Kylie's phone rang across the silent room startling every one of them. Within a minute, a knock also came on the door and they all glance up at each other.

"Those might be the cops guarding us. Is everyone okay? Was anyone of you hurt?" Greg asks in panic touching his wife's face, hands, and body.

"We are fine, no one is hurt" Jay replied and gently collected the gun from Nicole's hands who was staring blankly at the gun. "Kylie, are you okay?"

"Ye...yes. I'm fine" she stuttered and Jay sighs in relief.

Greg walked to the door and opened it. He flashed the cops a smile. "We heard a gunshot, is it from your room? Are you guys okay? Is there someone in there that is threatening your life we need to know?" one of the cops asks trying to peep through the room to know what was going on.

"Yes, we are perfectly fine! The gunshot you heard isn't from our room. I guess it came from one of the rooms around here. You should check other rooms, thanks" Greg flashed them a smile and gave a slight bow before shutting the door closed.

"What is wrong with you guys? How can the three of you walk around with a gun that you've not been trained on??!!!" Greg scolded.

"It's not how you see it. We told you we were on our way to get trained on how to aim when her call came in. We couldn't just ignore her like that and go about getting trained that's why we had to come here first. Our instructor is even outside waiting on us" Brad explained.

"You guys should have just left the guns with him before you came up here to our room. You just scared the shit out of all of us!" he half-yells.

"It's the hospital calling" Kylie announces and all heads snap up in her direction.

"Pick it up then," Greg said.

"I'm scared, I'm scared it's bad news I don't want to hear" she replied quietly and stared down at her phone.

"Don't jynx it girl, pick it up" Nicole finally speaks out of her shock.

"Yes, please pick up right now so we'll know if it's an emergency that requires our presence," Hannah said beside her.

Kylie gulps and picked up the call. "Hello, Kylie speaking."

"There's an emergency ma'am, your mom was attacked and her condition has gotten critical again. Your attention is needed here right away" the feminine voice said and Kylie gave a shocking gasp.

Her phone fell off her hand and her mouth remained in a gape. Everyone in the room stared at her with furrowed brows wondering what has happened this time around.

"Kylie, Kylie what did the doctor say?" Greg asks standing right in front of her, but she wasn't seeing him right now, she was staring blankly at him.

"Talk to us Kylie, what happened? Is your mom okay?" Jay asks.

"Mom was attacked and her condition became more critical" Kylie answered weakly and flopped to the bed. The bad news hits every one of them sending them into an awkward silence.

Greg's phone rang and he immediately digs it out from his pocket and stared at the caller ID, "The cop Lady" he mumbles and his heartbeat throbbed faster than it was a few seconds ago. Hannah gazes up at him when she heard it was Alice calling.

"Go ahead and pick up," she said and Greg did immediately.

"Hello, you've got news for us?" he asks when he picked up.

"Yes, my squad and I found a hair clip along a road close to the woods of your daughter's apartment. Should I come over to your lodge or would you come to the station to identify if it belongs to your daughter?" Alice said on her end sending Greg dumbstruck. "Did you hear me, Mr. Greg?"

"Ye..ye..s" he stutters blinking rapidly.

"If you can't report to the station because of Kylie then you should let me know and my colleague and I will come to you at the hospital. Is that okay?"

"Ye...yes. We'll come over" he stutters again and they both hung up.

"Honey, what's the matter? You are scaring me with your facial expressions right now. Did something happen?" Hannah asks while rubbing her sweaty palms nervously.

"They found a hair clip close to the woods of our daughter's apartment and we are asked to come and identify if it's hers" Greg announced.

Hannah's mouth flew wide open with wide eyes and she clasps her hands to her mouth. Many thoughts ran through her mind right after she heard about the hair clip. Hope my daughter is still alive.

***

"So what do we do now?" Julia asks in tears as she glances back and forth from Anna to the door.

"Pick it up" Anna answered in a whisper. Julia glance down to the floor where the cello tape was and she gazes up at Anna and shook her head.

"I don't think it's going to be useful again, it has expired."

"Just pick it up!" Anna whisper-yells gritting her teeth.

Julia nods shakily and picked up the cello tape from the floor with her teeth and she managed to seal it back to Anna's lips even though it wasn't stable like it was meant to be.

"And what are you two little bitches doing?!" the man growled behind them startling the girls apart with a squeal.

Julia and Anna stared at each other with wide eyes panting heavily.

"Should I refresh your memory or would you do it the easy way?" he glared at both of them and then he fixated his gaze on Julia.

"I... I...I was just...I was just telling her I missed my family so much" Julia stuttered in fear.

