The Spectacular Misadventure

I was running late for class, as usual. This wasn't good. The professor had told me that if I showed up late again, it would reflect badly on my grade and my chances of getting a letter of recommendation from her. Without her letter my chances of getting a good job on campus would go from probable to somewhere in-between slim and none. 

I made a sharp left turn and sped down the hallway. I've never gone this way before, but my roommate swore up and down that it was a great shortcut. I sure hope she's right, I thought as I passed the first door. Because I-

BAM! 

One minute I was rushing to get to class, and the next I was getting a door to the face and flying backwards on to the ground. 

"Well, I suppose that's one way to get up in the morning." I muttered, rubbing the back of my head where it had smashed into the ground. "I think I'm gonna stick with coffee, though."

"Damn, we've been seen!"

My eyes flew open and were met with the site of four large men, all wearing black masks, and two of them carrying guns.

I'm not quite sure how I would have responded, but I wasn't given the chance anyway. Alarms started blaring through the loud speakers, they sounded like the screeching of a dying cat. Not a good sound. 

"We gotta get outta here boys." Said one of the men. 

"What about the girl?" Asked another. 

"We've got no time to finish her off here, grab her and we'll deal with it later!"

"Wait wha- ACCK!" 

I was suddenly yanked from the ground and scooped up by one of the men. 

"What are you doing? Put me down!" I shrieked. 

"Quiet you!" Yelled the man over his shoulder. 

They were all running and shouting, and that was before the police showed up, and then they were all running and shouting and shooting, and the police were all running and shouting and shooting, and all I could think was; I'm never gonna get that letter of recommendation from her now. 

"Duck!" 

"Get down!"

"They've got a hostage!"

"Hold your fire! Hold your fire!"

"Make a break for it!"

The next thing I knew, I was being shoved into the back seat of a black van, two of the black-mask-clad men sitting beside me. 

"Do you still got the stuff?" One asked. The other rummaged through a duffle bag he had slung over his shoulder.

"Got it." he said. 

"What's in that? Where are you taking me?" I asked. 

"Quiet you." Said the man to the left of me. 

"What are we going to do about her anyways boss?" Asked the other. 

"Ha I say we take her up to the exchange and let Jackie take care of her. You know how she loves to get her hands dirty." Said the one driving the van at a speed that a vehicle this old and rusty should not be able to maintain. 

"What exchange? Who the hell is Jackie? Where are you taking me?!" I yelled.

"Quiet you," snapped the man in the passenger seat. "I don't think we have much of a choice anyways. Jackie leaves for the border in a few hours and I wouldn't want to miss the look on her face when she sees the surprise I've got for her. That is assuming you meatheads have got it ready."

"Relax we've got it covered, have a little faith, huh?" Said the driver. 

"What surprise?! Which border?! Who are you?! WHERE ARE YOU TAKING ME?!" I screamed. 

"Quiet you!" They all snapped in unison. 

"Goddamn it." I muttered. 

A few minutes later the van stopped at what looked like an old warehouse. A short walk and a hand full of "Quiet you"'s later, we were all inside of the building. 

"So is this where you're meeting Jackie? When does she get here?" I asked. 

"Quiet you." Said one of the thugs, predictably. Then, perhaps thinking I couldn't hear with his voice lowered slightly, he added; "When does she get here, boss?" 

"Fifty-two seconds ago." Said a heavily accented voice from behind us. 

The voice's owner looked like she would be more at place at a formal dinner party than at what was likely a very shady and suspicious exchange. Probably something illegal. Probably part of some bigger evil scheme. Probably world domination or something. I, of course, have no way of knowing, because every time I try to say anything one or more of these creeps feels compelled to bark "Quiet you" at me as though I were some kind of annoying child, rather than an unwilling hostage who was dragged into this and who is likely going to fail her business class this semester on account of being too kidnapped to attend class. 

But never mind all of my woes, let's get back to talking about Jackie. Everything about her was intimidating, from her scarlet hair and sharp features, to her extremely high-heeled boots that didn't look convenient for any job but one where you never have to move. Not to mention the two huge body guards stationed on either side of her. 

"Who is the girl?" She asked, looking me over. 

"I'm-"

"Quiet you, she spotted us when we were making our get away. Couldn't risk leaving her after she'd seen us." Said one of the thugs. 

"Very well, do you have the package?" Jackie asked. 

"Right here ma'am." Said the boss, handing her a bag, which I am quite sure did not contain the thing that they stole earlier today. 

"Thank you very much dear," she said. "Just one more thing, do you mistake me for a fool? Do you think I don't know what's really in this bag?"

"Why Jackie I'm sure I don't know what you mean." Said the boss in a tone of mock innocence. 

"I will give you one last chance to deliver the package, before I-"

"Before you what?" Said the boss, pointing his gun at Jackie, who didn't even flinch. On the contrary, she smiled. 

"You leave me no choice." She said, looking at one of her body guards, who turned his head and spoke into a walky-talky. 

"Go go go!" He said. 

Moments later, what looked like half of the police department had their guns pointed at the four crooks who had kidnapped me. 

"What the-"

"I knew all along that you intended to betray me, so I exchanged information for immunity." Said. Jackie. 

The four thugs were speechless. 

After they had all been arrested, and the stolen items located, I realized that there was still a little time left in class. I was able to get a ride back in a police car. 

"Late again are we?" Said the professor to me after I had come into the classroom not so subtlety, and had found my seat. 

"Professor, I can explain-"

"Save your excuses, I have no more time for them."

"But I-"

"Quiet you." 

The end.