Julia

She was thinking about Jude and Lucy. Their kind smiles. Beautiful voices. All around love. She missed them dearly. She knew they were looking for her and she couldn't loose hope. She was still in the basement, it was even colder because t had rained last night. At least she had a blanket that Paco had brought down to her. It had been four days since she had last eaten. She had bit his arm when he tried to take a blood print to the letter he send to Jude and Lucy. He wanted to show proof that he had her.

She was slightly woozy from the lose of food, and she coughed because the coldness was hurting her lungs. She didn't want to sleep, but her eyes were crusted with sand. Julia wasn't tied to the chair anymore, she was kept on a small leash in the basement. The leash was hooked up the pole and was securely tied around her waist. It hurt to pull or tug at it, so she just sat there. She found a piece of coal a couple of days ago, so she started drawing pictures and counted the days on the wall.

Her favorite picture was of her mom and dad. They were smiling down at her when she sat in the right position. She felt like they were looking down on her. She missed them dearly, and no matter what she did she couldn't stop thinking about them. She was tired of holding back, so then, ever so quietly she let the tears slide down her face.

Jude and Lucy

They had received a letter. It said many things, terrible things. Things that would haunt them for the rest of their lives. It said he was going to kill her if he didn't what he wanted. The only clue they had to who 'he' was was the part of the letter that said I survived the explosion. What explosion? When? So many questions unanswered.

Lucy still cried when she thought or even saw something that reminded her of Julia. She didn't know who had her daughter, all she knew was that when they did find him, she would kill him.

Julia

Another day had passed. Julia was sprawled across the basement floor. She was cold, but the blanket helped her stay warm. She pulled her body up and awake. When she finally rubbed the sleep out of her eyes,she saw another figure in the basement. A small shape, a little bigger then hers. It was a boy, blond hair, and he looked helpless. She walked over to him, and stroked his head, looking for some injuries.

He moved slightly, and she noticed a large bloody scrape on his cheek. She took the blanket that had been keeping her warm, and dipped it in a nearby puddle. She started wiping the blood off of the wound, and she brushed his long shaggy hair out of his face. His eyes opened a little, and looked at her. He slowly got up and touched the scrape on his cheek and winced.

"What's your name?" Julia asked the blue eyed boy.

"Um... Robby. Or Robert what ever is fine." He said

"What's yours?" The boy asked her.

"I'm Julia." She stopped as she heard foot steps.

"Paco." She said in a timid voice and she scooted away from him and pretended to be asleep. Paco came down the steps to see Johnny awake.

"Well, Well, Well. Robby is awake. How is your face doing?" He asked in malice.

"Ummm..." Robby didn't know how to answer.

"That's good." Paco grinned. He slapped Robby on the side with the scratch. Julia watched in horror as it started bleeding again. She screamed and Paco looked at her in dismissiveness.

"Good. Sleeping Beauty is awake." He chuckled evilly.

"PLease don't hurt him. He didn't know." Julia pleaded.

"Shut up child. You don't know a thing." He said to her. He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her by Robby.

"Why don't you two get to know each other. You will be spending a lot of time together." He said as he walked up stairs.

Julia watched him go up the stairs. He turned around, and smiled as if he knew a secret. She sighed in relief as he shut the door. She was terrified of him, and he knew it. Robby looked at her.

"Wh- Who was th-that." He managed to stammer.

"Paco." Julia said with such emotion it scared him.

"Is your head okay?" They asked at the same time. They both nodded and laughed. It brought a smile to the faces of these poor children.

"How long have you been here?" Robby asked suddenly.

"Well, I think it has been about a week, maybe two. I don't know. I can't count very well." She smiled sheepishly.

"Oh. Wait. How old are you?"

"Five." She smiled as she said it proudly.

"Ha. I beat you. Im seven!" He pointed his thumbs at his chest. She giggled.

"But I am smarter. I bet you!" She laughed.

"Nah uh!" He said.

They heard footsteps again and they both became gravely silent. They looked each other in the eyes like they had know each other forever. They were still quiet five minutes later, listening to the foot steps going back in forth walked on the floorboards above them.

Then the footsteps stopped, the started again. They held their breaths, waiting till the footsteps were gone again till the started talking.

"Look what I can do!" Robby said as he crossed his eyes and touched his tongue to his nose at the same time.

"Ew!" Julia squealed.

"Can't you do something pretty, like this?" She said and then she sang a few bars. They both laughed again happily.

Maybe be stuck in what seemed like hell wouldn't be some bad with a friend.