Fitcher's Byrd - A Story of Abduction

Fitcher's Byrd

- A Story of Abduction -

By Christine Diamond

***Trigger warning: If you are sensitive to abduction, sex trafficking or rape please be advised this story contains those topics. Decide if you are in a good place before you read.***

A bright orange harvest sun began its descent behind the tree lined family neighborhood. Inside a small town suburban house in quiet Alabama sat a family of five; two docile parents and three very lively teenage girls. The dinner table was filled with a balanced meal of comfort food: chicken casserole, green beans and mashed potatoes with a crisp drink of fresh grape juice from the garden. The girls; Savannah, Kaylee and Madison, happily chatted away about their current crushes. The father and mother lightly listened in with soft smiles resting on their faces, not a shadow of worry to trouble them, at least for now.

Mrs. Byrd was not usually home at this hour and was putting second helpings on her youngest daughter’s plate a bit robotically. “I really just, I don’t want any more right now mom, okay?” Madison huffed at her mother, looking down at her fingernails, she noticed some of the black polish needed a touch up. 

“Oh, gotcha...yeah I guess you don’t need that much,” her mother sighed as she paused, a wooden spoon with a snowball size scoop of mash potatoes still hovering above the plastic plate.

Mr. Byrd sat in his chair leaning over his favorite food, eager to finally eat a homemade meal with his family. When he heard the “Bing!” chime on his phone, he looked at the reminder message from his employer, rolled his eyes, and then excused himself to make a phone call. 

“Yep, I’ll be in later. Who am I covering for again?” His tired voice trailed away as he meandered into the living room to relax on his chair. The rest of the family resumed their meal, dad usually had something to do for work even when he was home. Mr. Byrd was exhausted, his heavy deep set eyes stared ahead, as though studying the fake wood paneling of the outdated home.

The lights of the house flicked on as the sun fully set. In the youngest sister’s room, Madison rushed to wind down for bed. Brushing her teeth at the same time as she changed from her school clothes to her pajamas. She was so excited to see if Josh replied to her. He was much older than her, but she didn’t care. The butterflies of nerves and excitement fluttered around in a flurry as she pulled up her phone, clicked the home button and found the dating app she had installed. Madison adored Josh, he complimented her and showered her in affection. Often she felt overlooked in most places, invisible, not important, but it was different with him.

A few months ago she had added her sister’s birthday plus a year to be able to sign up and be allowed to post a dating profile. With clever contouring, wearing a push up bra and her sister’s clothes, she could pretty easily pass off for an 18 year old even though she had just barely become a teen herself.

She swiped over to the messages and saw Josh’s picture. His emerald green eyes pierced into her young heart and she swooned. The notification bubble above his lightly tanned face indicated that he had replied to her! With one tap she was to find out what her love thought of her today. They had been talking for a couple months and yet she knew that when they eventually met that her life would be changed forever. 

Josh’s last message had been about his favorite football team and how he wanted to take her to the local high school game sometime soon. First he wanted to send her a gift to show how much he cared about her. 

[Josh “Hey babe, I want to send you a present. 

What’s your address?

Been thinking about you all day.”]

Her mind filled with a thrill of questions and her heart was elated at the thought of finally meeting him. What was she going to say? She hadn’t told her parents about him yet. What would they think of him being older? Would they let her date a Senior? 

“Should I send him another pic? Oh, what could it hurt? He is going to send me something, it's the least I could do…and I’ll see him tomorrow. Yeah, I can trust him.” she justified to herself.

[Madison “Hey hot stuff, I’ve been thinking about you too. 

You can send it to…”]

They talked into the night, gushing over each other.

[Josh “What perfume do you like to wear?

I’m excited to hold you. 

You make me so hard for you”

Madison “Oh… I would love that! Um.. I wear Fierce by JLo.” 

Josh “I need you with me soon. 

Will you send me a picture of you in your bed? 

With your shirt off??”]

Madison luckily hadn’t taken her makeup off yet, and snapped a picture with just her bra on and sent it to her love Josh. She angled the camera above her head and looked up, remembering he liked this pose last time. 

 

[Josh “You’re so hot! I want to make out with you right now… When can I see you?”

Madison “You’re making me blush…Well, I’m free whenever. What do you have in mind?”]

[Josh “How about ice cream? My dad will be driving though, hope that’s okay.”