"Then why do you have to get that close to her?" he asks shooting her suspicious glares.

"I... I...was crying on her thighs seeking comfort but since her hands were tied she couldn't even hug and give me the comfort I needed" Julia answered smartly and Anna shut her eyes closed briefly in relief.

"Oh dear, I'm so touched right now that I want to cry over your situation" he snorted and fake frowned as he would cry.

Anna and Julia stared at him with furrowed brows wondering if he meant what he just said. They both got an answer to their questions when he gave humorous laughter and shook his head at them.

"Really? Don't tell me you girls thought I was touched by your little dramas?-" he paused and stared at them. Their gaze fell low in disappointment when they found out he was only toiling with their minds.

"You girls are dumb then if you believed my little show."

"We'll find out who is the dumb one soonest" Julia mumbles under her breath and his gaze suddenly diverted to her.

"Did you say something?" he asks coldly and Julia shook her head in response. "Good for you. Now, we will all be having some fun to ease your nerves and get you out of boredom!" he announced cheerfully.

Julia and Anna shared a confused glance. "What fun?" Julia asks.

"You'll get to know about it soon" he answered and gave a nasty laugh and then turnaround to leave.

"My sister and I are not interested," Julia said causing him to halt.

He twitched his jawline and clenched his fist in agitation and then he turns around. "What did you just say?"

Anna's eyes grew large and she shook her head at Julia. Julia got the message she was trying to pass to her and she gulped down some saliva to wet her dried throat.

"Ha! I...it's a joke Sir...we are very excited to have fun" Julia replied and faked a smile.

"I thought so, you made the right choice" he smirked at them. "I'm warning you, don't try anything stupid, I'll be right back." He exited the basement and both girls heave a long sigh they'd been holding.

"We were almost caught, Sis!" Julia exclaims and Anna blinks her eyes and nods in agreement. "Do you have an idea what kind of fun he's planning to have with us?"

Anna shook her head in response. "Let it not be what I'm thinking" was all she told herself inwardly.

***

"Oh, my daughter!" Hannah sobs after she heard the news of the hair clip that was given to her husband by the cops.

Greg took a sit beside his wife and hugged her to his chest. "Calm down honey, it's nothing to be sad about" he whispered to her.

"It is Greg, what if it belongs to our daughter?"

"Then is a good thing! It means they've finally gotten a lead to where she's been kidnapped to."

"What if he already killed her and threw her corpse in the woods?"

"Can you please don't say that? Why are you being negative now? Do you want your daughter to be found dead or alive?" Greg asks frowning at the negative thoughts his wife was having over their daughter.

"Of course, I do want her alive. I'm just so tensed with the whole situation that I don't know what to think right now" she replied in silent sobs.

"Like seriously? My mom was attacked?! Why? For what reason will someone attack my mother? What has she done to deserve such bad treatment? She has been fighting for her life for the past 24 hours and now someone had to cause more harm to her life?! Where the hell did my family go wrong?! Who did we offend that wouldn't let us have some peace?!" Kylie yells pacing around the room in frustration.

Greg and his wife shared a glance at each other and they abandoned their problem and were more concerned about Kylie. They both stood up and walked up to her.

"Please calm down Kylie" Nicole and Jay said in unison and reached out for her hand.

Kylie used that opportunity to snatch away the gun Jay had collected from Nicole and pointed it at her head.

Every one of them gasps and stood still. "Nobody should come close to me!" Kylie yells. Nicole and Jay stepped away from her.

"Kylie, what are you doing?" Greg asks in confusion.

"You all should stay away from me! I want to end everything. Let me die and forget about all the stupid dramas that have been going on in my unfortunate life! I'm tired already, I can't hold on any longer!"

"Kylie please calm down, taking your life right now wouldn't solve anything," Brad said and took a step forward.

"I said stand still and don't come closer!" Kylie yells and pressed the gun to her head. Brad raised his hands in surrender and stepped back. "Which of you here would like to live for another second immediately after he/she found out her brother is dead, her mom is in a coma with few chances of survival, and her younger sister is being kidnapped? Tell me, which of you can take such a tragedy within 48 hours?!"

Silence filled the room and all heads were bowed low. No one responded to her question. She snickered and said, "You see...I was right after all, none of you understand what it feels like to undergo such a bad experience!"

"You are wrong. I've lost two important persons in my life and the pain has been a long-lasting one" Greg said and that aroused everyone's interest in the room except his wife. "I lost my mom on the day of my graduation from college and I also lost my first child, a handsome boy with eyes of his mom and hair like mine 16 years ago. He died two days after his birth-" he paused and glanced at his wife who was sobbing silently.

