I wake up to a pain spreading across my face. The type that stings. I groan as my heavy eyes force themselves to open. Just as I open them, I get yanked out of the vehicle and forced to stand on my own two feet. I use my free hand to wipe away the sleep from my eyes to get a better view of the world in front of me.

It takes me too long to realise where exactly it is that I am, why exactly I am here and what exactly led up to this point. My heart shatters into a million pieces as I stare directly at the entrance of the warehouse. The memories rush back and reality hit me like a ton of bricks. I'm back at my very own personal hell and I have a feeling that this nightmare will never end.

We watch so many movies and read so many novels about teenagers getting kidnapped, families being held hostage, banks being robbed, terrorists attacking innocent civilians and so on. Yet we never, not even for a split second, think that one day we'll be the ones caught up in one of those situations. We never picture our lives facing such a drastic fate, yet here I am and in my position could be hundreds more.

Wait, who the hell smacked me?

I turn my head to face my abuser and know beforehand that it can only be Steven. Since arriving here, he has been the only one with the daring audacity to lay a finger on me. But boy was I wrong. I turn my head only to face a nasty scowl of a beast. A face that holds so much anger, if he were to speak right now, flames would exit and I'd be burnt to a crisp.

I look directly into Marcus's eyes for a split second before darting my eyes to the ground. "No. Don't look away. Look at me while I tell you the following oh so very clearly..." he speaks up, but I refuse to look into his dangerous eyes that scream murder. "I said look at me!" And with that he grabs at both of my arms, rotating me directly in front of him and all but presses my body up against his.

I try to pull away, but his hold on me is too strong. He keeps me firmly pressed against his chest and I squirm ever so uncomfortably. "You thought you could escape huh? You thought you'd get away that easily? Well, you were damn wrong! No one ever escapes. No one ever goes back home. No one ever sees their families again and I'll be damned to allow you to be the first." Hearing the word family rolling off of his vaporous tongue, my eyes promptly shoot up into his.

"If you thought you were special think again. The life you once knew is gone now. Stop holding onto it," he says as his fingers wrap tighter around my bruised arms and he subconsciously nears me, his neutral breath hitting my face.

"I will NEVER stop holding onto it. It's my life, and I won't let you take it away from me! You will NEVER make me forget or let go about my family or friends. I will fight each and everyday until I get back to them!" I yell in his face, thinking he would move back. Instead he stays in the exact same position the entire time. The only thing that changed is his nails now digging into my skin.

At this point in time, I couldn't care less that he's their leader, or that he literally scares the shit out of me. I don't care that his authoritative position could crush me at any given time. I'm livid and fed up and have to speak my mind.

"So this is the unruly act Steven was telling me about," he states calmly while slowly moving his face away from mine. "Seems this flame really didn't get enough water to put it out." My eyes widen as I realize that he's talking about my near death experience. 

"Guess we'll have to fix your behavior sooner than later. I can't afford you screwing up any further." He turns and drags me off into the building, leaving the passenger door wide open.

Even though I know that there's no possible way of getting out of his grasp, I still try to put up a fight using every attack skill I know. From pushing and pulling to kicking and punching, even trying to bite him just to get away. But just like ever bag of rocks in this place, he's too damn strong and not once does he loosen his grip on me.

As we enter and walk pass the little rooms towards the doors on the other end of the big room, someone walks through. As soon as Peggy's eyes latch onto me, it widens and fills with tears, but she pushes them back. Marcus continues to walk, dragging me along and ignores Peggy's presence.

"S-sir. Where are you taking her to?" She shakenly questions as she nears us. I guess she must be worried about what he'll do to me. Hell, I'm nervous about whatever it is that he'll do to me.

"Basement." Is all Marcus says as he continues walking pass her. Her eyes never leave mine and I can't bring myself not to look back at her. I silently plead for her to help me even though I know that there's nothing she could do. She stares back at me with remorseful eyes, silently apologising.

As we reach the door I snap my head forward as Marcus pushes them open. He marches all the way to the basement with me reluctantly following, unable to get away.

During our quick-paced walk, I can't help but myself for all of this. For running away and getting caught in the first place. I feel stupid. Stupid that I wasted my chance at freedom. Stupid for not speaking enough when I had a chance to. Of all the things I could have told the officers when I entered. All the things I could have told the Sheriff when it was just me and him in the office. I wasted the perfect opportunity of returning back home.

