Spring in Kansas was beautiful. Snow was giving way to blooming wildflowers, and I could smell the change in the air.

More and more, James was allowing me to stay downstairs. I was having to make special trips upstairs just to clean the apartment or retrieve something I needed.

I often spent the night in James's room. I basked in the freedom I was given. I was so close. So close I could feel it. I knew the alarms on the outside doors were still there, probably even the windows, but my plan wasn't to try another house escape anyway.

My life back in Southern California seemed like a lifetime ago, a dream I could hardly recall. I fought to remember what my dad and Lisa looked like. One moment, I could see them, then the next minute I wasn't so sure. I was desperate to get home. They were becoming translucent in the crevices of my memories.

Yet, other than the sexual encounters, I was finding myself enjoying James's company more and more. If you didn't know I had been kidnapped, you'd think we were happy together.

My favorite moments were the quiet ones. James and I reading on the couch—me with a new novel he bought me, he with the Wall Street Journal—with our legs intertwined. . . Taking a nap with James during a Kansas rainstorm . . . Getting a backrub from James after an unusually arduous workout. I loved all of the small moments. I knew logically I shouldn't, but emotionally I did. There was the Stockholm Syndrome I couldn't deny. I guessed I was no different than any other human.

And as far as some strange sexual fantasies, nothing weird ever happened. James was always gentle with me and didn't ask for anything kinky from me. Although he raped me nearly every day, I guessed it could've been worse.

* * *

For Memorial Day, James and I were busy preparing for another get together with some of our friends. Dr. Manning and Sophia were coming, along with the Palmers, and a new B.F.O family, the Sandersons, who I had never met. They were traveling from about eight hours away and were going to spend the night. For some reason, that made me feel uneasy.

We had a lot of preparations to make before they came. They were going to sleep upstairs in my apartment. I heard James say that way they could lock her in for the night. Cameron was in his late twenties and the girl was all of about eighteen. Like Sophia had done for me, the men were hoping I could help this girl, Alexis, get through this difficult time. Since I was younger than Sophia, James thought I could make a unique connection with her. But I didn't feel I was in any place to be a victim's counselor, especially when I was secretly trying to escape myself. Putting on a front was exhausting enough with James. I didn't have extra energy for Alexis.

I spent much of the Memorial Day afternoon cooking and preparing for a festive occasion. The weather was perfect, and I had all of the windows open to let in the breeze. I could feel summer coming, and I was going to miss the spring.

The Mannings arrived around three p.m. It felt like I hadn't seen them in forever, even though it was only three weeks.

The Sandersons arrived not too long afterward. Cameron Sanderson stood about six feet tall and was very wide. He wore khaki shorts and a button down shirt. He was holding hands with a girl whose eyes seemed to be screaming, Save me! That deer-in-the-headlights look.

Didn't I once look like that? I felt a pit in my stomach. I ached for her and her long-lost family. I was in over my head.

Everyone mingled in the family room and on the patio as I was trying to get things set out on the table. James came into the kitchen and nudged me.

"Go out and mingle with your guests," he said.

"I have to get the food out."

"I'll take care of it. Go spend time with Alexis. She needs you."

He was right. She needed a friend. I couldn't imagine being a teenager and taken away from home.

I looked around and found Alexis sitting on a lounge chair outside with Cameron sitting close beside her. I went out to join them and be the perfect hostess.

"Hello. It's so nice to have you over," I said.

"Hi, Corrine. We're happy to be here," Cameron said. I already didn't like him. But I couldn't quite put my finger as to why. But he seemed to have an arrogance about him.

"So, I hear you two just . . . met?" I started. I couldn't bring myself to say kidnapped out loud.

"Uh, yes," he squeezed her hand. "If that's what you call it."

"Cameron, do you mind getting Alexis a drink?" I asked.

"Uh, sure. What would you like?" he asked Alexis.

"Coke, please," she said, but I could hardly hear her.

I quickly sat in Cameron's lounge chair, realizing I had very little time before he came back.

"I'm Corrine, by the way. I don't think we've formally met," I said, offering my hand. "I don't know what Cameron's told you about me."

"He just said we were going to a Memorial Day barbecue," she said shyly.

She was so pretty, so innocent.

"Well, yes, I live here, with James." I pointed him out.

