So say the first person you think of when you’re in danger is the one you care about and want to rely on the most. ’Perhaps that’s true,’ she thought.
A single, ancient lightbulb on the warehouse ceiling cast a dim, yellow glow. Her hands and feet were bound. She had been leaning against a pillar with her knees curled up, but the floor was so filthy she couldn’t bear to let Joy sit directly on it. She wanted Joy to sit on her lap instead.
Joy finally relaxed, shifted back, and sat down on her mother’s lap. But after just a mont, as if sensing her mother’s legs would start to hurt if she stayed there too long, she climbed off and sat on the floor beside her.
Naomi Shaw had dressed her in a little dress today, paired with pure white tights. The mont she sat down, the tights were instantly filthy. She just sat there obediently, blinking her large, tear-filled eyes, staring intently at her mother as if she wouldn’t be afraid as long as she was watching her. Her small shoulders shook with silent sobs.
Naomi Shaw’s heart was ward by how thoughtful and understanding she was, yet it ached to see her little girl suffering through this ordeal with her. She lifted her gaze and scanned her surroundings. She believed Julian Donovan would co to save them, but the most urgent task was to find a way to contact him and tell him where they were.
’But that man took the battery out of my phone and left it in the first car. How can I possibly contact Julian Donovan?’ She struggled against her bindings, but the ropes were tied too tightly. It was impossible to hope Joy, with her ager strength, could untie them.
Suddenly, through a broken window at the back of the warehouse, she saw a speck of red light. She strained, craning her neck to get a better look. It was the glow from the letters on a billboard. Her heart leaped with joy. If she could just make out what the sign said, she could get a general idea of their location. She stretched her body as far as she could, trying to see.
But the billboard was partially blocked by trees, and since she was tied to the pillar, she couldn’t stand. All she could make out was a single word, "Light." Nothing else was visible. Frantic, she struggled with all her might, but the kidnapper had used dead knots; she couldn’t budge an inch.
She slumped back down, discouraged. ’What do I do? What do I do? How can I find out what’s on that sign?’ Her gaze fell on Joy, who was sitting quietly and watching her. ’Joy is just a little over two. I’ve never taught her how to read. Even if she can see it, she won’t know the words.’
’Screw it!’ She steeled herself, deciding to bet everything on a long shot. ’Joy is so gifted with music. I wonder what her mory is like? I’ll have her climb on sothing to get a clear view of the words, then co back and trace them for . That way, I’ll know what it says.’
With that thought, she first listened carefully for any sound from outside. Silence. It seed their captors weren’t coming into the warehouse. Looking at Joy, she spoke with grave seriousness. "Joy, I need you to climb onto that machine by the window. See what’s written on the sign outside, then co back and trace it for Mommy, okay?"
Joy nodded firmly. Naomi’s eyes stung with tears. "You’re such a good girl, Joy!"
Joy scrambled up from the floor and started toward the window. The ground was littered with scattered boxes, scraps of tal, and wooden planks. Naomi’s heart was in her throat as she whispered, "Be careful. Walk slowly!"
The mont Joy left her side, Naomi’s heart clenched. Her nervous gaze never left her for a second. Joy was normally such a quiet little girl; now she was being asked to climb onto a machine. Naomi doubted she could even do it.
But Joy did it.
The tiny girl walked over, but the machine was too high. She first clambered onto a broken-down box beside it, then from the box onto the machine itself. She tilted her head up to look outside. Naomi was so nervous she held her breath, terrified of distracting her and affecting her mory.
To her astonishnt, Joy looked for a mont and then actually read it aloud. "Light..."
Naomi Shaw was at a loss for words to describe what she was feeling. A mixture of shock and joy brought uncontrollable tears streaming down her face. "Joy, you can read?"
Joy looked back at her and nodded. In truth, she only knew a few simple words. When Dylan read stories to her, he would sotis point to the words as he read them. Over ti, she had morized the easy ones.
She turned back around, her little head tilted up at the words as she continued to read, "Glorious... Electric..."
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