November 9th - November 11th, 2013

We came to a stop in a motel parking lot, just inside of Pettit, Texas. Sam had called me a few times, but I ignored him.

I gathered my things and turned to David. "Thanks so much for the ride." I moved my hand to the door to open it.

David smiled. "H— Hang on, Maddison."

I turned around. "Yeah?"

"I was curious if you'd be interested in breakfast this morning. I know you're probably exhausted from driving through the night, but I can promise that Momma has a nice meal waiting for us back home," David said with a smile.

I thought about it for a moment. "Uh, I don't know. I've been on this trip since midnight."

"All the more reason to come." He smiled. "You won't have to do anything. Just sit there, and Momma will put a plate in front of ya. I'll even drop you off back here afterward."

I sighed, feeling guilty. "But you've already done so much for me. I couldn't ask for more."

"Pfft. Nonsense." David shrugged it off. "Ain't no such thing as doing too much charity. Besides, you ain't asking. I'm offering."

I thought for a second, the idea of a hot meal being laid out in front of me was amazing. "All right, well, you don't have to twist my arm."

He laughed. "Well, I couldn't, on good conscience, let you stay at that motel hungry. With nothing to eat besides vending machine snacks. That would be uncouth."

I chuckled. "Then you would be shocked by how I've lived most of my life."

He started to pull away from the curb. "I've seen a lot in my short life. Not surprised by much, no more."

"So, I never asked… what had you all the way out in Sweetwater anyway?" I asked.

"Oh, I was just passing through on my normal route," he said, "I go to college out in Abilene. Come home every weekend to visit Momma and keep her company."

"That's nice," I said. "What are you going to school for?"

"Pre-Law." He nodded. "There's a lot of bad people in the world, and I believe a good lawyer can help bring justice to 'em."

I nodded. "Oh, that's cool. My brother actually wanted to be a lawyer too. He went to Stanford for a couple years."

David raised his eyebrows, impressed. "They have a fairly good program over there."

I nodded. "Yeah."

I looked out the window, feeling slightly sad about how much our lives had changed since Sam was in college.

He slowed down and turned the steering wheel. "Well, here we are."

"That was quick," I said, looking out at a small farmhouse surrounded by cornfields.

The car came to a halt underneath an overhang on the side of the house.

"Let me run in quick and let Momma know that we have company. Wouldn't wanna surprise her this early in the morning," he said.

I nodded. "Yeah, no problem."

About five minutes later, David came out of the house and up to the car.

He opened the door to the backseat. "Momma said that she's excited for company and is starting to whip up some breakfast for us."

I opened the door and got out, swinging my bag over my shoulder. "Awesome. I'm excited to meet her too."

David stopped before opening the door to go into the house. "Oh, before I forget, no mention of pre-law. Momma always wanted me to be a doctor, so she gets upset whenever I bring it up."

I nodded. "Okay, not a problem."

He smiled and then swung the door open, gesturing for me to enter. "Ladies first."

"Thanks." I smiled at him and walked into the house.

I looked around a decent-sized living room. There were family photos nailed up and hanging on the walls and in frames on side tables. There was a sofa chair positioned next to a side table with a lamp on it. In the chair, a small book was opened and overturned.

A woman came around the corner and into the living room. She was wearing an apron and had her hair in a bun.

She smiled sweetly. "Hello there, darling. I'm Lucille. Davey told me that we were having a special guest, and I must agree. Come. Wash up and have a seat in the dining room. I'll have your plate ready shortly."

I smiled. "Thank you."

I watched as David slipped off his shoes, so I did the same. I set my bag down by the door and followed him into the kitchen to wash our hands.

As David dried off his hands, he turned to me. "Momma makes the best scrambled eggs. You'll see."

I chuckled. "Can't wait."

Then I followed him into the dining room and took a seat next to him.

Shortly after we sat, Lucille came in holding two heaping plates. She set one down in front of me. It was piled with scrambled eggs, buttered toast, bacon, and hash browns. She even set down a small bowl of fruit next to the plate and a glass of orange juice.

She looked at me. "Anything else for you, dear?"

"Oh, no… this is plenty," I said, wide-eyed at all the food.

Lucille exited the dining room, and David turned to me. "She can go a little overboard with the food sometimes. You don't have to finish it all if you don't want to."

I chuckled. "I think I'll be fine. I'm honestly starving."

I picked up my fork to dig in, but David interrupted, "We have to say grace first. Just wait for Momma. She'll be back in a second."

"Oh, jeez. I'm sorry." I cringed internally and set my fork down.

Lucille came back into the dining room a moment later, holding a much smaller plate of her own. "Not many people give thanks before meals nowadays. It's okay. I just think the world would be a more peaceful place if they did."

I nodded, not really believing that, but figured it was best to go along with their values. After all, they had been more than generous to me.

"Now everybody join hands, and we can pray to our Lord." Lucille reached her left hand to me as David did the same with his right.

I grabbed their hands and bowed my head, waiting for one of them to start.