Madison “Yay! Yes, that sounds wonderful. Pick a day and let me know.”

Josh “Awesome! How about tomorrow night?? I’m looking forward to kissing your soft lips…”

Madison “Eee! Me too. I can’t wait to kiss you. 

If you can believe it, you’ll actually be my first kiss.”]

[Josh “Just don’t let any of your family know that we are coming. 

I’ll text you when we get here. 

It’ll be our secret for now.”

Madison “Ooo okay, I like secrets.”

Josh “I’ve got like 2% battery left… Love you babe. 

See you tomorrow.”

Madison “I love you too!!!! Night <3 <3”]

She sighed deeply and plopped her head back on her plush kitty pillow and fell asleep dreaming of what it would be like to finally meet him.

The morning sun peaked in through Madison’s window and tapped her on the eyes. She vaguely remembered her dream, she was kissing Josh on a park bench having just finished eating their delicious ice cream cones. “Oh yeah! Today’s the day! Eeek! What should I wear?!” She frantically paced her room throwing all her clothes out of the closet and rummaging through outfits that would make her appear older. She settled on a pair of snug black skinny jeans with plenty of tears across the thighs to show she was edgy, and a fitted hot pink camisole with studded diamonds at the top for the eyes to be drawn lower. Of course she would cover up her cami with a plain tshirt so her father wouldn’t confront her about it. 

Rushing down the steps, she headed outside the front door, into the crisp fall air, dashing straight to the bus stop. Nothing else but her lover could interest her or keep her focus at all. Josh was talking to her off and on. Her nerves began to well up and clench her stomach tight; like a vice grip had been pinched in between her ribs and her belly button. 

Her oldest sister, Savannah, checked in as usual. 

[“Hey Maddie, how’s your day going? Did you get the results from your history quiz? I bet you rocked it. Love you!” 

Madison “It’s great! Yup, got an 84%, so yeah pretty good. Hugs <3”]

She smiled and placed her phone back down on her lap. Savannah was simply the best. 

Mr. and Mrs. Byrd were good people, but they were too busy with work to care about the day to day moments of their young teens, so Savannah had stepped in as Maddie and Kaylee’s pseudo momma.

The evening came and Madison skipped off the middle school bus and flew home as fast as her little tween legs could carry her. The thrill of her encounter with her crush was all she could think about, she decided she would curl her long golden locks and spritz on some of the perfume Josh said he liked. Dinner was over, her sisters were busy with homework, both mom and dad had left to work their night shifts. She could follow Josh’s plan. No one would miss her right now anyway. 

 

[Josh messaged her, “Hey babe, I’m here out front with my dad. You ready? 

Remember it’s our secret.”

Madison “Yes! I am. I’ll be out in just a sec.”] 

She didn’t take the front door, she slipped out the side entrance furthest from her preoccupied family and entered the night air. The light breeze caused a shiver to tickle her spine in anticipation.  Here he was. This was it. Her night.

The generic black car out front had darkened windows, but she could tell that two people were sitting in the front seats. She walked up to the car and knocked on the window. The guy she saw inside looked nothing like his pictures. A strong desire to scream filled her very being, but the window flashed down quickly and a white cloth was pressed into her face snuffing out any power to her voice. She was fading, her body slumped. They pulled her into the back seat of this mysterious car and drove off.

---

One eye slightly cracked open, followed by the other. The first thing that came into view were the flames of a steady fire in a comfortable hearth. She scanned the room and saw deep rich leather couches, soft fluffy throw blankets and an enormous entertainment center with the largest T.V. screen she’d ever seen. Madison had been laying flat on one of the couches and as her body began to regain strength, she pushed herself up onto her elbows. A man’s shadow entered the room. She froze. He sat down in the chair near her and said in a low voice, “Welcome to your new home, girl.” This man introduced himself, “I’m Fitcher and this is my cabin. I’m sure you’re hungry, you fell asleep before dinner.” Another young woman was beckoned into the room, her face covered in a mask of heavy makeup and a blank stare. “Yo babe, come here! Bring this girl some food.” She sauntered off slowly yet directly and soon came back with some fresh pizza from the kitchen. 

