Mary remembered the cake her mother baked yesterday and started to skip with anticipation, when something jerked her backward and covered her mouth.

A voice whispered close to her ear, “Make a sound and your mother will die. She’s in my van, and any noise from you will make my friend slice her throat.”

Too many emotions hit Mary at once, and a small whimper escaped, but she refused to scream. She’d do anything to protect her mom, and maybe if the men kept them together, her mom could save them.

She let him pull her into the van and cover her eyes, but immediately she knew she’d made a mistake…she didn’t smell her mother’s strong, flowery perfume. The door slammed shut, and the smelly man put something sharp around her throat like a collar, warning her not to make a sound. A moment later she heard him swear and the side door that had just slammed shut opened so fast she almost fell out, having scooted back against it, trying to get as far from the man as possible.

Rough hands grabbed her and yanked her out and she had an impression of something heavy leaping past her.

Dock had tightened the spiked collar around the girl’s small, creamy neck with the spikes inside, to prevent her from trying to run. The leash held loose in his fist. He’d anchor her to the steel bolt, then go to the abandoned barn he’d found. Licking his lips and sweating, his attention on the fun awaiting him, he didn’t see the blonde woman until just before she yanked the door open. He lunged for the door when the woman yanked the kid out and a very large man dove through it, tackling him.

The hulk atop him grunted, “Go.” The woman slammed the door shut as someone else climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine.

Everything happened so fast, Dock couldn’t even fight being slammed to the floor and cuffed until he felt the warmth spreading beneath him. The powerful odor of urine filled the van as Dock tried to move.

“Well Johnny, I’d say your luck just ran out. Shut up, lie still and maybe you’ll live to see another day.” Said a voice from the front.

Rebecca Mercer

@Saphire589

Texas

Rebecca Mercer has not written a story.