ELLY
"So, here's how it's going to work," the man says after he pushes me against a wall in the abandoned alleyway and covers my mouth with a hand. "I want money. I can tell you have money. So you're going to give it to me, and then I'll leave you alone."
I start aggressively shaking my head back and forth. "No," I try to scream from behind his hand.
"No?" He pulls a knife out of his back pocket, flicks it open, and holds it to my neck. "How about now?"
I try to wriggle free from his grip and the gleaming knife being held against my neck. He pushes me back tighter than before and gives me a shallow cut on my forearm. I screech in pain and start to cry.
"I bet you have some money on you, doll," he says quietly, starting another shallow cut beginning at my collar bone. It starts ripping through my shirt as blood pools around the wound. I try to scream past his hand, but he won't stop in the haste of his anger.

GRIFFIN
"Jaden!" I scream through the phone for what seems like the millionth time. After saying he found Elly, he dropped his phone and didn't respond.
The cops continue to question me even as I ignore them. I run away from them and their many questions, out the front door of the hotel, and towards the venue. They chase after me, but soon trail behind as I outpace them.
It's only a few minutes until I reach the venue. I quickly spot the pile of Elly's gifts with the trail leading down the sidewalk. I follow it to the abandoned alleyway.
"It'll be okay, Elly. Help is coming soon. I'm here with you," Jaden is murmuring to the limp figure he holds in his arms.

JADEN
"Elly," I gasp before rushing over to her side. She's struggling to sit up against the wall.
"J-Jaden?" she whispers. I gently move her upwards until she is in my arms.
"What happened? Elly, what happened?" I smooth down her messy hair while she lays against my chest.
"This guy I ran into on the street." Elly takes in a shaky breath, coughing up blood and shaking. "He came back with my phone and crushed it. He had a knife. Jaden, he had a knife."
"Shh," I try to sooth her as she begins crying. I look her over as she is in my arms. Her frame is bloody and bruised, her shirt torn, and wrist bent at a terrible angle.
"Jaden, where is Griffin?"
"He'll be coming, Elly. I know he will. He knows we are here." I pull her closer to me and tuck my head into her hair to hide my tears. "It'll be okay, Elly. Help is coming soon. I'm here with you."