THE SETTING SUN dropped a blanket of sparkling gold across the atmosphere. The sky was a swirl of pink clouds with velvety purple undertones, a radiant background for a small, filthy house. Mommy's house was brick with vines growing on the sides and dirt coating the dingy, wired fence surrounding it. Bella couldn't stop staring at the contrast between the wonderful sky and the house with many secrets.

Bella could hardly breathe as she continued to stare back in worry at the house - it was her first time seeing the outside of the small building. Her legs were trudging as quickly as they could through the thick, unkempt grass but she couldn't find the energy to continue.

Cole and Elliot were both so weak, especially Cole. He was doubled over and panting, with a flushed face and sweat beading down the edges of his temples. His bare chest glistened with sweat, as did his arms as he slammed his fist on the door to the only house across from Mommy's.

Cole continued to look behind his shoulder, in fear that Mommy would be running towards them.

"Maybe this isn't a good idea - we're right here where she can see us. We should," he paused, panting and swallowing, "-we should go and see if there's a door in the back or a window we could break," he suggested through heavy breaths.

"We can't just break into somebody's house," Bella retorted, glancing at Mommy's house in fear again.

Cole shook his head, "We don't have a choice."

Bella sighed in defeat, unsure of what else they would do. She grabbed Elliot's hand, and Elliot's small fingers clenched around hers while they sprinted down the creaky steps. They moved to the side of the house, where there was a tall fence blocking the large backyard.

"We have to climb it?" Elliot's small voice asked, fear filling his large, honey eyes.

Cole rubbed his eyes, "I don't think I can," he said. "But I'll try." He was incredibly weak and had his hands on his knees as he took deep breaths, and Bella felt awful as she locked her fingers around a small slot in the wire fence.

Cole stepped in front of Bella, and Bella's eyes studied the deep slices across his back - which was entirely covered with a mixture of healed and unhealed wounds. She pouted and looked away, listening to the sound of his fingers hitting the metal fence as he gripped a slot.

He grunted and tried to hoist himself up, but he gave up and shook his head. "I can't," he said, his voice shaking. "I- I can't do anything else."

"Maybe we should try a different house," Bella lifted her shoulders.

Cole tilted his head, "Oh, yeah?" he asked, furrowing his eyebrows. "Where? Where do you see another house? All I see is trees around us."

Bella stared at him in defeat, "Fine. I will climb the fence and try to unlock it, okay? Just-"

Bella was cut off when an angry, deep voice suddenly shouted from the other side of the fence.

"¿Qué están haciendo los niños? ¡Sal de aquí! ¡Vete!" An angry, elderly man with tan skin and sunglasses over his eyes walked over to the three of them, pointing his finger in their direction. "¡Tengo un perro enojado que le rasgará a los pedazos si usted viene en este césped!"

Bella dropped to the ground, landing on her feet as she moved closer to Cole in fear. Elliot was huddled between them, hiding behind Cole's leg as the three of them stared at the man. None of them knew what he was saying, but they knew that he was angry by his threatening, fast tone.

"We need help!" Bella cried out, looking around the woods surrounding them. "We need help! Please, let us use a phone!"

"¿Quién eres tú? ¿Qué estas diciendo?" The man spoke, tilting his head to the side.

Bella couldn't believe their luck - of course the person living in the house across from their kidnapper couldn't understand what they were saying. "What did he say? Say something to him, Cole!" Bella whispered, her teeth clenched together.

"I think he- he said something about having a dog," Cole whispered back in panic, just as the man stepped closer to the fence, looking through it to study them.

"Try to say something to him! Please, Cole," Bella cried out, clutching onto his arm as Cole sighed heavily.

"No," Elliot whispered from beside Bella, his voice shaking. Bella felt his fingers clench harder around hers. "She- she's-"

"Be quiet, Elliot!" Bella whispered with her teeth clenched, watching Cole.

"Uh," Cole spoke out, trying desperately to think of a way he could make this man understand them quickly.

