When we arrived at the Mannings, James jumped out of the car, walked over to my side, and opened my door, helping me out. I was well aware that all the way there and now even exiting, he was constantly watching me, even hovering, making sure I didn't try anything funny. For much of the ride, I faced toward James so he didn't have to worry about me trying to make eye contact with other vehicles. I so desperately wanted to earn his trust.

We were just outside of Kansas City, in another small town similar to wherever we lived, at least what I knew of it. We were somewhere by a town called Lenexa. Dr. Manning lived in a beautiful, white Victorian home. There were some trees lining the outside perimeter.

"Well, well, well, look at what the cat drug in," Dr. Manning said cheerily at the door. "Come on in, you two. Welcome!"

James squeezed my hand rather firmly and led me into the house.

"Hello, Doc. Thank you for having us," James said. They hugged each other warmly. When the doctor looked at me, his face lit up.

"My dear, don't you look absolutely stunning!"

"Thank you," I said, sheepishly. He gave me a gentle hug. He reminded me so much of my father—wise, warm, and loving. But what alternate universe was this that I could think this man was in anyway comparable to my father?

"Come in, come in!"

The house was magnificent, almost like a museum. The decorum matched the outside of the home and looked as if they hired an interior decorator. A beautiful lady in a flowing formal dress stood by the sofa and patiently waited her turn to welcome her guests. I felt dizzy at the fact a doctor knew I was abducted, living this nice life, and not reporting me. Didn't he care, or was he as psychotic as the others?

"Hello. I'm Sophia," she announced to me.

She took my hand in a warm embrace and kissed my cheek. She was exquisite, so poised and naturally beautiful. Her genuine demeanor and warmth took me aback. She was a perfect match for Dr. Manning, even with the age difference.

"Won't you come in and make yourself comfortable?" she said, offering me a seat on the sofa.

"I'll go unload the car," James said.

I could hear other people talking and laughing in another room. But I was so overwhelmed, it was nice to sit with Sophia and Dr. Manning first.

"How about drinks, dear?" she offered. She seemed so at ease in the role of hostess.

"I'd love a dry martini. Thank you, Love," Dr. Manning said.

"I'll take a glass of wine, please. Any kind." I certainly was not picky. Bring on any alcoholic beverage, please! Thank you so much.

As Sophia fetched our drinks, James came back with the food and headed to the kitchen.

I sat awkwardly with Dr. Manning, making small chat about the drive.

"Can we join this party?" some man yelled at the open door. He was holding a wine bottle up into the air.

"Hello!" Dr. Manning exclaimed.

This had to be the Palmers. I stayed glued to the couch while the usual joyous hugs and exclamations ensued. James and Sophia came out as well and joined the greetings.

Just as they all separated from their big welcoming circle, the little girl was standing in the middle of the mob. She smiled and giggled, thanks to James tickling her.

"Come on in. Make yourselves at home," Sophia said.

James said, "Allie, I want you to meet a very special addition to my family. This is Corrine. Corrine, this is Allie."

"Hello," she said. Her voice was so perky and happy. She couldn't possibly know what happened to me.

"Hi. Nice to meet you." I was impressed she shook my hand like a little adult.

Dr. Manning made drinks for the newcomers and made Allie a Shirley Temple.

"Come on." James tapped me. "Let's go meet the others."

He grabbed my hand and walked me down the hallway into the family room. There was a couple on the couch, another lady next to them, and Dan standing at the fireplace with his arm on the mantelpiece as if he lived there.

"James!" Dan announced.

Everyone stood up, and in that moment I wished we hadn't come for some reason. All I wanted to do was go home. I felt so overwhelmed.

"Hey, guys," James said, letting go of my hand while he hugged Dan and Tyler.

"Corrine, it's so good to see you," Tyler said, hugging me too. I instantly tensed.

"You, too," I replied cordially. Those damn manners rearing their head again.

"There's someone I'd like you to meet," Tyler said, cueing the girl on the couch to stand up.

She was absolutely gorgeous. With her heels, she was taller than Tyler at about five foot nine. She had long straight black hair, almond round eyes, and cheekbones I'd die for. And her sleek brown dress hugged her curves. She looked like a model.

