Hello everybody! I would just like to take the time to say thank you to everyone who has followed/favorited this story! This story means a lot to me and I hope it continues to reach people and hopefully bring a touch of MSEC back to life for other's as it did me now that the show is no longer airing. Here is chapter four! I will be honest...this chapter is not easy. It deals with the hard reality of abuse and insanity and how that would affect a child so young. This is the first true painting of what Madeline's life is now like. As it was hard for me to write, I did my best to not be gruesome while still accurately show what life with someone who is unhinged enough to have abducted a child would truthfully look like. That being said, child trafficking is a very real issue and is no light subject so I also felt like it was necessary to not sugar coat things. So with these words in mind if you feel this could be triggering to you please redirect yourself to more accommodating content.

-lovelylavenderlady

Life can seem perfect and beautiful and so full of life, till it's not. You can be happy and the moments of life blissful till one day they no longer are. Home can be warm and comforting and suddenly that changes. One day that beautiful, perfect life turns ugly and grey. The happiness and blissful moments gone seemingly without a trace. A home can become haunted, leaving you cold and tormented. This was the case for Evelyn Dolan.

She lived her life in bliss and in the comfort of her home with her eight year old daughter Molly, who she shared every aspect of life with. Some mothers and daughters weren't close but this was not the case for Evelyn and Molly. They did everything together and they wouldn't have it any other way. Life was perfect with the two of them just the way it was. Molly's father had left when she was young and so the only support she had in life was her mother and Evelyn had no other living family other than her daughter and a very distant brother. Their home was filled with happiness, love, and laughter. Then one day, one word changed everything. Cancer.

Molly had been diagnosed with stage four brain cancer and within the year she was gone and Evelyn was forced to put her beautiful Molly six feet under the ground. One day the world was bright and full of joy because her Molly was in it and then she was gone and her world turned grey. There was no longer any joy left to be found. The day Molly died everything changed for Evelyn Dolan and she became a very different woman than the woman who had been a mother to Molly. Her grief slowly began to eat away at her and drive her insane leaving only a shell of the person she had been.

Sometimes, she'd like to go to the park and imagine she was there with Molly. That somewhere among all the laughing children she would find her daughter and then day one day she did. A little girl with blonde hair and blue eyes just like Molly. The young girl was even around the same age as her daughter. Evelyn Dolan began to frequent the park more often hoping to get a glimpse of her Molly...except it wasn't Molly. It was Madeline McCord.

So when the opportunity arose, she took hold of it with everything she had because what was the point of living if she didn't have Molly and maybe just maybe she could forget that this really wasn't Molly.

"This is your room," Evelyn said as she pushed Madeline forward into the bedroom. "Don't be afraid Molly...come on don't you remember your room?"

Madeline shook her head as fearful tears rolled down her cheeks and her chin quivered. She was afraid to speak. She was afraid to move. She didn't understand what was happening to her. The only thing she knew was that she wanted her parents but the thought of how to get to them seemed much too big for her brain. Her mother had always told her to stay close. To stay where she could see her and she hadn't and now she was in a situation she couldn't get out of and it felt like it was all her fault. "I just wanna see my mom..." Madeline whimpered.

"Oh honey, it's alright," Evelyn hushed her as she bent down to the girl's level. "I'm right here."

"I want my mommy," Madeline said again this time meeting the woman's eyes and what she saw there, terrified her. The woman's eyes went from reflecting a version of love to that fading and though Madeline couldn't be sure, she thought she saw anger replace it. As quick as that anger had flashed it had disappeared.

"What do you mean Molly?" Evelyn smiled again reaching out touch the girl's hair. "I am your mommy!"

Madeline shook her head knowing the words were not true and they left her feeling even more confused. "My name is Madeline..."

The woman's smile fell once more and this time the anger that replaced it did not disappear. "Why would you say such a thing?" the woman gritted her teeth as she stood, the anger seemingly building around her. "Don't ever say that again Molly." Evelyn tried to cling to the false narrative she had been living in inside her head.

"Who's Molly?!" Madeline cried harder not understanding what this woman was talking about but this action was something she was about to regret.

Evelyn picked up a vase that was sitting on the dresser next to her and threw it against the wall with all of her strength as she let out a frustrated yet grief filled scream. Madeline had never been more afraid in her whole life and she turned away from the woman cowering down slightly, terrified of what was going to happen next. All she could hear was the woman's heavy breathing but there was no footsteps.

"I'm sorry Molly," Evelyn said more cooly now as she stepped closer in the Madeline's direction. "Mommy shouldn't have done that..."

