I stare at her and she looks back at me, her eyes begging me to say something. "Of course not, Misa. We just have to stay here." I manage to squeak out.

"What about Mom and Dad?" she asks softly. I throw a glance at our parents, laying on the floor with their hands over their hands.

"They would want us to stay here." I say firmly, knowing that they would. The man suddenly walks past them; I pull Misa closer to me and push us as far back in the closet as I can.

"You stay there or I swear I'll blow your freakin' brains out!" he threatens as he starts to walk out of the dining room. He pauses when he sees the stairs and walks back in, grabbing Mom by her hair.

Misa cries out and I throw my hands over her mouth. Again. "Shh…" I whisper frantically as Mom cries out.

"You're going to show me where everything is," he says as he jerks her head back. "And if you go anywhere, she's dead." He points the gun to Dad. Seeming to make a second decision, he kicks Dad in the head. I see his eyes go up into his head. Mom and my cries mix together. I force myself to stop sobbing. I have to be strong for Misa, I remind myself.

I can feel the tears go down my hands that have come from Misas' eyes. I pull her as close to me I can and try to steady my breathing. "It's going to be alright, Misa. It's going to be alright." I repeat like a chant underneath my breath.

He pulls Mom out of the dining room and drags her past the closet. They disappear up the stairs. I peek out of the closet, and see Dad lying on the floor. I pull myself in closer to the closet, letting go of Misa's mouth.

Her breath comes in quick gasps and she says, "Is Dad okay?"

I take a deep breath and say, "He'll be fine, I promise. So will we, we just –"

My sentence is cut off when I hear clomping down the stairs. The man comes back, holding a bag and pointing the gun in Mom's back. He's just about to go in the dining room – and leave, I pray – when he suddenly stops next to the closet.

Misa squeaks and I'm force to grab her face again. I pull her even closer to me, my hands pressing into her face.

"What's in there?" he asks, pointing his gun to the closet.