"Oh no!" Elliot cried out, but Bella shushed him quickly as the man tried to figure out what Cole was saying.

The man's shoulder's relaxed as he reached up to unlock the gate of the fence, but suddenly, his gaze stayed locked behind Bella.

Bella swallowed and watched as Cole turned with fear in his eyes.

Suddenly, she was aware that Mommy was directly behind her. She felt her breath on her shoulder, and she could smell the stench of smoke, alcohol, and vomit that Mommy usually emitted. But what she didn't expect, was for Mommy to be holding a gun when Bella finally turned to face her.

"Thank you for stalling them, Emilio," Mommy said to the man, her rotting teeth showing as her crackled lips lifted into a sickening grin. "They tried to get away again, but I knew that you wouldn't let that happen."

Emilio took his sunglasses off and rested them on top of his head, in his thick black hair. His dark eyes seemed terrified as he stared at Mommy, but he nodded, nonetheless.

"It is no problem," he spoke to Mommy, nodding his head as he moved to turn away.

Mommy grinned, staring at Cole. "It's frustrating, isn't it?"

Cole continued to glare at her, his chest heaving.

Mommy lifted the gun, and Bella felt Elliot's hand clench around hers again. Bella swallowed and lowered her gaze as Cole moved in front of them, making Mommy take a step back while cackling.

"Oh, sweetheart. You are so brave. So, unbelievably brave," Mommy observed. "I need the three of you to walk back to my house, right this second."

"I will scream," Bella threatened from behind Cole, her voice shaking. "I will scream so loud."

Mommy's tiny eyes locked on hers, and for a quick second - Mommy seemed beautiful to Bella. Her hair was ignited by the heavenly glow; a bright mixture of red and orange, falling in tight curls to her shoulders. Her face was heart-shaped and her eyes were as warm as melted chocolate - they were trustworthy and welcoming. Her skin was as smooth as silk, save the few wrinkles which lined her aged face, and her thin body was exhibited through a loose sweater and bell bottoms.

Bella blinked a few times, and Mommy suddenly retained her original, vile and wrinkled appearance.

"The three of you better walk over to my house right now. Go," Mommy ordered, and Cole stared down at his bloody wrist before looking back up at Mommy.

"Shoot me. G-Go ahead, I'm... I'm not going back to that house," he spoke, swallowing hard.

Mommy took a few steps closer to him, until she was up against him. The gun was still up, clutched in her hands, and Bella stared at it, wondering what would happen if she knocked it out of her grip.

But Bella, Cole, and Elliot all stood frozen as Mommy pressed her lips to Cole's ear.

"Then you won't get to see your sister get sold, and your little brother will be all alone. Do you want that?" Mommy whispered, as she moved her lips down to the side of his neck.

Cole swallowed and stared at the sky as Mommy then moved her hands down his torso. He flinched when she dragged her bony finger along the waistband of his pants as she giggled.

Bella shook with rage and disgust as tears welled in her eyes.

Suddenly, Elliot broke away from Bella's grip, and his tiny legs sprinted towards the woods as he screamed and cried. Bella's heart dropped as she almost ran after him, but the gun was pointed in her direction at that point.

"Shit!" Mommy cried out, "Come back, my little son! Come back!" Mommy wanted to chase after him, but she couldn't leave Bella and Cole, who were still frozen in their spots.

"Elliot! Come back!" Bella cried out, tears streaming down her face. He couldn't survive in the woods alone, and she was almost sure he would get lost.

"Don't tell him to come back, Bella! What the fuck?" Cole exclaimed through clenched teeth.

"He won't survive! He won't! He won't find anybody, he'll be alone!" Bella nearly screamed, her voice breaking. "Come back! Elliot!"

But Elliot ignored them and sprinted into the woods as fast as he could, wobbling and almost losing balance several times as he swerved through all the trees. Eventually, he was completely out of sight, and Bella and Cole were tensed up as Mommy stood there with tears in her eyes.