Headlights bounced up and down as a speeding van hit a rough patch on the dirt road. Bobbie's head bobbed up and down, and trees went by impossibly fast through the windows. Her head hurt, and she squinted at the driver's seat. The morning sun seemed to act as a spotlight for the ethereal man sitting in there.

Good morning, little princess." A bald man said, and Bobbie glared at him. "Someone thinks they're fierce."

Lunging forward, she was stopped with a jarring pain, and she flinched as whatever was binding her to the van dug into her skin.

"Where are you taking me?" She asked, sounding less tough than she intended.

"You want to know?" The man across from her smirked.

"Shut up, Frank." Anthony snapped, "You're too loud."

"It's not like anyone can hear us."

"Anthony!" Tears formed in Bobbie's eyes, and her throat tightened. "Why are you doing this? I thought you... you-"

"I what?" Anthony laughed, "Did you think I liked you? You're just a job. In fact, that girl at the park was more my type than you."

"Yeah, she was hot! Could take a beating too, it seems."

"But you said-"

Hot tears flowed freely down Bobbie's face, and Frank grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up. "The fatty is crying."

"Who cares! Just use the stuff to put her back to sleep. I can't stand that ugly b***** whining."

"I'm not ugly! Father says I'm not." Bobbie shook.

Anthony's cruel laughter cut through the air. "There is no way he actually thinks that."

"But he loves me."

"He's required to love you. He's your father." Anthony handed something to Frank and said, "Shut her up. I'm tired of listening to this crap."

"Don't touch me!" Bobbie kicked at the man as he approached her with a needle.

"Slow down, man! I can't get to her with us bumping around like this."

The car slowed almost to a stop, and Frank approached Bobbie with the needle once more. She kicked and thrashed before he pinned her to the ground, and a sharp pain pierced her neck. She breathed heavily as she fought off sleep, but whatever was in that needle did its job too well.

                                                                                          <0>

Bobbie woke up with her head beating against her skull. Where am I? Shuffling over to an opening in the building's wall, her eyes opened in shock. It was a view Bobbie had seen a couple of times in her life. The bustling city was situated between the buildings, on top of a series of bridges. Shopkeepers garnered the attention of people walking across the solid passages, while shady individuals made deals across the rickety ones.

A fog settled on the ground, far beneath, making it seem like the buildings were floating in the sky. Leaning closer to the crack in the wall, the chair tilted dangerously close to the edge. Just a little bit closer, and I will fall. From here, I'd probably die.

Closing her eyes, she forced the chair onto its side legs, and she could feel herself falling when something blocked her from her demise. The chair stuck on the wall, so she tried to shuffle and move, but nothing happened. 

I should have listened to Father.

"What the hell?" Anthony pulled the chair back, and Bobbie found herself looking up at the moldy ceiling. "Do you think I tortured myself by following you around for you to kill yourself? Frick, I even had to kiss you." Anthony spit on the ground and wiped his face. "Now stay there and behave while I call your father."

Anthony pulled his phone out and dialed a number. When the ringing stopped, Bobbie could faintly hear someone talking. 

Anthony's laughter boomed through the room, then he spoke, "What? No hello?"

Bobbie strained to hear the other person, when Anthony said, "Ask for yourself." Placing the phone by her ear.

"Dad!?"

The voice on the other end trembled, but there was no mistaking it, it was her father. “Bobbie! Sweety, are you okay?”

“I’m at Sky City above the third big bridge in the so—"

Smack! Anthony's hand smacked across her face sending her flying to the ground with a, thud!

Anthony brought the phone back to his ear and said, “I guess the cat’s out of the bag now. But I’m guessing you have a lock on our location anyway.”

The ground scraped against Bobbie's cheek as she waited for the conversation to finish playing out. She shifted uncomfortable as Anthony's face contorted into the most wicked smile she'd ever seen. Shivers ran up and down her spine as she thought, Somehow he's still so beautiful.

                                                                                               <0>

The old elevator dinged once more. Bobbie had gotten tired of glancing over, hopeful that the next person to walk through would be her father. Yet, at the same time, she dreaded having to see him. He is probably so disappointed in me right now. Not to mention it would be dangerous for him to come here. Maybe it would be better if he left me to die.

She leaned back into her chair as she listened to a wannabe thug arguing with Anthony.

"Why do I have to stay here with that ugly girl?"

"Shut your trap! If you want any chance at moving up, you make sure that girl stays alive until her father comes to rescue her."

"I just don't understand why I can't be a part of the sniper team."

A loud smack caught Bobbie off guard, and she looked over to see the wannabe thug clutching the side of his head. "You are the worst shot out of all of us. If we are to kill President Clark, we need the girl to stay here. So shut up and guard her."

"Fine, I'll watch the kid. But I still don't understand why we need to use her. Can't we just get him while he's entering the building?"

"I'm done talking to you. Now make sure that kid stays in one place and don't let the President catch onto the snipers." Anthony looked over at Bobbie. "Make sure to gag her so she can't warn her father." He walked away, and the elevator dinged once more. 

Mr. Wannabe walked over and looked around the room. "What the hell does he expect me to gag you with?" Snapping his fingers, he pulled off his shoe and then his sock.

Bobbie's eyes widened in horror as she realized what he was going to do. "If you try and stick that anywhere near my mouth, I'll bite you."

The man scratched his head, "Maybe it would be better to just knock you out."

The elevator dinged again, and the man turned and walked out the door. "Did you forget something? Also—"

Whack!

A second later, a man not much older than her father appeared beyond the doorway.

"Are you Bobbie?" He asked.

"Yes, who are you?"

"I'm Alistar, I know your father." He pulled out a knife and carefully cut the rope binding her.

"Thank you."

"Your father asked me to help get you out of here."

"Is he coming to get me?"

"With any luck, he's staying put, but knowing him, he will be here within the hour."

Alistar led Bobbie through the building up to a rickety bridge. It swayed with the wind and creaked loudly when he stepped onto it. The fog below thinned, and Bobbie could see a massive horde of zombies stumbling around. She had never seen so many in one place before.

"Come on!"

"Can't we take one of the main bridges?" She plugged her nose as an updraft blew the smell of death straight to her.

"The main bridges will be swarming with police."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"Not here, it's not."

Bobbie followed the man into another decrepit building. She hadn't remembered Sky City looking this run-down the last time she was here. But then again, the last time she was in Sky City, she wasn't a hostage.

A group of scantily dressed women walked past, and Alistar shielded Bobbie's eyes, but not before she could see what one of them was doing to a man around the corner. 

"In here." Alistar pulled open a door with a picture of a woman on it, and when Bobbie looked inside, there was a shabby bed with the woman sitting on it. The room was small and dank with no windows. In another world, this room might have been a janitor's closet or something.

"What is this place?"

"Somewhere safe. My friend Romona here often hides people for me until I can get them out of the city."

"Come here, dear." The woman patted the bed she was sitting on. Bobbie moved closer; the woman's satin shawl did little to hide the lingerie she had on underneath. "I'll take good care of the girl, Al. You're all paid up, right?"

"Yeah, you'll get no complaints from Jimmy for the night."

"You know you're my favorite customer."

"Yeah, yeah, just keep her safe."

Romona stroked Bobbie's hair and the gentle movement of the woman's hands reminded the girl of when her mother would brush her hair. All the tension in her body released, and she choked while holding back tears, but it was no use. All her emotions came flooding out at once, and she began to cry. The woman hummed while Bobbie sobbed herself to sleep.