We drove far out of town. I didn't know where we were going. All I could do was sit on Connor's lap and cry.

'Why is the one girl naked?' asked the driver, looking at Emily.

'She was raped before we walked in,' said Murphy, 'they were about to rape the other one but we weren't gonna let that happen.'

'Poor souls…' said the driver, 'no one deserves that kind of treatment.'

Emily was sobbing in Murphy's lap. Murphy stroked her hair, comforting her.

'We're going to wash you then take you to the hospital,' said Murphy, 'you're going to be okay.'

We arrived at a log house outside of town. There was an elderly man standing on the porch smoking a cigarette.

'Get the doors, Rocco,' said Connor, 'come on.'

Rocco opened the doors. Connor and Murphy got out of the car gently and carried us towards the house.

The elderly man put his cigarette out in the ashtray. When he looked over at Connor and Murphy he nearly fell over in surprise.

'Dea-bhrón!' he exclaimed, 'Connor! Murphy! What happened?'

'Giovanni,' said Connor, 'their dad owed them money. They were held hostage until their dad paid them off, but they were going to be killed regardless.'

'Dia dea-…' whispered the old man, 'thank God you saved them.'

'They need to be showered and fed,' said Murphy, 'they've been held hostage for a month.'

'Anamacha na mBocht…' said the old man, 'get them in the shower.'

'Come on,' said Connor, 'let's get you all cleaned up.'

I nodded slowly. I couldn't speak.

Connor carried me into a separate bathroom from Emily. He placed a pillow in the tub and turned the water on.

'The temperature okay?' asked Connor.

'It's perfect,' I whispered.

Connor ran the water over my hair and body. Tears flowed out of my eyes and down my cheeks.

'What's your name?' asked Connor, 'I don't know which twin you are.'

I sniffled and looked over at Connor.

'Rebecca,' I said.

'So you're the younger one,' said Connor, 'we found out about you through the paper and news.'

'Daddy?' I said.

'Yes,' said Connor, 'your dad.'

'Before you ask, I don't resent him,' I said, 'he was desperate and stupid.'

'He'll be glad that you're safe,' said Connor, 'I know it.'

I sighed. Connor grabbed the shampoo and washed my hair. I closed my eyes as he rinsed and repeated before putting the conditioner in.

Connor washed my under arms and breasts. I let out a small whimper as he went to wash my vagina.

'It's okay,' said Connor in a gentle voice, 'I'm not gonna hurt you. I just need to wash you.'

'Can you wax my legs and armpits for me?' I whispered.

'Sure,' said Connor, 'as long as you're clean.'

I sighed. Connor mixed my wax and slowly waxed each leg. I winced because of my rib.

After he was done both legs and my arm pits, I was done.

'Come on,' said Connor, gently scooping me up in his arms, 'time to get you dried off.

Connor lead me into a bedroom. There was a hair dryer and flat iron ready at a mirror.

'Where did you get all this?' I asked.

'It's my mother's,' said Connor, 'she's out with her friends right now. She normally is at this time.'

'Mmm.'

Connor gently sat me down, drying my hair for me. My rib was aching so bad.

'I feel horrible for you,' said Connor, 'you didn't deserve this at all.'

'I know I didn't,' I said as Connor used the flat iron on my hair, 'I know I didn't.'

'Well, you're safe now,' said Connor, 'that's what matters.'

I could hear Emily in the next room over. She was still being washed.

'You're done,' said Connor, 'here.'

Connor grabbed a sheet from the bed. He gently wrapped me in the sheet and carried me out into the living area.

Murphy and Emily were already there. I guess she was dry and styled before I was.

'She was a hard one,' said Connor, 'her rib made things hard.'

'The dresses are almost dry,' said Rocco, 'just wait another five minutes.'

Emily was sobbing in Murphy's chest. He stroked her hair and whispered in Gaelic.

My rib was aching so much. I whimpered.

'It's okay,' whispered Connor, 'everything is going to be alright.'

'Dresses are dry,' said Rocco, 'get them dressed.'

After we were dressed and ready, Rocco drove us to the hospital. I curled up in Connor's lap. I was done crying now.

'So why were they in captivity?' asked Rocco, 'you never told me.'

'Their dad owed Giovanni money,' said Murphy, 'so they kidnapped the girls for ransom.'

'They were going to be killed regardless,' said Connor, 'so we rescued them.'

'Mob fuckers,' scowled Rocco, 'fuckers have no life.'

'It hurts…' I whispered.

'We're almost there, Rebecca,' said Connor in a gentle voice, 'don't worry.'

'We're here,' said Rocco, 'emergency department.'

I whined. Connor shushed me and held me gingerly.