Madison’s heart was beating deep thuds inside her small frame, she recoiled away from this stranger, leaned to her right and tried to jump up off the couch. Fitcher’s piercing gaze held her in place. Her eyes were wide with terror and shock, she finally mustered up enough courage to ask, “W-W-What is this place? How...How... did I get here?” Madison’s mind was racing ‘Where is the door?… I need to run.’ her panic grew. She was confused at the same time. This place didn’t seem that scary. Her mind flooded with questions, ‘Where is Josh? What happened? Why am I here? Who is this man? How do I get out?’ Madison again thought about fleeing, she eyed the large window nearby, and debated on trying to open it and run. Fitcher interrupted her frantic thoughts and began to rattle off a list of things. “Hey girl, I don’t know why you’d want to leave this place. It has everything you could ever want. We have every movie, game or any type of entertainment available at a touch of a button, fancy dinners every night, oh and you can dress up in fabulous clothes. Babe, you can be anything you want. Look, Pizza’s here, just take a bite and relax.”

The slice of pizza was eaten mechanically. Fitcher stood up towering over her, and took her hand, gesturing with the other that he was to lead her somewhere. “Hey, I’ll give you a tour to make you feel more at home.”

It was strange to lightly touch this man’s rough weather-worn hands as she finally resigned herself to being led around a foreign space. She didn’t know what else to do so she stayed silent and kept walking. His grey eyes shone with something odd, almost like excitement but not quite. 

Fitcher knew what was going to happen to Madison, like a hunter who had just ensnared his prey. He looked at her, but not really. She was just a body. Swiftly she passed the luxurious granite sparkling countertops, and the bounteous snacks in the pantry. They rushed down the hall to look in the closets of a few of the bedrooms. The wardrobes were extremely varied and left nothing to the imagination, she vaguely knew what happened in these bedrooms, even though she didn’t really fully know what IT was. Something shifted and she pondered, “It might be nice to be pretty and be admired…someone to actually notice me... I just want to talk to Josh.” This peculiar thought hung in her mind. They suddenly came to a halt and it dawned on her that Josh wasn’t real. This man who gripped her hand was.

Fitcher stopped by a locked door at the end of the hall. His scruffy face came really close to Madison’s, she could tell he had eaten some of the pizza earlier, his breath filled her lungs. She cringed at the smell, and flinched as his rough hands held her by both shoulders against the wall. She was frozen in place, and couldn’t move. Her personal space was no longer her own. He declared suddenly gruff and serious, “Never open this door, or else you’ll be taken inside. Get this inside your head, you do not want to be brought down here.” His voice softened slightly and he added, “Don’t worry though, if you follow orders you will have a rockin’ life. You are free to roam anywhere else inside this cabin.” With that, he handed her two objects; a simple digital camera and an old metal key. 

She couldn’t hold it in any longer and tears began to well up in her eyes. She pitifully cried, “I-I-I want to go home…”

A wide devious smirk filled his stubbled face, he then coaxed her, “This is your home. Babe, you knew this would happen, and you knew this is what you wanted. Why else would you have talked to older men, unless you wanted to be seen as a woman and not a silly girl?”

“I’m leaving now, take some hot pics of yourself in whatever outfits you want. This key is to the door I just showed you. I will know if you use it. If you don’t use it you will be greatly rewarded.”

He turned away and in an instant took a few large strides and was out of the hall. She heard the front door slam and lock, and his heavy steps fell as he walked away, like thunder waves to her young heart. Fitcher meant business, he walked down the front steps and positioned himself in his car to prepare for the hunt, again. 

Madison held her breath. She was alone, but somehow knew she was being watched.

---

Beads of sweat trickled down Kaylee’s face. Her honey blond hair stuck out in all directions from the ponytail that was tied to the top of her head. Kaylee’s curls bounced as she smiled at her last throw. She had just finished practicing her pitch in the backyard and was getting pretty fast. The red lights on her small speed gun read 70mph. ‘Yeah...that’s good for now. I’ve got to head in soon. Ah, I’ll just try out a few more curveballs.’ she reasoned to herself.

After some solid throws she heard an odd noise. It felt like she was being watched. It was very dark, only the backyard security lights shone by the wood planked porch. Something rustled the plush landscaping by the innocent plastic white gate. She looked behind her, and before she could even think a single thought, two men pinned her down to the grassy earth and her vision clouded. Kaylee, age 15 and filled with life, was trapped.

With her eyes slightly open, Kaylee could see a cozy living room come into focus as she slowly blinked her heavy eyelids. She rested flat on her back upon a leather couch. A soft fur throw was draped over her knee high socks, and red and white striped baseball shorts. Her arms were warm as the morning sunlight trickled through the window nearby. A large flat screen TV was looming overhead, and several plates with pizza crust were strewn about the coffee table to her right. 

