The engine started and the car began to move. For a few minutes the road was bumpy, but then it got smoother. They must be on a main road. She wondered in which direction they were heading, and whether, somewhere above them, a drone was tracking their movements.

She hoped so. She hoped they arrived at their destination soon, and then Rob and Mike and Matt and the police and whoever else they could muster would come and rescue her and she’d see her kids again, her amazing, wonderful kids.

That is, if they were still alive. All she had seen was the car. She had been hoping for a shout in answer to hers, but there had been nothing.

There was no proof her kids were OK. And that made the pain in her arm feel like nothing.

And it made her dangerous. Because once she felt there was nothing to lose, there was no telling what she would do.

She felt the car slowing to a halt and heard another vehicle pass. Traffic lights, maybe. Then the car started moving again and she was pushed to the right as they made a turn.

She had been trying to map their location in her mind, but already it was pointless. She had no idea where they were.

She lay back, her head resting on something hard. Less than two feet from her was the person who had kidnapped her. She still had no idea who it was, or why they wanted her. It was possible it was a fan, but how would they have been able to plan this? How would they have had Matt’s phone number?

The car slowed to a halt again. Another traffic light? She rubbed her head on the seat. The hood lifted, and she managed to shake it off. She tried to twist her body free.

She was pinned in position. Her shoulder ached. This was pointless.

It was also an opportunity to do something, and it could be her last one. If she could get herself free before they started moving, she might be able to disable the kidnapper somehow, or kick out a window and shout for help.

Anything. She didn’t care how much it hurt or how badly injured she might get. Anything was better than this.

She pushed her feet against the side of the car and arched her back.

Her arm moved into a more comfortable position and she felt a bit of space open up around her.

She tensed every muscle in her body and pushed again.

And she felt herself move.

2014