****

The pounding behind her eyelids woke her. She murmured a protest and tried to turn on her side, but the task proved impossible.

Janet’s eyes shot open when the memory of her abduction hit her. She attempted to shift her weight but pain shot through her arms which dangled above her. Panic-stricken eyes traveled the length of her bound arms. Shock bolted her upright when she realized she'd been shackled to the wall. Her body screamed in protest with her sudden change of position from slouched on the stone and dirt floor.

Her eyes adjusted to the dim light that peeked through the small window above her.

She was in a basement, of that she was certain. Her clothes were intact, and her body felt more normal than not. The fact she had no recollection of how she had gotten to where she was scared the hell out of her, and had her worrying about whether or not she’d been raped. Her memory flashed to a past patient who had been violated during a drug induced stupor. The lady woke with a distinct feeling of the violation, but couldn’t remember the act.

Trying her best to keep her wits about her, Janet closed her eyes and forced her breathing to slow down.

“Freaking out isn’t going to help,” she told herself.

She wanted to panic. God knew she was on the edge. But doing so would decrease her chances of survival.

How many times had she stood by a patient’s side, listening to the cop’s applauding a victim’s strong sense of calm, which kept the person alive? Or the opposite when, under whispered words around a grieving family, the police told the ER staff of what could have been to make the outcome more favorable.

Janet opened her eyes again, shaking loose the images of dead patients from her mind.

Assess first.

The basement was large, probably under a house of at least two thousand square feet. Pivoting, she noticed a set of stairs, wooden and broken down. The pipes above her head were old and covered in rust. No noise came from them, leading her to believe the house above was vacant.

She gave the chains that bound her hands a quick tug. They were secure and unlike everything else around her, new.

She managed to get to her feet, giving her arms a break and increasing the circulation to her fingertips.

On her right, she noticed another set of chains. Leaning in she saw something hanging on them. Her eyes narrowed before terror in the form of a scream escaped her throat.

Flesh and strands of skin dried in blood hung to the edges of the metal links.

Her screams filled the empty space. Her breath ragged and forced controlled every muscle in her body. Grotesque images haunted her concerning the fate of the person there before.

Her eyes dropped to the ground and saw for the first time the dried blood she sat in. Her screams erupted again, until thankfully she passed out.

****

They gathered, as they always did when one of their own was threatened.

Stoned-faced and determined, Max stood over the pack. Every one of them brought a civilian so cars could be driven at night.

“How do we know where he’s keeping her?”

“We don’t.” Max’s admission came at a price. Not having the exact location would mean they would have to spread out. Doing so was risky. The outcome, uncertain. “The address on the matchbook could be nothing more than a trap.”

“Going there could mean suicide, Max.”

He glared at his brother who stated the obvious. “Not going would mean her death. Or worse.”

Richard nodded.

“You’ll follow me to this address. The rest of you, pan out to his other known locations. Keep your cells on. If I leave this address with another person let the others know where I am,” he told his brother.

“He could kill you then and there,” Lisa, his twenty-four year old cousin said from the side.

Max shook his head. “No. He wants me to watch.” At least that’s what Max kept telling himself. Gorman wanted to torment, otherwise he would have already done away with Janet. Keeping her alive would draw Max to him.

Max’s father pounded him on his back. “We’ll get her, son.”

“We need to get moving.” Lisa started for the door. “Sundown is in less than two hours.”

Max held back while the others filed out of his home. His father stood by his side.

“She’s the one, dad. I can’t let him have her.”

A smile skirted across his father’s face. “I thought as much. It isn’t like you to call the whole clan.”

“Gorman can’t turn her.”

“We won’t let that happen.”

Max shoved his fists in his pockets. “If he tries, and I’m unable to stop him. Get to her first.” The unspoken request for his father to be the one to change Janet before Gorman had a chance to, left an empty hole in the pit of Max’s stomach.

“I will.”

Chapter Seven

The address Max obtained directed him to a neighborhood filled with rundown houses and graffiti clad streets. Heavy iron bars burdened every window and door, indicating that this was not the place to linger unless you belonged. Even then the chances of surviving past nightfall was slim.

Max walked the perimeter of the house before approaching the door. She wasn’t there, had never been according to his nose.

Just as assured of her absence, he was certain he was being watched. Over his shoulder, he noted the van his brother drove parked several houses down.

Inside the boarded up, abandoned home would be a clue as to where to find her.

It wasn’t locked. In fact, the door almost crumbled when he opened it wide. With a gun in front of him, he bent his ear to listen for signs of life.

All he heard was the hum and static of an old television. The dial and tube type, which took several minutes to warm up once turned on.

The black and white picture filtered snow on the screen. He stepped closer for a better look.

His throat clenched. There she was, chained like an animal, and dangling on a wall.

Janet struggled to free herself. Her frantic movements showed him her desperation.

“I’ll kill you for this you son of a bitch!” he yelled, spinning around as he did.

Laughter crackled through the speakers of the old set. Max focused on the TV. Janet had stopped her movements. Her feet braced wide as if ready for a fight.

“You’ve been quite a nuisance, Ritter.” Gorman’s voice said in defiance.

“It’s me you want. Leave her alone.” Max said to the set, not certain he could be heard.

“Max? Is that you?” Janet frantically searched the room. “Please, Max. Help me.”