Chapter 21

Time passed slowly. Abbey shifted her body, trying to regain some feelings in her tightly restrained arms and legs. But the numbness continued.

Looking around, she wondered what was going to happen to her. She knew that Jed couldn't, wouldn't give in to whatever demands her kidnappers had. Not even for her.

She turned her face to the door as the metal lock was pulled back and one of her kidnappers entered the room.

In broken English, her captor asked, "Are you comfortable?"

Abbey didn't think he really cared about her comfort but answered him anyway. "No. My arms and legs are numb. Can you untie me for a minute?"

"No, President Lady. You must suffer as your husband has made our country suffer. Many women and children have been killed by the American bombs that your husband sent to us. So your suffering is just a small way we can repay him for their deaths."

Abbey shook her head. "You are responsible for the bombs. If you didn't fight the soldiers, there would be no need for bombs."

By this time the man had knelt beside her and had started stroking her face. Abbey tried to turn away from his touch, but there was no escape. She cringed as his fingers moved down her neck and onto her chest. Finally, she could stand his intrusion no longer and spit into his face. "Get away from me!"

He fell back onto the floor, stunned that his captive would be so brazen. His response was to slap her face several times, finally bringing tears to Abbey's eyes.

"You will pay for that, President Lady!" He sprung to her side, grabbing her shirt in his hands and started to rip it off. Abbey tried to squirm out of his grasp but again, due to her restraints, could not go far. He grabbed her again and squeezed her arms to bring her closer.

His lips nibbled on her neck as she realized now she would be raped. She only hoped Jed would never find out.

The door slammed opened as the leader ran into the cell. He pulled his colleague off his captive, yelling in Arabic, "No! I told you that we need her. Get out of here!"

The first man stared at his leader, but quickly scurried out of his sight. The leader turned to Abbey, who was still stunned over the turn of events. "Thannnk you."

"Don't thank me, President Lady. You still are our 'guest' until we hear from your husband. And if he doesn't meet our demands, I will have great pleasure in personally seeing that you suffer a horrible death. Just like your soldiers are causing our people horrible deaths. An eye for an eye. A life for a life. Remember that as you sit here."

He grabbed the hood off the floor and placed it back over her head, cutting off all light. Her struggling only slowed the onset of darkness.

As the door slammed shut, tears fell. Her fate seemed sealed.