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She awoke to the beautiful sun shining through the many cracks in her bedroom shades. In the corner of her eye, she saw a shifting figure which begged for her attention. She switched her gaze to the left of her to see a young teenaged girl with dark brown hair all ratted as a mop on the top of her head. Whoever this woman was, she was in horrible condition and in need of a shower. She waved hi as her reflection raised its hand and waved back. It was her. She mustve been staring into a mirror. As she stepped one leg out from under the covers and the frigid, stale air licked her skin, her arm sprouted goosebumps. Suddenly, a call came from downstairs. It was her mother no doubt.

- "Ronnie! You need to wake up now sweetie!"

Ronnie refused to say a word in response after the big argument the two had induced the night prior. She carried herself down each step forcing her body weight onto both leg so that it forced a loud pounding sound. Another reply from her mom.

- "C'mon, honey, you cant still be upset."

And once again, Ronnie produced nothing but silence. She grabbed a quick breakfast of lucky charms cereal before hopping in the shower. Opening her wardrobe to find a jumble of designer clothes, Ronnie decided to dress herself in one of her favorite outfits. A plain white tank top tucked into a skirt of black and grey plaid. She brushed her hair out and dryed it. With hair this naturally straight, she never had use for a straightening iron. This was perfectly acceptable. She topped it off with a flower clip. Running her fingers over it and through her hair brought back memories of the past. Before her father moved away and before the incident which caused him to. Eventually, her mind went into a familiar mode. One that it does occasionally. This was the beginning of a flashback, but it wasnt just any flashback. This was THE flashback. It haunted her nightmares and her day dreams. No matter where Ronnie was or what she was doing, these images always seemed to follow her.

It was a rainy day full of clouds. The sun wasnt visible, but it was surely there. Ronnie was wearing one of her favorite outfits. It was brand new at the time. As she made her way down the street and towards the library, a white van strolled by and protruded the sound of a car horn. Ronnie just rolled her eyes. She was used to it by now. She was a beautiful young lady with a great figure so she had to watch out for those boys. You know the type. It drove past her and rounded a corner before fleeing Ronnie's sight completely. After a few moments of silent walking, another beep sounded. She jerked her head suddenly to give the "honker" the death stare, but was caught off gaurd when a rusty old pick up truck, the honker, swerved to pull up next to the curb. An older man, about 35 or 40, exited the vehicle before running towards the girl. He had light brown facial hair, but a buzzed haircut. Ronnie knew what was happening. She had watched her share of crime shows. She had seen plenty of those murder mysteries. She was about to be abducted. Trying to think back to what the steps were when being in this circumstance, Ronnie screamed "FIRE" and ran as fast as she could away from the man. This man was in shape and fit though. She wound up on the ground as a fabric material was forced over her head. Blinding her and driving her to start hyperventalating. With a stern voice, the man commanded that she stay calm. He picked her up off of the ground and dragged her back in the direction of his truck. Trying not to risk losing her steady breaths again, Ronnie obeyed whatever was shouted at her. She sat herself in the truck with the abductors help as her eyes started to swell up and tears swam down her rosy cheeks. It was now that wild thoughts ran through her head.
"What would her family think happened to her?"
"When will they start wondering where she is?"
"who will take care of her multiple pets?"
"Where is this stranger taking her?"
"How could she allow herself to be kidnapped?"
and
"Why the hell didnt she take a more busy street?!"
So many thoughts racing through her head. Suddenly, a phone rang. It was a tone that Ronnie knew very well. She had assigned it to her father specifically. It was her cell phone and the man knew it. He reached his sweaty, muscular hands into her sweatshirt pocket and grabbed her cell phone. He answered it after checking the caller ID.

- "Listen closely. I have your daughter with me as we speak and if you plan on holding her once again, your going to want to write this down."

Ronnie slowed her breathing down so that she could listen more intensely. She could just barely make out the voice of her dad on the other side of the line.

- "Who is this?!"
- "You dont need to know that. All you need to know is the following information."
- "You have absolutely no idea who-"
- "SHUT UP! You are to meet me on the corner of 2nd and 4th with a sum of 250 thousand. Understood?"

At this point, she could no longer hear her fathers voice. That didnt matter for it wasnt long after that Ronnie's abductor hung up the phone and put it in his own pocket for his own use. The motor vehichle came to a jolting stop as it reached its final destination. The sound of a car door off to Ronnie's left opening and then closing once again rang in her ears. What fate was she about to meet? She had no desire to find out.

The car door nearest her stood ajar for a moment before Ronnie was pulled from it. The fabric material still enclosed over her face. In a matter of seconds, the veil was whipped off and the brightness hit her like the high beams of a car on the highway. Even through the fog and the dark rainy clouds of the day. She would be blinded to the light for a few moments she knew. "BANG!" It was a frightening sound. Loud and Spontaneous. A gunshot. Whose was it? Ronnie felt no pain. Adjusting her eyes finally to the boring grey of the sky, she recognized a figure in the distance. A shadowy man. From the outline, even so far away, Ronnie acknowledged the fact that the shot had been sprouted from the pistol this man was grasping tightly. She stole a quick glance at the man who had kidnapped her. He was wriggling on the ground in pain. A smile danced across her face as she realized the face of her savior. Her father shared that grin as he engrossed her in his arms.

Picking up his phone, Ronnie's father dialed three numbers that were so common that even she herself knew that it was the emergency number. She pleaded with him to end the call, fully aware that if the police found the "honker" near dead on the floor and the gun which the bullet came from in her dad's hands that he would wind up in jail. It was no use. She couldnt stop him for he had to do what was right being a citizen of the state. Ronnie was taken away to go home. Her father was taken to the police department in a cop car. The blinding lights of the blue and red from the top of the white car etched into Ronnie's brain and there they would stay. She met her father's gaze through the windows as she mouthed the words

- "I love you dad."

Ronnie found herself snapping back into reality, almost whispering those four words to herself. Her mother called from downstairs. At this time, Ronnie had forgotten completely all about yesterdays disgruntle.

- "Ronnie darling, Guess whose here!"

but Ronnie already knew. Today was the anniversary of her abduction. It had been 4 years since then and today was the very day that her father would be released from prison. Could it be that he was home? She ran out of her bedroom, down the hallway, nearly tripped down the stairs, and found herself face to face with the only man she loved. Her father was home. Embraced in his warmth. All three family members shared a rejoice and a sigh of relief as the world was lifted from each of their shoulders.

And finally, the nightmares and the flashbacks ended. That very day was forgotten and put into the past. Ronnie grew up and had a daughter of her very own. An artist. Even though the incident is far behind her, Ronnie still takes precaution with her daughter. As for now, life is great for her and her family.



~~~~~~~

thanks for this oppurtunity and
good luck with the judging Ronnie.

im sure you have plenty of great stories coming your way.