"Listen," I continued, "I hope I'm not prying too much here, but I know your situation and some of what's happened to you."

"You do?" She seemed shocked.

"Not the specifics, just that you're in the same position I'm in."

"What do you mean?"

"Well." I put my hand on her elbow. "You were . . . abducted, right?"

"Yes, a few weeks ago," her voice wavered.

"So was I. Almost a year ago. Last November." I let it sink in.

"What are we doing here?" she asked horrified.

This must've been a House of Horrors to her.

"I wish I could properly explain it to you, Alexis. Basically, many people have been taken from their homes to live another life. It's the best way I can describe it to you. . . And you and I are two of those people."

"To live what life? Cameron's so mean to me." She started crying. Others glanced at us.

I moved over to her lounge chair and held her tightly, as Sophia had often done for me. I saw Sophia in the distance, and she raised her glass to me, passing on the gauntlet. I hated being in this position.

I calmed Alexis down as best I could but wasn't sure how long that would last. She was a wild card, and I was surprised she was here at all. Compared to the abductees I had met up to that point, she was the only one still with the wild eyes. But maybe I looked like that the first time we went to the Mannings' home for Thanksgiving. Others soon joined us, so I didn't have much of an opportunity to talk to Alexis.

When we sat down for dinner on the patio, I leaned over to James who was sitting next to me and asked, "Is Alexis going to be okay? She's really freaked out."

"Well, she's only been with Cameron for a few weeks. I thought it was too early for a debut, considering how hard she's been fighting it. But Cam really wanted to bring her. I think he has cabin fever."

"I don't know if she's ready for all of this. It's so overwhelming."

"Let's hope we can help her acclimate, right?"

"Yeah, I guess. But I don't know if I'm ready to be a mentor. Was I that bad?"

"Not nearly," James said as he kissed me.

Alexis hardly touched her food during dinner. My heart sank for her, remembering many an evening dinner like this for me where the nausea wouldn't allow me to eat.

Dinner gave way to dessert, and I was busy trying to set up the plates and pies.

Sophia and I had hardly any time to talk that night, but we finally found ourselves sitting together on the living room couch.

"A wonderful barbecue, Corrine," she said.

"Thank you."

"You certainly have grown the last few months."

"Things have changed, yes."

"And you're happy?"

"Yes, definitely," I tried to say convincingly. "And I have you to thank for that. Things had been really hard there for a while, but if it hadn't been for your advice, there would be no way I would be where I am today. You were so right in everything you said."

"I'm glad you found solace in it all," Sophia said.

"Thank you." We hugged. "But . . ."

"What is it?" she asked.

"Well, it's just . . . I look at you and Dr. Manning. And I long for us to have the type of relationship you two have."

With no acting background, I thought that was pretty convincing.

"But you do have what we have."

"No, not really. You're his equal. He trusts you. Lets you do things," I ventured. I looked down at the carpet.

"Oh, that. Well, that takes time, Corrine. Don't get down about it."

"But how long? How did he begin trusting you?"

"It took quite a bit of time," Sophia explained. "It wasn't a sudden thing. It was very gradual, first taking me out with him. I knew he was testing me. And he threatened me if I tried anything."

"And now you're allowed to go anywhere. You have so much freedom."

"I certainly don't take it for granted. I really cherish it."

"Well, that's what I wish I had with James," I tried to muster up some tears for effect.

"Oh, dear, you'll get there. Just be patient."

I wanted to get her advice on how to earn James's trust more, but she changed the subject.

"But I don't know what's to be done with Alexis. I don't know how receptive she is." I confided, "And I'm no counselor, only an ex-social worker. And even that I didn't do very well. I was just learning."

"Don't worry. She'll come around . . . or she won't. I have a bad feeling about her."

"What do you mean?"

"I think it's too late for her. She's too independent to be acclimated, in my opinion."

"I don't understand. Can't she learn like you and I did? I was independent and living on my own."

"With teenagers, it's difficult. Teens are their own classification, where the natural rebellion they feel toward life can overpower everything within them. The teenage angst is often too much . . . Some simply don't make it. "

"What do you mean, 'Many don't make it'?"

"They don't come around to accepting their new lives."

"So, they're . . . killed, right?"