Nicole and Kylie's mouths flew open in a gape and their eyes gazed intently at the couple with sympathy.

"I know this isn't the time to tell such a story, but I had to because you can't know what everyone else is going through or has been through except what you've been told. I understand how bad you feel, but please reconsider taking your life. If you take your life today, who is going to protect your mom from whoever must have attacked her? Who is going to care for your sister? I'm sure you won't want your mom to bury two of her children in one day" Greg said and took his wife's hand.

"We need to leave now, our attention is needed at the station" he added and took his wife's hand and exited the hotel room leaving Kylie and her friends.

"Would you still take your life, Kylie?" Nicole asks quietly and Kylie stared at the three of them with the gun still placed on her head.

***

The kidnapper came back with a speaker and a bottle of whiskey in hand. "I'm back, let the party get started!" he exclaimed excitedly and rushed to one of the empty tables and placed the speaker and bottle of whiskey on it.

Anna and Julia shared confused glances at each other. "Party?" Julia mouthed at Anna and she shrugged in response.

"What now? Why are your faces like that? Are you girls not excited that I'm hosting a party for you two?" he frowns at them and Anna shook her head in response. He scowls at her and walked forward. "You don't like it?" he asked again and Anna shook her head and also nodded at the same time. He growled and held her chin up. "You are getting me confuse, little doll."

"Why not unseal her lips so you'll understand what she's trying to say?" Julia butts in.

"Shut up you little brat, I didn't ask for your opinion!" he shunned Julia and returned his gaze to Anna. "Maybe her suggestion isn't a bad one. Is time to get this off your sweet little lips, just maybe I'll be kissing them during the party if you don't piss me off" he grins cockily and pulled off the tape from her lips.

He furrowed his brows suspiciously at the cello tape on his hand. "Did you take this off earlier?" he asks coldly and Anna's eyes grew large in panic.

"No, no, how can I do that when my hands are tied? Perhaps it's because it's been there for so long and my sweat got it wet" Anna replied and avoided his gaze.

"Ahahan! You're right my cutie" he laughed and Anna screeched at the word he just used on her. "Don't tell me you don't like me calling you my cutie?" he asks and Anna stared blankly at him.

"Forget all these drawings I made on your face, you're still a cute little doll" he grins and pecked her face.

Anna grimaces and almost gagged. "You're so heartless! Do you dare call all these marks you gave to my face a mere drawing? Is this a joke or what? Don't you realize these marks are going to be there forever and-"

"Except you do surgery. If you do surgery your face will look smooth and sexy again" he intruded with a short laugh.

Anna gasps in disbelief at his nonchalant attitude over her life and she chewed on her bottom lip.

"Enough of this conversation, let's get the party started already!" he yelled. "You'll be the lead dancer for this party, you'll dance for us-" he paused and glances back at Julia, and Julia frowned at him. He ignored her and continues, "And we are going to judge if you performed well. If you don't perform well, you are going to pay in a hard way."

"Dance? How can I dance when my body aches with injuries that you incurred on me? My feet are hurting badly, I can't-"

"I don't care if you are hurting or not, all I need is for you to entertain me. Now let's get to it!" he snapped back at her and he turnaround.

"I will do what you ask of me but please allow me to free my bladder. It's been 48 hours since you brought me here, I've not urinated nor eaten, or drank any water. Please, just let me use the bathroom so I'll be able to perform well" Anna pleaded and he turnaround and glared at her.

"Really?! Why do you choose to use the bathroom when I'm about to have fun now?!" he scolded angrily.

"I'm sorry, I just couldn't find the right time to ask your permission" she answered quietly and bowed her head low.

"Fine! I'll take you to the bathroom, but I'm warning you, if you dare try anything stupid, I swear-" he paused and digs out his gun from his back and pointed it at her and she shuddered. "I'll blow your damn head off, got it?!" he threatens and Anna nodded shakily. "Good" he smiled and untied her legs and hands with his left hand while his right hand held onto the gun.

"Stand up" he ordered and she stood up with her hands above her head before she'll be asked to do so. "Walk" he ordered again and she did so quietly while he pointed the gun at her back head and trailed behind her.

He glanced in Julia's direction and he glower at her. "Hey little brat, sit where you are until I get back here, understood?" he asks and Julia nodded in response and bowed her head low.

He led Anna out of the basement and took the staircase up to the house.

While they were away, Julia wiped off the tears that were spilling out of her eyes and began glancing around. "This is an opportunity to leave" she mumbles and stared down at her hands. "What should I do with these things on my hands and legs?" she stared at it with deep thoughts. "This stuff on my hands aren't even chains, I can get rid of it right?" she thought and glanced around.

