed to dodge the attack at the last second. Intentional or not, Bubbles stumbled and fell forward. Blaze gasped and quickly caught her waist before she fell.

“Careful!” As she was righting Bubbles, she glanced back to watch the other fight.

Buttercup swallowed and took a swing at her advancing attacker. Blood grabbed her fist and without missing a beat, crushed it in her grip. The air filled with the sound of bones crunching and grinding together. Buttercup screamed and instinctively threw her other fist at Blood. The orange-eyed monster just caught it and repeated the process, snarling.

“You just don't learn! Do you!? Idiot! I hate idiots like you! Big talk, but so weak! I hate weaklings!” Blood jerked Buttercup forward and kneed her in the stomach. The attack hit with so much force that, had Blood not kept a grinding hold on Buttercup's hands odds were the green puff would have been in orbit. She repeated the same attack, twice, thrice, five times total before finally letting the puff crumple to the ground.

“Blaze! I don't hear anything back there! Take care of that stupid blonde girl!” Blaze swallowed, yet again on the defensive, dodging and weaving around Bubbles' attacks. The blonde puff looked absolutely flustered. No matter what she threw at the gray-haired girl, it was too slow to ever catch her. Bubbles clenched her eyes shut and stomped her foot.

“I don't have time for this, I have to save my sister!” She turned and started to fly into the other fight. Blaze gasped and jumped forward, snatching Bubbles by her ankle. To the heroine's shock, her red-eyed opponent was able to hold her back. Blaze tugged Bubbles back, dropping her to the ground. She looked up and noticed Blood giving her a death glare. Blaze bit her lip and dropped down, pinning Bubbles' ankle between her crossed legs. Bubbles tugged and pulled at the ground, but was stuck.

“Let me go! I have to help her!” Blaze licked her lips and shook her head. Her eyes drifted down Bubbles' back to the foot locked tightly between her legs.

“I'm sorry...I can't,” Blaze apologized, watching her foot wiggle as much as the leg lock allowed. Bubbles pounded her fists on the ground and kept struggling,trying disparately to get free. The way she was laying, she had a front row seat to watching Buttercup's brutal beat down. Blaze swallowed and looked up, watching Blood again. She quickly looked down at Bubbles' foot and then looked up at Bubbles herself. She blushed fiercely and tugged on the heel of Bubbles' shoe. Bubbles tensed up, turning around and trying to get a clear look at Blaze.

“Hey! What are you doing?” Blaze set her sneaker to the side, yet again swallowing the nervous lump building in her throat. She looked up and made eye contact with Bubbles. The puff was confused; frankly Blaze was as well. She smiled an awkward and very nervous smile. Bubbles narrowed her eyes in bewilderment. Her eyes widened and a goofy grin spread across her face. Bubbles snorted and fell forward on her elbows, giggling in both surprise and involuntary reaction. Blaze licked her lips, lightly scratching across the sole of Bubbles' socked foot.

“Cut it out! Stop that's not fair!” Bubbles cried, hitting the ground and tugging even harder than before to get free. Blaze giggled softly and bit her lip, lightly tickling Bubbles' toes. She became so entranced watching the captured appendage twitch and shake, and so excited by the sound of her opponent's melodious giggles, that Blaze quickly forgot about the violent assault taking place just a few yards away.

'She's cute...' Blaze thought, slowly tugging at the heel of Bubbles' sock, pulling it down to reveal her bare heel.

“Oh no!” She heard Bubbles gasp out. Somehow, that exclamation brought a bigger grin to Blaze's face. As she kept slowly tugging her sock off, she started tickling the newly exposed skin. She lightly scratched her heel, gently caressing around her foot and up to her ankles, then back down again. Bubbles had buried her face in her arms, giving up any hope of escaping. Soft demeanor or not, Blaze was stronger than she was. Blaze felt a giddy rush of excitement, finally pulling the sock over Bubbles' toes and letting it drop on the grass next to her.

“Please...just let me help my sister,” Bubbles begged, lifting her eyes when she heard a resounding snap. Bubbles watched a tree tumble over, and faintly heard Buttercup cry out. Blaze hadn't heard her at all. She was too entranced, resting her cheek on her hand and staring. Bubbles' toes were clenched tightly, the only defense she had left. Blaze faintly licked her lips and began to trace the wrinkles in Bubbles' scrunched sole. Bubbles giggled wildly, clawing at the grass and pressing her face against the ground. Blaze giggled when she lightly tickled Bubbles' toes, causing her foot to spasm and stretch.

“Cut it out! Please!” Bubbles squeaked out, struggling to regain her composure. Blaze's giddy smile kept growing as she teasingly stroked her fingers across Bubbles' now frantic foot. Her eyes never left her target, tracing every endearing detail. Blaze took a deep breath and sighed. She nervously looked up, remembering that Blood was somewhere in the vicinity. She smiled brightly, seeing the white-haired girl very far away, and very preoccupied.

'I always wanted to...' She thought scandalously. She felt like a sensational rush, the kind that only accompanied an act that intentionally broke the rules. Blaze uncrossed her legs, catching Bubbles' ankle with her free hand and locking it once more between her knees. Giggling in anticipation, she resumed gently tickling Bubbles' foot—albeit with both hands now—lightly skittering her fingers up and down the side of her foot and across her arch. Bubbles was flushed bright pink, giggling hysterically. She wanted to worry about Buttercup, but it was becoming harder to focus on her sister's suffering.

