Valeria felt the car begin to slow down. She couldn't see anything, but she knew she wasn't alone. It was dangerous playing bait, but more important than anything else was locating where they were holding Alice.

She felt the change in the surroundings as they entered a darker place, and the car soon came to a stop. She listened as Samuel opened the car door and dragged her out. He made her walk at least fifty paces before Valeria heard the latch of a deadbolt as it slid out.

Samuel pushed her into the office and removed the ropes from her hands first and then the black hood. He left her there and walked out, closing the door.

Valeria's heart skipped a beat when she saw Alice sitting in a chair, her eyes wide with an expression she couldn't believe.

“Mommy?”

“Alice!”

Valeria squatted down and opened her arms to welcome Alice in them. She couldn't help the tightness in her chest and the tears that betrayed her, but at least she felt the relief of seeing her alive.

“Are you all rig