TWELVE

Bella.

‘My nose was the first of my senses to wake as the overpowering stench of what I suspected to be rotting flesh filled my nostrils, almost choking me. I coughed a few times, prying my eyes open, but I couldn’t see a thing.

I went into an instant panic, thinking I’d gone blind and my hands tried to rub my eyes but were met with restriction. I was tied and blindfolded.

Slowly, reality began to set in, I remember matching through the valley, hurrying to catch up with my friends before my face was suddenly covered, followed by a painful sting on my neck and it all went black. It wasn’t a bad dream.

I was kidnapped, panic and fear started setting in, and the stench of the cold room suddenly faded away as I thrashed in my position trying to free myself.

A heavy sob left me and I started screaming at the top of my lungs. I couldn’t utter anything intelligible, I just needed someone to hear me scream.

How long have I been out? What about my parents? Were they looking for me?