"That should do it…" Ellen Sanders sighed signing her name to the stack of papers that finalized her divorce from her husband. It had been three years since she found out that her husband had an affair with his assistant and no matter how hard she tried to erase it, it was hopeless. It was like Brian had forced a scalpel through the muscles of her heart and ripped it out without any type of anesthetic. She pushed the papers across the large desk towards her lawyer and stood to her feet. She couldn't believe that things had turned out so badly between them even after being held hostage for over a month. Even after being freed, things continued to crumble for the next year and a half. She smoothed her palms over her thighs and headed for her car. Grabbing her keys, she unlocked her door and slid behind the wheel. She sat there for a few moments thinking about the good times with her family and how her children would take it. They already knew that things were heading south, but now that it was truly finalized, how would they take it. She put the key in and brought the engine to life, backing out of her parking spot and towards her new house. She moved there with her two kids just weeks ago, but it already felt like home…and a new start.

She walked in the door and closed it behind her as she placed her belongings down on the end table. Slipping her coat off, she walked over to the couch and plopped down. With heavy footsteps running down the stairs, she turned her head and saw her son and daughter. "Well hey guys…"
"Mom…did you…" Jake called out, his eyes wide.
Ellen sighed and drew in a deep breath and then exhaled it in a quick motion. "…yes…the divorce is finalized."
"MOM!" Morgan screamed out, balling tight fists by her thighs. "How could you!? Dad's been there for you through everything! How could you tear this family a part?"

Without having the opportunity to explain herself, Morgan stomped back upstairs. She turned her attention towards her son and waited for him to scream at her, but nothing. He wasn't the same boy he was three years ago. He was eighteen now. As for Morgan, she was a beautiful young lady with a child of her own. Though they occasionally butted heads over the welfare of the child, Morgan and Ellen's relationships continues to grow.
"Mom, you have to excuse Morgan." Jack husked. He took a few steps towards his mother, placing a firm hand against her shoulder. "She's just having a bad day."
Ellen gave her son a reassuring smile and said, "I know Jake. But I hate feeling like all of this is my fault. I'm the one who's divorcing your father."
"Yeah but with good intentions. Morgan will accept that, soon or later."

Ellen watched her son smirk and walk out of the door before daring to go upstairs. Like Jake stressed, Morgan had been very stressed out over the last few weeks, but one would think she would have grown accustom to life of motherhood by now. After all, her son was almost three. Turning the door knob clockwise, she push the door open and peeked inside, spotting her daughter stretched across her bed. She took a few steps inside, closing the door behind her, and made her way over to her daughter. "Morgan…"
When her daughter didn't respond, she gently touched her daughter on the lower part of her back. Morgan jump forward from fright and jerk the ear phones out and glared at her mother. "Mom! What the hell!?"
"Watch your language! Just because you're mad at me, doesn't give you the right to use that tone or that language. I'm still your mother."
Morgan narrowed her hues and then rolled her eyes. "What do you want? I'm trying to do some of my college work?"
"I just wanted to make sure that you were okay? You know…" Ellen paused and cupped her elbow, giving it a tight tug. "…with everything."
Her daughter never answered her. Minutes went by and still nothing. Ellen crossed her arms over her chest and walked back to the door. Glancing over her shoulder once more, she wished she could get her daughter to be open about her feelings, but she doubted that would ever happen.

A week later, Ellen walked out of her office, her heels clicking against the stone-hard floor. She had three surgeries today and was beat. She barley had any time to herself or to her children. After receiving tons of publicity after the President's surgery, she didn't have much free time anymore. More and more people requested for her services and she was in much need of a vacation. Her index finger hit the down arrow button to force the elevator up, but after a few moments, the lights failed. "What…the…" she mumbled as she grabbed her cell phone out of her purse. She clicked the sides, flashing the back-light on revealing the current time…7:00PM. She hurried over to the stairs and skipped down to the first floor, seeing the lights of the outside city reflecting in. She pushed the door outward and walked over to her car, sliding behind the wheel. Her eyes searched the area, looking for anything suspicious. After being held hostages for a month, she couldn't help but be spooked. She grabbed her phone once more and dialed home, waiting for an answer.