Lucille's voice rang out, "Thank you, Lord, for this bountiful feast you have provided us. Thank you for keeping my Davey healthy and as handsome as ever. Thank you for paving the path for our lovely guest to join us today. We know that through your love, we can all become better. Amen."

"Amen," David and I said in unison, and then we let each other's hands go.

Then we all started to dig into our plates.

"How was your drive, Davey?" Lucille asked.

"It was good, Momma," David said.

"And whereabouts did you pick up our young guest?" she asked.

"Sweetwater," I said, after stuffing my mouth full of egg.

"Well, just a little outside of Sweetwater. But Sweetwater all the same," David said.

"This is amazing, thank you," I said, still scarfing the food down.

I hadn't realized how hungry I really was.

Lucille looked up at me. "Don't choke now, young lady. Now that I think about it, I don't believe Davey properly introduced you." She gave David a look.

"Oh, wow, I'm so sorry." I cleared my throat and swallowed my food. "I'm Maddison."

"Oh, that's such a sweet name," Lucille said.

I smiled. "Thank you."

"Where ya from, darling?" Momma asked.

I thought for a second. "Um, I'm not really from anywhere, actually."

Lucille turned her head, looking confused. "Surely, you must have grown up somewhere."

I shook my head. "No, really. My family and I have always been on the road for as long as I can remember and even before that. We don't stay anywhere for too long."

"Oh, that's just a shame. People need a stable home life to grow up as strong members of our community," Lucille said.

David looked to Lucille. "Momma, that's none of our business."

Lucille didn't blink. "Hush now, Davey, no arguing when we have company." She smiled and leaned in slightly. "Now, why is it that you and your folks moved around so much?"

"Oh, um, my dad was a Marine, so we had to move around a lot for that," I said, going back to eating.

"Ah, that makes sense. And where are your folks now?" Lucille asked.

"My dad passed away about seven years ago. It was just me and my brothers after that," I said.

"That certainly is a shame, darlin'. I'm sorry to hear that. And your brothers, where are they?" Lucille asked.

"Um, my brother Sam is back in Keene, and Dean…" I cleared my throat. "He, uh— He followed in Dad's footsteps… fighting to keep everyone else safe."

"Bless his heart. You have quite a few patriots in your family," Lucille said.

I nodded sadly. "Yeah, I guess you could say that."

David reached out to me and smiled. "I can take your plate if you're all set."

I handed it to him. "Thanks."

He turned and grabbed Lucille's dish as well and then walked into the kitchen.

Lucille looked at me once David was in the kitchen. "You seemed like you were quite hungry the way you cleaned your plate. If you want, you can stay here until you figure out where you're going. If you think my scrambled eggs are good, just wait 'til you have my meatloaf and pecan pie."

I chuckled. "Dean would love you."

David walked back into the dining room. "It's true. Momma's pecan pie is so good. She's even won awards to prove it."

Lucille smiled. "So, what do you say?"

"Uh, I don't know. You guys have already done so much for me. I should probably check into a motel and be on my way," I said.

"Oh, now, it's the very least we could do. You'd have a nice place to sleep and some really good food to fill ya up." Lucille got up and left the room.

David spoke up, "Yeah, you can have my room. It's nice and comfy, so you can get some sleep."

I shook my head. "Oh, no. If I stay, I'm definitely not going to take your bed from you."

David laughed. "Don't worry yourself about it. We have a sleeper sofa that I can crash on. Besides, I have some studying to do."

Lucille came back into the dining room. "Here's a towel. You can have yourself a wash and then get some rest."

I chuckled softly and took the towel from her. "All right, who can argue… warm food, a shower, and a safe place to sleep?"

David smiled. "You'll enjoy your stay here. Trust me."

"Thanks." I smiled. "You guys have been more than helpful."

Lucille sat. "No need to thank us. It's no skin off our backs. Now go get some rest."

I took a much-needed shower and walked down the hall to David's room.

David came out from inside the room. He had a bag slung over his shoulder and a polaroid camera in his hand.

He smiled when he noticed me. "Hey, do you mind if I take a picture of you? It's just for my portfolio. I have a minor in art, and it would mean a lot if you'd let me."

"I'm getting too old to model for him," Lucille said from the kitchen.

David's face turned bright red. "Uh, yeah. Momma's helped me build up my portfolio through the years."

I hesitated for a second, not knowing how I felt about getting my picture taken but shrugged. "Sure, why not."

David's face lit up. "Okay, awesome! Follow me, right this way." He led me into his room. He pointed to his bed. "There. Lay on that, and just look happy."

"You— You want me to lay on the bed?" I asked, a little uncomfortable. "That's it?"

David thought for a moment. "Well, you can lay or sit. Whichever you prefer. And remember to look happy too." He smiled.

"Uh, okay." I sat down on the bed and looked over at him. "Is this good?"

He started pointing the camera at me. "Just smile for me real quick."

I smiled.

"Okay, awesome. And tilt your head to the left slightly," he instructed.