"This is Alexandria," Tyler said, putting his hand on the curve of her back.

"Hello," Alexandria said, offering me her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I've heard so much about you."

I wondered what exactly.

"And this is Sarah," Dan said, as the other girl stood up from the couch and walked over to me.

"Hi, Corrine. Nice to meet you," Sarah said monotonously.

She shook my hand too but with no strength behind it at all. Just a sissy wave. She didn't look too thrilled, either.

"Hi," I said meekly. "Nice to meet everyone."

There was an awkward silence as everyone stood staring at one another.

What felt like an eternity, James finally broke the tension by saying, "Well, let's go help Sophia in the kitchen, Corrine."

Gladly, I thought.

The girls sat back down on the couch as James and I entered the kitchen. I was actually glad to be busy. I was overwhelmed by all of the excitement, feeling like a fish out of water.

Sophia gave us instructions, and James and I worked diligently in the kitchen. Sophia seemed to be the queen of her kitchen, directing us to do this or that, and before we knew it, a feast was to be had. I had to admit, the three of us were a good team, and James seemed very comfortable in the kitchen. I couldn't believe Sophia even put an apron on him without him protesting.

"Dinner's ready," Sophia hollered, and everyone gathered in the dining room.

I had no idea where to sit, but James pointed me to a seat in between him and Tyler.

Before anyone sat down, Dr. Manning announced, "Let's say a prayer first, please."

We all held hands while standing, even little Allie.

"Dear Lord, we have gathered today in Your name, and we have so much for which to be thankful," Dr. Manning began. "We are so blessed to have our health and the family that's standing with us today. Lord, we'd like to thank you for the gifts you've bestowed upon us and the families that have been forged with your guidance. We ask you to continue to bless us, be with our new family as they build a life together, and guide us in Your wisdom. Amen."

"Amen," everyone said in a united voice, except me. With each prayer, I half cringed and half laughed inside. Oh, the irony.

During the prayer, I took a peak around the table and saw everyone's head bowed and eyes closed. Everyone but Sarah who was doing the same thing as me. She half-smiled at me as if to say, "What the hell did we get ourselves into?"

I thought the dinner would be awkward, that I would want to flee, but it wasn't. I had a pretty good time, as much as can be had in the circumstances. The conversation was lively, funny, and loud. Then I felt a tinge of guilt for enjoying myself.

I felt like an outside observer looking in. I watched these people, thinking I didn't belong, but Dr. Manning and Sophia did everything to make me feel at ease. I didn't know what James and Dan were talking about, but they must've laughed through half of the dinner.

James was a mystery to me. I was scared of him, but time had a cleansing effect on my feelings. Just watching him laugh at the dinner table, he had a demeanor about him that made him very attractive. The way he carried himself, so confident and self-assured. And he was handsome, for a thirty-something-year-old man. In one word, I would characterize him as classy. The way he held his glass, the way he ate, how he dressed, his mannerisms, the conversations he held with Dr. Manning . . . He was cultured. In the "real world" I would've loved to date a man like him. But I always found myself with the bad boys. James had his act together, and he seemed to have his life all planned out—including me in it.

I wanted to know how he ever became a kidnapper. And how could I be feeling anything for someone like him in these circumstances?

I then remembered one criteria of Stockholm syndrome: the captors were nice to their victims. As long as I didn't cause any problems, he treated me with a lot of respect. But I didn't see how I could ever suffer from Stockholm syndrome when I knew so much about it. I was smarter than that. But I didn't know how to stop it from happening to me.

After dinner I helped Sophia clean up. This was probably my least favorite part of get-togethers. My mom used to cook the biggest feasts, and then it would take an hour to clean up, pack up the leftovers, and get dessert started. All the while the men sat on their asses and watched football. Where was the equality in that?

But tonight, I didn't care. I was drawn to Sophia, and she made me feel wanted. She seemed to actually like me. I sensed she could help me--somehow. Not that I didn't like Sarah and Alexandria, but I hadn't had any time with them. And Sophia seemed in charge.

"You know, I can see why James chose you," Sophia confided to me while she scrubbed dishes, and I dried. She smiled at me.

