Scarlett’s POV

   The man I call Uncle Mike put me high in a tree. He told me we were playing hide and seek and to be extra quiet.

   “I’ll be right back for you, Scarlett. Do not get down, no matter what you hear or see.” I watched as he climbed down and ran back towards where we left my mom. I clung onto the branches around me and my stuffed panda, Pandi, staying as silent as a church mouse.

*BOOM*

   A gigantic cloud of black smoke, resembling the monsters under my bed, arose high out of the tree line. I searched for my mama; I knew she would be coming to get me down anytime now. Sounds of leaves crunching, like someone was running, became louder and got closer. Mama? I watched Uncle Mike running below me. A scary bald man with menacing dark eyes was chasing him. He had red falling from his face. Sirens were ringing in the distance.

*BANG BANG, BANG BANG*

   “Little girl!” The voice of a monster yelled for me. But I listened to Uncle Mike and didn’t make a sound. I was the best at hide and seek.

***

   I shot up off the cold, hard ground. It was just a dream, but it felt like a memory from the day my mom died. The man’s voice was the same as the one who brought me food when I got here. Could it be?

   The disgustingly bright lights switched on again, burning my eyes. The lighting was always extreme, either profound darkness or blinding brightness. I don’t know how long I have been in this prison; if it has been hours or days, if it was daylight or night. Every second I was awake, I just prayed Mason was alive and to be out of this hell.

   “Hello again, Scarlett.” The Russian man entered the room again. This time, I looked at him. Evil lived behind his dark gray eyes. He wore a black fitted suit, showing his round frame, and freshly shined shoes. The bald man was aging, skin sagging with large jowls. A large pink scar adorned half his face, from his ear to his nose. “I’m afraid we didn’t get off on the right foot.” His menacing voice slowed and low. “Let me introduce myself. My name is Viktor Volkov. I know your father very well. And you see, he has something of mine.” He rubbed his fat fingers together, pacing around me. I made sure not to take my eyes off him for a second. “I figure, eye for an eye, tit for tat. Now I have something of his.” His laugh made my gut churn.

   “I have nothing to do with any of this.” I finally spoke up. “Just let me go, please.”

   He laughed again. “Not until I get what I want.” A loud knock on the metal door startled me. “Come in.” Viktor spoke proudly. “You’ve met my son, Alexi.” He motioned to the door. My eyes darted to the person walking in. No. It couldn’t be.

   “Hello, Scar.” I wanted to punch that smirk right off his face. “Nice to see you again.” It was Luca.

   “I can’t say the same.” I finally stood, watching both the men standing on each side of me. “Last time I saw you, I almost killed you.”

   His chuckle mocking me. “But you’re all alone now.” He got closer, breathing in my scent.

   “Enough, Alexi.” Viktor demanded. “You’ll have your chance later.” Alexi backed up, his eyes burning through my body. An evil grin crossed his face. “Get the other’s, we need to get a hold of her father.”

   Alexi exited the room, returning promptly with several large, burly men. They carried an old brick type phone, camcorder, and a chair. “Sit.” Viktor commanded me.

   “I’d rather not.” I was worried.

   “Fine.” Viktor’s voice was powerful. “Men.” He looked at the other men. I was instantaneously grabbed and shoved down into the chair. I tried to resist, but the power of the six large men outweighed me. The thick rope burned my wrists and ankles, tying me down to the wooden chair. “Let’s get something straight right now, Scarlett. You do as I say, or you will make this awfully hard on yourself. You will regret disobeying my orders.” His breath was hot on my face as he towered over me.

   I stayed silent, holding back any emotion, reminding myself to remain strong. I know Mason is on his way. He must be. One man picked up the phone and dialed.

   “Hello?” It was my father on the line.

   “David. Long time no see.” Viktor’s voice was bitter. “Are you missing something?”

   “Viktor. Let her go now.” My father was angry. I could tell he was holding back his rage.

   “Now, now. You have something of mine. Something that was stolen from me. Give it back and I will return your little girl. Safe and sound.”

   “You know I can’t do that, Viktor.” My father pleaded.

   Viktor nodded to a man. I watched vulnerably as he approached me; the slap was audible; my cheek was on fire. I tried my best to bite my tongue. I couldn’t give them that satisfaction.

   “Talk some sense into your father.” Viktor placed the phone next to my face.

   “Get away from me.” I spit on his freshly shined leather shoes.

   “Feisty one.” He looked at the men in the room, wiping off his shoe and chuckling. “Have it your way.” He took the phone back. “Listen to this, David.”

   All six men surrounded me, taking turns punching, kicking, slapping. A copper taste filled my mouth, my eyes shut tight. Every inch of my body was taking a beating. My ribs popped; every single breath I took felt like fire coursing through my insides. Ice rushed through my body as the chair hit the ground, my head crashing into the concrete. My entire body was at the mercy of the relentless kicks and stomps that left me feeling defenseless and vulnerable. My arms rendered useless by the tight restraints. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. My cries and screams betrayed me, begging them to stop.

   “Enough.” Viktor finally spoke. The men backed away. “The longer it takes for me to get what belongs to me, the less chance you have of ever seeing your precious daughter alive.” He hung up the phone.

   One by one, they left the room, leaving me tied to the chair, lying on the ground. I lay on the cold, blood-soaked concrete. It hurt to breathe. I couldn’t move, still tied to the chair. Even if I wasn’t, I wouldn’t be able to move my body out of pure agony. My eyes fixated on the red spots that sat around me. Eventually passing out from the pain.

   I don’t know how much time had passed when I heard the metal door open. Footsteps approaching. I watched as a familiar pair of expensive sneakers and pressed pants stood in front of me. The man I knew as Luca squatted down to my level; a vile grin sat upon his once gorgeous face as he held a knife in his hand. “You’re much hotter like this. Too bad I have to untie you.”

   “Fuck you.” I had to force the words out.

   He held the knife to my throat. “One last time couldn’t hurt.” He delicately traced the blade down my throat, between my breasts, to my inner thigh. “I hope you had fun with that babysitter of yours, but I can’t have him being the last one to touch you.” He finally cut the ropes. My body fell to the ground, too weak to stand. "It will have to be quick, though." Alexi dragged me away from the chair and the blood, tossing me on my back. I tried fighting him off. Every movement propelled pure pain through every inch of my body. His grubby hands pulling my shorts off, then holding my arms down, his cold teeth digging into my neck. Fear filled my chest, tightening my lungs, feeling like I couldn’t breathe.  

   “Get off!” I cried. Every word I had to push through the pain. He continued to feel me up, unbuttoning his pants and trying to remove them.

*Boom. Boom. Boom. *