I did as he asked, and a flash went off.

"Oh, this shot is going to be perfect. I can't wait to add it to my collection." He smiled.

"All right, great. Is that it?" I asked. "I was hoping to get a little bit of sleep."

David stood there, holding the polaroid. "Let me just make sure it came out good." He checked the photograph closely, and after nearly three minutes, gave me a smile. "It looks great, just like I thought it would. Thank you, Maddison."

I nodded. "Yeah, no problem."

David began to leave the room but turned quickly. "I hope you have a good rest."

After David left, I got the bed ready for myself and curled up under the blankets for some much-needed rest.

I woke up to a beam of sun shining through the blinds at just the right angle to hit my eyes. I looked over at the clock and saw that it was nearly 5PM.

I rolled out of bed and got dressed. I walked over to the bathroom and cleaned myself up a bit. Brushed my hair and teeth and splashed my face with water.

After getting cleaned up, I opened the bedroom door to walk into the hallway. I was greeted by the pleasant smell of garlic and onions being cooked, mixed with a savory butter scent.

I hesitated before leaving the room and just closed my eyes. The smell of a home-cooked meal was few and far between. I had to savor it while I could.

"Oh, hey." David had walked into the hallway. "I was just comin' to get you. Dinner is all set."

"Awesome." I smiled. "It smells amazing."

"I'm glad you think so. It will taste even better than it smells." David turned and started to lead me down the hall.

I followed after him. "What are we having?"

David turned and smirked. "It's a surprise."

I smirked. "Mysterious, but delicious."

We walked into the dining room. On the table were plate settings, glasses filled with some type of beverage, and large dishes of covered food waiting to be eaten.

Lucille walked through the doorway, coming from the kitchen with a large jug in her hand.

"Just in time for supper." She smiled and placed the jug on the table.

David walked to a chair and pulled it out. "For our honored guest."

I smiled. "Oh, thank you." Then I walked over to take the seat.

David then walked over and pulled another chair out. "For Momma."

Lucille leaned over and kissed David on the cheek. "Isn't Davey such a gentleman?"

"Yeah, he is," I said with a chuckle.

David pulled his own chair out and took his seat. Then he and Lucille grasped hands and reached out towards me.

I joined them in saying grace, and we dug in for dinner.

"Ugh…" I leaned back in my seat and rubbed my stomach. "That was probably the best meatloaf and mashed potatoes I have ever had. How do you get the potatoes so buttery?"

Lucille smiled. "It's a family secret. Goes back at least three generations."

"You sure you don't want to share? I know two guys that would love you forever if I made them this." I smirked.

"Well, there's only one way to get the recipe." Lucille laughed. "And it might be a little too early for that sort of talk."

I looked across the table to David, whose cheeks were bright red.

He looked at Lucille. "Momma. That's embarrassin'."

Lucille playfully slapped David's arm. "Oh, stop."

I cleared my throat, feeling slightly uncomfortable. Then I yawned, not realizing how tired I actually was.

"Um, ya know what?" I asked. "I think I'm just gonna go back to sleep. I know I just slept for like ten hours, but I'm exhausted. It just hit me."

David reached over to grab my plate. "Don't even worry about it. Just go and get yourself some rest." He smiled. "There will be a slice of pecan pie waitin' for ya whenever you're ready for it."

I stood up and pushed my chair in. "Thanks again for feeding me and letting me stay the night." I nodded and smiled at Lucille.

"Oh, sweetie. That's not a problem at all. Just doing the Lord's work. Have a good sleep," Lucille said.

A throbbing pain rang through my head as I woke up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. I looked over at the clock, 2AM.

I swung my legs over the bed and went to stand up. I lost my balance a little and sat back down onto the bed. I took a deep breath and waited a moment before trying to stand again.

I steadied myself against the nightstand and stood up. My legs felt wobbly, almost like I was awake, but the rest of my body was still asleep. I made my way towards the bathroom to see if there was any medicine to get rid of my headache.

I winced as I turned the light on. I closed my eyes and waited a moment before opening them and searching through the medicine cabinet. It was mostly empty except for a shaving razor, nail clippers, and a pair of scissors. I sighed heavily and splashed my face with water. I went to the bathroom and filled a glass with water from the sink.

I opened the door to leave the bathroom and noticed the light glaring off something underneath the dresser. I walked over, setting my glass on top of the dresser. I steadied myself and bent down to take a closer look. Laying on the floor was a laminated, perfectly cut front page from a newspaper. I picked it up, and across the top was a label printed: COURTED 7/14/2013 EXPIRED 10/26/2013.

I looked down and read the newspaper. Plastered on the front page was the picture of a 22-year-old girl with the headline, Maggie Howard, last seen on July 14th at around 8 PM on Route 84 outside of Dermott at a rest stop.

Why does he have this? What the hell does courted and expired mean?

My mind started to run wild with all sorts of ideas that could be going on with David and Lucille. I set the article down on top of the dresser and then walked to the front and pulled on the handle of one of the drawers. It didn't budge. It was locked.