"Oh?" So, she obviously knew my circumstances.

"Yes. You're very sweet and pretty."

"Well, I don't know about that. I apparently have a long way to go."

"No, no," she corrected. "You have a natural beauty that appeals to him."

"Thank you?" I blushed.

I took a big sip of my third glass of wine.

"You know," she said, hesitantly, "you remind me of myself when I was about your age. That's about when Richard and I . . . met."

"And how did you two meet?"

She turned off the water and turned toward me.

"We basically met in the same way you met James, Corrine."

She waited for it to sink in.

"Richard took me when I was twenty."

"What?" I gasped.

She took the dishtowel from my hands, set it on the counter, and led me over to the kitchen table where we sat down.

"Yes, I was just like you, Corrine. I was living in New Mexico with my parents. I was attending college and working in the mall when Richard found me. So, I know where you're coming from."

"But, I don't understand. You seem so happy now."

"Oh, it wasn't always like this, mind you. I went through a time of anger and fighting back. In fact," she pushed up her right sleeve, "see this scar? This was part of a mean whipping I received years ago. I had this whole plan to escape. But he caught me. And I paid for it. More than you could ever know."

"Oh, my God." I was terrified.

"In essence, Corrine, you can fight them for the rest of your life, if you want. But it'll do you no good. It can even get you killed."

"James has warned me."

Alexandria walked into the kitchen then and joined us at the table.

Sophia put her hand on top of my forearm. "In a heartbeat, if you prove unfit for the family in the long run . . . Look, if there's anything I can impress upon you today, it's this: Learn to love James. This is your life now. Richard—Dan—Tyler—James—They're all good people, Corrine. I know you can't see that right now, but they are. They're loving, God-fearing men who only want to share their lives with you. If you can come to accept your future, you can be so blessed. Look at my life. I've been so enriched."

She seemed completely brainwashed, past saving. I couldn't absorb all of this. She was in the same position as I was, years ago.

"Isn't that right, Alex?" Sophia asked.

"That's the best advice you've ever given me," Alexandria said. "I know it's hard to get to that point. But the quicker you do, the better."

My heart kept beating out of my chest. "So. So, how long ago did Tyler kidnap you?"

Alexandria began humming in thought. "Oh, I'd say about three years ago now."

"Wh-What about Allie and her family?"

"Same thing. She was taken when she was two and a half, but they're a complete family now. They love her so much. And Allie doesn't even realize her life before this."

"Wow," I murmured. I was on overload.

"What about Sarah and Dan?"

"Well, that's a newer relationship," Alexandria hesitated. "I think Sarah's still struggling, but it's been about six months."

There seemed to be a story behind that statement.

"I know this is a lot to take in," Sophia interjected. "I just hope you don't make some of the same mistakes I did. Save yourself the nightmare and pain. Try to accept where you are, and that this really is a good man who loves you. I've seen a lot worse matches."

I stared at my hands.

"So, are there a lot of other victims like this, like us?"

"Well, I wouldn't say we're victims exactly. But absolutely. Must be hundreds. Maybe thousands. But we don't associate with a lot of them. The crackpots, Richard calls them."

"Crackpots? Who's that?"

"You know, the ones you hear on the news who are molesting their abductees. The reclusives, we call them. Like the group who took Patty Hearst in the seventies. Or the man who took Shawn Hornbeck. The list is long, I'm sure. There seem to be so many crazies out there."

Apparently Dr. Manning, James, Dan, and Tyler weren't part of that classification in Sophia's mind. I stifled my scoff.

"They're not part of the BFO. But there are many like them," Alexandria added.

"The BFO?" I asked. "I heard Dr. Manning talk about it when I first met him."

"The Better Families Organization," she said, as if I should know that already. "It's a group of people like Richard, founded years ago to support those who want to start new families."

"But why would they kidnap people? There are other ways to start families the traditional ways. You know, dating web sites, bars, blind dates."

"I know it's hard to understand, Corrine," Sophia said. "I didn't years ago, either. But here you are, twenty-four, and you probably found dating difficult, right?"

"Well, yeah," I admitted.

"How do you feel about men your age when it comes to dating?" Sophia inquired.

