Chapter Text
Ross walked quickly, his eyes darting around constantly. Today was a bad one, he had the feeling of being watched, and it was bad enough that Roy and Robert couldn’t hang out today, let alone the fact that he’s been out of his anxiety medication for a few days, and it was too expensive to get more at this time. Maybe he’d go to Candy Club and get himself a box of N&Ns. Ross suddenly turned left to follow the path to Candy Club, maybe Kevin wouldn’t be so irate since Roy wasn’t with him this time. He stared at the colorful building, inhaling the scent of tooth-rotting sweets. Candy Club was a good place to go for the trio, it helped them- more so Ross -calm down their nerves. He stepped in, staring at the ground and fiddling with the money in his pocket. “Where’s your friends?” Kevin’s voice asked. “N…Not here to-today…” Ross gulped down a whine, trying not to worry about his friends. “Oh… well, uhm, grab whatever you like.” Ross looked up to see Kevin’s slightly concerned face. He went and grabbed a box of N&Ns, returning to the counter and placing it down with the three dollars that it cost. “You alright there, bud?” Kevin asked, reaching over the counter to place his hand on his shoulder, retracting slightly when Ross flinched, but keeping his hand there, nonetheless. “Y…Yeah. I’m… I’m fine…” Ross replied, gulping down another whine when he saw how concerned Kevin was. Kevin sighed and handed him a lollipop. “On the house, now shoo, calm yourself down somewhere.” Kevin smiled after seeing Ross’s confused expression. Ross nodded and quickly turned on his heel and walked out of the door.
Ross passed by house after house, aimlessly walking until he found himself in the shady part of the small town. Ross’s anxiety spiked up, making him shrink up and whimper. What if something goes wrong? What if he got hurt here? What if he was kidnapped and never saw his friends again? What if he was… was killed here…? He let out a shaky breath, a million different possibilities going through his head as he turned back to retrace his steps. He froze when something moved in the corner of his eye, deep within the shadows. He braced himself to run when it moved again, something glinting in the dark. Again, it moved, but his body refused to move. He wanted to run, he tried to run, but his body refused, he stayed planted in place even when a shadow rose from behind him. It wasn’t until something scraped against a sheath that Ross’s body finally decided to listen to him, but of course he didn’t get far. He was tackled to the hard concrete below him, the air knocked out of his lungs as the taller figure pinned him down. This was it; he was going to die, he’d never get to see his friends grow up, he’d never get to see Robert’s little sister get better and grow up healthy. He’d- something was stabbed into his leg, and he screamed in agony. A piece of cloth was covered over his mouth, muffling his cries, his pained whimpers, blocking his breathing. Multiple figures in red cloaks with hoods that covered their face surrounded him as his vision darkened rapidly at the edges. If they wanted him dead, they would’ve killed him, but if he… if he was being kidnapped, what would they do to him? His panicked thoughts slowly faded out as his muffled sounds got quieter and his eyes slipped shut.
…
He woke, but he couldn’t see, black cloth covered his eyes, and he assumed that’s what was gagging his mouth, as well. Ross could hear and feel just fine, so he knew he was thrown over someone’s shoulder. Realization hit him like a brick, and he started to panic, hyperventilating. “Calm down, little flesh.” A voice, deep and close. There was a hand at his back, gently patting in a failed attempt to sooth him. Floorboards creaked, a door swung open with a loud squeak, and he was carried up a set of stairs. He took note of his surroundings, imagining them in his mind. He could use it to escape, but it would be of no use, he may be small and fast, but he couldn’t run if he tried, his leg, which was still very much in pain, would only slow him down. A second door opened, and he was placed gently on a bed. No… no, no, no… he didn’t want to face what Roy had. His whimpers of fear were muffled by the gag as he slid himself up the bed. But what he expected never came. A hand was at his face as the blindfold was taken from his eyes, it was damp with tears that never fell. He saw that the blindfold was not, in fact, black, but rather the same red cloth that was worn by the cloaked figure. Ross could see where the fabric was torn from on the cloak. The figure took his hands and gently unbound them, rather taking a piece of rope and tying it like handcuffs, though with the addition of extra room to move. Ross’s vision was blurred with tears again as the figure walked out of the room, locking and shutting the door behind them.