I'm an idiot.

My friend warned me not to go. Like everyone else she told me it was too dangerous. Just like all the other times I ignored it. In hindsight the van was such an obvious trap but I just had to be stubborn. After all I'm the only one who can find my mother, right?

Except that was bullshit. There's no way I could ever find my mother by myself.

First of all that grey van was way too easy to find. Parked in a quiet street where almost nobody ever comes. Even during the day it would be suspicious but I just had to go at night. What an idiot. I just went straight for the vehicle and checked the license plate. It matched.

It was then I realized I had no idea what to do next. I didn't even have a plan prepared.

I figured breaking into the vehicle would be a good idea. There would surely be clues in there. Obvious problem: I have no idea how to break into a car. I don’t know how to lock-pick a car door, or any door really. Smash a window? What about the alarm? While all these thoughts were going through my mind I was being watched.

Suddenly I felt a hand grab my hair and pull it back. I screamed. Next thing I know my face is being pushed against the van. “You actually fell for the bait?” Said a voice I recognized. It was the same man that attacked me a few days ago. He laughed at me while I struggled to get free.

I kicked his shins and for a moment I broke free. I managed to turn around but before I could run there was a fist in my face. Followed by a hand around my neck. “You're gonna have to do better than that.”

I spit in his face and slip my hand into my bag searching for the pepper spray that had saved me last time. He didn't give me the time to find it. Instead I felt his fist hit my stomach and another fist against the side of my head.

Suddenly I was on the ground. I tried to push myself back up but his boot stomped down on my hand. I scream. A yank and my bag went flying across the street.

Then I felt his knee pressing into my back pinning me down with all his weight. The fight was over. “You've got some spunk. I like that. So I'll tell you what you want to know so badly. Your mother has been ..recruited by Dr. Slager. She's currently helping him with a little pet project of his. Those oathbreakers do love their little experiments.”

I screamed at him. “Where is she!?”

I felt his hand on my head as it pushed my face against the ground. Out of the corner of my eye I could see him pull out a knife. “Like I said, she's with Dr. Slager. That's all I'm telling you anyway. I have other places to be, so it's time for you to embrace the archang-”

Then there was a loud thud. His weight was lifted from my back. Suddenly free to move I started crawling away. Then another thud. I looked up and saw the man leaning against the car. He started to speak but then another figure punched him in the face. He collapsed on the ground.

“If your master needs hugs so badly, do it yourself. Instead of forcing innocent girls to do it, you fucking creep.” The figure said in a feminine voice. She then kicked him one more time for good measure before turning to me. She offered me a hand to get up. I accepted and she pulled me up to my feet.

That's when I got a look at my savior. Short blonde hair and olive green eyes. Also she was shorter than me, which surprised me. “Are you hurt?” She asked.

I nodded. “Mostly bruises, nothing serious though.. I think.”

“Good, what's your name?”

“Catrien” I said. “What's yours?”

“I'm Alicia, some people call me the Owl tough.”

Then there was a silence. Partly because I was wondering why they called her that but mostly because I was staring into her eyes too much probably..

“You can let go now.” She broke the silence.

“Huh?”

“My hand, you're still holding on to it.”

“Oh..”