Kiara’s curly brown hair battled her as she attempted to let her hair down. The sweat dripped down her forehead. Kiara sighed as she made her way out of the gym while struggling to carry 2 backpacks. She carefully dropped her backpacks, took out her phone, and dialed her Dad's number. Kiara dreamed of a day when she could fly away like a bird, leaving her family problems behind. The phone continued to ring until she heard her Dad's voicemail. Kiara let out a long tired sigh knowing she was not getting a ride home. The walk to her dad's penthouse was about a mile walk and Kiara was exhausted from an exhilarating volleyball practice. Tired and sleepy Kiara began to stumble home. 

 “Scott, don't do this,” Walker shouted. Scott is Walker's dad although he means nothing to Walker anymore. Walker was a hollow boy who lost his whole world when he was only 7 years old. He was taken out of school the year after his mother died and began supporting his dad fully at 13. Walker knew this idea came from a fuzzy mind after he saw the many alcohol bottles lying on the floor. Dazed and angry Scott screamed, “Go get my van you pathetic waste of space.” 

“Why are you doing this,” Walker gulped as if he already knew what was coming next. Scott charged at Walker causing him to smell the alcohol on his breath. Before Walker could make any sort of escape, in a swift movement Scott’s bare fist slammed directly into Walker's mouth. Pain coursed through him and his vision went blurry. He slowly tasted his salty, metallic blood. He suddenly felt numb. The thoughts of running away flashed through his mind. His father was his bully and he couldn’t bring himself to escape. 

“Get in the back,'' Scott barked.  Walker could still taste the tangy blood in his mouth so he did as he was told. The van was beaten up and rusty, hardly running. They drove for a good 15 minutes before they came to a harsh stop. “Perfect,'' Scott mumbled as he knew she was the perfect victim. She was around 5’5 and had deep chocolate brown hair. The kind that many struggled to keep under control. Her doe eyes wandered around as she heard the van door slam. Before he exited the van he checked the surroundings for people walking down the sidewalk. Nobody. Scott shot a cold look at Walker so he remembered the consequences of not listening.

“Mom? Mommy wakes up,” Walker cried. Blood was pooling from his mom's body as Walker shook her. He quickly snapped his head around at the sound of loud footsteps on the old wood floor. He looked up. Tears trickled from his eyes. Walker's face was blank as terror engulfed him when his dad began to chuckle. Walker’s scream pierced the air as he called out for his mommy one last time not understanding she was gone. But the shadow of his dad remained watching him. The sound of a gunshot was the last thing Walker remembered.

Kiara was still messing with her phone when she heard a car door slam. She quickly whipped her head around to see saw a tall man, in a shiny black leather jacket. New York people were usually dressed weirdly but he looked different. The Erie shadow of the man followed carelessly behind her. As she began to walk faster.

Scott slowly crept towards her. In a sharp movement, Scott covered Kiara's eyes and mouth and dragged her to the van.

Kiara let out a muffled scream, shocked and confused by what was happening. Disoriented, she dug her elbow straight into her kidnapper making him let out a loud yelp. Angry Scott pushed her to the ground pinning her till she stopped squirming.

“Get off of me!” Kiara shrieked. Scott simply laughed at her and told  Walker to finish tying her up. Kiara looked up at Walker with her desperate big brown eyes. He looked back down at her trying to hide his guilt but it was all over his face. When she was loaded in the van, Walker couldn’t look back down because he knew his father's intentions. 

12 minutes and 36 seconds is how long Kiara counted from when she got into the van to the abandoned apartment building. Kiara fiddled with the charm bracelet her mother gave her and knew she might never go home.

“Where the heck is my daughter,” Kiara’s dad shouted at his driver. 

Dan was fuming as he specifically told his driver to pick Kiara up at seven o’clock sharp. 

“I’m sorry sir. I thought you told me she was going to be picked up by friends tonight.”

“Did you forget her,” Dan growled. Without a response, he already knew the answer to his question and slammed his phone on the ground. Angry, he grabbed his car keys and sprinted out the door.

The whole drive Kiara thought of a way to escape. She knew she needed to wait and plan a way out. She knew this wasn’t his intention. A quick stop pulled Kiara from her thoughts. Without warning the back of the van opened.

“Are you going to kill me now?” Kiara’s soft voice tore a hole in Walker's heart. He knew this was all so wrong. He shook his head no but still was trembling which didn’t give Kiara any sort of reassurance. A bird tattoo caught Kiara's eye as Walker looked up at his father.

“Walker be useful for once and tie her up in the shed,” Scott croaked. Walker looked down at Kiara and gently gripped her arm and slowly started walking to the back. 

