I squirmed in my seat, allowing small muffled moans and sobs to escape my gagged mouth. For a few seconds I panicked. I couldn't see anything, I couldn't talk to Nick, I was on my own. I was in my own blindfolded world, and all I knew was that within a matter of minutes, Nick and I could fall asleep from carbon monoxide poisoning. From beside me I could hear and feel Nick struggling. The twine wrapped around my wrists was pretty tight, and no matter how I rotated my arms, it wouldn't loosen, all I managed to do was deepen the welts in my wrist. I shifted my body, in a vain attempt to open my door. I let out a small whimper. I knew that it wouldn't matter because the doors were child-proof. The only was out was through the front, but Carl's Volvo had one of those animal screens separating the front from the back.

I felt something touch my shoulder. Judging from the size, it was Nick's head.

"En eye ocket!" Nick gurgled through his gag.

What was he asking me?

I felt his head tap me near the pocket of my jeans.

"Ocket, ocket!" he said again.

Pocket!

I scooted towards Nick and sat in his lap as best as I could, trying to ignore the wave of sleepiness that passed over me. It took almost an entire minute, but I managed to extract a swiss army knife from his cargos. Biting my lip, I managed to open it up. Praying that I wouldn't stab his flesh, I guided the razor blade as best as I could. When it felt like I had hit the target, I felt Nick flinch and I realized that I had just cut him. My head felt heavy, and my eyelids were getting heavy. I finally found the twine and began to saw repeatedly, back and forth. My head began to drop, but I still sawed. It finally gave, and I dropped the knife. Wearily I lay my head back against the window to the car. I felt the cool surface move beneath my head as Nick opened it. Fresh air engulfed my nostrils. In an instant, Nick had untied and ungagged himself, crawling out of the window, he then reached in and pulled my limp form out of the car through the window.

"Ange--don't close those eyes!" Nick screamed into my face. In his breathI could smell the Cool Ranch Doritos that he must have been eating earlier that evening.

"I know, I know..." I mumbled wearily. I was aware of the fact that if I closed my eyes I would never have to wake up again...it sounded so nice...no more problems....

I felt a sting on my face as Nick slapped me, "Stay awake!" he screamed.

He pulled me to a standing position. I rubbed my eyes and tried to focus on him.

"Ange, follow me--we're going down this bank here," we walked down the hill. I could hear rushing water. Gently he pushed me into a squating position. "Sorry, girl...you'll thank me for this later!" he said ruefully.

The next thing I knew, my face was surrounded with the cool murky water of the river we were crouching over. I struggled against his hand, and he eased on the stregnth.

When I had surfaced I gasped, and wiped the water out of my face. Feeling much more focused I sat back and ran my hands through my hair.

"Don't you try goin' to sleep again..."

"No, no....don't worry. I'm just....collecting my thoughts. We need to get back home Nick."

"Do you know where we are?" Nick asked as he swirled his hand around in the water.

I shook my head ruefully. "Haven't a clue."

"Well, I'm all about driving that car back...." Nick said quietly.

I agreed "let's go now, I don't feel safe here."

The sight that met my eyes was the icing on the cake for that evening.

Nick stomped his foot on the ground and uttered a curse.

The car was gone.