I walked over to my bag and got out my lockpick, and quickly unlocked the drawer. I slid it open, and inside was a pile of similar articles laminated and labeled.

Kelly Holbrook COURTED 3/21/2013 EXPIRED 5/11/2013

Hannah Perkins COURTED 11/20/2012 EXPIRED 2/22/2012

Valerie Williamson COURTED 1/2/2011 EXPIRED 3/17/2012

My hands began shaking, and I couldn't continue looking through the newspaper articles even though it looked like there was a bunch more. I looked to the right and saw two large zip lock bags with a bunch of other, smaller bags inside. The first one was labeled on top: Mrs. Maggie Vaughn COURTED 7/14/2013 EXPIRED 10/26/2013. I slid the bag to the side, and the other label read; Mrs. Kelly Vaughn COURTED 3/21/2013 EXPIRED 5/11/2013.

Curious, I opened the bag with Maggie's name on it. I reached in and pulled out the first bag I saw. The bag I grabbed had some clothes in it, a small sundress, and a shawl that were neatly folded and placed in the bag.

I continued digging in Maggie's bag and found a small bag with a pair of underwear and a bra. Another bag had a few clumps of golden blonde hair. I pulled out a fourth bag with ten brightly painted yellow fingernails and a bottle of nail polish that matched the nails.

I quietly tossed the stuff back into the drawer and closed it. I heard the sound of clothes hangers jingle from the closet behind me. I jumped up and turned around. A loud thud came from next to me, I looked down, and a small photo album was lying open on the floor, next to the nightstand.

I furrowed my brow. "What the hell?" I whispered.

I picked up the album and saw a picture of a girl about my age leaning up against David's bed. The label above the picture said Angela Collins - 4/18/2009. On the opposite page was a picture of the same girl styled like she was a '50s housewife. The second picture was labeled Mrs. Angela Vaughn.

I continued flipping through the photo album, noticing Valerie, Hannah, Kelly, and Maggie pictured in the same way. I turned the page with Maggie's pictures and saw a label that read; Maddison - 11/9/2013. Underneath it was the polaroid that David had taken earlier that day. On the opposite page was a label that read, Mrs. Maddison Vaughn, above an empty space where previous girls had their pictures.

Anxiously, I set the book back down on the dresser and clicked the lamp next to the bed on. I grabbed my clothes and started tossing them into my backpack.

"I hope you put those back neatly," David said from behind me, causing me to freeze. "You weren't supposed to find them. I can't believe you opened Maggie, and now she's ruined."

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I asked, both angry and terrified.

David scoffed. "Nothing. I am just looking for the perfect wife. Momma isn't gonna be around forever. What's so wrong with wanting to find true love?"

I shook my head, looking at him in disgust. "You're sick."

"That's where you're wrong." David started to slowly walk toward me. "Momma says that it's healthy for a young man to look for love."

I stepped away from him. "Stay back."

He stopped progressing towards me. "I'm offended by this response. I drove you to safety. I gave you food and a place to sleep. Can't you see that I care about you? People don't just do things like that, no questions asked. What I did for you was charity out of the kindness of my heart. And now, all I'm asking is that you trust me."

"Oh, shove it up your ass. You didn't pick me up out of the goodness of your heart. You did it because to you… I looked like another plaything." I glared at him. "Don't flatter yourself."

"Plaything?" he asked. "Is that the way you think I feel about you? I see you as my future wife. I picture us settling down in a nice home. I see myself coming home from a long day at the courthouse to a warm home-cooked meal and a beautiful smile from you. Our children running up and greeting me. That's how I see you."

I laughed. "Not in a million years would that happen." I shook my head. "What happened, David? Poor little Momma's boy couldn't go out and date a nice girl like a normal human being? You had to resort to kidnapping?"

The anger started to build on David's face. "Kidnapping? You came here freely. You ate our food and drank our drink. Nobody forced you to do that. The least you could do is let me show you how perfect we could be together."

"I did that under the impression that you weren't a total psychopath." A shiver ran down my spine as I backed up to the wall as far as I could. "Does your mom know what you've done to those girls?"

David looked down in disappointment. Then he chuckled to himself. "I don't have the patience for this." He lunged forward, arms out, attempting to tackle me.

I sidestepped him, and he fell into the nightstand, hitting his face on the wall. I ran for the door and jiggled the knob, quickly realizing it was locked. I turned around to face David and scope out a different exit.

David was kneeling over the nightstand. "You just had to make this difficult, didn't you?" He stood up and began to turn towards me. "I always fall in love with the stubborn ones." He stepped forward again, trying to grab me.

I punched him in the face, and when he recoiled, I grabbed him by the shoulders and kneed him in the stomach. As he hunched over in pain, I backed away from him and turned toward the window. I flung the curtain open and started tugging at the window to open it, and that's when I realized they were nailed shut.