Why didn't I tell them my full name, or where I was from? Or that I wasn't the only girl that was kidnapped. Why didn't I tell them the building I escaped from? Why did I allow Steven to kill the only person that believed me? Why did I ever think I could rely on law enforcement for help? Why did I stop running?... all these questions keep flooding my mind and I feel like kicking myself. I shouldn't be this idiotic.

Regret is the one emotion I can not cope with.

Once we make our way down the stairs, Marcus turns towards the room that Steven previously tortured me in. Bile started rising in the back of my throat.

Marcus let's one hand off of my arm to open the door. I use this as an opportunity to try to get away from him. Just as he turns the door open, using all my strength, I rip my arm out of his other hand and quickly turn to run. I've escaped once. I will do it again!

As I turn, I instantly regret it, because I manage to run straight into a wall that appears out of nowhere. I fall back, but don't hit the ground as Marcus surprisingly catches me. I open my eyes while rubbing the sore spot on my head, only to come face to face with Steven. "Always trying to escape. When are you going to learn your lesson huh?" Steven speaks down to me.

Marcus doesn't say anything, but rather pulls me into the middle of the room and slams me down onto the steel chair. I expected to get slapped again and tied to the chair with zip ties, except Marcus walks around to the other side of the table. Steven flicks the light on, then closes the door and joins him.

"Choose." Is all Marcus says and I scrunch up my face in confusion. Marcus notices this and indicates down to the table with a short glance before looking back up at me.

I look down for myself and see the exact same three items Steven had previously displayed to me. The dog bowl, the key, and the wash rag. The sight of the wash rag sends shivers down my spine and my insides curl up into a ball of defense as my breathing slightly changes.

"Choose or I choose for you," Steven speaks up while reaching his hand to his back pocket and I immediately glared at him. I remember what tactic he used last time to get me to pick an item. I'm just afraid that this time he actually does shoot me.

"And if I don't want to?" I ask, trying to sound brave except my voice comes out all funny. The fear easily detectable.

"You seem to forget that we know who you are," Marcus speaks up. I raise a brow at him as if asking if he's being serious. Of course, I know that they're aware of who I am. How else did they come to know my name?

"If we know who you are, that means we know where you are from. Meaning we know where you live. Meaning... we know who your family and friends are." At the sound of that my breath hitches and I bring my hand up over my heart and clench onto my chest.

"And if you want them to stay alive. You better pick one." He continues.

"You're lying! You know absolutely nothing about my family or friends! This is just some sick and twisted tactic of yours to get me to pick a stupid item and I refuse!" I shrill as I stand up and slam my hands onto the table. My insides combust at his threat of hurting the ones I love. I will do anything  it takes to protect them.

Marcus opens his mouth to yell back at me, but Steven unknowingly jumps in.

"Social media makes everything these days ten times easier and your accounts were simply bursting with information. Especially since you have the knack with adding tags and locations to your Instagram pictures," he says and I feel my backbone being carelessly ripped apart from me knowing what he is saying is true. I do tag and add locations to my posts.

Agh, why do they even allow those as options!

"Now choose or do you want Jessica or Lucas to find Nick floating in his swimming pool? A fatal case of suicide."  The fact that Steven knew their names and said it with such ease, as if he has memorized my entire history, makes me hate myself and him even more.

Instagram. An app to share and express your best moments with your family and friends at anytime, anywhere. Stay connected... NOWHERE does it warn the user. Incase of potentially getting kidnapped one day, refrain from adding tags and locations.

"Choose!" Marcus yells and I find myself just staring down at the three items.

He bangs his fist onto the desk getting agitated with my delay. The loud bang and trembling table beneath the palms of my hands snap me out of my daze. I blink a few times thinking hard about whether to choose the dog bowl or the key. The wash rag isn't an option anymore. I never want to experience that ever again.

"I swear if you don't-" Marcus yells and my ears can't take his nagging complaints anymore.

"The key." Is all I say in a mear whisper, but they hear me. As soon as he hears me he keeps quiet and a deafening silence fills the room. Being curious, I slowly raise my head at the two idiots.

"The key it is then." Steven says with an evil amusement tone. As soon as he's done speaking a smirk spreads across his face and I can't help but feel the antagonising pain of regret once again.

What the hell did I pick..