10
Abby Chase wanted her mom. She wasn't sure how long she'd spent in this cold, uninviting underground house with the nameless man. Even though she didn't know his name, he knew hers. It was scary, being with someone you didn't know or couldn't get away from.
The man had terrorized her, making her scared of even his footsteps. He'd done things to her she didn't even understand, and they hadn't felt okay. Ashley had made mistakes the first few days by acting up, but now she refrained from saying much at all because she knew what would happen if she did. He'd threatened to hurt her parents, which confused her because there was no father in her life. She'd thought about telling the man he might have the wrong girl, but decided against it. Better to get back to her mom safely than worry about what things this man could do to her and her mom.
As Ashley curled up in the corner of the small cement room, she thought of the photographs the man had shown her. One had been of her mother, but the picture was several years old. The second was a man Ashley recognized as her mom's ex-husband. Other photos had been of them together, probably when they were married. The man was trying to get to them, although Ashley wasn't sure why.
The man entered the room. Against her better judgment, Ashley asked, "When do I get to see my mom?"
The man shot back impatiently, "Soon, Ashley, as long as you keep quiet. Now, if you do exactly as I tell you, and it will be sooner yet."
Ashley swallowed hard. The way he talked made her nervous. She probably never planned to let her see her mother again, but you couldn't blame her for doing everything in her power to try to make it happen.
