None of us said much that day. Mom and dad had to formulate a plan and figure out what our next move would be. I knew they wanted to include me but it was hard for them to change their way of thinking. We were all still used to me being treated like a baby.

And I had a hard time not feeling like one. I was still doing baby things. I still needed mom to change my diapers and make me meals. I needed a nap after lunch and needed to keep my bunny close to me. I even found myself sucking on a pacifier while watching TV with dad.

I fell asleep while we were watching TV. I had no bedtime set since we weren't going anywhere or doing anything. I missed my usual routine but not being a baby was way better.

But they were hard habits to break. It was a routine I'd been familiar with, especially with mom and dad taking care of me from the moment I woke up until I went to sleep.

The room was too dark when I woke up. There was no nightlight. The neon sign outside offered some light but not nearly enough. It didn't stretch to where I was and I didn't like it. I wasn't used to the dark anymore.

I pushed the blankets back and went to the side of mom and dad's bed. I shook mom until she woke up.

"Lyla, what is it, honey?"

I pulled the pacifier from my mouth. "I don't want to sleep alone."

"Do you want me to lay with you?"

I nodded. I went back to my bed and picked bunny up.

She got out of bed, careful not to wake dad, and climbed into bed beside me. She lifted the covers over us and laid down beside me.

I rolled onto my side and rested my head on her chest. I felt better with her close, especially in such an unfamiliar place. I may have hated her for what she'd done to me and put me through but I still loved her. She was still my mom.

---

Our sleep didn't last long. It seemed like I'd only been asleep for a few minutes before something was waking me up.

A new light came from outside. I pushed myself up and looked over mom's arm to see what it was coming from.

There was a car parked directly in front of the window, its headlights lighting up the room. I couldn't make out what the car looked like, even if I squinted. It was too bright.

Something banged against the door. Then a second time. I slowly got out of bed and ducked down so I was hidden. It felt like I was having a bad dream. This couldn't be real.

The third time the knock came, the door busted in and two men in black stood in the doorway. They both had a cloth over their faces, hiding them from sight so they couldn't be identified.

At that point, dad was awake and getting to his feet. He started asking the men who they were but was cut short. One of the men had a thin gun pointed right at dad.

"Shut your mouth. Face the wall and put your hands behind your back."

Dad hesitated but did as he was told.

The man without the gun walked over to where mom was and ordered her to do the same on the wall beside the TV.

Before anyone could see me, I ducked underneath the bed and squeezed my lips shut tightly so I wouldn't make a sound. I didn't want anyone to know or think I was there. Whatever was going on, it wasn't good.

"Where's Lyla?" A new voice asked, coming from just outside the room. My head snapped in its direction, my eyes widening.

Mom whimpered as the man standing beside her started pulling her from the room. The two of them left, mom's quick breaths disappearing along with the sound of her footsteps.

"We know you didn't leave her behind. So where is she? She's here, isn't she?"

"I'm not telling you a damn thing." Dad said, his voice deep and gruff.

A sharp sound hit something and dad's body went limp. He didn't fall to the ground as the man that tied his hands caught him.

"Lyla, I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to talk."

I watched as his feet moved from the far side of the room, near the door, and closer to where I was. There weren't many places to hide in the small motel room and I hadn't had much time to find a hiding spot.

"You can't hide in here forever."

No, I couldn't. I wished I could. I wished I could just sink into the carpet and into the ground below. I wanted to hide forever. Until this nightmare went away and my life was completely normal again. But it was just one long nightmare that I couldn't wake up from.

He stepped into the bathroom and I slowly inched my way back until my feet hit the wall behind me. At least then I was hidden even more.

He walked toward the kitchen then stopped. It was dead silent for five long seconds before he walked toward the bed and kicked it. It rolled into the other bed and laid propped against it like it was afraid of him.

He stared down at me, dark circles under his eyes. Sweat clung to his neck and forehead. His chest was rising and falling with each breath he took. Nightmares were real and I was looking one right in the face.

"It's been a while, hasn't it?"