Forcefully yanking the curtain over the glass sliding door, Katie turned to fully inspect her daughter. Skimming from head to toe and saving her bleeding arm for last, Katie assess the damage. Other than her mental health and the cut, all Katie found was the start of a massive bruise around Sarah's dainty wrist.

Scooping up her heap of a daughter, despite her wailing hysteria, Katie cradled her to the kitchen counter, guiding her to sit on the edge. After rummaging through the cabinet below the sink, Katie triumphantly whipped out the first aid kit. While using her basic first aid skills, she treated her daughters cut while attempting to sooth her enough to calm down. "Sarah, sweetie, just breathe." Guiding her daughter out of hyperventilation gave Katie the strength she needed to hide her panic.

Just as Sarah began to settle down, Katie finished tightly wrapping her arm with gauze. Satisfied with her work, Katie caressed Sarah's hair and held her head with her trembling hands. Locking eyes with her daughter, Katie promises, "It's going to be okay. You didn't know. It's okay. We are going to be okay. I will get us out of here."

Repeating 'it's going to be okay', brought hope into Katie's heart. If she could speak it, then it would be. There really isn't any other option. Their only option is to escape. Katie, high from the adrenaline hormones coursing through her body, crafts, yet another, plan.

"Okay, Sarah, I need you to listen to me very carefully. We are going to go to the garage and run out the side door. I am going to give you the keys to the car, okay?"

Sarah nods soaking up her mother's instructions.

"When we get outside, you must unlock the car, get in the passenger seat and immediately lock the doors. Even if I am not in the car yet. Okay, honey?"

Sarah protests, "But, mom, I don't want to lock you out."

Katie reassures her, "No sweetie, you won't. You lock that door, and if I am not in the car, I will tell you when it is safe to unlock it for me. Okay?"

Sarah stares blankly into her mother's rich green eyes. "Sarah, promise me you will lock the doors," Katie insists.

Beginning to grasp the severity of their situation, Sarah promises, "I will lock the doors as soon as I get in."

Releasing a bit of tension, Katie hugged Sarah tightly and blinked away her tears filled with angst. Grabbing her purse and guiding Sarah off the counter, they head for the garage. Once at the garage door, glancing back towards the kitchen, Katie remember the home phone. In a spilt second, she decides against plugging in the phone to attempt a 911 call. "I'll just call with my cell once we are in the car," she mentally asserts. Katie convinced herself that staying in the home, even a moment longer wouldn't be worth the risk.

Katie held her finger over her mouth to indicate Sarah to be silent. Katie placed her trembling hand on the doorknob and slowly began to turn. Once the locking tab was retracted, Katie slowly pressed into the door to create an opening just big enough to peer out.

Thump!

Thump!

Katie's heart raced in fright of the unknown. Would the outer garage door be open? Would the masked man be waiting for them and yank open the door? Sarah pressed her lips together tightly to obey her mother's command.

Thump!

Thump!

Katie quickly scanned the garage. She made sure to check the crack behind the door before fully opening it and stepping through the threshold. A sigh of relief escaped Katie's mouth as she motioned for her daughter Sarah to step through the doorway.

Katie scanned the contents of the garage looking for something, anything to defend herself and Sarah. Her husband's tools hanging on the wall caught her eye. She rushed over and grabbed the biggest wrench she could find.

"Sarah, the keys are here in my purse. When I tell you to, run straight to the car. Do not stop and lock the doors." Katie begged her daughter to follow her precise instructions.

"Okay," Sarah's shaky voice, barely audible, agreed as she took her mothers purse firmly in both hands.

Unconvinced of her abilities, but determined to survive, Katie gave her daughter a kiss on the forehead and whispered, "I love you." Tears ran down Sarah's freckled cheeks.

Katie, repeating the same process as before, gripped the doorknob and slowly began to turn. Pressing the door open slightly, Katie peaked out to analyze the driveway and front yard.

Katie griped the wrench tighter and braced herself. A direct path from the door to the car was clear. Now was their chance. Katie whispered, "Now," to Sarah as she quietly pushed the door open all the way, making room for Sarah to run. Katie followed Sarah out of the threshold when the masked figure appeared.

The masked man responded quickly to Katie and Sarah's escape, running towards Sarah at full speed. Katie's heart pounded as she dug her bare feet into the pavement to run faster. Winding the wrench back behind her head, Katie ran faster than ever before. Sarah's life depended on it.

"Don't stop! Get in the car!" Katie earsplittingly shirked at her daughter while pushing her body's limits.

The black silhouette began to menacingly chuckle at the pure joy he experienced chasing a little girl with such sweet blood. This distraction gave Katie enough time to body slam the figure down on the grass beyond where the car was parked. Struggling for her life, Katie wrestled with the black figure, rolling from side to side, trying to gain an advantage.

Sarah yanked the red passenger door to the Honda Accord and slid in the passenger seat. Slamming the door shut, she quickly hit the lock button several times. She watched in pure terror as her mother wrested with the dark shape.

The masked man pinned Katie's legs down with his knees, wrapped his large hands around her throat and began to squeeze. Pressing into Katie's throat with his thumbs, the unidentified man inhaled a gulp of air near Katie's face. Her sent, a blend of frightened body wash, gave him the strength to squeeze harder.

Katie's face began to turn blue as the blood supply and oxygen were restricted from her head. She squirmed her legs, trying to break free. Her brain grew foggy as her lack of air impaired her vision. A bright tiny droplet of Sarah's blood fell from the mask on to Katie's forehead.

"Sarah." Katie mumbled as she remembered the wrench, still tucked tightly in her fist. Using every ounce of strength she had left, Katie violently struck the masked man in the head. Toppling over, the man fell to his side, releasing Katie. Scrambling to her feet, Katie made sure she would have time to get to the car. She gripped the giant wrench with both hands over her head and while throwing her weight behind the swing, she rammed him in the chest.

"Ah!" The masked man exhaled at the weight of the blow.

Katie geared back preparing for one more blow. The blow that would give her time. She forcefully whacked the man in between the legs on his balls before sprinting to the car.

Defensively, the masked man cradled his precious package while grunting in agony.

Katie yelled at the window, "Unlock the car."

Sarah quickly pressed the unlock button to allow her mother's entry. Katie jerked the car door open, slid into the driver's seat, slammed the door, and locked the car. Pressing her foot on the break, Katie pressed the button on the dash to start the engine.

Sarah's sobbing becomes louder as she points to the masked man, who was beginning to stand. Katie, without hesitation, yanked the gear stick into reverse. Shoving her foot on the gas, the car spun out of the driveway. Katie tapped the break, shoved the gear stick into drive, and floored it.