Rocco opened the doors. Connor got out gently, making sure he didn't jostle me too much.

Murphy walked ahead of Connor with Emily. My rib was stinging and throbbing.

Connor and Murphy walked through the door. We immediately checked in. The nurse almost fell off her chair.

'Oh my God!' she shrieked, 'what happened?'

'Kidnapped, beaten, raped,' said Murphy, 'both of 'em.'

'Oh!' said the nurse, 'here, sit them down gently. Don't jostle them too much.'

Thankfully we have our health cards on us. I looked over at Emily and whispered 'I love you.'

'Let me take your blood pressure, girls,' said the nurse, 'it's okay.'

'Rebecca has a broken rib,' said Connor, 'she's been in pain since we rescued them.'

'You two are good men,' said the nurse, 'the doctor will see you shortly.'

'Thank you,' I whispered.

Connor and Murphy helped us into the waiting room. I was placed gently on Connor's lap.

Everyone stared at us. I didn't like it one bit.

'Everyone's staring,' I whispered, 'I don't like it.'

'They're staring with concern,' said Connor, 'listen.'

'Oh, those poor girls…'

'Those two men are heroes.'

'I hope they're going to be okay.'

'Emily and Rebecca!' called the nurse.

Connor and Murphy got up and followed the nurse. She lead us into a room together.

The doctor was ready to see us. The look on his face was a mix of shock and pain.

'What seems to be the problem?' asked the doctor as the nurse got everything set up.

'Held captive for a month,' said Murphy in a sombre voice, 'beaten and raped.'

'Any internal injuries?' asked the doctor, putting his stethoscope on.

'I have a broken rib,' I said, 'it hurts to breathe.'

'Get her into X-rays,' said the doctor.

The nurse nodded.

'Come on, sweetheart,' she said, 'let's go.'

'Connor?' I said quietly.

Connor scooped me up in his arms and followed the nurse to the X-ray room. I was ready to fall asleep.

We arrived to the X-ray room. The nurse put the heavy robe on me so she could X-ray my ribs.

'I'm sorry to pry,' she said, 'but are you one of the Ouellet girls?'

'Yes,' I said quietly, 'I am.'

'I heard about you and your sister on the news,' said the nurse, 'I'm glad you're safe now.'

'Thank you,' I said, 'thank you.'

The nurse turned on the X-ray machine. It took all my will power not to cry. Connor stroked my hair and whispered to me in Gaelic.

'You're done,' said the nurse, taking the robe off, 'let's get you back with your sister.'

Connor picked me up again and carried me back to where Emily was. My rib was hurting so much.

'Everything's going to be alright,' said Connor, 'the doctors will take care of you.'

Emily was hooked up to an IV when we got back. She looked at me with a sombre look.

'Here,' said the doctor, getting me a bed, 'time for you to be hooked up.'

I whimpered as the nurse hooked me up to an IV. I wanted to cry.

'Does anyone have a cell phone?' asked Emily, 'I want to call my dad.'

'Here,' said Murphy, handing Emily a phone, 'go ahead.'

Emily dialled our home number. We were close enough together that Emily could put the phone on speaker.

'Hello?'

'Mommy?' said Emily, 'is that you?'

'Emily?' said Mom in a quiet voice, 'is that you?'

'It's me,' said Emily, 'Rebecca's here, too.'

'Where are you?' asked Mom, 'are you okay?'

'We're in the hospital,' I said, 'we were rescued.'

Mom burst into happy tears.

'Oh, girls!' she said, 'this is wonderful news!'

'Their names are Connor and Murphy,' said Emily, 'they took us to the hospital.'

'I'll get your father,' said Mom, 'hold on.'

Emily and I held hands. Mom told Dad there was someone on the phone. Emily and I began to cry.

'Hello?'

'Daddy,' said Emily.

'Oh!' breathed Dad, 'Emily!'

'We're safe, Daddy,' I said, 'we were rescued. We're in the hospital.'

'Oh, that's good news to hear,' said Dad, 'amazing.'

'Their names are Connor and Murphy,' I said, 'they're here with us.'

'They're forever in my good books,' said Dad, 'my daughters are safe.'

'And Giovanni is dead,' said Emily, 'rotting in hell.'

'That's also amazing news,' said Dad.

'We should go,' I said, 'we love you, Daddy.'

'I love you both so much,' said Dad, 'my beautiful girls.'

'Bye, Daddy,' said Rebecca and I together.

'Bye,' said Dad.

Emily hung up. We squeezed each other's hands.

'Connor and Murphy can stay with you tonight,' said the doctor.

'Thank you,' said Emily and I together, 'thank you.'