Chapter 255

Lucy's POV

This room is cold and smells like seawater. I'm tied to a hard chair,the ropes hurting my wrists and ankles. There's a blindfold over my eyes and tape on my mouth making it hard to breathe. I can hear Brian quietly crying next to me, moving around like he's trying to break free.

I try not to cry. Daddy always says I need to be brave. But I'm so scared,like the cold seawater seeping through the cracks in the walls.

Just hours ago, it was supposed to be a normal school pickup. After playing on the swings with Penny, I was heading back to the waiting area when Sarah Johnson appeared. I recognized her-Max's mom whom I'd seen at school a few times, though we'd never spoken. Today she wore bright clothes and smelled too strongly of perfume.

"Lucy, darling," Sarah smiled at me, "your uncle Howard sent me to pick you up. Annie had an emergency and couldn't make it."

I became alert immediately. Daddy had told me never to go with strangers,even adults I knew, unless he told me beforehand. I shook my head and stepped back.

"Don't be like that, dear," Sarah's voice became less friendly, "your mom had a little accident, and Howard is at the hospital. He asked me to bring you to them."

This scared me, but I still shook my head, not wanting to go with her.Sarah suddenly grabbed my wrist, hurting me.

"Brian is waiting in the car," Sarah whispered, "he wants to see you.Says

he has something for you."

I hesitated. Once. Brian had helped me. So I trusted him a little.

Sarah pulled me toward the parking lot. I wanted to scream, but there were no teachers I knew around. In the parking lot, I saw Brian sitting in the back seat. looking confused and frightened too. His eyes were wide,as if he'd also been tricked.

Sarah gave us candy, told us to sit quietly, then drove away from school.When Brian asked where she was taking us, she just smiled coldly. Then I remember her driving us to this place by the sea, tying us up, and bringing us to this cabin that smells like saltwater.

I regret following Sarah, thinking of Mommy Annie's warm smile this morning when she kissed my forehead and promised to pick me up on time. I was excited to show Annie my new drawing-of Daddy, Mommy,and me standing in front of our house. That picture is still in my backpack,which Sarah threw in the corner of the room.

I hear footsteps approaching and freeze. The door creaks open, and I hear another child's breathing-Max, Sarah's son. I've seen him at school a few times, a chubby boy who often bullies others. Now he's carrying what sounds like a heavy flashlight, walking around us.

"Mom says I have to watch you," Max says proudly, "she says you two are bad kids."

"Mmph!" Brian tries to speak through the tape, shaking his head hard.

I stay still, listening carefully. I can hear waves hitting the pier outside and foghorns in the distance. The lighthouse beam occasionally shines through the small window, and I can sense its flashing light even through my

blindfold.

The front door creaks, and I hear heavy footsteps. My heart races-is it Daddy coming to rescue me?

"Is anyone here?" a man I don't recognize calls out, his voice deep and gruff.

I try to make noise behind the tape. The footsteps get closer until finally,our room door opens.

"Dad!" Max exclaims happily.

My hope vanishes instantly. If this man is Max's dad, is he a bad person too?

"Don't move," Sarah's voice suddenly comes from behind the man. She sounds scary,nothing like when she talks sweetly to Max. "Max, step back."

Max sounds confused: "Mom, what's going on?"

"Nothing, sweetie," Sarah's voice immediately softens, "this is just a game adults play. Go sit over there like a good boy."

Through my blindfold, I can't see what's happening, but I feel the tension in the room. The man-Robert, I learn later-whispers something in shock,too quiet for me to hear clearly.

I guess this man is Max's dad, but he seems surprised by what Sarah has done. Maybe he's not bad? Maybe he can help us?

I hear them leave the room and close the door. Through the door, I can only make out muffled arguments but can't understand what they're

saying.

After the adults leave. I feel Brian struggling harder. Max walks around us,his flashlight beam dancing on the walls.

"My mom says your mom stole your dad from her," Max tells me,speaking like he's reciting something but also confused, "she says your mom is a bad person."

I shake my head hard. How can I tell him Annie is a good person who reads me stories every night and helped me not be afraid to speak? Annie never makes me feel unloved. I want to say something to Max, but I'm too scared to speak, my throat feeling blocked. I look toward Brian,hoping he can explain.

Brian manages to pull the tape from his mouth a little. "Max," he gasps,his voice raspy, "this is wrong. You know this is wrong. We're just kids-we didn't do anything wrong."

"Shut up!" Max threatens, waving the flashlight, "Mom said to watch you,not talk to you."

"Your parents are fighting," Brian continues, his voice getting louder,"but that's not our fault. Lucy is only five. Do you think it's right to tie her up?"

Max's footsteps pause. "Mom says it's just temporary. Until she fixes things.

I feel tears streaming down under my blindfold. I miss Mommy Annie and Daddy Howard so much. I just want to go home.

Suddenly there's a loud crash outside, followed by hurried footsteps and louder arguing. Max is startled, stepping back with wide eyes.

"Max, don't be scared," Brian says softly, "listen to me. Your parents fighting has nothing to do with us. That's grown-up stuff. But we're innocent. We're just children."

"Brian's right." I suddenly speak, my voice barely audible, "we didn't do anything wrong. Please help us."

Max paces, seeming to consider a difficult question. "But Mom will be angry. She told me I had to watch you."

"Max," Brian says patiently, "think about it. Do you really think tying us up is right? Would you be scared if someone tied you up?"

Max stops, biting his lip. After thinking for a long time,he finally whispers:"Okay."

He carefully approaches me and starts untying the ropes around my wrists."Don't tell my mom I let you go," he pleads.

When I'm free, I immediately remove my blindfold and rub my sore wrists.I quickly help Brian untie his ropes.

"What do we do now?" Max asks nervously, constantly looking at the door.Outside, it's quiet now, which is even more frightening.

"We need to see what's happening out there," Brian whispers, "maybe your dad can help us."

The three of us tiptoe toward the door. Brian leads, I follow behind him.and Max hesitantly comes last.

"Be careful," I warn quietly, my small hand clutching Brian's sleeve tightly.

Just as Brian reaches out to turn the doorknob, a deafening sound breaks

the silence:

BANG!

I clutch Brian's arm tightly, and Max gasps in terror. The three of us freeze in the darkness,too frightened to move.