“Why me, what did I do?” Kiara voiced. When Walker opened the door to the old shed Kiara squirmed and kicked trying to break free. 

“Please shut up or you’ll get us both killed!” Walker pleaded, knowing his dad was a stone-hearted man who didn’t care if his son died.

That idea stuck in Kiara’s head like glue. What would he do to her and what had he done to Walker? Just then the door closed Walker was gone. Kiara waited and waited, never closing her eyes. Her brain was simply too busy. She looked out the window of the ratty shed she was in and only saw a dark alley and trees in the distance. Defeated Kiara let out a long tired sigh and curled up on the filthy concrete floor. Her eyes felt heavy but she didn’t dare to close them all night.

Although the sun was supposed to be up, dark clouds paraded the sky. Heavy raindrops hammered the tin roof. Kiara stood up feeling a bit dizzy from a long night with little sleep. Her memories were cloudy from the night before but she knew she wasn’t far from home. She began searching for something, anything that could help her escape.

Walker woke up to the sound of a door banging shut. He jumped up and ran out of small room he was sleeping in. Brushing the sleep out of his eyes he saw Scott walking out to the shed with a gun in the back pocket of his jeans.

Walker woke up to the sound of doors shutting and cries of pain. The smell of get-well flowers engulfed him. Confused Walker lifted his head but pain shot through his body. Fighting the pain Walker looked around to see tons of machines surrounding him. His hand firmly gripped the cold bed rails as he struggled to hold himself up. When he laid back down on the soft pillow he heard soft footsteps. 

“Oh, you're awake,” a nurse uttered.

“Where’s my mom,” Walker demanded, “she was sleeping and I couldn’t wake her up.” His gaze swiveled over the hospital room looking for his mom.

“Dear, your mother is gone.”

“No, I was just with her.”

“Walker your mom was found unresponsive.”

“Are you guys gonna fix her? Because I need her to read my bedtime stories.”

“No honey your mother is dead, we tried to save her but it was too late.”

Without shoes, Walker bolted outside and caught up with his father.

“ What are you going to do to her,” Walker yelled. 

His dad spun around emotionless and simply ignored Walker's demands. But before continuing walking he pointed his gun and walker silently communicating how little he cared for 3Walker. Without another word, Walker turned around and went back into the musty apartment.

“Well, who do we have here?” Scott asked in a tone so mischievous Kiara could taste it. 

“My name is Kiara Miller.” 

Scott released a slight nod and shot another question at Kiara.

“Mmmh Kiara, I think this will work very nicely,” Scott chuckled.

“For what?” Kiara stuttered, “What do you mean?” Scott just grinned and walked out.

Later that night, Walker couldn’t fall asleep, so he checked on Kiara. On the way out to the beat-up old shed, Walker thought about this poor girl. He was practically shaking as he touched the lock on the door. Kiara was lost in her dreams but jumped awake when she heard the lock opening.

“It’s me, Walker, don't worry I’m not gonna hurt you,” Walker whispered.

“Why are you here?” Kiara sniffled.

“My dad is going to kill you,” Walker replied in a soft voice.

“Is that all you have to say to me?” Kiara asked.

“My father, is not in the right mind,” Walker mumbled.

“then just let me talk to my father, I want to say goodbye” Kiara pleaded.

“I can’t you will say something,” Walker gulped. This sent shivers through Kiara’s core.

“Please help me, I don't want to die,” Kiara begged, hot tears streaming down her face. How can this be happening to her?

Walker sighed and reminded her, “I will try to help you but my father will kill both of us if he finds out.”

“You can come with me, We can leave if you have the keys to open this shed, We can fly away like birds and finally be free,” Kiara announced. 

“Well I don't have keys for the van so we wouldn't be able to get very far Kiara,” Walker explained wearily. 

“Is there any way you could get them,” asked Kiara. She could sense that Walker wasn’t fully prepared to leave his only home. 

“I- uh could try to get them but not tonight,” uttered Walker. Walker fidgeted anxiously knowing this plan was risky and could get him into some trouble possibly killed. 

“Don't let me die,” Kiara pleaded. 

Walker rushed out knowing what Kiara was asking him to do put him in danger. However, is the life he's living right now much better than dying? He wished he could just fly away as Kiara stated. Walker crept back into the house questioning what he just encountered. 

Kiara sat on the dusty concrete floor, tears rolling down her cheeks knowing that Walker was her last hope of escaping. Her mind raced with thoughts of being tortured and killed. She endlessly pondered other opportunities for escape as she struggled to fall asleep. 

