I awoke randomly with a jump. It took a few seconds to remember what happened and where I was, but it soon came flooding back. The dark room I had been in was now lit up. Right above me was a hole, covered in a metal grate that let the natural light seep in.

I felt my body move. This sent a wave of excitement and happiness to my brain.

I can move again!

The first things I did were wiggle my toes and fingers, then I bent my legs. My legs were sore from being sat on all night, but sore legs were the least of my problems. I looked up and saw my wrists were shackled in metal cuffs, so tight to my wrists that they rubbed the skin raw. They were red, puffy and swollen. I looked beyond the cuffs and followed the chain. It was connected to a bolt near the ceiling, way to high to reach. The cuffs were locked with a key, like those play handcuffs you got from the store for a few dollars.

I tugged at the chains to see if the bolt was loose, but it didn't budge. The only thing i accomplished was making my wrists hurt more. I gave up trying to move the bolt and noticed my throat was like a desert. I tried everything I could to make saliva. I tried thinking of my favorite food, thinking of drinking some ice cold lemonade, anything. It worked somewhat, giving me a bit to swallow, but that soon stopped.

I looked around, remembering the familiar outlines I saw in the dark. There were tables, chairs, chains and even more tools down here. Then I remembered the big shadow. I glanced to the corner and gasped at what I saw. Shelby hung by her arms in chains like I was, except she didn't look so good. I stood up, my bare feet dug into the damp dirt floor.

When did he take my shoes?!

"Shel-" my throat was too dry to continue. I swallowed more saliva and tried again, "Shelby?" I whispered. I got no response. She was alive, though barely. I saw her chest rise and lower with her shallow breaths.

Her clothes were a mess. She was in her white night gown, the one she wore to bed. It was covered in dirt and blood. Her head held limply off her shoulders, causing her greasy, knotted hair to fall over her face. The shackles dug into her skin and from here I saw the dried blood that ran down her arms from her wrists.

"Shelby!" I whispered louder, shaking the chains for more effect. It started to work, she started to stir ever so slightly, like she was asleep. "Shelby, it's me, Alice." I struggled against my bounds, sticking my neck out as far as I could to have my voice reach her.

"A-A-Alice?" She stuttered, lifting her heavy head and trying to look through her hair. "What...are you doing in here?" She softly found the words she wanted.

"I was caught breaking in... Never mind that, what did they do to you? Are you okay?!" I was worried about what they did to her, but I was being selfish. I wanted to know in case they did it to me.

"They....he...Henry likes to...hurt me...he tortures me for fun..." She was speaking so softly, I had to strain my ears just to hear.

"What do you mean 'torture you'? What does he do?" I was getting scared. What did these monsters do?

I heard soft whimpering coming from Shelby. "I'm sorry... I should have warned you that day..." She cried.

She meant the day her and I first met, when she told me about the phone. I don't blame her for not telling me, not one bit.

"Don't worry about that. Let's focus on getting out of here." I said looking around at my surroundings. My survival side kicked in, but I couldn't find anything. These chains were holding me back from any possible escape.

Shelby's voice rose, like she was angry, "There is no escaping here! We only get to leave when he gets bored. Do you understand?" She started to cry again.

The other kids! That's why they suddenly appeared. They were held down here and he got bored!

"Don't think like that, Shelb's. There's always a loop hole somewhere, right?" I tried to reassure her, my only friend in the whole world.

"None of us are allowed to leave. We can't. No one has, no one ever will." Shelby sounded defeated. Her voice lowered back to its soft state and her head hung low.

That piece of paper on the desk, and the news article!

"That's not true! There was one! I saw it in their room. There was a news article about a girl who ran away from a foster family in this area and claimed they were bad, but no evidence was found so she was deemed crazy..." I wanted to sound positive, but the way that reassurance ended, ruined the whole thing.

This lit a spark in Shelby though. Her head lifted and she shook her hair from her eyes. "Really?"

Her eyes glistened in the light from the hole above her. I had given her hope, just enough for her to raise her head and hold eye contact.

"Yes, really. I wouldn't lie to you. I promise, we'll get out of here somehow." These were dull promises I was giving her. I felt terrible, but I needed to keep her hope alive so she didn't give up.

There has to be a way out of here...

Just then I heard a door shut and heavy footsteps from down the dirt corridor. Shelby's eyes went wide as she spoke in a low whisper, "He's coming! Don't do anything to make him mad... He'll make you regret it." She was serious. Her face was that of terror. She knew first hand the terror he brought with him.

The sound of the hatch opening echoed in our little underground room. Henry emerged from the dark hallway, carrying a bucket.

