Captured.

I slowely drive past my childhood home. Memories fill my head, but they're not as painful as they used to be. Two years ago my parents died in a car accident. I was nineteen, still young but it was all the rougher for me because we were the perfect family. I chose the university right around the corner to keep living at home. We were one of those families you see on commercials and think "as if". I was close to both my mom and dad, in different ways ofcourse. My mom was my best friend. She was the one I turned to when I needed advice, she was the one that took me shopping, the one that held me when my heart was broken for the first time, the one that sheltered my secrets as if they were hers. My dad was my protector, the one that taught me how a man should really be, the one that took me on my first date, the one that taught me the less enjoyable things of life and the one that influenced my humor. We both have a terrible sense of humor. After they died I was left all alone in that big house. Grandma lived too far away and quite frankly I'd be taking care of her instead of the other way around. I didn't want to leave this place that has all these memories whom haunted me and yet pushed me forward. So I sold the house, using that money and the money of my parents life insurance to keep going. All my friends soon left me, not knowing how to treat someone that was broken inside. Because that was what I was, completely broken. In a way I think I still am, but it's just that the pain doesn't consume me anymore.

Three months after I had gotten my appartment I was sitting in my favorite Starbucks. A girl sat at the table next to me. I'll never forget that look in her eyes, it was the same I saw in mine every morning I stared in the mirror. So I did something I'd normally never do, I asked her if she's okay. She was shocked at first. Didn't understand how I even knew something was wrong in the first place, but after a while we started talking. She was running from something in her past, something she couldn't talk about. Something that broke her too. So I asked her to come live with me. I know asking a complete stranger to live with me isn't the smartest thing to do. But soon Amber and I became best friends. I smile remembering all our nights of crushing on the most hottest actors in as many movies we could watch. Amber had saved me. And I think in a way I had saved her. We pulled eachother up, it was a silent agreement. When one was done, we'd mess around until we felt better. And now I'm working at an animal shelter. Sometimes I just feed, wash and love the animals. But I'm also a vet. I slowely learned to love my life again, though it is still hard sometimes. I pull my car up to the drivinglot. Parking my car I look up at our three story appartment building. Because it was so small it didn't have an elevator. I didn't mind but Amber often groaned my ears off complaining about it. Grabbing my purse I quickly make my way up.

'Sweety, I'm home!' I yell with a chuckle. We always said we'd just live together forever, because fuck men!

'DEMI, NO!' Amber's scream shocks me. A sob is muffled, a sob from her. She cried out to me so many times that I'd reconize it anywhere. I drop my purse and round the corner. For a minute my mind is unable to catch up with the scene in front of me. Amber's face is covered in black smudges, probably from her make-up. A foreign hand is shut over her mouth. A gun is pressed against her temple and just beside the gun is a man. I make brief eye-contact with him. His blue eyes are cold as he stares at me. I can see the corners of his mouth tuck up in a creepy smile. I can see a tattoo creep up from the collar of his black jacket.

'Don't move or she dies.' His voice is rough and dark. The kind that sends warning signals to your head immediatly. I search my brain for anything to say, for anything that I've ever read or seen in a movie that could help me. An episode of Grey's Anatomy comes to mind.

'My name is Demi Scott. I am twenty-one years old. This is my hometown. I grew up in one of those perfect houses with a white fench. The girl you're holding, Amber, is my best friend. She is more like a sister to me, really. We love pizza and staring at the sundown drinking red wine. I've never truly been in love and I'd like to have two kids when I'm older. I work at the local animal-shelter because I love to help animals. Amber is studying fashion, because she wants to design the most beautiful yet cruelity free clothing one day. We are people, we are persons, we have dreams and we'd really like for them to come true.' The man stares at me. The hairs in the back of my neck are standing up straight. I see confusion flash behind his eyes before his gaze shifts down over my body. I start trembling. It isn't hard figuring out what he's thinking. I shut down my fear and take a step forward while I slowely put my hands up.

'Please, take me. Take me and not her.' Amber starts struggling in his arms but quickly stops when he shifts the gun from her head to mine. I can feel the tears streaming down my face but I'm utterly quiet. All I hear are Amber's sobs.

'If I let her live, you're coming with me.' His voice is calm. Too calm for someone who is about to kidnap a girl. I slowely nod my head.

'Just let her go, please.' I keep my hands up while I sink down to my knees, never breaking eye-contact with him. Amber starts shaking her head, her sobs growing louder. The man slowely lets go of Amber, the gun now pointed on her. He walks around her in a wide bow. He comes closer to me while Amber falls to her knees crying.

'My god, Demi! No!' I don't look at her knowing that if I will, I'll probably chicken out. My gaze follows the man as he comes to stand next to me.

'Get up and follow me. If you make one small sudden movement I will kill you both.' I nod and slowely get up while keeping my hands in the air. My arms feel heavy from holding them up but I'm too afraid to let them fall. He grabs my arm and pulls me along with him, the gun still pointing at Amber. We slowely walk backwards towards the door.

'Consider your debt paid, bunny.' I frown at his words but don't have much time to think about them. He opens the door and pulls me along. I can't see the gun anymore but I know he still has it close. I stumble before I remember how to put one foot in front of the other again. As we walk down the stairs I finally realise what I've done. I just signed my own death sentence.