Codes

Loved writing the last bit from Kitty's POV, what did you guys think?

Kitty lay awake on her 'bed.' She'd convinced her kidnappers that the table she'd been lying on before was 'hurting the baby.' She'd also told them what she ate, saying the cravings were the 'baby wanting its favourite foods.' She chose food that she knew could only be brought from a speciality shop. So, when she writes for help, whoever comes to find her will have a starting point.

The letter…

Kitty had an idea. She'd convince them that she'd seen a policeman the other day, and if she wrote a note claiming she'd run away, they'd stop looking. Far from it- she'd give Sam a better start at finding her than any other person. But what then? What happens when she finds her? The police need something- something to help them catch the evil people that slept upstairs.

DNA…

Kitty remembered the sharp scratch of gloves against her skin, and sighed ruefully. Then it clicked. If she left her DNA here, they'd have enough proof. Kitty wondered what to do. Twisting, she bent her head down to reach her tied up hand. Succeeding, she plucked a few strands of her hair, and let them drop onto the floor beneath her feet. Then, fuelled by her success so far, she sucked in her cheeks and spat, as far as she could, splashing it onto the wall to her left. Kitty was relieved- should she be found, those evil bastards would have no chance.

Kitty wondered how to get the kidnappers attention. She knew they'd always come running if the baby was in trouble. "Oh!" She cried, in mock-pain, "Oww!" She began to sob her crocodile tears. Sure enough, the kidnappers came running. "What's wrong with baby?" The woman demanded. She had a childish brain, and a childish way of speaking and acting.

"Baby's sad." Kitty began.

"Why, what's wrong?" The woman's meek husband asked.

"Baby's sad because I'm sad. He's worried because I'm worried."

The couple looked confused.

"Baby's worried that bad people will come, people who don't understand like you and I…" The words tasted bitter in Kitty's mouth. She felt sick.

"Bad people?" The woman asked, her eyes wide in childlike horror.

"People who will take me and baby away. People who will lock you in prison. Bad people." Kitty's words flowed like a fairytale. She had the couple entranced… perfect.

"But we can stop them."

"How? How?" The woman demanded.

"If I send them a note, telling them I'm in a faraway land, and that baby is fine, the bad people will leave baby alone."

The man saw what Kitty was doing. "Alright," He said, "But I'll read it first. To make sure you're not telling the bad people where we are."

Kitty nodded solemnly. The woman ran upstairs to find a pen and paper. The man unbound her wrists so she could write. Kitty thought for a bit, then, when the couple had left the room to cook dinner, she began:

"Dear mum and dad.

I love you lots- always remember that. Am sad to hear you're worried about me. Near enough that I'm going to leave. You should always know I love you. We (me and baby) are safe. Didn't you know? Drive me away, that's what you did. Far away. I'm going to live happily. In Australia. A kind man will care for me. Seller on a market stall, that's his job. They are all very kind there. Want to visit? The plane costs a lot. Baby is happy too. Come on! Soon we'll all be happy. Stop worrying. Translating won't be a problem in Australia. Now, I love you, goodbye.

PS: Don't go to the police. Please give this note to Sam, the soldier at the hospital, and tell her that after every stop, there is a clue to what will happen next. I've started eating food from a specialist shop, maybe she should do the same? It's all Kosher- very healthy.

Love, Kitty."

Bringing her down a plate of kosher food, from the kosher shop, the man snatched the letter and read it. "Seems okay," he said. "Good girl. Write your address here, her said, handing her an envelope. Kitty did. The man took it and posted it. Kitty, glad to have her arms free, tucked into her food, and moved her wrists, which were red with rope burn.

A few days later, the letter landed on her parent's doormat. They recognised Kitty's writing immediately. Her mother, weary with crying, scooped it up. Seeing the writing, she let out a cry. Her husband came running.

"It's Kitty!" She cried to him, tearing open the envelope.

What they read shook them both deeply. Kitty was gone. She'd left. But something didn't quite add up. Kitty always had excellent grammar and spelling.

"Is she telling us something?" Her mother asked her father, in a hushed voice.

"Maybe- We should do as it says. But who's Sam?"

"One of James's friends from the hospital? Another injured soldier."

"Why not James?"

"I don't know."

So, the couple set off for the hospital, clutching the note. When they arrived, they went straight in to James's bedside, pushing Noel out the way. They asked him if he knew anyone called Sam, an ex-soldier.

"Sam… isn't that Dr Nichols? Sam hit his assistance alarm, and Dr Nichols walked in.

"Oh. It's not visiting hours yet… but…"

"It's Kitty." Mrs Montague cried, handing the note to Sam. She read it through.

"After every stop there is a clue?" She read. Scanning the note again, She realized.

"I know where she is and how to find her." Sam said.