"Good morning, my pets." His laugh sounded like a clown, "this here?" He set the bucket down at my feet, "is for you to piss in. Once a day I'll dump it out, so try not to overfill it." He walked over and grabbed Shelby's. He went back to the hatch then return a few minutes later and replaced it.

"It's your lucky day, Alice." He said, marching over to me. My chains loosened around my wrists, "Since it's your birthday, that Mrs. Morrison is coming by to see you. It's a shame you'll be sick and sleeping when she gets here." He cackled, seemingly thinking he was funny.

When I felt both my hands free, I kicked him as hard as I could, he stumbled to the side as I ran for the hatch. Before I made it to the stairs, a strong hand whirled me around and then I saw black. He hit me with a heavy punch to the face, knocking me to the ground. I was only blacked out for a few seconds. When I came to, I was on the floor, dirt in my eyes and on my teeth, my tongue and on the roof of my mouth. Henry's big hand wrapped itself in the back of my hair and pulled me up.

I cried and screamed in pain. "LET ME GO!" I tried hitting him. I wanted out. I wanted Mrs. Morrison to save me from these monsters.

I felt a pain in my leg, another needle. I continued to fight against him, but it only quickened the effect. Soon I was unable to move my body. I was paralyzed again. Henry picked me up and carried me out of the shed and into the house.

"This was an extra dosage, you'll be unable to move, speak or do anything all night. As if you are in a deep sleep." Henry laughed as he flung me onto his shoulder and carried me up the stairs.

I watched the familiar floorboards pass beneath me as I was perched on his shoulder. We came to my room and he threw me on the bed, covered me up and made sure I looked like I was sleeping. He faced me away from the door so my eyes weren't showing. I heard him leave and shut the door. Then everything was terrifyingly quiet.

I flicked my eyes back and forth, seeing only the plain white wallpaper that covered the wall. Time passed by slowly, every second made the fear sink in deeper.

I wanted to move, but I couldn't.
I wanted to yell for help, but I couldn't.
I wanted to cry, but I couldn't.

The only thing I could do, was stare at the white abyss set before me.

Please...just move. Do something! Please...

The clanging of pans sounded from down in the kitchen, and Henry's dreadfully heavy footsteps carried throughout the house. Then suddenly, there was a distant knock.

I heard voices saying inaudible things, but I recognized them. Betty, Henry and Mrs. Morrison. My heartbeat quickened, and my pulse rushed to my ears.

HERE! MRS. MORRISON, I'M UP HERE! THESE PEOPLE ARE CRAZY! PLEASE, HELP ME.

I shouted everything I wanted to say inside my head. Praying that maybe I had secret telepathy and it'd reach her. For a second, I thought it worked because I heard several footsteps coming up the stairs. I got excited and scared at the same time.

What will they do to her if she finds out...

The room door opened, plastering their shadows against the white wall. I watched them stand there a bit before. Then one, who I learned was Mrs. Morrison, walked my way.

"Alice? Alice Honey, it's me, Mrs. Morrison." Her calm voice soothed me.

I'm here! Turn me over and see my eyes! Please!!

I watched her shadow perform a story on the wall. It sat behind my shadow and her hand distorted as it lifted and rested on my shoulder.

Yes, yes, yes! Flip me over! Shake me! Notice something isn't right, I'm begging you!

"Alice, dear?" Her voice was close to my ear. Still I couldn't move my body.

"She's not really feeling well, she went to bed some time ago." Betty's voice was in a faked concerned tone.

"Aw, poor thing." Mrs. Morrison got close to my ear and whispered, "Happy Birthday, Alice. Get well soon."

No no no! Please, Mrs. Morrison! Please, God, don't let her leave...

I don't normally pray, but I desperately needed extra help here. I felt my inner self crying as I saw Mrs. Morrison getting up. She gave me a kiss on the head and whispered "Goodnight" in my ear. I watched their shadows be eaten by that of the door. Once again, I was left by myself, with nothing but a white wall.

Don't go... Please, come back... Come back...

My vision blurred, indicating I was crying. I couldn't feel it, but my tears were soaking my pillow. I never cry, but lately it's become a common thing.

It was awhile before I heard anything again, but when I did, it was Henry's steps entering my room. He rolled me over and stared at my face.

"I bet you thought you were gonna get saved, didn't ya?" He said, cracking a grin and picking me up, "Well, you was wrong." He hooted in laughter.

He's just trying to break my spirit. Don't let him win.

He took me back to the torture room and chained me up again. My head sagged and I had to stare at the floor. The silence came back after he left. Shelby must be sleeping, so that means I was alone.

Mrs. Morrison can't help, Shelby can't help, the other kids can't help...
I'm on my own.