Madeline was too afraid to turn around and so she didn't she stood still feeling the hot tears rolling down her face.

"Why don't I sing you a song?" Evelyn tried again as she sat down on the bed.

Still Madeline did not move.

"Molly come on," Evelyn patted her legs. "Come sit with mommy and I promise everything will be alright."

Madeline sniffled as she briefly turned and looked at that woman too afraid to hold her eye contact for long so she looked away again.

"Don't be afraid," Evelyn looked at her like everything was perfect but Madeline knew it wasn't. Madeline couldn't explain it but she knew that last thing she wanted was the woman to get angry again and so she hesitantly took a step forward in the woman's direction with her head hung down. "That's it Molly, good girl."

As soon as Madeline was within her reach, Evelyn grabbed her even though she was stiff as a board and pulled Madeline onto her lap. "See that's better isn't it?" Evelyn said happily as she began stroking Madeline's hair. "Now I will sing you a song..."

My Molly lies over the ocean

My Molly lies over the sea

My Molly lies over the ocean

Please bring back my Molly to me

The song did not soothe Madeline. It did not bring her comfort like her mother's voice did. The woman said it was better this way but Madeline McCord knew that was not true. She did not feel safe or loved. She only felt afraid and wanted her mother even more but that worst part of all of this, was that it was her fault she could not have her. She had walked away from her mother and now she didn't know if she would ever see her again.

Molly

The voice intruded her dreams as it sang her name. No she didn't want to wake up.

Molly

It came singing her name again and she felt the peace of sleep start slipping from her grasp. No she didn't want to wake up and she reached out trying to hang on the semblance of peace.

Molly wake up!

Madeline's eyes shot open and she felt the peace fade away as fear took its place and coursed through her body as she met the gaze of her captor. She winced as her bones felt stiff from the hard surface beneath her and the cold gripped every part of her body. It was the dead of winter and the old house did not have heating which left her chilled to the bone every hour of the day and night.

"I told you to stop sleeping on the floor Molly," Evelyn shook her head as she pulled Madeline off of the ground. "You have a perfectly good bed and yet you choose the floor."

The woman was wrong. It wasn't a perfectly good bed. She didn't know how to explain but the bed felt crowded...and haunted. Madeline did not speak just followed as the woman drug her by her arm out of the room. In the time she had been there, she had not gathered much to help her understand things more clearly but there was pictures of a little girl all around the house. In the room she was forced to stay in, in the living room on the mantle above the fireplace, and in the hallway that led to the front door of the house. The woman would point to one occasionally and ask her if she remembered that day. Of course she didn't that wasn't her but she had gathered the girl in the picture was Molly. The girl her captor wanted her to be but she simply wasn't.

"We talked about this Molly do not disobey me again," Evelyn said firmly as she shoved her down into a seat at the kitchen table.

The house was small. There was no upstairs or attic, just a basement that she had learned the harsh way she was not allowed to go into. There was only three bedrooms, one bathroom and of course the kitchen. She hated the kitchen. It was poorly lit and and had no warm feeling at all. It was a stark contrast to the one she had grown up in. It reminded her of how warm her own was. How the kitchen at the farm was always filled with laughter and the sound of her family enjoying each other's company while they ate. She hated it because it reminded her of how much she had lost and how much she missed.

"Molly! Answer me!" Evelyn raised her voice as she stomped her foot on the ground.

"I won't do it again," Madeline answered quietly, her voice hoarse and dry.

"Good," Evelyn smiled as she walked over to her and placed a kiss to her head. "Now why don't you be a good girl and help mommy cook some breakfast."

Madeline had learned the hard way that if she didn't help the food would be used as a bargaining chip and if chose not to, she would not receive anything. If she fought at all it only made things worse and so she stood and began trying to assist the woman in the ways she could. Though she had tried at first to keep track of the days she eventually had given up and now she had no idea how long she had been here. She had no idea how long she been gone from her family and away from her home. She often thought of Buttercup and wondered if he missed her as much as she missed him. She thought of her siblings and how normally at this time of the morning they were sitting together at the table getting ready to leave for school. She missed school but most of all she missed her friend from school, Sadie.

In the house which had become her cell, she thought about all the comforts of her life in hopes to distract herself from the hell that was her reality. Of the things from her life, she thought about her parents the most. Daddy and Mommy. When her captor would light like a fuse on a bomb she would think about her parents and imagine that they were coming to rescue her at any moment. When the woman's voice would raise to deafening tones she would hear the voice of her parents telling her it was all going to be okay but as each day passed she became less sure that any of that was true. She held onto hope like it was a candle but the flame was beginning to flicker, threatening to soon extinguish all together.

