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[[quoteright:275:[[ComicBook/TheBatmanAdventures https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nba.png]]]]

[[DoNotAdjustYourSet Greetings, tropers]]. It may shock you to know that I Have Your Index. How I came to obtain it is not important at this particular point in time. All that is important is that I'm willing to give it back... [[HostageForMacguffin for a price]]. If you want your precious index back, I request... [[ComicallySmallDemand the sum of forty-three dollars and seventy cents]].

...

I appreciate your cooperation. Here is your index, safe and sound.

Contrast IndexToTheRescue.
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!!Tropes:
[[index]]
[floatboxright:
'''Also see:'''
* EscapeTropes
* IndexAtGunpoint
* IndexToTheRescue
* ARestrainedIndex
* ASlaveToTheIndex
]
* AbductionIsLove: Kidnapping other people out of romantic or sexual attraction to them.
* AccidentalKidnapping: The wrong target was kidnapped by mistake.
* AlienAbducteesFightBack: When the captured human resists and tells the [=ETs=] to go screw themselves.
* AlienAbduction: Humans get kidnapped by extraterrestrial beings.
* AllWebbedUp
* AndNowYouMustMarryMe
* AndYourLittleDogToo: The villain threatens one of the hero's loved ones just because they can.
* AuthenticationByNewspaper: A hostage is photographed alongside a current newspaper to show that they're still alive.
* BadassInDistress: A {{badass|Tropes}} character who would normally be able to defend themselves still gets captured by the enemy anyways.
* BagOfKidnapping: Abducting someone by wrapping them inside a big sack.
* BatheHerAndBringHerToMe: The villain orders his minions to groom a woman held prisoner so he can rape her.
* BabyBeMine: A baby or child is kidnapped by someone who wants to raise them as their own, usually as a replacement for a child they lost.
* BoundAndGagged: A captured person is tied up so they can't get away and gagged so they can't cry for help.
* BreedingSlave: The captive victim is forced to have sex with their abductor in order to produce children.
* BringHimToMe
* BruceWayneHeldHostage: The hero's [[SecretIdentity civilian identity]] gets held hostage in a misguided attempt to draw the hero out from hiding.
* BulletproofHumanShield: Grabbing someone as a living meat shield to force them to take the brunt of enemy attacks for you.
* BusFullOfInnocents: A whole group of hostages are put at risk by the villain.
* CaptiveAudience: People are captured and forced to be spectators to an event.
* CaptiveDate
* CaptivePush: Walking the dog with the captives as it.
* TheCaptivityNarrative: Tales of European settlers (usually white women) being abducted by Native American warriors.
* CapturedByCannibals
* CapturedSuperEntity: An all-powerful entity is held in captivity by less powerful beings for some nefarious purpose.
* CarouselKidnapping: As soon as a child is out of line-of-sight, they're taken.
* CaughtInASnare
* ChangelingTale: [[TheFairFolk Fairy]] [[OurFairiesAreDifferent creatures]] abduct human babies and replace them with [[HumanDisguise disguised impostors]].
* CodeEmergency
* CreepyStalkerVan
* DamselInDistress: A female character whose main purpose is to get taken hostage so that the hero must save her.
* DamselOutOfDistress: When she decides to escape on her own without waiting for a hero to rescue her.
* DamselScrappy: A character who is disliked by audiences for always needing to be rescued.
* DecoyDamsel: When the "[[WoundedGazelleGambit distressed]]" damsel is actually just trying to lure the hero into a trap.
* DefiantCaptive
* DeliberatelyDistressedDamsel: When she ''intentionally'' gets herself captured or into trouble.
* DesignatedVictim: This character will ''always'' get in trouble whenever the plot demands it.
* DisguisedHostageGambit
* DistressBall
* DistressCall
* DistressedDude: A male character is taken hostage.
* DragonsPreferPrincesses: A dragon has captured a princess, requiring a brave hero to save her.
* FakedKidnapping: Pretending to abduct someone.
* FingerInTheMail
* GoGoEnslavement: A female hostage is forced to serve as [[MsFanservice eye-candy]] for their captor (possibly overlapping with SexSlave).
* GoingForTheBigScoop
* HandGagging
* HelpHelpTrappedInTitleFactory
* HostageForMacGuffin
* HostageHandlerHuddle: Villains have captured the hero and argue what to do with him.
* HostageSituation: The bad guys take people as hostages to use them as bargaining chips for whatever goals they have.
* HostageSpiritLink
* HostageVideo: Kidnappers produce a video featuring their hostage to make threats and ransom demands about them.
