Abby took a deep breath, smiling at Kai. Her smile didn't quite reach her eyes, however. "Do you mind if I tell you what happened to me? I feel like I need to get it out." She twisted her fingers together again. 

Kai shook his head, his own smile fading. "I don't mind." 

Abby smiled again. "About a week ago, I was living normally with my family. You know, school, grades, friends, living with a serious older brother, all the like. When I came home from school Tuesday, I could hear voices in the house. Since my dad was home, I figured my older brother Chase had some friends over.

"When I got in the house, there were men in those suit things in the living room. They didn't have guns pointed at anyone, but they did have rifles. The man standing in the middle of the room was Thorn, but I didn't know that yet. 

"My dad saw me come in and stood up. He had been sitting on the couch, facing the man with an angry attitude. He told me to go straight to my room, and lock myself in. I was super confused at his point, but I did what he said - at first. I went down the hall, but stayed there. I HAD to know what was going on. 

"My mom, who was lying on the couch previously, was sitting up, too. She asked the men impatiently what they wanted, and they didn't answer. 

"That's when my brother ran out there and demanded that they leave and not hurt anyone. 

"Thorn smirked at my brother and advanced toward him. My dad jumped to stop him, of course, but three of the other men held him down. My mom stayed sitting down, but she was yelling warnings.

"My dad tried to stop the men from grabbing Chase, but Thorn was too quick. I think my dad and this 'Thorn' guy knew each other, but I don't know how. 

"Thorn laughed at my dad and shook Chase, telling Dad that my brother was what he wanted. He said that he didn't want anyone else, then turned to the men and ordered them to kill my parents.

"Chase, of course, wouldn't have it. He cried out and punched Thorn in the face. That made Thorn angry, and he slapped Chase hard enough to knock him out. Thorn slung him over his shoulder and smiled wickedly at my parents. 'And for that,' he told them, 'I'll be taking your girl, too.' 

"I tried to flee, but a man grabbed me and pulled me out. I felt horrible for not doing what Dad said. I would have been killed if I hadn't, however, because right after that, the three men holding my dad fired their guns. I didn't see the rest of it. Thorn dragged my brother and I out, then knocked me out too. 

"I haven't seen my brother anywhere since then," Abby finished, tears brimming in her eyes once more.

Kai felt compelled to hug the poor girl, but he couldn't. "Pretend I just hugged you, okay?" The moment he said it, he regretted it. His face turned red and he looked away. If that wasn't the definition of awkward, he didn't know what was.

Abby giggled. "Okay. Pretend I accepted the hug gratefully." She wiped her eyes. "So, yeah. That's how I got here. I don't know why Thorn brought me here if my parents aren't alive to feel bad about it..." 

Kai reached his hand through the bars and touched hers. "Well, we might not know that. You're dad seemed fierce, just from that story. And my dad didn't come home from work, so they could still be alive." 

Abby perked up like a dog that smelled a treat. "Really? You think so?" 

Kai nodded, smiling at her. Her blue eyes brimmed with tears again, and she squeezed his fingers. 

"Thank you, Kai," she said kindly. "I wish I could have met you before and had a normal life of fun with you." 

Kai agreed with a nod. "Couldn't have said it better." 

Abby took a deep breath. "You've made me really confident. Thank you. Maybe one day, when we're strong and old enough, we could get out of here. We could find our parents." She closed her eyes, as though imagining it, and smiled at what she'd imagined. 

Kai did the same, and liked what he saw. 

~

Water was given to Kai and Abby later that day, by the nervous, strange guard. He slipped his hand through the bars, then tossed a water bottle at them. Under the visor, neither of the kids could see his expression. He lingered there, staring at Abby for a little, then walked off with his shoulders slumped. 

"He totally likes you," Kai said, after taking a gulp of water. "Or something related to that. Did you see how upset he was when he saw you like that? With that wound on your leg?" He drank another swig of water gratefully.

Abby was fighting to open the bottle. "Kai! He doesn't like me. I'm sure of it. He probably just doesn't like his job, but has to do it, otherwise he gets beat or dies." Finally, she opened her bottle and drank slowly. 

Kai drank faster than she did, but she soon stopped him. 

"Slow down," she warned. "You'll get yourself sick." She continued to drink her water. 

Kai did as told, but finished it before Abby did. He hadn't realized he was that thirsty, and that was very refreshing. "What are you, a doctor?" he joked after tossing his bottle aside. 

"My dad was," she replied. "I learned some stuff from him, just in case mom or I had an attack and he wasn't there. I would know what to do." She coughed slightly before taking another drink, then she put it aside. "I'm saving mine. You probably should have done the same." 

Kai felt embarrassed. He'd let a girl outsmart him, and he'd done something foolish. She was right. He cursed himself and looked away. Outsmarted. By a girl. 

~

It was dark. Why was it dark? Was it night? Where was he? He couldn't see anything. He was standing in a void of darkness. There was nothing around him. He could see himself, but there was nothing else. 

"Kill her," a voice suddenly boomed all around him, followed by a loud gunshot. Kai felt a scream gurgle up his throat and he quickly covered his ears with his hands. But it did nothing. After the gunshot came a cackling laugh that made Kai collapse to his knees in fright. He still had his hands over his ears, and was pushing so hard his head was beginning to pound. 

"Don't kill her!" his own voice cried, but not from his mouth. It echoed all the way around the dark void, and Kai screamed. It bled through his hands and pierced his ears. He jumped at his own wail. 

"It's too late," another voice said, one that Kai recognized. It was his father, Falte. Hadn't he been at work? "NO!" A loud crash was heard. 

Kai screamed again, his heart aching. What was going on? Why was this happening to him? He suddenly tipped over and was curled in a ball on his side, sobs threatening to escape his throat. He let them. He sobbed so loudly that it echoed around the void as well. 

"This won't hurt," Thorn's voice taunted. "Much." There was a loud crash again, then a scream that again was his own, but didn't come from Kai's mouth. 

Kai sat up as the crash was heard again. He brought his hands away from his ears and screamed his terror and agony at Thorn, wherever he was. 

Suddenly, a bright light flashed in front of his eyes and there was something above him. It was a face, bigger than Kai himself. It was Thorn's, with a horrible grin cracking through the darkness like a cut. Sharp, bloody teeth flashed threateningly at Kai, who screamed again and scrambled backward. 

"There is no escape, Pet!" Thorn boomed, then his face disappeared. 

Kai collapsed with relief, but couldn't calm his beating heart. 

"Kai! Are you in here somewhere?!" Falte's voice cried, followed by a sob. "Where are you!!" 

Kai collapsed into sobs again, then a bright light flashed before his eyes again, blinding him. 

~

Fourth chapter. 

Wow. 

My hands hurt. 

I've been sitting too long.

I like this story plot. I'm going to start chappy five, too. 

Enjoy!! 

Peace!!~~