As the days wore on, Madeline begin to spend more time trying to understand the puzzle that was her captor and less time imagining her rescue. Her imagination wasn't going to save her from her reality but maybe deciphering what this woman wanted, would. It was trial by error at first. A furiously fast curve ball of the woman's mood changes that seemed almost impossible to catch. One minute she would almost seem loving and kind but one wrong move from Madeline and that was out the window like paper in the wind. It was a harsh learning process but slowly she was beginning to anticipate and avoid the middle aged woman's mood changes in hopes of sparing herself anymore pain than she was already experiencing.

It was late at night and Evelyn had fallen asleep in the living room chair, a lamp illuminating her face as she slept. The tv was on but there was nothing playing, the only thing coming from it was the sound of humming static as grey and white pixels lit up at the area. The house was dim, no lights on other than the lamp and tv shining through the darkness.

It was rare that this occurred. Evelyn never fell to sleep before Madeline's bedroom door had been shut and she knew the girl was asleep. When the door was shut, Madeline was too afraid to open it, scared the noise would stir her captor and the repercussions would be more than she could handle. The risk was not worth the reward, at least most of the time but this time she had a chance and it was a risk worth taking. The thought had begun to dawn on her months ago. She would picture herself climbing out the window or fleeing from the front door. She would see herself running as fast as she could going anywhere that was away from the woman. Even though she had no idea of how to get home somehow she always saw her feet carrying her all the way back home. Down the long driveway of the farm and eventually to her family but these visions always ended abruptly. Like the slamming of book. One minute you were in a beautiful world you could explore and next the book was shut and the world was gone and she was was reminded of how far away from home she was. The visions of her risking it all ended with the reality of what would happened if she didn't succeed. It seemed the woman was always watching, always present, but tonight she had a chance it was most likely her only chance. Despite her hesitance, she chose to take it.

She sucked in squeezing out of the crack in the bedroom door afraid to open it any further and disturb the creaky hinges. She exhaled in relief when she made it through with no noise. Creeping down the hallway she moved quietly praying that she remembered which floorboards to avoid and which to stay on. Though she was silent as could be, her heart beat had become rapid and hearing it in her own ears, she feared the woman would hear it as well. The winter months had ended and spring had come which meant while it was chilly it was not longer cold and the fear alone now caused beads of sweat to begin sliding down her forehead as she stopped at the corner that rounded the living room where Evelyn sat.

She peeked around the wall desperately pleading that her captor was still sleeping and her chance was still there for the taking. She doubted she would get another but that didn't stop the gripping around her stomach that begged her to just go back to the room and not risk it.

Elizabeth

She thought of her mother. The thought of returning to her mother and being home with her family instead of this prison. Her mother would want her to fight and so with the confirmation that the woman's eyes were still closed and breathing still steady she took a slow step forward. She halted. Watching to see if the older woman would sense her presence. With no reaction she took another step forward. Each step felt like an eternity but with each step she dared to take she felt a sense of hope rising in her chest. There was no more than eight steps left to go. She could make it. Slow and steady wins the race. Eight steps left became four and she smiled as she realized that two more steps and she could reach the door knob. She was almost there. The taste of freedom begin to fill her mouth. It was sweet like fresh honey in May.

In her excitement she faltered and moved too fast and a creak resounded beneath her foot and for Madeline it felt like the loudest sound she had ever heard. She froze, panic filling her orbs as she turned to see if the woman had woken. Madeline watched with bated breath praying she did not wake. A few seconds went by as she stood there unmoving and she felt her heart rate slow at no sign of movement. With trepidation she picked her foot up feeling she was close to escaping but as her weight left the floorboard, the shift caused another creak.

Her head turned slower than it ever had before as her heart fluttered in fear. As her eyes landed on the woman and she felt the breath leave her body as the woman's eyes opened. The world fell away and all she saw was white eyes and dark orbs. There was nothing else just the woman's eyes. She was right in the open it was only a matter of seconds before the woman spotted her. There was only two choices. She either faced what the outcome was if the woman caught her or she ran with everything she had.

Finally Evelyn inhaled deeply becoming fully aware in her senses and as she did, her eyes met Madeline's who was inches away from the door.

Instinct kicked in Madeline moved as fast as she could reaching for the dob knob knowing that she had seconds maybe less to get out of the house. As her hand touched the doorknob she knew if she ran fast enough the woman would not be able to catch her but as she went to turn the knob she was met with resistance. The door was locked. "No, no no," she panicked pulling at the door trying to get it open. She felt footsteps shake the floor of the house.

