You are kidnapped by the villain regularly, but you’re starting to look forward to it. You know they won’t hurt you, and are simply being dramatic. It also doesn’t help that you are the only person they ever kidnap. This time, the hero doesn’t bother trying to save you.

The villain drags me out of the trap by the back of my neck. “Seriously? You again?”

His sidekick squints at me. “You sure it’s the same one?”

Villain’s hand grips my head, turning it to show off the earring, keepsake from the first time. “Yep.”

“Guess you’ve been setting up in the same place too long. It happens. They get too used to it.”

“Yeah. They’ve stopped caring. Got too unafraid.” Villain runs a thumb over the raised digits of the number embossed on my earring. Deep inside, I admit I really have gotten more fond of his touch than my nature ought to allow me.

Sidekick nods. “Even the other one that used to show up sometimes and make a fuss when this one got caught.”

“Yeah.” Villain sets me down on the rocky dirt. “Well, no point weighing and measuring you again. You’ve skewed our data enough. Go on, run.”

I hesitate, gaze longingly into the trap– the strip of meat that lured me in there only half-eaten.

It was nice while it lasted. A free meal, a night’s free shelter, strangers being dramatic over me but never actually doing harm…

I can sense, though, that it’s over. They’ll be gone, set up somewhere else. I’ll never see him again. Never learn the mystery of what he truly wanted from us…

He chuckles. “Okay. One more. For the road.”

My eyes follow the strip of meat, from the trap, into his hand, the arc as he tosses it to me.

For a second I grasp it in both front paws, nibbling to pass the time as I take my last long look at him.

“Go on. Get.” Endearing little swipe of his hand through the air.

I clasp the meat in my jaws, drop to all fours, and run off.

Hero might not be worried, but he’ll still be waiting for me. And now that I can’t count on Villain anymore… I admit, deep down, whose help I still always need most.