CHAPTER 1

PRESENT DAY

THE BLACK CADILLAC GLIDED along Highway 190, outside D.C. Its wheels whispered over rain-slicked asphalt. Thick woods flanked the winding road, their shadows clawing at the edges of the dim moonlight. Headlights flickered across rusted road signs and mile markers. The engine purred, drowning out the distant hum of another car.

Evelyn Parker’s eyes fluttered open to pitch blackness. The stench of gasoline filled her nostrils, mingling with stale air. Pain radiated through her body—sharp, unfamiliar. She tried to move; agony shot through her limbs like lightning. She lay still, her mind a fog. Where am I?

The car lurched, slamming her against the metal walls of the trunk. A wave of panic surged through her, adrenaline cutting through the haze. She pressed her hands against the rough carpet. It was cold, unyielding metal beneath. She pushed hard against the lid, but it didn’t budge. Trapped.

The air was thick and stifling, making her chest tighten with every shallow breath. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears, echoing in the oppressive silence. She tried to scream, but her voice was a whisper, lost in the darkness.

She felt the rumble of the engine, the vibration passing through her bones. Each bump sent fresh waves of nausea rolling through her. Absolute darkness pressed in from all sides. Her fingers clawed at the rough lining, searching for a seam, a weakness—anything.

Time seemed endless, each minute dragging on. Evelyn’s thoughts tumbled, fear and fractured memories swirling together in a disorienting blur. How did I end up here? She pictured her apartment, her living room. There was a knock at the door—a face she couldn’t quite place—and then … nothing.

The car swerved, tossing her to the side. Stay calm, stay calm, she told herself, struggling to control her breathing. Memories flashed through her mind. It was the day of her first promotion. She felt pride. Her friends celebrated with her. Something to anchor her, to hold on to.

Then a sharper thought stabbed through the haze. Max. Her golden retriever. Max, loyal and loving, was with her through every tough moment. He was always by her side, offering silent comfort. He was her constant companion. He warmed her on lonely nights. He always made her smile, even on the worst days. Who will feed him? Who will let him out? The thought of him alone, confused, waiting for her—it was almost unbearable. Irrational as it seemed, the worry gnawed at her, twisting her insides.

The car’s movements grew more erratic, each turn more violent than the last. Her body throbbed with pain. The restraints on her wrists and ankles chafed her skin. Her muscles ached from the cramped space. She forced herself to take steady breaths, fighting the panic rising in her chest.

The car jolted as it hit a pothole, her teeth snapping together. The sharpness grounding her in the moment, reminding her she was still alive and had to fight. She clenched her jaw, focusing on the pain, letting it fuel her determination to survive. Focus. She couldn’t afford to lose herself to fear. She needed to think, to listen. Somewhere, there had to be a way out.

She strained her ears, trying to pick up any sound beyond the roar of the engine, but there was almost nothing. A distant echo—another vehicle or the wind—and her heartbeat, a drumbeat of terror. The darkness pressed in, squeezing the air from her lungs. She thought of her family—her parents, their reassuring voices, telling her to stay strong. She imagined Max, his big brown eyes, his trust in her. The thought of him alone gave her strength. She had to survive. She had to get back to him.

The car slowed, and her heart skipped a beat. Was this it? The end of the ride? She tensed, muscles coiled, bracing for whatever was to come. The car came to a stop, and Evelyn heard footsteps crunching on gravel. Her breath caught in her throat as the trunk lid opened, blinding her with sudden, searing light. A figure loomed above her, and she tried to scream, but terror had stolen her voice.

Rough hands grabbed her, dragging her from the trunk. The cold night air bit into her skin, a stark contrast to the stifling heat inside. Before she could react, a cloth pressed against her face. The sickly-sweet scent invaded her senses. Her thoughts blurred, the world dissolving into blackness. The last thing she saw was the date circled on her calendar: August 23rd. She had a doctor’s appointment that afternoon—after coffee with her friend Alex. Alex would realize something was wrong. Someone would come looking for her. She had to hold onto that hope as everything went dark.