The next morning Kiara awoke as the shed door slammed. She saw a tall man dressed in all Black with a gun fastened to his waistband. She quivered as she stood up wondering what was about to happen to her. 

“Hmmm, what should I do with you?’ Scott chuckled. Without warning, Scott closed the space between him and Kiara. 

“Let me be found.”

“You're not even gonna negotiate with me,” Scott laughed, “all of the other ones did.” The thoughts of the many other girls made her sick. She looked down at her feet struggling to not cry. Just as her hope is diminishing, Walker appears in the doorway with a shovel. Scott turned around with a pleased look on his face.

“Finally you’ve done something useful.” 

“Of course, Scott,” Walker looked at Kiara’s stunned face, betrayal in her eyes. The clouds screamed and rain beat down on Walker. As Walker stepped into the shed he turned his gaze towards Scott.

“Can I Please put an end to this useless girl?” Scott nodded but gave Walker a confused look. Walker raised the shovel into the air directing it at Kiara. 

“Let them find me,” Kiara cried. Without another word, Walker extended his arm but violently turned at Scott smacking him over the head causing him to fall to the ground in pain.

“We need to leave now,” Walked demands in an anxious voice. 

“What's happening?” Kiara asks.

“We need to get out of here, I've realized my only hope of living a normal life is leaving this place,” Walker desperately cried out.

Without another word, Kiara jumped up and they ran out the door. 

“Where are we going,” Kiara asked with desperation. 

“We are getting out of here before my father kills us,” Walker replies. 

In an instant, Walker's father came into view stopping them in their tracks. 

“What are you doing with the girl.”  Without warning Scott begins hurling towards them as they dash through the Brush-filled yard and into the driveway where the van is parked. Just as they open the doors to the van gunshots ring over their shoulders. 

“Get in” Walker screams as a bullet pierces his chest. 

Kiara pulled Walker the rest of the way in and started the van as bullets ricocheted off the sides. She puts the van in drive and the tires squeal as they pull off. 

“Do you have a phone,” Kiara shouted. But Walker was passed out and bleeding rapidly. Kiara turns to get the phone out of his pocket as she realizes the extent of his wounds. She quickly grabs the phone and dials her dad's phone number as they drive towards the hospital. 

“Hello, who is this?” Her Dad questions.

“It’s Kiara meet me at the hospital,” As the phone dies. 

Kiara knows she has to speed to the hospital if she wants to save Walker. They arrive at the hospital and Kiara drags Walker From the van through the hospital lobby and pleads for help. 

“My name is Kiara Miller I've been kidnapped and escaped,” 

Dazed and confused, Walker knows deep down Kiara is not going to tell them about his dad being the kidnapper. A nurse runs up to them and calls for the help of other nurses. The nurses helped Walker to a stretcher and wheeled him away. The nurses then try to comfort Kiara as they have seen her story all over the news the past day. Within a few minutes, many police arrive at the hospital to question Kiara, and eventually her dad shows up. 

“Oh my gosh Kiara I'm so glad you're alive, I tried to find you,” Kiara’s dad says with tears rushing down his face. 

Drenched and tired Kiara said, “ I know Dad I'm safe now.”

 A nurse approached them and said, “Walker is not awake yet and he is in critical condition but, you may go see him.” The two rush to Walker's hospital room and find him resting peacefully. Kiara looked up from Walker to the bird nest out the window. The nest was occupied by four beautiful baby birds. They were so young and had such a long life ahead of them. 

10 Years Later…

Kiara was running for her life bullets flying at her and she couldn’t move. She watched herself die over and over. She let out a terrorized scream waking Walker up. He knew these dreams. Sweat was beating down Kiara’s face as she tried to conceal her cries. 

“They are just dreams you're safe now,” Walker reassured her, “I get them too.” Walker held her tight trying to take away the pain of her past. 

“Do you remember it?” Kiara whispered.

“Yes, every second of it. But it’s over and he is in jail.” Kiara closed her eyes but continued thinking about that night. The night she thought she would never hear birds chirping on a warm summer day or feel a hug from her dad again. 

In a tired voice, Kiara muffled, “You risked it all for a girl you just met, you saved my life and asked for nothing in return. It’s embarrassing being scared when you used to live like that all the time.”

“Don’t ever feel guilty, you saved me,” Walker murmured, “In every way a person can be saved. I chose to stay and live that life. I let him push me around but, you changed me. Even if I was your kidnappers' son. You didn’t look at me with disgust or horror, you saw me for me. Not the man my father was.” Those words held on to Kiara for the rest of her life.