Trying to sit up, her head began pounding like the drums of war. The rhythm disorienting her, causing her to get a slight headache. As she sat up she rested her head on her hands, the sweat had dried crunchy in her hair and she could feel a layer of grime had built up. Kaylee really wanted a shower, to wash away the nightmare from her mind. 

It was strange, she started to realize that she might actually be living in the nightmare… Her heart filled to the brim with dread. Kaylee’s green eyes flashed around the room looking for a sign of escape. There it was, a tall solid oak front door. She stood up and was about to bolt for it when a suntanned gruff man entered the living room from the kitchen. Fitcher found her, and eased his way further into the room, ready to break another horse. Fitcher pulled the same routine with Kaylee. 

“Welcome to your new home, girl.” This man introduced himself, “I’m Fitcher and this is my cabin. I’m sure you’re hungry, you fell asleep before breakfast was ready.”

She didn’t know that he had already taken her baby sister, and done the same song and dance with her. Kaylee stood tall and put up her fists, her muscular legs in a strong stance. She was mortified to be kidnapped, but she wouldn’t go down without a fight. “Stay back! I’m warning you,” she declared.

Fitcher chuckled and plopped himself into the cushion of the nearby leather lazy recliner. “I don’t know what you’re so worked up about babe.” This time he pulled out his phone in a relaxed nonchalant attitude and sent a message. Looking up from the screen, he smirked at Kaylee’s small teen fists and stated as a matter of fact, “Breakfast is on it’s way.” 

“Well, I don’t want your stupid food,” Kaylee threw back at him. 

Then he commanded, “Sit down, right now or you’ll make things worse for yourself.”

Kaylee was taken off guard by the order, but was not sure she wanted to give up quite yet and start following orders from her captor. She looked everywhere for any sign of an exit. Slowly she crept backwards away from the man resting on the recliner. Her adrenaline was still pumping heavily through her veins. Kaylee was different. She dashed over to the front door. As quickly as she arrived she realized that it was locked from the inside. Try as she might she could not get the bolt to budge, she could not get out. Fitcher stood up, this time his face wasn’t so soft. She could see the intense focus of a predator as he steadily made his way toward her. Kaylee was the prey, she was like a deer caught in the headlights. Stuck with no place to run.

Although an athlete and a fighter, Kaylee was overpowered by this cold-hearted man. He grabbed her by the upper arm and her wrist, holding on with a fierce grip. Kaylee didn’t know to be looking for her baby sister, as she was pulled about by Fitcher’s rough calloused hands. Madison was nowhere to be found in this tour of the cabin. He warned Kaylee about the door, and gave her a camera and key as well. She began to sob, her mind flooded with questions, “Why is this happening to me? Who are these people? How can I get out? What can I do?”. 

Fitcher was forceful and shoved Kaylee against the wall. His hairy forearm was pressed firmly under her chin and wedged tight against her neck. It was difficult for her to breathe. His face was only an inch away, his damp breath sprayed her. In his deep gruff voice he growled, “You may think you’re strong, but you are not. You may think you are smart, but you’re just a dumb girl. You may think you have fight in you, but it will soon be gone. This is your new home. Get used to it…” Fitcher tossed her away from him and Kaylee slumped to the floor her fight drained for the moment. Back to business, he grabbed a couple items and put them in his pockets. He kicked the key and camera back over to Kaylee, since she had dropped them while being held to the wall. She looked at her small hands that braced her on the slate gray tile floor. She sat there shaking like a mini earthquake. With a few heavy strides, the man was gone. 

Kaylee held her breath. She was alone, but somehow knew she was being watched.

---

Finally at home from school and her part time job, Savannah laid down her thin yet tall frame on the tired blue cotton sofa in the living room. Her short honey brown pixie cut smashed comfortably into the washed out needlepoint pillow. The faded words read “When we have each other, we have everything,” in sage green fraying thread. With her phone in hand, she reviewed her messages for the day. Savannah was the oldest teen and she hadn’t heard anything from either of her sisters all day. They typically checked in with each other often since mom and dad both started working long hours at the town's local oil fields. 

[Savannah to Madison 1:15pm 10/31

“Hey Maddie, how’d it go with your art presentation? Did Mr. Tanner like the hidden images you put in the background?”