She stared down at her wine glass. "Well, they fight their new family so much they're forced to kill them and start over," she reasoned. "Honestly, I wish the B.F.O. wouldn't take families with teenagers, at least rebellious ones. They're too risky. One day a teen could successfully escape, and if he or she tells about the B.F.O., it's over."

And that "teen" was going to be me.

"OK, everybody," James announced, "It'll be dark soon. Let's get to the dessert."

Sophia had baked her famous cherry pie I loved. The chocolate cake took a close second place. I still didn't see Alex eating, and I don't know why it bothered me so much. I saw so much of myself in her—trapped and nowhere to turn. And now I worried even more after Sophia's premonition for her.

After dessert we settled around the patio, chatting and sipping our coffee. It was dark by then, but it was such a beautiful May evening we stayed outside with the patio lights illuminating the area.

I was beginning to yearn for bedtime when Cameron yelled, "Where's Alex?"

"I thought she was sitting with you," James said.

"I had to go to the bathroom. Shit!" he yelled.

Everything happened so quickly then. The men began scrambling all about like a disturbed ant trail.

"James, take the front, Dr. Manning, check the house," Cameron instructed. "I'll sweep the backyard area."

I was beside myself with worry, wondering what they'd do to her once they found her.

"Corrine, get in the house!" James yelled at me.

"Wh—What?"

"I said, get in the house! I want you sitting right there on the couch where I can see you."

I couldn't move. Then I suddenly understood. After everything he and I had been through the last few months, of all the times I was allowed to be downstairs, after all of the laughs and good times, James still didn't trust me. I was in complete disbelief.

"Now!" he screamed as he hustled over to me, grabbed my arm, and led me back into the house.

"James, you're hurting me!" I yelled.

He was squeezing with all his might. He shoved me on the couch and got into my face, grabbing my quivering chin.

"Don't you dare move, understand? You don't want to imagine what I'll do to you if you do."

"I'll watch her, James." Sophia's soothing voice came lingering behind him.

"Thank you," he said as he ran out the front door.

I put my head in my hands and cried—deep, hurtful bellows. All of my hard work to earn his trust. For nothing. Sophia sat down and put her arms around me.

"It'll be okay. He's just scared."

"Who was that? I don't know who the hell that was," I cried.

But I doubted she could understand a word I was saying through my hysteria. She brought over some tissue, and I tried to calm down.

"Let's watch some TV," Sophia said, grabbing the remote control from the coffee table.

Bam! The front door swung open, and James was holding Alex tightly around her waist as she kept screaming.

"You're hurting me!" She was pretty strong and gave James a run for his money. But he kept her under control, just barely.

Cameron came running in from the back, walked right up to her, and hit her close-fisted with such force, James almost let her go. I was absolutely mortified. I stood up to come to her rescue, but Sophia held me back.

"Let's stay out of it," she said in a low voice.

"Did you think we weren't going to find you? How dare you embarrass me like this. This is how you repay me for taking you out?"

All Alexis did was wail.

"Come on, let's take this into the living room, and I'll give her a sedative for the ride home," Dr. Manning said, motioning Cameron to take Alexis into the other room.

"Sophia, what are they going to do with her?" I asked.

"He's only going to give her something to calm her down. Then Cam will take her home."

"They're not going to . . . kill her, are they?"

"No, no, no. I mean, maybe it's in her future, but not tonight. It's my understanding she's done this before."

James walked over to us, rubbing his forehead in frustration and pacing back and forth.

"Cam should've never taken her out yet, James," Sophia said behind me.

I looked around in a panic, wanting to help her somehow. I failed her. Cameron brought her here, hoping Sophia and I could help her. But we couldn't. I felt so sick to my stomach.

James stopped pacing. "OK, party's over, Corrine. Time for bed."

"But I'm—"

"Bed. Now!" he yelled.

His face was contorted, and I almost didn't recognize him. Even when he had been angry with me before, he always kept some composure. But not this time.

James escorted me upstairs. Not to his room but upstairs. Like a punishment.

I plopped down on the couch, crying, hoping Sophia would come upstairs to keep me company.

Then I heard the deadbolt lock.

The night was over.

I was imprisoned for the first time in weeks.

Thanks for reading! I'd love any feedback, follows, and/or votes. Have a great day. :)