The seconds zipped through. Each lapse of time was another painful reminder that her children were still missing. Amber alerts had been put out. Squad cars were parked outside her home, while others combed the quiet streets of the small suburban town, in search of the kidnappers. Ellie was beyond frantic. There were people around her, their faces reflecting their concerns and woes, but Ellie was blind to them all. The words they spoke were white noise in her ears. She felt like someone had buried her deep beneath the cold earth, with cotton in her ears and burlap between her teeth. Unable to speak. Incapable of hearing. Her mind was in turmoil, thoughts mercilessly bombarded her skull until the veins at her temples began to throb. It hurt to think, but it couldn't be helped. What was a parent's main objective if not to think of the welfare of her children? Children she'd carelessly allowed to be kidnapped! They were gone. Bella, Dylan, and Sophie...they were all gone.