Savannah to Madison 3:30pm 10/31

“Hey girlie girl… what’s up? No update for me?”

Madison made no reply

Savannah to Madison 5:58pm 10/31

“Maddie, it’s not funny you know that you’re supposed to be home. I know it’s Halloween weekend, but mom and dad said you were to check in with me while they are out.”]

Savannah normally heard back from Kaylee at lightning speed. That girl was always on top of things. Stellar student, incredible athlete and super witty humor. 

Savannah had also tried to reach Kaylee but all she got were crickets…

[Savannah to Kaylee 1:20pm 10/31

“Hi there Kaykay, how was lunch? Did Matt sit by you again? He’s such a cutie.”

Savannah to Kaylee 3:43pm 10/31

“What? No updates??” 

Savannah to Kaylee 5:30pm 10/31
“Kaylee, I haven’t heard anything from you or Maddie all day. Mom and dad are both working late again tonight. Has Maddie said anything to you today?”

Savannah to Kaylee 7:25pm 10/31

“Okay, it’s not funny anymore. If you are out with friends just let me know so I don’t have to worry.”]

Savannah was starting to panic. Her workaholic parents wouldn’t be home until 10pm or so, what was she supposed to do until then?

For a moment she lost herself in a few episodes of her favorite comedy. The greenish blue light from the TV screen shone on her face. Nothing could make her laugh. No stupid joke could distract her mind from trying to figure out where in the world her sisters could be. 

“Uggghhh, I gotta do something!” She complained out loud to herself. Nothing but the TV was awake to hear her frustration. Sitting up, she leaned over resting her arms on the top of her thighs and started searching for the app to help her locate her sisters’ phones. 

She entered in the correct login and selected the option “Find my friend’s phone”. Soon she saw that both sisters’ phones were at the same location, near some random road in the woods. The Byrd family had been down that area for a summer camp out when Savannah was really young, well before the oil mines grew so large. There were cabins and trails and some wealthy people even had resort style lodges out there. It was odd that both Maddie and Kaykay would be together on a Friday night for Halloween. They flew in very different circles. Madison tried to be much more edgy and popular than necessary, and Kaylee spent time with a more serious future focused crowd. The only thing she could think of that would bring both of them out there was that Madison must have convinced Kaylee to take her to a Halloween party of some kind. Kaylee wasn’t one to stay out too late, or at least not one to completely avoid answering text messages. 

“That’s it!” She declared in frustration, “I’ve got to go hunt down these silly girls. If I don’t, who will?”

Savannah rummaged through her parents’ closet. She was digging through hefty storage boxes pulled down from the top shelf. Her wide hazel eyes searched through lumps of cloth to find a bulky costume to hide in. If she had to crash a dumb high school Halloween party she was going to be covered up in something big so no one from school would be able to recognize her. 

She found it! The costume her dad wore several years ago for Halloween. He had been so proud of the joke he made. He was “Mr. Byrd”, so he had dressed up as a large white bird with fluffy feathered wings on his arms, a pudgy body suit like typical school mascots wear, a long yellow beak on his smirking face and a pair of aviator glasses to be ‘cool’. “Get it I’m Mr… Byrd…?! Haha” he had chuckled, as his daughters rolled their eyes, then smiled. They squealed and jumped up and down ready for trick-or-treating down the darkening culdesac. 

Bringing herself back to the present moment, Savannah wriggled inside the large outfit, the wings hung lower on her arms, the beak covered most of her face, and she was glad to have something to wear to cover her eyes too. “This will work perfectly. I can swoop into the party without being recognized, and only Kaykay and Maddie will know it’s me haha,” she mused. Pleased with her decision, she opened the front door, locked it and walked down to the driveway. Hopping into her mom’s old red sedan, she made her journey into the woods. 

The phone was cradled in its stand on the dusty dash. Savannah carefully followed the GPS coordinates from the lost phone app, until it stopped. A pleasant British-man's AI voice declared, “You’ve arrived!” She pulled the car off to the side of the forest road, next to a tall blue spruce, and looked at her surroundings. There were no other roads to turn down nor houses or cabins to approach. She was puzzled at what to do. The evening was still and silent. The moon, a waxing gibbous, nearing it’s full illumination. 

