I walked as fast as I could to make it out the door before another cramp paralyzed my midsection again.  Last thing I needed right now was for Methra taking notice.  She would try to talk me out of leaving so quickly and I had to get to the school.

Paige needs me.

Before she had a chance to ask me anything I was halfway down the hall headed for the entrance door.  I shoved them open forcefully and make my way to my car.  After slamming my door shut and sitting down in the seat my stomach violently convulses again.  The muscles contract so tight that for a few seconds I cannot catch my breath.  I doubled over up against the driver's door, sweat breaking through the pores on my face causing hair to quickly stick to it.  I lay there for a few more seconds, giving the pain a chance to subside a little. 

With shaky hands I insert the key into the ignition switch and start the car.  A wave of nausea rushes through me.  I push the driver door back open and dry heave, my back arching and drawing up making me look like a human boomerang.  All that manages to escape my mouth is a string of yellowish bile, swinging in the air like a lonely spider's web. 

Come on Adara.  Get it together.  Your daughter needs you right now. 

I close the door and get a napkin off the pasengers seat that was left from my first cup of coffee from Starbuck's this morning and wipe my face and mouth.  I swallow hard a few times trying to rid my mouth of that foul taste.  I look around the car for a stick of gum.  A piece of candy, anything.  There is nothing in sight to take it away.  That taste so uncomfortable and horrible.... 

Putting the car in gear, I speed towards Paige's school, trying to analyze whether the sudden cramps we both felt maybe had some sort of connection.  As soon as Paige made me aware of her cramps mine started in very close proximity.  Just seconds after. 

Was Paige's third eye opening up?  Even though I was unsure about it being hereditary,  I began to think twice about that a week ago.  She was standing at the sink washing dishes for me so I could concentrate on reading the charts of some of my newer clients. When I walked by her to pick up one of my psychology books off of the bar I seen her cock her head to the side and recite a commercial before it even came on.  It was one for Mountain Dew.

"Do the Dew!"  She shouted and when I gave her a puzzled look, she just winked at me and kept washing.  I thought nothing of it anymore.  Until now.

Forty-five more minutes before you even make it to the school, my thoughts interceded.  Slow your mind down. Do something.  Turn on the radio.

I push the power button in.  Trying to stay focused on the road and the creeping speed of my car as my foot pushes the accelerator even further to the floor, I push the seek button hoping to hear a good song to aid in helping my sanity stay intact.

The sound of the radio is static filled, as it tries to latch itself on to a channel.  Suddenly, without warning;

"Miguel Sanchez's team of attorney's have begun preparations to try and get the accused murder a retrial. This following the sudden death of Nona Flores, the key witness responsible for his conviction.  Prosecutors in the case say they are very confident that it will not happen." 

"Chief Prosecutor John LeClair voiced his outrage, stating that the evidence against Sanchez was to compelling and  that his conviction would never be overturned.  LeClair also stated that an investigation against Sanchez should not be halted until it be determined whether or not Sanchez had any possible involvement in Nona Flores' murder.  LeClair lastly mentioned that if he had to guess whether or not Sanchez had any involvement, the answer would be yes."

I turn off the radio. 

My mind has now elevated to code red.

Reaching over to the passenger seat I dump the contents of my purse on it and snatch up my phone.  I call Franco and tell him I am on the way to pick up Paige because she is sick.  The sound of his voice lets me know that this will be another night where he will again be pushed aside.  I try to assure him that is not the case but he says goodbye and hangs up quickly.  I think that his suspicions of me are growing.   

I dial the number to the school and demand that they have Paige in the secretary lounge when I get there. I almost yell into the phone that I am about thirty-five minutes away and I do not want to have to wait for her when I arrive there.  By the way my voice was sounding Ms. Carroll must have thought I was crazy. I quickly apologize.

"I am sorry for the way I sound, Ms. Carroll.   I know that I informed Paige to go back to class, but after some thought I think it will be better for her to deal with this at home.  Again, I apologize for my behavior.  I am just worried about her, that's all."     

Ms. Carroll's understanding was genuine.  "I know how you feel, Dr. Davis.  Really, I do.  I will make sure she is here when you arrive.  I will page her now. See you shortly, Dr. Davis." 

"Oh, Ms. Carroll, before you hang up, did a male staff member or perhaps a visitor by any chance use your desk phone?"

No, Dr. Davis.  Not without my permission and I haven't given it to anyone today.  Also I have not left my desk all morning, not even once."

I thank her for her help and lay the phone back on the seat.  I flash back to the phone conversation with the male voice.

"Honor your mother and father!" He said to me.  The same sounding voice that has haunted my dreams.  It all seems to be coming to life.  The way Nona was murdered, the sign found around her neck, the voice on the phone....

The force of those words.  Who the hell was he?  My dreams would not reveal anything about him in that aspect.  No face, just a black silhouette.  The features of a dark and frightening, imposing figure. 

