Chapter 35

My heart stopped and the entire world spun violently. I closed my eyes trying desperately to get a handle on what was happening.

“Who? Who has him?” I implored him weakly.

“Ernie and Pete,” he responded just as weakly.

Julia must have known who he was talking about better than I because she spat out a harsh “no”. Craig nodded and got back on his feet.

“They are held up in the basement and are threatening to kill him unless we bring them all the food.”

My world seemed to crumble right in front of me and there was nothing I could do to prevent it. My husband was gone, my cousin was gone and now I couldn’t even protect my own children. I should never have let him out of my sight, I guess I was still living in a world where if he walked down the hallway then he would been safe. I had to face the fact that the world I once knew was gone. Julia was pacing and running her hands through her hair. I silently envied her ability to do something even if it was as useless as pacing.