"Well, they're usually immature. Bad boys. Partiers. Or both."

"Exactly. Often BFO members take someone into their fold looking for something they can't find otherwise. Even the Palmers. They tried for years to have their own child but couldn't."

"So, you're saying James took me because . . . what?" My palms sweated, fearing the answer.

"Because he wanted to create a family he was unable to find by any other means. Pure and simple."

I sat at the kitchen table, overwhelmed.

"Well, enough of the serious chat," Sophia said. "It's Thanksgiving. Let's get things cleaned up and serve your wonderful apple pie, shall we?"

Sophia and Alexandria stood up and began setting up dessert and finishing the dishes. I couldn't stand up, no matter how much I wanted.

Unexpectedly, James walked in and broke my trance.

"Ladies! How's it going in here? Need any help?" He put his hands on my shoulders and kissed my left cheek. I froze again.

"We're fine. Just fine. Getting ready for dessert," Sophia said.

"Mmm. Can't wait," he said, and exited to the living room.

It was getting late, and I was reeling. Sophia came over and handed me my glass of wine.

She whispered, "I was told you weren't to have any more, but we women have to stick together."

She winked at me, and I noticed she had filled my glass. I was so grateful for such a small gesture of camaraderie. Even if she was completely brainwashed.

"When will I see you again?" I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

I had met a fellow victim, even if she didn't want to classify herself as one. I didn't want to let go. I wanted to talk to her until the wee hours of the morning and not serve dessert. I wanted never to let her go. Even though she was brainwashed, she could offer me so much hope and companionship.

"Hopefully, we'll be close friends and will see each other soon." She hugged me. "But really, that will all be up to you."

Then, she leaned in and whispered with a smile, "So don't mess it up. I've finally met a girlfriend I really like." She winked.

She finished cleaning up, and I sat sipping my wine. I should've been helping her, but I couldn't move my legs.

* * *

Everyone loved my pie, and that felt wonderful. But all I kept thinking about was my chat with Sophia at the kitchen table.

Later James and I were sitting next to one another, eating our dessert. He was sipping coffee, while I was still drinking wine, hoping they wouldn't notice how much I'd had.

"James, are we leaving soon?" I asked.

"Are you ready to go?"

"No, not really."

"You're having a good time, aren't you?" he ribbed me.

I hated to admit it, but it was true. What was wrong with me? This wasn't meant to be my reality.

"Well, yeah. I mean, they're really nice people." It was the wine talking. But then again, after spending two weeks in solitary confinement with no windows, it wasn't difficult to enjoy the night. The Mannings' house was a piece of heaven.

He put his arm around my chair and faced toward me. "That really makes me happy, you know that?" he said.

"It does?"

"Definitely. I was worried about how today would go. I'm so glad to see you're enjoying yourself."

I felt butterflies in my stomach.

I watched Dan playing the board game, Sorry, with Allie on the floor. They kept laughing any time the other was knocked back to home base. It was odd seeing this soft side to him. And this gargantuan lying on the floor.

James leaned back into my ear and whispered, "I love you." He kissed my cheek again.

I didn't dare move a beat, frozen in this unchartered territory. I should never have told him I was having a good time. I'd opened Pandora's box.

When it was time to leave, I gave heartfelt goodbyes to Sophia. When I hugged Allie, I wondered what was going on in her mind. I hardly got to talk to her, and I tried to imagine what her relationship was like with her "parents." If one didn't know any better, you wouldn't notice a thing was different. She even looked like her parents with golden brown hair and brown eyes. Since she was so young, she probably didn't know anything about her abduction. All the better for her, I thought.

For my own perseverance, I wished I could do the same.

When I got back into the car, James gave me a pillow from the trunk. It was late. I was beyond tired and still buzzed.

Before we merged onto the highway, James leaned into me and said, "Thank you for such a wonderful evening. Everyone had a great time. Lots to be thankful for."

I felt comforted by his words, as if it was natural for him to be next to me. Then the tinge of guilt hit me.

Wake up from la-la land, Corrine.

He reached for my hand and held onto it until I fell asleep.



Is Corrine even working on escaping? Please follow me and vote if you liked this chapter. Thank you!