Easing into the driveway after what felt like an eternity I am thrilled that there is an empty parking space closer to the entrance.  I slam on brakes, put the car in park and bolt to the secretary's office. 

Please God, protect my baby. Please.

As I get closer to my surprise there is no one sitting in the lobby.  Where the hell is Paige?  Ms. Carroll sees me standing there and jumps from her desk just a little to quickly. 

"Dr. Davis, we can't....we are having a hard time locating Paige.  Apparently she never went back to class. We do not know where she is..... A student mentioned that they saw her standing outside talking with Stacy Heath.  School security are searching the grounds along with members of the sheriff's department. I was trying to call you but I kept getting your voicemail....

Her words no longer exist to me as I walk back out into the hall frantically calling for my daughter.

"Paige.  Paige, where are you!!!!" 

I run from classroom to classroom, opening doors and rushing in scanning each room for any sign of my daughter.  The looks on the faces of the students and their teachers are stonelike and solemn.  Many are frightened, looking back at me.  I hear whispers amongst them;

"That's her mother.  I heard she is a psychologist who talks with a bunch of weirdos." 

"Paige craves attention.  She can be so dramatical."

"When do you think classes will resume? I'm getting tired of sitting here."

Turning a corner in the hall running at a sprint now, I run right into Principal Allen.

The impact sends me sprawling backwards.  I fall hard onto the floor.  I have now started to cry.

"Dr. Davis. he begins, helping me back up.  I am so sorry for all of this.  The school is on a temporary lockdown until we locate your daughter and Stacy Heath. Sheriff deputied are now on the scene.  The first place that I recommended them to look for them is in the school gym.  It has been closed for the pass few days due to the recent vandalism that took place there.  I need to mention that Stacy Heath is one of the students here who have been questioned about the incident.  As I mentioned to you a few weeks ago when we spoke and I voiced my concern, Stacy has become a difficult student.  At home and at school.  Her parents are at their wits end trying to control her.  Such defiance with that young lady.  Paige is too bright of a student to start getting involved with the wrong crowd.  Anyway, I came back here to locate you so you could follow me over there.  Soon we will realize that this is all a minor mishap and misunderstanding.  A breakdown in communication.  There will be some harsh reprimanding for this."

He hands me a handkercheif from his breastpocket.  his timid and stern way of saying i feel your pain right now.  I thank him as we make our way back out of the building. There are six deputies here at the school, three of them are walking around the gym, checking the locks that have been secured on the doors. 

All are found to be intact except one.  The chain that held that door is on the ground, cut in two by a bolt cutter. 

My mind goes blank. The voice that escapes me does not sound like mine at all. 

Open the door! Is my daughter in there? Open it! Now! Paige!  Paige! 

One of the deputies begins to pull it open, and as it starts to reveal the inside of the gym the world begins to spin on its axle in slow motion.

Principal Allen puts his hand on my shoulder to try and soothe me.

"Dr. Davis, please calm down.  We have bolt cutters in the storage barn behind the gym.  Any curious, mischevious student could have somehow gotten ahold of them.  No need to worry....."

His voice stops dead cold as the doors are pulled completely open.

Stacy Heath's opened eyes stare lifeless in our direction.  Her naked body has been nailed to the wooden backboard of one of the basketball goals that hangs in front of the bleachers. One nail protrudes from each hand and her feet are held together by one nail slightly longer than the others. 

The amount of blood on the floor underneath her does not seem like it all could have came out of her body.   

There are slash marks all over the front of her chest.  They continue from her stomach all the way down to her legs.  Her throat and both her wrists had been cut.  Strapped around her mouth was one of those sex toys, the ball in her mouth clearly visible.  To lessen her screams just in case someone was close enough to hear.  Her left breast was sliced completely open.  A closer look at her face revealed that her left ear had been cut off.  It was nowhere to be found, even after the bloody scene was completely processed and cleaned.  The killer must have kept it for a souvenir.   

There was a sign also hung around her neck.  A sign that I thought subconsciously was surely meant for my Paige. 

"Honour thy mother and father." 

I realize that the killer chose that particular basketball goal out of the other four that hangs over the bleachers for us to see. 

For me to see. 

As the deputies began unloading numerous questions on Principal Allen about how could something like this be allowed to happen (his defense being they had soundproofed parts of the gym two years ago due to the townspeople who lived across from the gym in those new condominium developments complaining about being annoyed from the extreme noise when basketball games were held there) my cellphone started vibrating in my coat pocket. 

"Hello. I said. Hello, who's there?"

Hearing Paige on the other end turned my throat bone dry.

Mom, help me please.....I don't want to die..... mother please....please....PLEASE HELP MEEEEEE!!!!!! He's gonna--

The connection is abruptly cut off.

Paige........