At first she thought she was floating, but as she rose fully into consciousness, Zoe realized she was lying on a soft bed. She opened her eyes and immediately felt stabbing pain in her head and neck, and she also found herself fighting a sudden battle against waves of nausea. She moaned and looked to the beside table where a small cup of what looked like seltzer water sat fizzing loudly. A small note beside the cup read: Drink it. It will make you feel better.

Assuming that whoever had taken her wouldn’t go through the trouble to poison her once she woke up, Zoe downed the contents of the cup. In seconds the pain in her head and neck began to fade, and her stomach settled. Feeling some strength return to her legs, Zoe got up and began to examine the room.

The door was locked, which didn’t surprise her. What did surprise her was the open window. She stepped up to it and looked out, and to her great surprise, she found herself looking out on the familiar vista of a corral with two golden palomino’s prancing happily about.

“Tianna!” she said, watching the sun gleam on the horses coats. “Zellager.”

Zoe stepped out onto the ledge outside of her window, but two Doberman Pinschers heard her steps and came out below the window, snarling and barking viciously, waiting for her to drop to the ground.

Zoe went back inside, and just as her feet hit the parquet floors a com screen lit up. Caleb Zellager’s face filled the screen, and he flashed a toothy smile.

“I see you’re up and about,” he said. He spoke cheerfully, as if she were a willing guest in his home, and not a hostage.

“Let me out of this room, now,” Zoe demanded.

“Of course. You should come and join me for lunch. I imagine you must be hungry, considering you haven’t eaten in two days.”

There was a loud click from the vicinity of the door. Zoe went over and opened it, finding herself in a hall. She went left, as the hall dead-ended to her right. She found the main staircase and ran down. Caleb was waiting for her at the bott