David coughed. "There's only one way to get out of this room. But you need to accept your place in order to do that. We have a future together. Just accept it."

"No! Get away from me, you freak!" I backed away from him, ready to defend myself if he lunged again.

As I took another step backward, a sharp stabbing pain radiated from my neck. The stab was followed by a stinging sensation as something was injected into me. I collapsed on the floor, unable to move my legs anymore, then the room around me started to go fuzzy.

"Momma!" David shouted angrily.

Lucille stepped over my body. "It sounded like you needed help, honey. I can't let my special boy get hurt."

"Well, this wouldn't have happened if you put enough in her tea. We shouldn't be running low or anything," David spat.

"I put as much as your other girls," Lucille said.

David scoffed. "Whatever. You're always ruining my plans and my process. And how many times do I have to tell you, they're my wives?"

I felt a slight breeze across my fingers as if there was a fan pointing directly at them. Something was wrapped around my wrists, holding my hands in place. The more I became conscious, the more that became clear.

I was sitting in a chair, feet and hands bound to it with rope. I started to open my eyes.

"Don't ruin the surprise. I am almost finished," David said.

He held a small bottle of red nail polish in one hand and the brush for the nail polish in the other.

"What are you doing?" I asked groggily.

David finished brushing my left pinky and closed the bottle of nail polish. "I'm just getting you ready. No need to worry yourself."

I groaned. "Ready? Ready for what?"

"Your new life, of course." He stood up and walked across the room, grabbing something from a nearby table. He returned shortly after and sat down. "Here, take a look at how pretty you are." He held a small hand mirror up for me to see my reflection.

I was now wearing mascara, light eyeshadow, red lipstick, my eyebrows were perfectly plucked, and my hair had been straightened and pulled into pin curls. I looked down at myself and realized I was no longer in my nightshirt and underwear. I was in a light-yellow polka-dot dress.

"What the hell, man," I said.

David pulled down the mirror. "You don't like it? I think the look suits you perfectly. Suits all women perfectly, actually. One day you'll come to your senses. Just need a little training, is all. First lesson." He returned the mirror to the table and came back with a collar. "It is not very lady-like to swear. You need to learn to be presentable and courteous." He placed the collar around my neck and buckled it. "You'll learn quickly enough." He pulled out a small remote. "I truly am sorry that I have to do this. But it's necessary for you to progress."

He pressed the button on the remote, and a jolt of electricity radiated through my neck.

I jumped and then burst into laughter. "You're gonna have to try a lot harder than that. I've been through a lot worse, douchebag."

A second jolt of electricity burst from the collar, this one stronger than the first.

David leaned in close to me and gritted his teeth. "You will learn. We must be—"

I threw my forehead towards him as hard as I could, headbutting him. "Go to Hell!"

David recoiled, dropping the remote as he covered his nose and mouth with both hands. "I should have known you were going to be difficult. The best ones always are." He grabbed a towel and wiped his face. "I hope you don't think that a bit of pushback is going to get you anywhere. We are here to train you. To make you the perfect wife." He set the towel down and grabbed something else from the table.

"Is this what you do?" I spat at him. "You kidnap, torture, and kill random women? You're a disgusting piece of sh—"

David swung the back of his hand towards me, connecting with my cheek. "Torture? Kill? No. The girls that come here, come willingly. They force me to discipline them. I don't choose to hurt them. They just don't listen to my instruction and guidance. I am here to turn them into women. Regrettably, most never make it that far." He sat down in the chair across from me. "Keep being stubborn like you are, and you won't make it too long, either." He stood back up and walked to a separate table.

"Let me lay something out for you, David." I gritted my teeth at him. "You made the worst decision you could've, picking me up. I will make you pay for everything you've done to those girls. I am going to kill you."

David chuckled. "That's exactly what the last one said. My poor, poor Maggie. She was just as delusional as you are." He walked back over to me and grabbed me by the back of the neck. "Now, I just need you to shut up for two moments so I can think about how I am going to fix the make-up that you just ruined." He pulled my head back and quickly stuffed a rag in my mouth. "There, much better."

He walked to the table and grabbed more stuff. "I have to make sure that these stay preserved as best as possible." He began folding my pants and shirt that I had been wearing that night. "The longer they sit in the open air, the quicker they lose their authenticity. One day we will look back on them and see how far you have come. And you will be thankful that I picked you up and added you to my collection."

David walked back over to me with a make-up bag. "Now. To fix this mess you've made." He pulled out a small container of powder and began dabbing it onto the side of my mouth, where he backhanded me.

"It's such a shame, really. I knew you would be a tough one, but I never thought you would make me hit you like that." He stopped fixing my make-up. "As a matter of fact. Here. Kiss my hand and make it better. After all, you're the reason it hurts." He limply raised his hand up to my mouth.

I turned my face away from him, not even giving him the time of day. This guy totally sucked and was obnoxious more than anything.

"Won't go for it? Hmm, where is that remote?" He bent down, looking for the remote. "You'll be begging to kiss my wounds in a moment. Just sit tight."