After a while of pondering what to do next, she thought she’d start up the car and try meandering around hoping to come across some clue as to where these silly sisters of hers could be. Before she even turned the keys in the ignition, a thundering base vibrated through the ground. Bright headlights nearly blinded her as a sup-ed up yellow sports car zoomed in her direction. Good thing she had her sunglasses on, otherwise it would have taken a while to readjust to the darkness of the night. 

The sports car didn’t continue on its race down the road, the breaks screeched and the windows rolled down. Two men dressed as Lloyd and Harry from Dumb and Dumber could be seen as the tinted window was lowered. She followed their lead and rolled her window down too.

“Yo, what are you doin’ around here?” The guy in the light blue suit demanded. 

Savannah felt it best that these men think she was a man too, so she lowered her voice a bit and with as much courage as she could muster she replied loudly, “I’m looking for the Halloween party. Why else would I be dressed like this?”

The first guy rubbed his perfectly manicured goatee for a second, a wicked smile grew on his deep espresso face. Then he turned to the ruddy faced man who sat in the passenger seat and slapped him on the shoulder, laughing, “Man, this must be a sick party! I thought there were only a few people invited. It’s probably going to be dope.” She could see the other guy reply with a slight smile too. He wore the most grotesque frilly orange suit.

Bringing his gaze back to Savannah, the driver’s deep brown eyes tried to search hers, but couldn’t see past the shades. With his brows high in excitement, he exclaimed, “Okay, man we will show you the way, but you owe us. It’s supposed to have the best hookups, and girls.”

From the top of the spruce an alert owl watched the loud men rev the engine of the sports car, rumbling the world as they left, and pull onto the main road. They were followed by a timid red family car. Once finished witnessing this interaction, the bird of prey flew over the road and pounced upon an unsuspecting rodent. 

Somehow she hadn’t noticed it before, but not too far off to the right hand side of the street, heading west, there was what seemed like an insignificant tree stump. A red hatchet’s blade was stuck into the top of it, and the letter “F” engraved on the bark below. The men turned off the main highway and a dirt road was revealed, hidden from sight to everyday traffic under low hanging branches. The trees seemed to warn her with little taps and scrapes that something wasn’t right about this location. Her heart picked up pace and she began to worry if she made the right call to follow them. The trees backed away and gave up, it quickly opened up to a paved road that led deep into the woods. In under a minute of driving, a large luxury cabin came into view. Soft amber lights shone up at the trees and lit up the grand entrance. The driveway was decorated with fish-bone pavers and gorgeous woodland groundskeeping. They all exited their vehicles and Savannah did everything within her power to breathe and remain calm. 

The warm glow of candles flickering in Jack-o-lantern pumpkins lined the walkway up to the mammoth entrance door. The dumb and dumber guys rang the doorbell. A scantily clad sexy french maid with silver sparkles in her hair and extreme long lashes opened the door. With a trained smile she beckoned them all to enter. 

Purplish black lights filled the spaces where normal light bulbs would be, which made anything that was white glow even brighter. Savannah was a bulbous glowing bird entering the wolf’s lair. As she entered she noticed there was quite a sizable crowd; sexy nurses, witches, angels and devils could be seen swaying to the dance music in a trance. Some of their eyes looked drugged and blank as their bodies pressed up against the random men who flocked to the party. 

A gruff suntanned middle aged man approached his guests, “Hey, I’m Fitcher. Welcome to my cabin. Help yourself to anything and anyone you want. You’ll pay based on how long you stay. 

Why don’t you get started with some sugar? There’s drinks in the kitchen or girls in the hall.”

Savannah didn’t trust her voice right now so she just followed the orange and blue suits into the kitchen. The men grabbed a couple beers, and handed one to her.

She didn’t want to take off her beak, that hid her lovely olive tanned soft face, so she nodded at the men and walked off down the hall. Several girls of all ages lined the walls in various other sexy getups. Fitcher’s Byrd made her way to an open room. Only briefly scanning the walls she could tell this room was used for one of the darkest fetishes. Handcuffs, whips, and sex toys hung on the wall and spilled out of drawers. Her stomach fell flat. She froze for a moment, not sure if she should stay much longer. This wasn’t just an innocent high school Halloween party. She’d just walked into a trap, something she might never be able to escape from. As pure fear welled up inside her, Savannah noticed something on the nightstand next to the messy bed. Its silky sheets were twisted and spilling off the side. There was a digital camera and an old fashioned metal key. For some reason she was drawn to pick them up. Turning on the camera, she could not be prepared for what she saw next.

