Abby glanced up at the unfamiliar man who spoke to her, but she looked away, hiding her tears, almost immediately. He seemed sympathetic to her concerns. Abby felt heat rising to her cheeks. Somehow, his kindness made her shame all the greater. Fortunately, before too long, the man moved forward into the light. Abby took a deep breath. She didn't want to move forward. She wasn't ready. But if she didn't, she would have to endure the stares of the others, their judgment that she was weak. Even the kindest of people made such determinations, though their intentions were often good. Her foster parents had shown her sympathy, even pity, for the longest time after adopting her. Teachers, classmates, boyfriends - they were all the same. Show them the first sign of vulnerability and it would forever define you. That was why Abby [i]couldn't[/i] stay. Regardless of her feelings, the only choice was to move forward.

She stepped forward, marching into the light before she could second guess herself. For a moment, it was blinding, but then, she was in a hallway lined with doors. The name "Camilla" was written on one of them. Abby walked past it and checked the next set, which, as she expected, included one with her name on it. Not wanting to deal with the others, she bolted through the door and shut it behind her.

For a few seconds, she was in utter darkness. Then, a small lamp hanging from the ceiling flickered on. It illuminated a table with a single chair on each side.

Slowly, Abby approached the table. A gruff voice called out to her from the darkness.

"Sit down. Everything will be explained."

After a moment's hesitation, Abby seated herself in the nearest chair. A tall, muscular man in a police uniform took the one opposite her.

"Gotcha," he muttered.

Abby tried to flee, but suddenly, she was tied to the chair, arms pinned at her side. She gasped, eyes darting in each direction, but the two of them were alone. No one was going to save her. She bit her lip, took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She recalled all the advice her attorney had given her. She just had to keep her mouth closed. He couldn't hurt her.

The cop waved his hand, and a bunch of cell phones appeared on the table. Of course, she recognized them all. 

"Did you steal these phones?" asked the cop.

Abby steeled herself, pressing her lips shut - but, for some reason, they reopened at once, and the words poured out despite her resolve.

"I did. All of them."

Why? Why had she said that? Something was really, really wrong! Tears trickled down her cheeks, and she squirmed uselessly within her bonds. This was a dream, just a dream!

"Are you scared?" asked the officer.

"Terrified," said Abby at once, against her will.

"You should be," replied the cop, scowling. "In this room, you can neither lie nor maintain your silence. You're going to confess to everything here - and those phones are just the beginning."

Abby's shaking arms worked furiously to be free, but with a snap of his finger, the officer froze them in place. Abby looked away, sobbing. "Please... don't to this..." she whimpered.

"Only one person can stop this, kid, and it ain't me."