* HumanShield: Someone grabs a hostage to be placed in front of them in order to dissuade enemies from attacking.
* HumanTraffickers: These criminals often take live people in captivity, usually to sell them off as slaves.
* HypnotizeTheCaptive
* IHaveAFamily
* IHaveYouNowMyPretty: The kidnapper makes it no secret that they want to do something sexual to their captive.
* IHaveYourWife: Someone is manipulated into doing what the villain says because the villain captured this person's loved one.
* ImTakingHerHomeWithMe: When something/someone is just ''so'' cute that someone wants to take them home... whether they have consent or not.
* InvasionOfTheBabySnatchers: When (non-human) beings kidnap infants.
* IWillPunishYourFriendForYourFailure
* InnocentBystander
* JustBetweenYouAndMe
* KidnappedByAnAlly
* KidnappedByTheCall: The call to adventure will take you on an adventure, whether you like it or not.
* KidnappedDoctor: A physician or other medical professional is kidnapped so they can be forced to treat someone's health problems.
* KidnappedForExperimentation: A character is abducted to be a scientific test subject.
* KidnappedFromBehind
* KidnappedScientist: A scientist, engineer, or similar professional is abducted and forced to use their expertise in service of their abductor's goals.
* KidnappedWhileSleeping
* KidnappersKFC: A kidnapper buys his hostage fast food while running from the cops.
* KidnappingBirdOfPrey
* TheKindnapper
* KnottyTentacles: Tying up an opponent with their own tentacles/long stretchy limbs/snake-like features.
* LimaSyndrome: When the captor starts to sympathize with their captive.
* LivingDollCollector: A character collects people like they were dolls.
* LockedUpAndLeftBehind: When the kidnapper locks up the hostage and [[LeftForDead leaves them to die alone]].
* LockingMacGyverInTheStoreCupboard: When the kidnappers are dumb enough to hand their hostage the means to escape or cause trouble.
* MadeASlave: Someone is abducted with the sole intention of being forced to work, unwillingly and likely with the threat of violence, for their kidnapper.
* MakingTheChoiceForYou
* AMatchMadeInStockholm: When both sides of the kidnapping develop Stockholm/Lima syndrome to the point that they fall in love with each other.
* MissingMissionControl
* NotMyDriver: When someone gets in a vehicle and does not realize that there is something evil driving.
* OverTheShoulderCarry
* ParentsInDistress: When it's on the offspring to do the springing out.
* PityTheKidnapper: When the hostage turns out to be too annoying or otherwise unbearable for their captors to handle.
* PoisonousCaptive
* PoliticalHostage: TheEmpire wants to keep a vassal state in line, so they hold someone important to them as a guest.
* PregnantHostage: An expectant mom-to-be gets captured.
* PrisonerExchange: In some sort of war or conflict, two enemy/rival factions make an agreement to release some of both sides' members whom they were respectively holding captive.
* ProtectorBehindBars: When the captors are the police and/or guards to the captives.
* PutDownYourGunAndStepAway
* RansomDrop: A discreet way to deliver a ransom to the criminals.
* RescueRomance
* RoguishRomani
* SadisticChoice: The hero only has time to rescue one captured loved one and has to make the difficult decision of which person he'll save and which one he'll leave to die.
* SaveThePrincess
* ScarpiaUltimatum: Blackmailing someone into having sex with you by threatening to hurt their loved ones if they say no.
* SexSlave: The abductee is captured for the purpose of being forced to have sex with their kidnapper, or to be sold into involuntary prostitution.
* ShackleSeatTrap
* SheWillComeForMe
* ShootTheHostage
* ShootTheHostageTaker
* SickCaptiveScam: A captive fakes illness or injury to get the drop on his captor.
* StandardFemaleGrabArea: Grabbing a woman by her arm will stop her cold.
* UsefulNotes/StockholmSyndrome: When a captive person starts to sympathize with their captor.
* StopOrIShootMyself: Taking ''yourself'' hostage.
* TakeMeInstead
* TakenDuringTheEnding: A character/object is taken away at the end of the story for a purpose, leaving it ambiguous on what's going to happen next.
* TentacleRope: Tied up with tentacles
* TribalCarry
* UnhandThemVillain
* UsurpingSanta: A villain plots to depose Santa Claus or another holiday figure to gain their power and fame.
* VehicularKidnapping
* VerticalKidnapping: An unanticipated pickup from above.
* TheVillainKnowsWhereYouLive: As a prelude to a kidnapping.
* VillainousFaceHold
* YouCanKeepHer
* YouSaidYouWouldLetThemGo
[[/index]]
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