In the 2x2 inch screen she witnessed the naked body of her baby sister Maddie. She bent over, her head light and her throat tight like she may throw up at any moment. Then her brain turned on to survival mode. She wanted to find her sisters, but couldn’t risk being victimized herself. With as steady a pace as possible, she flew out of the cabin, down the driveway, and floored the gas pedal, and busted out of the hidden woods. Once the trees stopped scrapping her car, and she was back on the main road, she took an enormous breath in and began to bawl. Savannah’s entire body convulsed as tears streamed down her face, blurring her vision. Her head pounded with brutal pressure, the clam of a vice smashing from one temple to the next. She moaned as her tender heart was crumpling into a million pieces. The phone locator had said that both sisters were there, so a similar thing must be happening to her KayKay as well. 

Her window was still down and the cool night air filled her lungs, whipping loose feathers around her face, as she remembered the image. It was stuck in her brain. Her sister, little Maddie, had been used, relished for selfish sleazy predators. They killed her innocence. Savannah couldn’t change what happened, but was fiercely determined to find some way to get them out fast.

The old red sedan rove into town and pulled up to main street near the police station. Savannah tried to dial the simple numbers “9-1-1” but her hands were shaking too much. Slowly she regained enough composure to enter in the numbers and hit “Call”. 

A police dispatcher answered the phone with a clear monotonous tone, “What is the location and nature of your emergency?”

Savannah got out as much as she could between sobs, “M-Mmm-My sisters were kidnapped! I don’t know what to-to do…” she blubbered. Again her head started to swim. This time her breathing picked up pace. There were no breaks in her crying, the intense weeping continued to escalate. She almost lost control in a pure state of panic.

The dispatcher replied calmly, “I’m here to help miss, but I need more information. Where is the location of the emergency?”

Savannah tried to focus, “There’s a cabin in the woods near Eagle Creek campground on the right hand side if you are heading westbound. I-I...don’t have an exact address, but I could direct someone there. It’s bad.” She breathed in sharply and started to cry again, “Mm-ma’am It’s really really bad. We need to act fast!”

The dispatcher broke from her professional cadence and consoled her by saying, “Okay dear, we will figure this out together. Where are you right now?”

Savannah informed the police dispatcher that she was parked outside of the station. The woman on the phone took down the necessary information and told Savannah to contact her parents. By this time it was near 10:45pm. Mr. and Mrs. Byrd would have already returned home from work and might even be wondering where all three of their daughters were. Picking up her phone, she dialed “Mother Byrd”, her childhood nickname for her mom and hoped with all her heart that she had not gone to bed yet. 

*Rrriiinggg...Rrriiingg...Ring* “Hello?!”

“Mom!” she cried for a moment then continued, ”the girls have been kidnapped...I’ve already called the police.”

Mrs. Byrd, “What?! Savannah where are you?”

Savannah “I’m in front of the police station. I just left the party where I know Maddie was taken. I tracked their phones and both Kaylee and Madison’s phones were there. What should we do now? Momma I’m scared...” She moaned again in pain. All she wanted was to be held in her mother’s arms. 

Mrs. Byrd, with a voice of reserved alarm, replied, “I’ll get your dad up, he’s sleeping on his chair in the living room. We’ll be right there. Do not leave.”

Savannah consented, “Okay, mom. Be fast. I’m really, just… so scared.”

Mrs. Byrd, “It’s alright love, we will be as quick as we can.”

The call ended. Savannah was alone. She did all she could. It was time to wait.

A happy tune of her favorite pop song played softly then a little louder, “Oh, I’m getting a call.” It startled Savannah out of her stoic expression. She had been staring out the car window, absentmindedly fiddling with the feathers on her arms and half watching the road for her father’s 5 seater grey compact SUV. “Hello?” She answered. 

“Hello miss, this is Officer Johnson, I’ll be handling your case. We are assembling a team to help recover your sisters. We need to know more about the location, the people there and any other information or evidence you can provide.”

Savannah let out a long sigh and was able to collect her thoughts better, “Uhhhh okay, so I found a camera that has very graphic pictures of my youngest sister. She is nude. They have I would guess over 10-15 girls there other than my sisters, and about 20 or more men. As far as location, I told the operator that I could help guide you, but there’s no address. I also have the tracker on my sisters’ phones. Just not sure how long that will work before the kidnappers realize it or take them somewhere else. We need to hurry! Pleeease help. I don’t know what I would do without them.”

