Eighty

Rebecca awoke once again on the dirty mattress, her head pounding and her limbs aching from being bound for so long. The air in the room was damp, and the heavy rain outside had made it feel colder than before. She shivered and pulled the thin blanket tighter around her body, wishing for some warmth and comfort.

Apart from the dirt floor and the yellow lamp hanging from the ceiling, there was nothing visible when she gazed around the little room. She didn't know how long she had been there because she had no sense of time. She didn't know what John had in store for her because he hadn't come back. She tried to quiet her racing thoughts by closing her eyes, but the worry and anxiety never left her. She reflected on Andreas and how much she missed him and yearned to be in his arms once more. She thought about her family and friends, who were probably terribly worried about her, and tears flowed down her face.

As the hours passed, Rebecca's hope began to fade. She didn't know how much