I laughed.

"Here we are." David stood up, holding the remote in his hand. He brought his hand up again. "Last chance."

"Screw… you…" I mumbled through the gag while glaring at him.

"Excuse me? You have something to say?" David reached forward and pulled the rag from my mouth. "Hopefully, an apology for being so troublesome."

"I said… screw… you." I smiled at him.

"Ah, there's that beautiful smile. You are going to be quite a challenge. But we will get there in the end. Just need to be patient." David turned away and left the room.

A moment later, he walked back in, pulling a small cart behind him. "I have brought some educational media for you. Hopefully, you learn a thing or two tonight." He pulled the cart in front of me. It had an old tv sitting on it. "Here we go."

He clicked on the TV, and old 50s music started to ring out, and a man's voice began narrating the scene.

"The perfect housewife is hard to come by. It takes hard work to ensure things will be taken care of while your husband is away at the office. This instructional video will teach you how to become a better spouse so that your husband remains happy and stress-free."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh my god. You've got to be kidding me."

David walked behind me, placed both of his hands on my shoulders, and leaned down to my ear. "Now, I really need you to pay attention to this. It is most important that you learn how to fulfill your role in this relationship. I will be back in a few hours. Good night."

"Bye!" I shouted in annoyance.

I had lost track of how long it had been since David left me in the chair. The ropes he tied to restrain me were pretty tight. I wasn't able to wiggle myself free or even loosen the knots. He had definitely done his research.

The video that he had played for me was set up on a loop, so it just kept repeating again and again. It didn't help that the video kept cutting out randomly. Not to mention, every time I would nod off from boredom, or whatever the hell he drugged me with, the stupid melody from the video's title sequence would wake me up.

I felt like I was in a never-ending cycle of psychological torture. Ugh, here comes the static again.

"It is of utmost importance that when your husband is away from home and working hard, you keep the home clean and cozy, awaiting his return. The last thing your husband will want to come home to is a dirty home and an empty table. So be sure to take care of all of your daily duties before the husband arrives so that you can focus all of your energy on comforting him when he comes home.

And ladies, make sure you *White Noise* get out of the house *White Noise* and give the man in your life ample time to relax and enjoy his time without you.

That's all for now. Remember, ladies… the harder a wife works, the sweeter she looks!"

I jumped when something hit the floor on the other side of the TV. I stretched my neck to look around and realized that the remote to the shock collar was now lying on the floor.

Suddenly, the room started to get freezing cold.

"You need to get out of the house," the voice of an exhausted woman whispered in my ear.

I gasped, a little startled, and looked over my shoulder at nothing. "Hello?"

"We shouldn't waste any time. The longer you hold out on him, the more he will berate and torture you; until it's too late," the female voice responded.

"Who's there?" I asked.

A ghostly woman appeared in front of me, wearing a similar outfit and make-up to me. There was bruising around her neck, and her make-up was smeared.

"Are you Valerie?" I asked.

"Just listen," she said, "He will be back down here shortly. The only way out of this is for you to play along for a bit. You need to do as he asks until you can find a way to escape. Otherwise, he will leave you tied to this chair, and that's where you'll end."

"Well, how exactly am I supposed to get out of these ties?" I asked. "Even if I do what he asks, I still can't get out."

She nodded. "If you cooperate with him and act like you are accepting your role, he will unbind you and allow you to walk around. You just need to be patient and look for an opportunity to stun him and then make your way out. There aren't any windows down here, so you'll have to get upstairs to get outside. Trust me."

I nodded. "Okay."

"Once you're untied, he always starts with having you untie his shoes and massage his feet. Almost like he just got home from work or something," she said.

I groaned. "Ugh, I can't wait to kill this guy."

"Shh…" Valerie whispered and then disappeared.

Just then, a bit of light came streaking into the basement. David was coming down the stairs carrying a tray or something.

He reached the landing and turned to me. "Have we learned anything from the lovely video?"

"Yes, I've been counting the seconds until I could see you again." I shook my head, trying to hold back my real emotions. "I finally see the truth now."

David smirked. "Well, what a change of events. If you expect me to believe that, you'll have to show it first."

I nodded. "Oh, please let me—"

"Shh. A good wife listens." He set the tray down on a table and walked over to me. "I'm going to untie your hands now. And when I do, you're going to give me the best foot massage I've ever got. 'Cause I just got home from the office, and it was a stressful one." He walked closer. "Understand?"

I nodded. "Yes. Yes, I understand."

David knelt in front of me and began untying the rope that was around my left hand. "I'm happy that you turned a corner so quickly. I was getting a bit exhausted, trying to show you the truth."

I sat there silently, waiting for this to be done.

"I've noticed that the longer I do this, the less patient I become. Isn't that strange?" He looked up at me and smiled as his hands pulled at the ropes binding my right hand. "Almost done." He was now untying my right leg. "What part of your wifely duties are you looking forward to the most?"

