“Your story is unbelievable, Emily,” said my dad. “You shack up with some boy for the better part of a month, then come home with this tall tale. An entire neighborhood kept you prisoner? Mentally and sexually abused you so some guy could write a book? You have embarrassed us in front of the whole town!”

Figuring he might chase me into the lobby and watch to see where I got off, I ran down two flights of stairs to throw him off, checked for unlocked doors and found one ajar. It was cold and dark, I didn't want to turn on the light and wake the occupant because the killer might hear us talking, so simply got under the covers to get warm. I hadn't done anything so reckless since my school days, but was out of options.

My new friend-to-be was a young man somewhere between being asleep and awake. His dream-girl was probably barely hanging onto him as he resisted his return to the real world. In his state of semi-consciousness, he suddenly sensed he was no longer alone and pulled back the cover to discover a young woman.

When Sarah ventured out of her room for a midnight snack, Carver grabbed the petite young woman, putting his hand over her mouth.

“Let's head out to the barn and get better acquainted.”

He put duct tape over her mouth, then tied her wrists to a ceiling support beam.

“You are a cute little thing.” He grabbed onto his crotch as he ogled her....then grabbed onto hers.

Her eyes peered back at him as if to say please don't hurt me. He pulled out a large Bowie knife.

- - -

His carnal desires satisfied, Carver positioned the daughter onto her stomach on the bed, then wrapped cord around her ankles and wrists. He bent her legs back as far as he could, then wrapped the other end of the cord around the girl's neck.

“It won't be long before your leg muscles begin to tire. As they do, they will pull on the rope which will tighten around your throat. I wish I had time to stay and watch your face turn blue, but I've got to be on my way.