Lover Boy

Tick. Tick. Tick.

Anna Jane sat alone in a small dark room. She got separated from George moments earlier. At least, she still had Teddy with her. One camera focused on them.

“What is happening?” Anna Jane asked.

“You too, huh?” a voice asked. The little girl looked up.

“Who was that?” she asked.

“It’s only me,” the voice said.

“And who is me?” Anna Jane asked.

“Oh. My mistake. I’m Logan. They captured me three weeks ago. You?”

She shifted into place. “Minutes ago. Where are we?”

“The interrogation room of the West Panada Army,” Logan said.

“West Panda Army?” Anna Jane asked.

“Yes. They are the worst in this world.”

“Why are we here?”

“They need us for their quest. They are looking for Chronus.”

“What is Chronus?”

Suddenly, the door opened. A panada in a black and red uniform walked into the room.

“Good morning,” he said. Anna Jane watched as he sat down in front of her. He took out a chart and tape recorder.

“State your name,” the panada said.

“Uh… Anna Jane Fukao,” the girl said.

“Age.”

“Eight.”

“What were you doing in the woods?”

“Riding.”

“Where were you going?”

Anna Jane shrugged and shook her head. The panada gave her a stern look.

“Answer in words,” he said.

“I don’t know,” Anna Jane said.

“What was that creature you were riding on?”

“I don’t know.”

The panada glared at her. “You don’t know?”

“I don’t, sir.”

He captor narrowed his eyes. “What do you know about Chronus?”

“I don’t know. What is it?”

“I ask the questions here, not you. Now what do you know about Chronus?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

“I’m not. I just heard your friends say it and I asked.”

The panada gave her an odd look. “How did you understand us?”

“I do not know. Why are we even here?”

In the end, neither side got what they wanted.

---------

Anna Jane stepped out into the hall. They could not stay here. But where could they go? She didn’t even know where they were going in the beginning. Where was George? And who was Logan?

Suddenly, she heard the door next to her open. When Anna Jane turned her head, her cheeks turned bright red. A boy a bit older than her stepped out next to her. The sun couldn’t rival such the glow on his skin. His dark hair looked slick and wet. He looked like a real cowboy in the clothes he wore. The boy flicked his hair from his eyes.

“Wow,” Anna Jane said. The boy turned his head. His light green eyes locked on her.

“Hm?” he asked. Anna Jane’s mouth hung agape.

“Are you… Logan?” she asked. The boy tilted his head.

“Yeah,” he said. “Why?” Anna Jane quickly shook her head.

“No reason!” she shouted. Guards led her and Teddy away. Anna Jane couldn’t get her fellow cowboy out of her head.

“I want to see him again,” she said to herself. Oh honey, she would get her wish soon.