Found #2

Chapter One

"How do you feel about the fact that your own uncle would do this to you?" Delaney Carter asked. She had that fake facade on to make people think she was actually concerned about me. But I knew the truth. She was hungry for information. Information about what went on in that warehouse, if Kiersten and I were cool.

It had been a whole month since my boyfriend, Grayson and a another man had saved me. The nightmares kept coming.

"I'm still in shock," I said, holding my chest sadly. My mother had told me to act like I was interested in this stupid interview. Ever since the media found out that my kidnapper was part of my family, this case went national.

I was receiving letters to be interviewed from different news stations and I was known like never before. I hated it, to be honest.

No one seemed to care when I was gone. And now when I'm back, it was like people couldn't get me out of their heads and mouths.

"What happened in the warehouse, where you were being held captive?"

I closed my eyes for a brief moment, feeling the eyes of the producers and crew behind the cameras.

"Horrible things. We were barely fed...we didn't have any places to bathe..." I trailed off.

"When you say 'we', do you mean you and the young lady, Kiersten Montgomery?"

"Yes."

"Have you talked to her since the incident?"

"No. We kinda went our separate ways."

"Oh, how unfortunate. She had mentioned in another interview that she was there longer than you. Did Kiersten ever tell you what Bill did to her before you arrived?"

I bit my lip and jammed my thumb into my palm under the glossy table. The heat from the lights burned into me.

I felt a drip of sweat glide down my temple, expecting for one of the makeup ladies to tell them to cut and come over. But that didn't happen. Everyone in America wanted to see me sweat, wanted to see me burst into tears. They wanted information to gossip about.

"I-I can't do this..." I whispered.

Delaney's eyes bored into mine. She was actually a bitch behind the scenes.

"Cut!" The producer called. "Honey, you're gonna have to speak louder."

"I can't do this." I snapped, untangling the microphone from the hem of my dress and hopping off the stool.

Hands grabbed at me, begging and trying to usher me back on set. But no. I was not going to be a product of the Velevere News or any other media outlet.

"Sienna!"

I suddenly turned, biting back tears. Mom ran through the small crowd, pulling me into her arms and rubbing my back.

"Let's get some air." I nodded and followed her out of those double doors into the lobby and outside.

"What happened in there?"

"I don't want to do interviews, mom. This is already my third one." I gritted my teeth and leaned against her car.

"I know. I know."

"You know, huh? I don't want anyones' fucking pity."

She flinched, looking down and shifting in her heels. "Sweetheart, I know you were gone less than a week but...when I found out...I couldn't-. We all love you and you know that. We just want the best for you."

"This isn't the best! LOOK at me! Nobody actually cares! They just want a segment to get more viewers."

"Fine...we'll just go home. I'll go inform them..." Mom disappeared back into the building and came back out five minutes later, unlocking the doors.

The ride home was silent. Tracy's babysitter was paid and then gone in an instant.

I went to my room, locking the door and sitting in my bed. I practically ripped off the dress and changed into a pair of sweapants and a T-shirt.

School started in less than a month. What the hell would I say when people were jabbing for answers. Or treating me like I was damaged goods?

No one would help me like before. Briella tried but she didn't understand. Every time she came over, it was to search for information too. To ask me why I didn't beat Bill up or do some violent shit like that.

Easier said than done.

I held onto my phone, scrolling through my contacts. Finally finding the number, I pressed dial and waited.