All in Time

9 - Mom

**Holly's POV**

After two days of following the road away from Jacob's home, I finally come across a town. I was sore, tired, and aching, but at the sight of buildings I broke into a run. I end up on the doorstep of an old woman's house. I knock on the door carefully and soon enough she is opening the door.

"Oh hello, can I help you with something," the old woman asks.

"Could I use your phone, please," I ask, my voice raspy and quiet.

"Sure, dear, come inside. I'll get you some water, you sound like you need it." The woman opens the door wider and closes it behind me once I'm inside. She then leaves the room to get a glass of water. I look around the entrance and see that there are all kinds of pictures of what I'm assuming are her children and grandchildren.

I smile sadly as I think of my little brother, Jared. My mind drifts to fond memories of my family before they are interrupted by the old woman, carrying a full glass of water.

"Come, come," she says. "Drink up and my phone is right there." She points to her living room table. "Sit down if you like, take as long as you need."

I smile and nod graciously as I take a seat on her light pink sofa. I drink the glass of water in one long gulp and set it on a nearby coaster before picking up the phone on the table. 

I dial the numbers 9-1-1.

Hello, you've reached 911, what is your emergency?

"Hi, this is Holly Buch. I was kidnapped a while ago, but I made it out. I'm in a nice woman's house and she let me use her phone to call." I try to avoid looking at the woman as she shoots me a strange look. 

"Holly, where are you? We will send someone out to get you, but we need an address."

"One second," I say, cupping my hand over the bottom of the phone. "Ma'am, what is your address?" 

"1017 Jujobe Drive, Louisville, Kentucky," the old woman responds.

"1017 Jujobe Drive, Louisville, Kentucky," I repeat back into the phone.

"Thank you, there will be someone out there soon, but they may need to ask you a few questions."

"Thank you, ma'am," I say, just before hanging up the phone. 

"Was that really true," the woman asks. "What happened to you, dear?"

Images of the trashy room, the blade-woman, and the red sofa flashed in my mind. 

"I was taken after a Halloween party, last year," I say finally. "It was nothing that you need to worry about."

"Well of course," the woman nods. "I'm sorry for bothering." She looks away with sadness in her eyes as she returns to her show on the television.

"No, I snapped, I'm sorry," I say. "Can we just forget about that? Start over?"

"Sure, deary," the woman coos.

"My name is Holly Buch, and you?" The old woman smiles and holds out her hand.

"My name is Matilda Madison," she says. "It's good to meet you, Holly." We shake hands and just as I let go there is a knock at the door.

"It's the police, we're here for Holly Buch," a voice calls through the door. I stand up and rush to the door. I twist the knob and am greeted by four men in uniform standing before me. 

"Holly?" I recognized the voice coming from behind the men. It was my mother.