The Bound Between Us

"Hand it over."

The man gripping Anastasia's neck growled, "Give it to me, or I swear I'll kill you."

Anastasia was terrified, confused, and honestly, a little lost.

He shoved her against the hood of her car, one hand rifling through her purse while the other pressed a knife to her side. He kept threatening her, but the whole thing was so sloppy that, if she hadn't been so scared, she might've laughed.

What did he even want? He hadn't said a word about it. Was this a random mugging or something else? Just "hand it over"--but hand what over? She couldn't help but think: Is this guy new at this? He was all nerves, fumbling around like he had no clue what he was doing.

The guy was a mess-mask slipping over his eyes, hands shaking. He didn't even glance at her cards or cash. Whatever he was after, it wasn't money.

He kept muttering, "Where is it?" while ignoring every question Anastasia threw at him. It was like he was in his own little panic bubble.

Anastasia managed to croak out, "What exactly are you looking for?"

If this weren't such a disaster, she'd have called him out for being the world's most clueless robber.

He seemed more scared than she was. Sensing that, her own fear faded a bit. She lowered her voice, trying to keep things calm. "Look, man, what do you actually want?"

The guy, distracted by the mask sliding over his eyes, yanked it off-revealing his face for a second.

And there they stood, staring at each other, both dumbstruck.

so thick you could cut it

remembered he was supposed to be scary, and fumbled the mask back on, leaving just his

he tried to sound fierce: "Just hand it

could only stare. Was this real

do you want? You don't want my money, you don't

hesitated, like he'd forgotten himself. "Uh... hang on a

pulled out his phone and called someone right

front of her. "Hey, Nolan, it's me. I've got the

Was

She

to hear

on the

the chip!

right? Where

man, ever honest, said,

on

hear that, did

looked at Anastasia.

playing along. "Yep. You're looking for

almost proud. "Nolan, she says she

Apparently Nolan

at her would-be kidnapper with a sort of pity. How did this guy think he could