I was just getting really into 'Hark the Herald Angel Sings' when I heard an annoyingly familiar voice.

"I told you no bags. "

Apollo.

"It was the only way I was going to sneak her out!"

A frustrated sigh.

"If I wanted you to be discrete, I wouldn't have had you grab her off Maziric."

Would you people quit with the small talk and let me out already-

With a grunt from my abductor, my prison suddenly swung, sending me tumbling against the fabric walls.

Then we were upside down.

I swore, falling out of the bag and onto the softness of a waiting hand.

I should be more careful with what I wish for...

Groaning, I blinked into sudden brightness, following the hand holding me up and arm and into the pale green eyes of Apollo.

Before I could even react, a giant hand was upon me...

... Yanking my toothpick away from me...

... With a crack, my only means of defence was snapped in half and discarded...

....

"...HEY! I was still using that!"

Apollo studied me, eyebrow raised sardonically at my outraged state, before looking at the guy who had delivered me.

"You're in luck." The hand beneath me tensed, belying Apollo's bored expression. "She doesn't seem too traumatised, so I'll let you off with a warning."

Apollo bit down hard, crushing the lollipop in his mouth.

"Don't. Improvise. Ever. Again."

Gulp... That lollipop had been the size of my head...

"Now, Hurry up and get to the assembly point before the teachers think you're missing." He said, biting at the lollipop stick in his mouth.

"What about you...?"

"I'm already marked as absent, okay?" Apollo said, glaring darkly. "Just get lost before I lose my temper."

I stared, a little taken aback by the snark.

I'd never seen him so... Not sarcastic before.

Apollo always seemed like he was in complete control of the situation, pretty much to the point that he was bored and just going through the motions.

Seeing him interacting with his minions like a stressed-out dictator, it was like getting a behind the scenes view to... you know, my abduction.

With a muttered yes from his errand boy, Apollo turned and began walking quickly, not bothering to look down at me in his hand.

From the way the sky blurred with his gigantic steps, I figured out that I was outside.

There's a reason why they call me Captain Obvious.

And it's not just because I run the ship.

"So. What happened to my three days?" I said. My attempts to sit up and not really succeeding...

His gaze flickered down to me.

"You lower your guard way too easily Maddison."

The almost playfulness from those times he came to boast or negotiate was gone, leaving only the brilliant mind, and the cold determination.

Apollo was in business mode.

"Did you actually think that I would give you the chance to prepare yourselves?"

... Oh.

He had lied to me.

My expression flattened into stoney anger.

... Of course, he had. Why had I expected anything else?

I may be gullible, but I'm smart enough to become shy after the first bite.

There's no point in trying to talk to Apollo.

Which left only escape as an option.

I wasn't going to stick around just to play mind games.

"Sorry," I whispered under my breath. "But this is where I get off."

I twisted in Apollo's giant hand, throwing myself desperately away in a sudden burst of movement.

I threw myself over the side of the hand, watching the giant fingers moving in my peripheral vision.

I was fast.

A huge force clamped down on my leg, stopping me mid-leap.

But he was faster.

Falling forward with a yelp, I found myself suddenly upside down.

Not a position you want to be in when wearing a skirt.

I hung helplessly from Apollo's grip on my leg, swearing-in bitter frustration.

What a glorious end to my first escape attempt.

Apollo raised me up so that I hung level with his glowering eyes.

"Done?" He asked, not sounding the least bit entertained at the rebellion.

I glared at him, my fierce expression losing most of its credibility as I held the skirt in place.

I'd worn the smiley face undies today.

For good luck.

There was no chance Apollo was going to get a smile from me, in any way, shape or form.

"Put me down," I demanded boldly, my tone leaving no room for defiance.

"No."

So much for my tone.

"...We seem to be at an impasse." I told him seriously, causing Apollo to roll his eyes.

"That would only be if you had any choice in the matter." He explained, reaching his other hand up towards me.

I shoved one-handedly against the approaching fingers, growling as they began to wrap around me,

Despite being gentle in his manhandling, there was nothing I could do to stop Apollo.

Soon I was being held in his other hand, the right way up and with my arms trapped against my sides by his grip.

I struggled against the hold, glaring up at Apollo in defiance.

"Put me the down!" I snapped, my growing panic giving the words an unintended raw edge.

He just raised an eyebrow, waiting for my futile struggles to tire out.

Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to calm down and tried a different approach.

"If you let me go. " I said as reasonably as possible. " I might find it in my heart to go easy on you when I get around to beating the crap out of you."

Apollo grimaced at my pathetic bargaining attempt.

"Don't you think you should start coming up with a threat that is slightly more... realistic?"

I froze in my struggles, royally offended.

"What could be more realistic than that!?"

Apollo sighed, actually seeming a little sorry for me.

"You could try threatening me with someone else's wrath for now."

Wow. You know you must really suck at negotiations when your enemy has to talk you through it

"You have dangerous allies, Maddison. The other four on the Hill, for instance, especially Alex." He smirked. "Not to mention your loverboy."

Whatever angry thing I was about to say died an instant death at the words Loverboy.

"Um...was that a joke? Sorry... I didn't really... Get it..." I sputtered as my brain stupidly begun chasing its own tail.

Apollo raised an eyebrow. "You can't seriously not have noticed?"

"What?" I stared at him.

Apollo hummed speculatively, seeming to find my confusion interesting.

"Never mind." He shrugged dismissively. "The point is, you are supposed to say someone will come and save you."

.... I couldn't help but feel a little miffed.

I could escape on my own... eventually... I didn't need Alex or anyone to come after me...

Besides, Alex didn't even know I had been...

Oh.

My jaw dropped in outrage.

Alex had left us alone, completely unguarded after Apollo had dropped the hint that something had been done to King of the Hill.

"You lied about the King to separate us from Alex!" I accused angrily, causing Apollo to roll his eyes.

"Duh."

My vision was turning red.

Duh eh?

"Damn it!" I yelled, struggling with newfound fury. "It's not fair! You're the villain, so why do you get to be so much smarter than us?!"

Apollo turned his gaze away with a smirk, continuing to walk through the school grounds. "You say that like its actually difficult."