"Where do you think you are going?" the sinister voice rose and closed in on her.

Madeline did not turn around knowing there was no time to waste as she breathed heavily and finally turned the lock and the door opened. She had done it. She was inches from freedom. Not looking back she took off. She had done it she thought as she felt her body moving out the door but in a split second it all came crumbling down as arms wrapped around her waist and her momentum came to a complete halt and she felt herself being pulled backwards.

"NO!" Madeline screamed as her view of outside began to fade and the door closed with a resounding 'thud' that shook the pictures on the wall of the house.

"You are gonna regret ever thinking about leaving this house," Evelyn remarked as she drug the girl back with all of her strength.

"Let me go!" Madeline screamed so hard it hurt her throat and she began to thrash doing everything to try and get out of the woman's clutches.

"After tonight, you will never think about trying to leave this house again Molly!" Evelyn's voice raised with each word that came out of her mouth.

"No!" Madeline wailed feeling the door getting farther and farther away as Evelyn drug her towards the room. "Mommy! Help me!"

In all reality Madeline knew yelling for her mother was useless but something inside her couldn't help but think if she yelled loud of enough, Elizabeth would hear.

"No one is coming to save you Molly!" Evelyn began escalating even further as Madeline struggled against her.

"I'm not Molly!" Madeline yelled back getting an arm free and and she hit the woman with everything she had.

"You little bitch!" Evelyn winced and she let go of Madeline and used all of her strength to backhand her in the face.

Madeline gasped as pain bolted across her face like lighting across the sky. She had never felt something like that in her whole life and the ring that Evelyn wore had split her lip right open. She coughed trying to regain her breath and looked thinking about nothing but getting out of there. She dove for the door hoping that she could make it but a hand grabbed her by the hair and yanked her bank so hard she fell to the floor. "Please stop!" Madeline begged but again came another violent blow but this time it was a foot to her ribcage and instantly, she felt the air leave her body.

"You know what? You are right! You aren't Molly!" Evelyn yelled as she kicked Madeline for a second time leaving the girl almost incoherent. "My Molly would have never done something like this!"

Madeline's ears rang so loudly it made her feel like there was no other sound around her just high pitched ringing. She coughed and regretted it almost immediately as it sent shockwaves of pain throughout her stomach. She tried to look up at the woman but even lifting her head felt hard to do but then she felt it. Evelyn had her by the ankle dragging her to the bed and in the other hand was a rope and she began tying it to Madeline's foot. "You will never leave this house again, EVER!" The words came like a roar towards Madeline and it when it dawned on her how serious this was, the flicker inside her burned brightly one last time as she began kicking Evelyn with her feet as she laid on her back. If she didn't fight now Evelyn was right, she would never leave this place again. She would never see her family and so she kicked with all of her strength and nailed the woman in the jaw which sent her back, reeling from the blow.

Madeline tried to stand but she couldn't and so she began crawling, her gaze fixed on the open door of the room. She held her gaze determined to get out of here. She could do it. She had to do it. She pushed and dragged and just as she reached the door, feet appeared in front of her and the door behind the feet slammed shut. "NO!" Madeline let out a guttural scream as she realized Evelyn now stood between her and her freedom once again.

"YES!" Evelyn bent down screaming in her face before she grabbed a hold of her and drug her back with all of her strength. "You will never leave!"

"NO!" Madeline screamed again as she felt her hands being tied to the bed. "MOMMY!"

Madeline remembered continuing to fight and scream for her mother but one minute she could see and the next, the lights were out and the world faded away and she drifted into a state of unconscious.

Madeline would not wake for a long while to come but when she did she knew she would never try to leave the house again. Ever.

MOMMY!

"Madeline!" Elizabeth yelled as she jolted awake in bed. She was covered in sweat and she could hear her heartbeat in her ears. It was deafening and she gasped for air. All she could hear was Madeline pleading for her help, screaming for her. While it had a been a dream, if this resembled Madeline's current fate at all, then Elizabeth's worst fears had come to pass and her Madeline might never make it back. If this dream showed the truth, Madeline was living the worst fate imaginable and there was nothing Elizabeth could do to stop it.

There we have it. Chapter three is here and Madeline's current reality is revealed. I know that was a hard read, it was hard for me as the writer to write but thank god for all the cop shows and crime shows I always watched with my mom because reflecting on those shows and drawing from them was what helped me depict this. It was gut wrenching but I promise things do not stay like this for long. Madeline's fate is not sealed yet. Leave a review and chapter four will be up soon!

-lovelylavenderlady