Julia is known for her smartness, she's just as brilliant as her brother. Her brother has thought her so many things even as a young child that she'll forever hold on to. "It's time to prove to big brother that all he taught me wasn't in vain" she mumbles.

First, she used her teeth to try loosening the firm rope used in tying her hands but it didn't work out. She was almost at the brim of tears when her eyes caught sight of the whiskey on the table. A thin smile spread on her face and she crawled to the table.

She pushed the bottle of whiskey down to the floor and it shattered into pieces. The noise caused Julia to panic in fear that they must have heard the noise and come running to her.

When she didn't hear any footsteps approach, she gently picked up one of the broken pieces of the bottle and placed it in a way that will enable her to cut the rope off. She targeted the rope on her hands and placed it on the sharp edge of the piece of bottle. She kept moving her hands back and forth so the sharp object will cut off the rope. A minute passed, nothing happened, and then five minutes later, she did it.

"Yes!" she squealed excitedly.

She wiggles free from the rope and picked up the sharp piece of the bottle and used it to cut loose the rope on her legs. "I did it. Thank you Jesus!" she sighs in relief and stood up.

She picked up the same piece of the bottle that has helped her cut off the ropes and her gaze fell to the tables covered with white clothes. "What are all these white clothes for? Dead bodies?!" she screeched at the thought of it and stepped back.

Footsteps were approaching and that got Julia on alert. "They are here! How do I save Anna from this evil monster?" she thought and glanced around.

She heard jiggling at the door and she became frightened. "No, think Julia, they can't see me like this" she panics panting heavily and stepping back. Before the door flew open Julia went into hiding behind one of the covered tables.

"Julia!" Anna's voice rang in the basement in panic. "Oh no, Julia, please where are you?"

"I'm right here Anna but I can't come out because of that evil monster" Julia answered inwardly and covered her mouth.

"Julia please where are you hiding, come out let's leave here this minute before he gets us again" Anna cried and glanced around in search of Julia.

"Before he gets us, he's not with her?" Julia wondered and peeped through the open space of the table. "She's alone!" she whisper-yells in surprise and stands up. "Anna?"

"Julia!" Anna exclaims and rushed to where Julia was but she fell and whimpers.

"Anna!" Julia squeals in panic and threw the bottle she was holding and ran to her. "Are you okay? Do your legs still hurt?"

"Yeah...but I can manage. We need to get out of here before he gets us" Anna replied and sat up.

"Where is he? What did you do for him to let you go?"

"I tricked him, I lied when I told him I needed to use the bathroom. I just wanted to get out of here and know how the outside of this prison that we are is-" Anna paused and glance at the door. "Julia I'll tell you everything when once we get out of here, we need to leave now. I don't know how long it'll take him before he wakes up."

"Okay, okay. Can you walk?"

"Yes, just help me up" Anna answered and Julia nods. She took her hands and helped her up.

Both girls got out of the basement and were awed by how fancy the house was. They were many rooms in the hallway and this confused them. Whenever they come out from one hallway, another one was waiting up for them and all doors they tried to open were locked.

"This house is so fancy and crooked. All the doors are card-operated locks, how do we get out of here?" Julia asks.

"I don't know, it wasn't what I was expecting" Anna answered and tried one more door and it squeak open. She squints at Julia with wide eyes. "It's unlocked" she stuttered.

"For real?!"

"Yes, see it for yourself," Anna said and stepped aside for Julia.

"How fortunate we are" Julia smiled and Anna returned the smile.

"Let's see what's inside," Anna said and Julia nods at her. With a determined grip, Anna grasped the doorknob and swung the door ajar, allowing her to peer into the room. Darkness pervaded the space, a foreboding sign that raised Anna's apprehensions.

Instinctively, her outstretched hand sought the reassurance of a wall, fingers tracing its surface in search of a light switch. Upon encountering the familiar mechanism, a sigh of relief escaped her lips, and she promptly flicked the switch. The room was instantly bathed in the welcoming glow of light, causing Anna's eyes to momentarily lower as she absorbed the sudden change in illumination.

"An..na?" Julia mumbles by her side and she squints at her.

"Yeah..what are we..."

"Couldn't find your way out?" a masculine voice asked cutting Anna mid-sentence and she gazes up to find no other than the mysterious psychopath kidnapper who she thought she had escaped from sitting right there on the bed with an evil smile.

A shiver raced down Anna's spine, her mouth agape in astonishment. In the blink of an eye, the entire building resounded with high-pitched, feminine shrieks that seemed to overwhelm the man's sense of hearing.