"Making you smile, of course," I said with a sweet smile.

He paused for a moment. "And that you will. Now, follow me to my seat."

David stood up and walked over to a sofa chair. Next to the chair was a side table with a lamp and folded up newspaper.

I got up and did as he asked.

He pulled out a newspaper and started unfolding it. "Smells good in here. What have you planned for dinner?" He peeked over the newspaper at me.

"Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, and corn, dear," I said as I knelt and started untying his right shoe.

David smiled. "I didn't even have to tell you this time. You sure are a quick learner. I must be the luckiest man in town. You're so good to me." He went back to reading his newspaper, which I could now see was dated June 8th, 1952.

After I pulled off his shoe, I made sure that he wasn't paying any attention to me. I looked around for anything near me that I could use to disable him quickly. All I had was his shoe, which wouldn't do me any good. Then I noticed an opening.

I smiled as my face began to fill with anger. I reached back quickly and thrust my fist forward with as much force as I could. Thinking of what he had done to me and all of the girls before me.

David dry heaved. He bent forward and clutched his groin. I took the opportunity to stand up and grab the lamp off of the side table.

He looked at me sadly. "Why would you do this to me?"

"You're unbelievably stupid if you don't understand," I said and then swung the lamp as hard as I could toward his head.

The lampshade scattered across the floor as the base made contact. The porcelain easily cracked and shattered against David's temple. The force caused him to be knocked over and out of the chair.

As quickly as I could, I made my way to the stairs. I started to climb them and made it about halfway.

"Where do you think you're going?!" David grunted as his hand grasped around my ankle.

Very suddenly, his grasp tightened, and I could feel him yanking my leg out from underneath me. I began falling, almost in slow motion. I moved my arm in an attempt to break my fall, but it was too late. My forehead smacked into the corner of the stairs. I saw a white flash, and everything became blurry.

"You're going to pay for that. I guess this is what I get for trying to help you, though. It never fails to amaze me how close-minded you girls are when you come here." David let go of my leg.

I could feel him walking further up the stairs.

"Come back down here." He grabbed my hair in his fist and pulled me down the stairs aggressively.

He dragged me across the cold floor a few feet before stopping. He grabbed my shoulders and shook me. "I need you awake for this. It's more of a punishment for me than you, really."

He squatted down and kneeled over my chest. Reaching his hands out, he placed them firmly around my throat.

This is how he killed them. But I wasn't about to let him do it to me. I reached out my hands, looking for anything that might help me. My fingers wrapped around a sharp piece of porcelain. I grabbed it tightly and swung up toward his face.

At the last moment, David leaned back. The porcelain just barely cut him across his cheek.

His grip tightened, and he started to laugh maniacally. "That! Isn't! Something! You! Do! To! Me!" Between each word, he slammed my head into the concrete floor.

The burning in my throat and lungs was quickly replaced by a sharp throbbing in my head. My vision began to blur, and I could feel my limbs going limp.

I could see David's shape move closer to me and whisper something in my ear. And then everything went black.

The next thing I knew, I was standing in the basement, next to a dozen or so other girls in the same clothes as me, sadly watching over my now unmoving body. In the crowd, I recognized Valerie, Maggie, Kelly, and Hannah. Then I heard someone crying. I looked down and saw David.

He was lying over me, arms wrapped around me, and he was crying.

"Why did you make me do this to you? You should have listened to my instructions." He sniffled. "I loved you. And you just gave up on us."

Valerie looked at me sadly. "I'm so sorry. We thought you would be the one to get away."

"My mom will never know what happened to me." Maggie cried.

One of the girls I didn't recognize pulled her into a hug and comforted her. She stroked her hair. "None of our family knows." She looked up at me. "I'm sorry you're stuck here with us now too."

David got up and wiped himself off. He walked over and grabbed a rag, wetting it in the sink. He returned to my body and began cleaning my face.

I looked at Valerie. "I can still help you. I'll let everyone know where he put your bodies."

"She doesn't understand what happened," Hannah said and looked at Valerie. "She doesn't realize she's dead."

I shook my head. "No, just listen to me." My vision started to blur again. "Just tell me where he put you, and I will get you home."

Valerie shook her head. "I don't understand."

I blinked my eyes a few times as the girls started to fade in and out. "Please, quickly."

Valerie sighed and stepped forward. "If it helps, the barn. He put us—"

I gasped for air. I opened my eyes and saw David kneeling in front of me. He was removing one of the high heels he had put on me as he cried.

His face was in complete shock. "No. No, no, no. You were—"

I kicked him in the face with my shoe, sending the heel straight into his eye.

He screamed as he fell back and grabbed for his face.

I jumped up and straddled his chest. "You son of a bitch!" I punched him in the face several times as hard as I could. "I've killed hundreds of monsters throughout my life, and you will not be the one to take me down!" I punched him repeatedly again. "You deserve to rot in Hell for what you did to those girls!" I shouted and leaned in toward his bloodied, swollen face. "I know the guy who runs the place, and trust me, you'll get what's coming to you," I whispered.

