Kidnapping

Amy struggled to breathe.  There was a hand clasped over her mouth and another wrapped tight around her waist.  She was being carried toward a big black SUV parked next to the curb.  She kicked and tried to wiggle free, but the arm around her waist only held her tighter. 

She really needed to breathe.  Her heart was racing and tears streamed down her face.  She tried to scream against the hand, but only a muffled sound came out.

“Shhh,” the man hissed in her ear. 

The door to the SUV swung open and the man threw her inside where another man grabbed her and covered her mouth again.  Her whole body was shaking. 

The SUV peeled away from the curb.  She was buckled in between the two men.  They both wore ski masks.  The driver did not have anything on his face, but he wouldn’t’ look at her so she didn’t know what he looked like.  She was sobbing now.

The man who had carried her to the car growled at her to shut up, but the other man smoothed her hair and talked gently to her.

“Amy, I need you to stop crying.”

She wiped her eyes and tried to stop crying until all that was left were the gasps and shudders left over from a hard cry.  “How do you know my name,” she asked between gasps.

“Amy we are not going to hurt you.  We are friends.”

“You are not my friends.  Mommy said strangers are dangerous.”

“Amy, we are not strangers.”

“Then who are you.  Take off your mask and let me see.”

The angry man chuckled.  “Smart kid.”

“Amy,” the nicer man said taking her hand.  “We are not strangers.  We are friends of your father.  We are taking you to him.”

“But I don’t want to see Daddy.  I want mommy.”

“You can go back to your mommy.  Your daddy just wants to see you for a little bit.  He has a surprise for you.”

Amy bit her lip.  She hadn’t seen Daddy in two years.  Mommy had said they would never see him again.  Amy had almost started to believe that was true.

“I want to go home.  Tell Daddy I didn’t want to see him.”

“But he’s your daddy.  Every little girl loves their daddy.”

“Well, I don’t.  Please turn around and take me home.”

“Can’t do that, little girl,” the mean man said.  “Your daddy wants to see you, whether you want to see him or not.”

Amy forced herself not to cry.  Mommy wouldn’t cry.  She had never cried in front of Daddy.  Even when he hit her.  She would just bite her lip and glare at him. Amy glared at the back of the driver’s head.

For two years they had been happy.  She was going to a new school, she had new friends, and Mommy had a new job.  Mommy helped her with her homework and they ordered pizza and watched movies every Friday.  Mommy smiled now, and Amy wasn’t afraid of the dark.

But now it was all changing as quickly as it had two years ago when they snuck out of Daddy’s house at three a.m.  She could not stop the tears now.  She wiped them away with an angry hand as she remembered that night, dark and cold.  Mommy hadn’t turned on the car, just kind of let it roll back down the driveway.  She had been bundled up in the front seat.  It was her first time up front.  Mommy had been quiet.  When they were all the way out in the street, Mommy turned on the car.  They had driven all night and most of the next day to Aunt Beth’s house.  Then they took a very long bus ride all the way to Arizona.

“Are you taking me back to Virginia?”

“No.  Your Daddy is here.  He’s come a long way to find you.”

The SUV was slowing down.  Looking out the window, Amy realized they were in a parking lot.  There was only one other car there.  The SUV stopped and the nicer man opened his door.  “Come on,” he said gently pulling her out after him.

A man got out of the other car.  In the dark, it was hard to make out his face, but Amy remembered his shape outlined against her nightlight.  She shivered.

“Hello, Amy,” Daddy said.  “I’ve missed you.”

Amy was too frightened to reply.  She wanted her Mommy.

Daddy put a large hand on her shoulder and squeezed.  “Did you miss me, honey?”

Amy thought about running, but his hand tightened on her shoulder.

“Amy, I asked you a question.  Did you miss me?”

She nodded, it was all she could manage.

“Good.  Now let’s go home.”

“Please, I want to see my Mommy.”

Daddy ignored her and helped her get into the car.  As he buckled her in, his hand trailed across her chest.  She shivered again.  He kissed her on the forehead like he used to.

“You are mine now,” he said.  He closed the door and the car beeped as he locked it.  He turned back to the kidnappers.