Ring…..

Ring….

Ring…

Ring..

Ring.

…"Hello! You reached the Sanders. I'm sorry we cannot take your call right now, but please leave your name and a short message and we will return your call…"

The custom message was cut off. Panic hit Ellen square in the chest and she quickly redialed. Again it continued to ring except this time someone answered. "Morgan…Jake…are you guys okay? I tried calling earlier, but someone hung up the phone." Ellen cranked the car and stomped down on the accelerator, turning the wheel on to the road.
"Mrs. Sanders…" a deep retorted voice answered.
Ellen pushed down on the gas harder, zipping through traffic towards home. "W-who's this!?"
"That you don't need to know. I have a…"
"No, you listen to me!" Ellen yelled into her phone but was cut off by the stranger on the other side of the receiver.
"No…you listen to me!" The voice echoed. "I have a proposition for you, Mrs. Sanders. I have your children and your grandchild. I promise not to harm them unless you disobey me. You should be close to your house, by now, but I will not be there when you get there. I will be long gone. I will be in touch." The line went dead.

Ellen ran inside yelling for her children but no answer. She dialed 9-1-1 and told the operator about a break-in and kidnapping. After having her entire house searched, nothing turned up except for one single cassette tape. The police placed it into a cassette player, but only static was on it. "I'm sorry Mrs. Sanders, but there's nothing here. Are you sure you didn't imagine it? Have you tried calling your kids?"
The cops remained there, edging her on, waiting for her to call her kids. When she did, she was surprised what she heard.

"…tell the police you're talking to your daughter. Or. I. Will. Kill. Them. Do you understand, Ellen?" the same voice from earlier rasped. Ellen forced her face to relax and formed a soft smile on her face. "Oh Morgan! I see. You and Jake are over at Michael's house. Oh that's right you did tell me that. It slipped my mind. Okay honey. Bye." She closed her phone and placed it on the counter. "Officers, I'm terribly sorry. I forgot that my kids planned to go over to their cousin's, Michael, house today. I hate that I wasted your time."
"…it's okay Mrs. Sanders. We understand that you have a lot of pressure on you from work, but please try to make sure of the facts before coming us."

She watched as the last of the officers left her house before quickly dialing Morgan's number back. The rings seemed to get longer with each one until finally the same voice answered once again. "Mrs. Sanders. You're making me feel quite popular tonight."
"Where are my kids!? Where's Morgan and Jake?!" Ellen said hoarsely, her palms shaking from the new risen fear forming in her gut.
"Don't worry. They are safe…for now. Ellen I need a favor from you and a dear, old friend of yours." The voice stopped for a moment as if it was thinking about what to say next. "Underneath your daughter's bed is a brown envelope full of information that I need you to follow closely. Don't try taking it to the police because I will know. And I think you know what the punishment will be if you disobey me."

The line went dead. No matter how many times Ellen redialed her daughter's number, nothing. She sucked in a heavy breath and then exhaled it in a quick motion. She walked into her daughter's room, her eyes staring at the picture on the dresser. It was of the entire family, smiling and being happy. It was taken right after Morgan gave birth to her son and now…this. She closed her eyes, remembering her children's faces and with a flash, her eyes open. She grabbed a flashlight off of the dresser and bent down to the floor. She eased her body downward and glanced under the bed, a beam of light shining on the brown envelope. Using her thumb and index finger, she bent the prongs back and pulled out the single piece of paper. Her eyes quickly scanned it and her face became blank. Folding the piece of paper in half, she grabbed her keys and headed for her car.

Following the directions thoroughly, she found herself at her destination. She swung her legs out of her car and headed for the door. Once inside, she approached the counter and told the guy who she needed to see. She took a seat in a white chair on the far-side of the room, crossing her legs tightly. She waited patiently, her eyes never moving from the clock. Finally she heard her name being called and she stood to her feet. There standing before her was the same man that held her family hostage only three years ago. The same man that sacrifice himself to help free her from a lifetime of prison.
"Hello Duncan…"