It was a cold day. I made sure to keep my Usul, Rythe, extra warm. She didn't
want to go out that day. I didn't know why. I had to drag her out of the house
to go shopping. She was just acting weird... very weird. After we got out, and
started shopping, she seemed to lighten up. I offered to go to the Beauty Salon.
She agreed. While in the shop, I accidentally turned away from Rythe. When I
turned back around, she was gone!
"Aaaahhhh! My poor Usul!" I shouted. "She has been Neonapped!!!!"
The shop owner called the police and the investigators studied the scene of
the crime. No pawprints. Nothing. No evidence. Nothing. I started crying hysterically.
I needed poor Rythe back! I would do anything!
The next day, at my doorstep, I found a note:
If YoU wAnT YouR LittLE
UsUL bAck, You MusT PAY!!! I Want 100,000 NeOPoiNtS!
! ! ! ! AlSo, I Want ThREe fAeriEs!!!!
pLuS, ONe ORn COdeStONe!!!!!! You MUST
PAY!!!!!!!!
I shrieked and called the Chia Police. They told me I could always get another
NeoPet, but I just shook my head.
"I want Rythe. She is the BEST!!!!! Please, officer. Try to find her. Please!
Do it for me!!!" I pleaded.
"I'll do the best I can. Ma'am, we are doing all we can do. It'll be okay.
We will find this Neonapper and arrest him. Your NeoPet will be safe and sound,"
Officer Brunswald comforted. I felt a bit better after that.
The next day, the Chia Police hooked up a machine to my telephone. We waited
six hours for a call. It finally came.
Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring
"Hello?" I answered.
"Yes, hello. This is your dear NeoPet caregiver," a scratchy voice said. It
was deep and had a bit of a rattle to it. It made me shiver. I heard poor Rythe
squealing in the background. Poor baby! "If you want your little Usul back,
you'll do what I asked for. The Faeries, the Codestone, and the Neopoints. And
don't tell me you don't have them. I know you do. Give 'em up!" The voice demanded.
It frightened me so bad, I dropped the phone.
"I want my baby back!" I shouted. I was surprised at my anger. I am usually
a calm person. Really. I am. I put my ear to the phone. Dial Tone. They hung
up. I was so angry. I had no more than 100,080 Neopoints. I would be left with
just short of 100 Neopoints! All my Faeries would be taken! My Codestone would
be snatched! I had a feeling of distinct frustration inside. I wanted revenge.
I really, really did.
The next day was no different. I had played some games, bet on some Poogles,
and did a little Fruit-Machine gambling. It was no use. I was just left with
102,033 Neopoints, barely enough to get me through the month of Sleeping. It
was no use. I might've just as well gotten another Usul and called it a day,
but the phone range once more.
Ring Ring Rin--
"Hello?" I answered. I was eager to hear their words.
"Morning, dear. I have your loved one with me. Do you have the money? Oh,
and the three Faeries? Don't forget the Codestone. Hahaha! You can't win! Give
it up and I'll give you the rodent. Understand?"
"Yes. I do. But promise not to hurt her. Understand?" I asked, my voice shaking.
"Yes, of course. Just go to 1256 Bracknell Drive and come ALONE. No cops,
no army, no S.W.A.T. team! Agreed?" The scratchy voice was now louder and, I
could tell, was more greedy. That Neopian on the other end of the line was going
to be punished. They hung up. More suspense. The police reassured me that they
would go along with me tomorrow. I felt safe. Not very safe, but safe.
The rain had stopped. It had been raining all morning. It was foggy and damp.
It was cold, too. I came up to the door, the address in my hand. The Neopoints
in my pocket. The Codestone and the three Faeries in a small leather bag. My
heart was beating fast. I felt like my chest would burst. Slowly, surely, I
put my hand to the doorbell and waited. Waited for anything. I turned around,
signalled to the S.W.A.T. Team who were hiding in the bushes. I turned back
around. At the mail slot, two beady eyes stared at me. They were dark and angry.
They scared me... scared me so much. I was just about to give it to them when
I flung open the door. The Neonapper on the other side of the door had been
leaning against it, just as I thought. I looked down. It was a Meerca. Figures.
He probably worked for Chuffer Bob or something. I ran in his house. All around
were stolen goods. He had extremely rare items I had never seen before.
In cages were about one hundred PetPets! I opened the cages and let them all
out. Snorkles, Zebbas, Miamice, Meep-its, and others ran out of the cages eagerly.
Now to find Rythe, I thought. I raced into the other room, still hearing
the groans of the Meerca. (He had hit his head.) I heard distant whinings of
my poor baby. I went down a flight of stairs, passing at least 1,000,000 Neopoints
in merchandise. There were signed posters and T-shirts from The 2 Gallon Hatz,
Motes of all kind, and a million other things. The whines got louder as I rushed
down a narrow hallway. It was creepy down here. I couldn't have any fears now,
I had to save her. I just had to.
I came to a faded-orange door. Behind it, I heard her bellows and her cries.
I knew she was behind there. I opened the door, afraid to see if it might've
been a trap or something. But, as my courage regained, I started to walk in
the dim room. There she was. Tied up in a chair, a red bandana around her mouth.
I untied her, and gave her a hug.
"You're not harmed!" I shouted in delight. "You're okay!"
I walked out of the house, Rythe in my arms. The Neopoints in my pocket jingled.
I thanked the officers as best I could, (with apple pie and coffee) and set
out for home. When we arrived, I celebrated by buying Rythe brand new toys and
blessing her with all three Faeries. She earned Spark, Torch, and Night Vision.
She is safe with me these days, and we are glad to be together. I will never
forget the day she was napped, though. It truly tested my love for her.
The End | 
