Missing - Prologue

    Eight year-old Tommy Sundquist was neither a popular kid nor a loner, but for an elementary school with a population of 200 kids, he wasn't well known. Tommy had one friend, Jared, and even he played with the other boys more than him. Not that Tommy minded. In fact, Tommy regarded his childhood life as a pretty satisfying one. Well, as satisfying as you can get in the insignificant, teensy town of Colesburg, Iowa. He had the average life of a child. School, play, a little bit of basketball here and there and some coloring books. Tommy knew everyone and acknowledged the fact that his little village was one of the safest ones out there. That is, until September 17, 1995.
   


    Tommy lived on Main Street, only a couple blocks away from Colesburg Edgewood Elementary and right next to the Lone Pine Golf Course. It was the usual, quiet day as he strolled confidently down the road, kicking pebbles and occasionally pulling a few grass blades from the ground to pick at. It was fall, and the grass was now dieing bit by bit. Its sandy brown color showed signs that the cold was coming, but Tommy wasn't afraid of that. His mom had just bought him a new jacket for the first time in a few years. He turned onto Church Street, on the same route that he always took. Jared lived on the other side of town, so they split ways before. But even though it was the same route, same scenery, same everything in monotonous Colesburg, something seemed eerily different. The air was quieter, the street was calmer, and the wind didn't even blow like it usually did. Tommy only noticed when he was half-way down the street, in front of Miss Burnwick's house. He halted and glanced around, a bit suspicious. After deciding it was nothing, he continued to stride home.

    A few seconds later, Tommy turned around to see a purple van pull into the street, traveling slowly and with purpose. His gut told him that yes, this was probably a bad situation, but he knew that this was a safe neighborhood and shouldn't worry. That was quite the opposite. The van suddenly sped up and immediately screeched to a stop right next to Tommy. The van doors burst open, almost breaking off its hinges, letting a man clothed in a jet black sweater, sweat pants, and extra-dark sunglasses. It was both strange and uneasy, but before Tommy could question why the man was wearing sunglasses on such a cloudy day, he was kneeling down beside him. Tommy attempted to let out a blood curdling yell for help, but it was trapped behind his lips as a gloved hand covered his mouth and nose. He struggled to breath, but the man seemed keen on not letting him. One arm circled his waist and lifted him off the ground, leaving his legs dangling in the air. Tommy was tucked under the stranger's arm, and it seemed he could not escape. Kicking and aiming random punches, he struggled as hard as he could without injuring himself. But it was no use. The man hissed at him to shut up and keep quiet, then threw Tommy like a toy into the back of the van, releasing his hand. The van doors slammed shut, and he was trapped.

    Tears rolled down his cheeks and he whined, laying there in the back of the metallic, cold van. He shuddered and whimpered, but was afraid that if he screamed something bad would happen to him. In the few seconds between the doors shutting and the man getting into the front seat, he crawled over to the back doors and tried to push them open in an attempt to flee. It was feeble, weak, and definitely did not work. The van rocked a bit as the black-wearing stranger climbed into the van, closing the driver door and immediately starting up the car.

    "Let me go!" Tommy yelled at him, finally finding his voice. He banged his fist against the seats to alert him.

    "Shut up, kid!" he answered. "Don't speak, don't move. Do you wanna get hurt?" Tommy breathed in shakily.

    "No..." he answered, his tone again quieter.

    "Then do as I say. Got it, kid?"

    Tommy didn't answer.