I stood up, blood dripping from my knuckles. A dull pain began radiating from my hand but quickly subsided. I walked over to the "kitchen" and grabbed a knife from the wooden block. As I pulled it out, it felt much lighter than a typical kitchen knife. I looked at it more closely. It was a plastic knife.

I tossed the knife on the floor and looked around for something else. My eyes stopped on a massive, cast iron pan. "Perfect."

I grabbed the pan and walked over to David, who was just a bloody lump on the floor at this point, sniveling and whimpering.

I stood over David and leaned down. "Why did you make me do this to you?"

David reached his hand out weakly. "Please. Have mercy."

"You didn't have any," I said and raised the pan above my head.

I forced it down as hard as I could, gripping the handle so tight that it hurt. David's head crunched from the blow, his hand falling to the floor as blood pooled around his body.

I turned away from him and looked to the table where he kept his things. My clothes were neatly folded and in a small pile. I pulled the dress off and wiped the blood off my face and arms with it. I reached over to my clothes and changed quickly.

"Let's get out of here, ladies," I said as I pulled my jacket on.

Valerie appeared next to me. "You need the key."

"Where is it?" I asked.

"His back pocket, it's attached to a heart keychain," she said.

I walked over to David's body and rolled him over, fishing around in his pocket until I pulled the key out. I made my way up the stairs and unlocked the door, and it slowly creaked open.

Lucille had her back turned to the door as she chopped some vegetables for dinner. "I was about to call you up for dinner. How's it coming along down there, baby?"

"It's going great, Momma," I said.

Lucille jumped and turned slowly to face me, rage filling her. "Where is he?! What did you do to him?!"

"What he deserved," I said.

Lucille lunged towards me with a kitchen knife. "You'll pay for this, tramp!"

As she swung the knife at me, I grabbed her arm and put my hand on her shoulder. With one hard push, I made her stab herself in the stomach.

She gasped, with a look of fear and shock in her eyes. "God will make you pay for what you've done." Lucille collapsed onto the floor and began to bleed out.

"Nah, I really don't think so," I said, "But you can say hi to Crowley for me when you see him."

I walked down to David's room and unlocked the drawers. I grabbed an empty box and started pulling out all of the bags and newspaper articles. I carried the box outside and set it on the front porch. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a bright red jug sitting on the ground. I walked over to it and picked it up. Words on the side said, Gasoline. I walked back into the house and started looking for matches and a set of car keys.

I found both in a small bowl on a table next to the entry door. I began dumping the gas on the living room furniture and down the hallway.

I made my way into the basement and stood over David's body. I poured some of the gas on him and set the canister down.

I pulled two of the matches from the matchbook and lit them. I tossed the matches onto his body and ran upstairs as quickly as I could. I felt the heat swelter from behind me.

Smoke started to rise from the basement into the kitchen. I quickly lit the rest of the matches and tossed them onto the living room floor.

There was no way I was going to let these people hurt anyone in their afterlife.

I ran outside and scooped up the box of evidence, and jumped off of the porch. I walked over to the two cars in the driveway and put the box on top of David's trunk. I spotted the strap of my backpack poking out of the trash. Quickly, I jogged over and opened the lid. I grabbed my backpack and hurried back to the cars.

Then I climbed into Lucille's as fire began to spread through the house and smoke billowed out of the windows. I unzipped my bag and found all of my stuff was still inside, so I dug through until I found my phone.

I spotted that I had several more missed calls from Sam, but I ignored them, dialed a number, and put it to my ear.

"9-1-1. What's your emergency?" the operator asked.

"Send officers to the farmhouse off of Brick Lane Road," I said.

"The Vaughn residence? What's the emergency, ma'am?" she asked.

"I found the girls that went missing from route 84. Their bodies are in the barn around back. Just send them," I said.

"You're talking about Lucille's place, right? Are you sure?" she asked.

"Yes, I'm sure. David tried to kill me too. Do you really want to take the chance that I'm lying?" I asked. "Those families have no idea where their daughters are, and I sure you don't want to be the reason they never will."

"Uh… dispatching two officers to the scene," she said, caught off guard.

"You'll want to send a fire truck too," I said, "And let them know that there's a box on David's car they're gonna want." I hung up and turned the key in the ignition.

I pulled into a gas station about an hour into my drive to fuel up. I knew that if I was going to do this, I couldn't do it totally on my own, so I pulled out my phone and quickly dialed a number.

"Hey! What's crack-a-lackin'?" Garth asked gleefully as he answered the phone.

I chuckled and smirked. "Hey, Garth. I need a place to stay. Is it okay if I hang out for a while?"

"Yeah, no problem. Where's Sam?" he asked, sounding slightly concerned.

"Is it okay if I just explain when I get there?" I asked.

"Of course. I'll send you the coordinates. I'm in Colorado," Garth said, "Got a cabin up in the mountains. I hope you don't mind… I got a buddy staying here too."