Kidnapping: Prolouge

Night had fallen over the quiet suburb. Houses lined the street, lights gleaming from some of their windows. Within her house, Kathy sat in her living room. She turned the pages of her book while readjusting her feet on the couch. A smile crept onto her face as she thought about her son who was lying in his bed upstairs. The nine year old had gone to sleep almost without a hitch. It seemed like it was yesterday she was tucking him in with a bed time story and checking his room for the crafty monsters that hide in little boy's closets. Recently it has been a goodnight kiss and little more. Peaceful silence wrapped around the entire neighborhood, filling the house with a natural calm.

The sound of muffled footsteps roused her from the couch. Her son was not one to sleep walk nor was he one to stay out of trouble all the time. She climbed the stairs shaking her head. 'So much for growing up,' she thought when she got to his room. Entering the drafty room, she saw her son asleep in bed. How anyone could be so still after sneaking around like that was beyond Kathy's knowledge. Sitting on his bed, Kathy began to stroke her son's hair gently.

"Hey big guy, you awake?" He did not move. She shivered a little and continued. "Matt? Don't try and pretend you were sleeping this entire time," Still no answer. "What's the matter honey? Did you do something you think I'll be mad about? If you tell me now, I promise I won't punish--." She trailed off as she noticed the open window and remembered closing it before leaving the room. "Matt, did you open the door? Matt, wake up!" Her voice had become frantic and she shook her son vigorously but with no reward.

Panicking, Kathy rolled her son over and saw his face, pale with his eyes wide open. "Matty! Matty, oh God, please!" She felt by his nose and mouth and checked his pulse. He was still alive but was not moving and needed medical attention. Tears streaming down her face, heart racing, she turned to run for the phone. Something was there, blocking the doorway. The figure, man or monster, reached for Kathy, who backed away with a sharp shriek. Tripping over one of her son's toys, she stumbled, the invader grabbing her before she hit the ground. Kathy could see clearly, the man was wearing a ski mask, only showing his sharp, red, eyes. The man threw her against a wall with great force before grabbing the limp child.

Dazed and frightened, Kathy watched the man leave room. Blood pounding though her veins, she willed her body to stand and chase after her boy's kidnapper. Wading through the pain, she managed to catch him before he went down the stairs. Her adrenalin enriched muscles managed to pull the man back. He fell and she followed, her son falling at the edge of the steps. Kathy began clawing and beating the man. The mask was pulled off the man's face during the scuffle. Enraged, the man grabbed Kathy around the neck and threw against the wall. She could feel a pounding in her skull; the man grabbed her neck again and pulled her up.

Through the pain and disorientation, Kathy saw the man's face. His eyes were a glistening red, contrasting with his fair, white skin. Pale blond hair hid any gray hairs, masking his true age. Slamming her against the wall again, he let go of her neck and she dropped to the ground. She was still conscious but unable to stand up. The man left, quietly walking down the steps until the sound of front door opening and closing announced the man's departure. Kathy had lost her boy. Night had fallen, and the silence was terrifying.