“You don’t know anything about me!”

Those were my last words that I spoke to my father. I regret them more than anything. Today is my eighteenth birthday, my capturing day. The Capturing is something that happens to every child when they come of age. The gist is that when you turn eighteen your taken and if your loved ones can’t find you before sunset then…well you disappear, never to be seen again. Spookie right. My mouth is stuffed with part of a bandanna, which is also tied at the back of my head. My wrists and feet are bound with chains which are maddeningly uncomfortable. The capturing was always a joke in the years leading up, it was a joke until Kendra Linkins was captured and never came back. Kendra was popular meaning everyone knew her not that they liked her, but when she disappeared The Capturing jokes did too. Popularity based on who knew you was gone and replaced with finding people who would look for you when your time came to be taken. I’m not popular in either way, the only people who will be looking for me are my best friend Judah and my father if I didn’t screw everything up with him.

The trunk to the vehicle I’m riding in swooshes opened and a figure clothed in black grabs me from the cramped space pulling me through a modern garage and into a clean, white, house. A place no one would ever think to look. They lead me to a room. No windows and no furniture other than a small cot and a bucket. I’m thrown onto the cold hard ground.

“Good to see you again, Molly” one says, making gasp realizing exactly who my capturer is.

Kendra Linkins

“Ever wondered what happens when no one finds you?” She asks slowly striding twords me. I glare up at her as she stands above me probably with a stupid smirk on her lips for the power that she holds in this situation

“No loved ones are going to look here.” She chuckles, and I know she’s right “A common house, in a common neighborhood. No one will find you, then, howdy partner” she tips an imaginary hat and I think for a second.

Partner.