'Buttercup! I'm sorry, I'm...I'm trying but...' Bubbles train of thought was suddenly brought to an abrupt standstill. Bubbles squirmed and began laughing harder, pulling at the grass and trying to crawl away. Whatever Blaze was doing, it ranked in the top ten strangest things Bubbles had felt. Bubbles face turned bright, the awkward sensation making her laugh in squeamish embarrassment almost as much as the tickling itself did.

“What in the world?!” She managed to scream out. Blaze wore a delightfully pleased look on her face, still gently tickling the sides of Bubbles' foot, but now also lightly licking the blue puff's toes. She giggled, blushing slight pink. She felt ridiculous, but at the same time...Blaze sighed in content. Whatever the reason, she felt fluttery inside. Unfortunately, things weren't going nearly as strangely for the other Powerpuff Girl. Buttercup laid on the ground, unable to rise again. All of her energies were devoted to something far more pressing.

'I c..an't breath...can't breath...can't breath!' Buttercup's mind was screaming. She coughed out more blood. Her vision swam and all of her effort went to trying to pull air back into her dying lungs. Buttercup finally got that breathe when she felt a vice grip dig into her hair and drag her to her feet. She forced her eyes open, but it did little good. Her vision was a kaleidoscope of swirling colors and shapes—every color a shade of red and every shape a jagged blotch. Blood growled and pulled back her fist, her knuckles cracking again.

“Don't you dare die yet!” Buttercup moaned softly, the closet thing to a scream she could muster before she felt her nose snap. Her vision swam in darkness, but came back painfully when she felt Blood's foot slam into her arm. An earth-shattering scream worked its way to her throat. Blood caught her by her newly broken arm and brought Buttercup over her shoulder, slamming her into the dirt. Blood stood up straight, not a hair out of place, her pristine white skirt still stainless. Buttercup stayed where she fell. Not that she even had a choice. Blood snorted and crossed her arms.

'Maybe..its...over...oh my god!' Buttercup screamed with every ounce of strength left in her body when her kneecap shattered. An equally bloodcurdling scream rang out when Blood stomped down mercilessly on the back of Buttercup's other knee. Blood dropped down hard, digging her knee into Buttercup's tail bone. She slammed the green puff's face into the ground and began grinding it into the grass.

“You're lucky, you're so lucky! You get off easy this time! I should snap your neck! I should tear your idiot head off! But I'm not gonna, no I'm not gonna. You're so lucky!” Blood grabbed Buttercup's hair and pulled her head back, slamming it into the ground over and over again. When Buttercup quit twitching, she stopped and left her, climbing to her feet and panting furiously. Blood dusted her skirt off and looked around. Whens he spotted Blaze, still playing with Bubbles' foot, she flared up, her face getting red.

“What do you think...you are...doing!?” Blood kicked up with an obscene excess of power, hitting Blaze right in the chin and knocking her onto her back several years away. Blood ignored Bubbles entirely, jumping over on Blaze and grabbing her collar, slamming her back against the ground.

“What were you doing you disgusting freak?! I am never, never, never doing this again! I will never work with you again! You...you...you freak!” With a scream Blood was enveloped in a veil of darkness and vanished. Blaze wiped the blood from her nose and sat up, sniffling and staring at Bubbles. She blushed dark red and looked down shamefully. A veil of darkness wrapped around her and whisked her away. Bubbles lay panting, climbing weakly to her hands and knees. She looked around blankly, bursting into tears when she finally spotted her sister.

“No! Buttercup!” Bubbles stumbled to her feet and flew over to her sister, dropping down next to her and staring in abject horror. She carefully turned Buttercup over and sobbed hysterically, patting her sisters cut up and badly bruised cheeks.

“Buttercup! Buttercup! Open your eyes, please open your eyes! Please!” Bubbles looked the green puff over, crying harder with every new injury she discovered. Bubbles screamed and began bawling hysterically, frantically looking around. She leaned over Buttercup, terrified to move her.

“Someone help me! Please...please I need an ambulance or a firetruck or something! Someone?!” Bubbles screamed at the top of her lungs, uncaring of the damage her supersonic voice caused to the already battered landscape. She noticed a few people hurrying her way and turned back to Buttercup. Bubbles leaned close to Buttercup's face and gasped. She looked down at Buttercup's chest, then back up at her mouth.

“Bubbles?! What happened?” Mr. Cooper, the store owner, knelt down next to Bubbles and Buttercup, staring at Buttercup in disbelief. Bubbles began to scream, and grabbed Mr. Cooper's shirt.

“Call someone! She's not breathing! Buttercup's not breathing!!” A panicked crowd started to form, and a hundred cell phones flew into action. Everyone held their breath when they saw a pink streak of light coming toward the park at top speed. On the sidewalk, going by the park, a little girl carrying several bags of groceries stopped and stared in horror at the crowd forming. She swallowed hard and began biting her fingernails. Her baby blue hair bobbed around her shoulders as she trembled nervously.

“Oh no...they know we're here...Daddy's not going to like this...”