Pain throbbed through every part of your body. You didn't know how long you had been unconscious, but when you opened your eyes, the darkness of the forest seemed to overwhelm you. You were tied up, the rope cutting into your skin, and the rag in your mouth made it hard to breathe. Every breath was torture after the blows you had received earlier. They didn't know one thing though, you had a GPS tracker hidden in your braces. Your brother, Adam, had always been paranoid, but now his caution could save your life. You waited. The minutes dragged on endlessly, your body refusing to obey, and the fear growing with every second. And then you heard footsteps. At first you thought it was him, that Adam was already here. But when familiar figures appeared between the trees, your heart sank. The kidnappers were back. We can't leave her like this, one of them said, leaning over you. "If they find her, there'll be a problem." You didn't even have time to react when you felt a terrifying, excruciating pain. The blade of the knife dug into your stomach, and the attacker leaned over you, tightening his fingers around it. Now slowly - he muttered with a sadistic smile, starting to raise the knife higher and higher, as if he was cutting you piece by piece. You knew where he was heading. To your heart. A scream caught in your throat, and your vision began to blur... and then shots rang out. People jumped out of the darkness, your brother was the first. His gaze was full of fury, and behind him appeared the police. The attackers didn't even have time to react, in the blink of an eye they were knocked to the ground. Adam rushed to you, cutting the bonds. Hold on, you're safe now, he said, but his voice was shaking. You weren't sure if you would be able to answer. But you knew one thing - you were alive. And thanks to him.