He tried to retreat, but Mercy had one last burst of bravery. As he was floundering around, trying to make sense of what happened, Mercy grabbed his left arm, still propping up his weight on the edge of the trapdoor frame, and pulled.

He came crashing down through the doorway. His left leg struck her shoulder but she barely noticed. He was still screaming, his hands going to his face where the lock-pick was still sticking out.

Mercy wasted no time in watching him. She reached up and grabbed the frame of the trapdoor. She planted both hands on each side and pulled herself up. She did it with such frantic energy and nerves that she nearly catapulted herself out of the cellar. She came out with such force that she toppled over, her legs striking the entryway to the cellar. She wheeled back around and slammed the trapdoor shut. She saw the lock and slammed the U-bolt home, trapping him down there.

Directly in front of her, about ten feet away, was the FBI agent. She was bound to a chair with rope and her arms were tied together with the same duct tape that had been around her own wrist only a few moments ago.

She moved so quickly to the agent that she stumbled and almost fell. Her captors screams continued to belt out from the trapdoor, cursing and wailing, screams of horrendous pain and bloodcurdling hatred.

The agentKate, Mercy remembered again from having heard her captor say itwas shaking her head as Mercy approached her. Kate nodded quickly to the door, trying to get Mercy to escape. And God help her, Mercy nearly did. But she could not leave this poor woman herethis woman who had come to save her. There was no way Mercy could leave her behind.

She approached the chair and looked at the ropes. They were tied tightly around the back of the chair, pulling Kate tightly against it. But the knots were fairly obvious. She worked quickly, a little surprised at how simple the knots were. Apparently, he had been far too interested in what he could do to his new prisoner than applying tighter, more effective knots.

The first loops came away and then the second. But the third was harder. It was then that Kate made a mewling noise through the tape around her mouth. She then held up her arms, showing Mercy the tape. She nodded to the tape and Mercy instantly forgot the ropes and started tearing at the tape. Her hands were sweaty, making it hard to attack it, but she was still fueled on adrenaline and nerves, so tearing it was rather easy. She almost had it, focusing on the tape rather than the terrified look in Kates eyes.