He continued to ask her as many questions as he could to start making a plan. A grey SUV drove steadily closer and parked right by her. It was Mr. and Mrs. Byrd. “My parents are here sir. Do you want to talk to them?”

Officer Johnson replied promptly “Yes, miss”

Savannah handed the phone over to her father and fell into her momma’s arms and began to truly tremble, shake and the tears just flooded out, non stop. Mrs. Byrd, held her only free daughter as tight as she could, her eyes staring at the handle of the open door of the red sedan. She then quickly turned her attention to Savannah, kissed her head, and said over and over again, “I’ve got you. You’ll be okay. I’ve got you baby.”

The remainder of the evening raced full speed ahead. Savannah’s mother had placed a comfortable green and blue quilted blanket over her shoulders. Officer Johnson meant business and directed her and her parents to come with him in his police car with his partner. Several other police vehicles were filled with local personnel and S.W.A.T members. They wore bullet proof vests and carried large guns with sights on top.

The hidden luxury cabin was located, the police drove up to the entrance, Fitcher was exposed.

At this point, Savannah was so emotionally and physically spent that she zoned out entirely. She felt herself withdrawing from the moment, she went completely numb and stared out the window at the crooked smile of a rotting Jack-o-lantern.

Her subconscious left one ear in reality and she could hear commotion coming from inside the house. Some shadows sneaking out of the cabin could be seen fleeing into the woods. They didn’t realize however that law enforcement lurked in the dark ready to pin them down. 

After an hour or so, the large wooden entrance door opened and several officers held Fitcher with his arms behind his back. It was his turn to be in cuffs and kept in a prison cell. 

Once the captors were secured, the officers took turns bringing them into custody. It felt like forever, but finally the cabin door opened once more to reveal ten tattered teens, and what looked like five young girls. They were now physically freed from Fitcher’s grip, but it would take a lifetime to truly heal from what happened in those dark nights.

Officer Johnson brought two of the young women over to his car where the Byrd family anxiously waited inside. He left them with his partner for a brief moment and opened the door near Mr. Byrd. He leaned down to instruct the family, “Your daughters have been through a lot and need to rest and recuperate. Take care to keep your conversations simple and calm tonight. There will be time for questioning and sharing their stories later. Right now please just be with them. We will get them connected with professional help later.”

A bruised and beat up 15 year old with sweaty curls and drooping eyes sat down by Savannah. She saw a flash of green eyes and realized this broken girl was her Kaykay. She didn’t know if she could follow the officer’s directions. So many questions pestered her mind. She was furious and wanted to beat up Fitcher right now. Then a girl dressed as a super sexualized baby doll sat down next to Kaylee. This was her baby sister Maddie. It was too much. She just cried. The whole ride home she just simply cried and held her blanket close. They all cried.

The next day at the station reporters lined the entrance as more of the story came out to the public, but the officers were careful not to use the girls’ names in the public announcements. 

Savannah, Kaylee and Madison’s lives would never be the same, and neither would those of Mr. and Mrs. Byrd. 

As promised, Officer Johnson connected the family to a counselor that week, who specialized in trauma. In the waiting room the Byrd family sat fairly motionless, as prepared as they could be for their intake meeting. On the wall hung a picture the size of a large screen TV, it depicted one hand holding up another. The caption read “H.O.P.E. Hold On, Pain Ends.” All three girls were looking at the message together. Maddie took a deep breath in. Kaylee slowly exhaled. Savannah slowly breathed in and out realizing that with time they could all heal, someday.

**To support the fight against human trafficking, follow organizations that are working to abolish slavery such as Operation Underground Railroad "O.U.R.". Today I #riseup for the children, youth and others stuck in the pailful world of consistent sexual assault. Also feel free to use this story as a conversation starter with your loved ones, especially between parents, children and teens. Show your love by being brave and talking about the difficult topics so your children know the warning signs of child predators online.**

*Origin of story: The general outline came from an old forgotten Grimm's brother's fairy tale called Fitcher's Bird.*

#WorldDayAgainstTrafficking #EndSexTrafficking #AbductionStory #ShortStories #ForgottenFairytales #OperationUndergroundRailroad #FightTheNewDrug