“Think Cherry,” Cherry says to herself then she looks down. Her legs they’re still free she realizes. Master made a critical mistake by not chaining her to the wall or a chair. She can crawl; she tells herself.
Cherry belly crawls and finds an old phone. “Please don’t let it be a toy,” she prayed to herself. With her wrists she dialed.
“911. What is your emergency?”
Cherry sighed. “Help. He took me.
“What’s your name?”
“I can’t tell you. He’s coming back.
“Listen to me, Ma’am. You have to make him think you’ve lost it. We’ll work together. Tell me your name in a coded word.
Cherry sat up and successfully kicked the phone behind her, hiding it behind her.
“I love a nice juicy Cherry.”
“Your name is Cherry. Hi, Cherry. My name is Lydia. If you know his name, say half moon. If you don’t, say full moon.”
“Half moon.”
“Cherry?” Cherry looked up at Master. He had concern for her in his eyes and fear.
“Master, you like board games, don’t you?”
“I do, Cherry. Why?”
“Well, I was hoping we could play Chess, but I can’t play with my hands like this, please take them off.”
Master didn’t hesitate. He unclicked the handcuffs. “I’ll be right back.”
“That was brilliant, Cherry. Now when he comes back, say checkmate and his name. Police will be at your door. Just trust me. “
Master returns to the basement. “Checkmate, Dayton Pierce,” Cherry looked him right in the eyes when she delivered that final blow.
Police knock down the door and handcuff him. “Dayton Pierce, you’re under arrest for the kidnapping of Cherry Heartwyn.”
Cherry ran outside and hugged the cops. “Cherry?” Jack asked when she ran out.
Cherry smiled at him. “You’re Jack,” Cherry realized. The kind neighbor.
“I’m so happy you’re alive,” Jack’s voice was kind and sincere.
A few weeks later, Cherry brings the dispatcher flowers. “You saved my life,” Cherry insisted to Lydia.
“Your brilliance saved your life, Cherry,” Lydia replied. And from that day on Lydia and Cherry had become the best of friends. A few weeks went by and Cherry got the mail. She dropped the letter from Dayton.
“No matter where you go, I’ll always be in your dreams, Cherry Heartwynn.” Cherry ripped up the letter and threw it away.
