Making Sure Something doesn't Sound like a Kidnapping

So part of my story involves a situation where, now that I've actually thought about it, I've realized it could definitely have some unsettling implications (especially due to the genders of the characters involved) So here's the situation:

• Bob and Ted are traveling far from home and are wrongly accused of smuggling illegal goods, to avoid being arrested, they flee and plan to go to a far away providence as the crime they 'commited' wasn't particuarly severe (but getting arrested could get them into trouble) but they know if they just 'dissapear' for a few months, the law enforcement will just forget about them.
• Shortly after they get a little ways out of town, the weather happens to get rainy just as 'Jill' happens to be moving some fragile and sentimental objects that can't get wet and happens upon the trailer Bob and Ted are traveling in. She asks if she can come inside with her things and they allow her to stay the night, but when morning comes they realize that the law enforcers tracked them and now believe that Jill is an accomplice.
• All three of them are forced to flee town. I'd jaut want to know what people think of this so far and maybe some pointers so the situation can seem a little less 'kidnappy'

I don't know if I'm missing something here, but I'm not seeing anything even vaguely resembling kidnapping based on the information you've given us.

I can't see too much either but if you're worried about it maybe play it as something somewhat funny or have her jump right on board with the idea of being a criminal on the run.

edited 13th Oct '13 8:25:06 PM by LeGarcon

Well the thing is, she's with them and the two guys realize "oh shit now they're coming after all three of us" so they have to skedaddle their way out of there without being able to fully explain it to Jill who is pretty reluctant about it. She latter accepts that it was necessary. But yeah, I wanna avoid creepy vibes. But if no one sees any that's fine.

You've got two options - either give Jill more control and agency in the decision-making, or acknowledge the creepy vibes and build them into the story as a way to create guilt, interpersonal friction, further heat for the fugitives, and so on.

So if I have at least one character aknowledge the fact that the actions could be interpreted as creepy and should be treated as such it shouldn't be too bad?

• Fortunately this particular situation isn't an enourmous story arc and the characters involved aren't entirely defined by this.

Even if their intention wasn't to kidnap her, if they take her without her wanting to go then they are kidnapping her. There's nothing wrong though if she ends up okay with it, but the question is, is there a good reason that she's okay with it? If they kidnap her and she's okay with it for no good reason she ends up being an extremely passive character.

If they start to drive off on their trailer but then she starts going "WTF is going on?!" They explain it to her, so she decides that going with them would be the best idea and she agrees to going with them, does that sound a little less passive?

I don't see anything that makes it look like kidnapping; she's just on the run from the cops same as they are.

It sounds as though she doesn't know that at first, though. Taking her with them for her own good is still kidnapping.

Letting her choose against the option as early as possible of being left behind or dropped off someplace, with the high risk of arrest, seems best.