Fraying threads of hope

Pietro sat on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands. The room was dark, the only light coming from the small lamp on the nightstand. He glanced at the clock; it was past midnight. Another sleepless night, another night of worry and despair. It had been almost five months since Skylar was taken, and every day without her felt like an eternity.

The police had hit another dead end. Every lead they followed seemed to evaporate into thin air, leaving Pietro feeling more helpless than ever. He thought of Skylar constantly, imagining the horrors she might be enduring at Jason’s hands. The thought was enough to make him sick with fear and rage.

Down the hall, Jared and Lorenzo were fast asleep, their innocent faces peaceful in slumber. During the day, they were different children than they had been before the kidnapping. Jared had become withdrawn, spending most of his time in his room, while Lorenzo, who used to be full of energy and laughter, had grown quiet and subdued. Pietro tried