A Bait

Jack's heart skipped a beat as his phone vibrated, signaling an incoming message. With a sense of urgency, he glanced at the screen, his eyes widening in shock at the sight before him. It was a video, sent from an unknown number, and as Jack tapped to play it, his blood ran cold.

The video opened to a chilling scene. A dimly lit room filled the screen, casting long shadows that danced across the walls. In the center of the frame sat a wooden chair, its surface worn and weathered, and bound to it was Ashley. Her hands were tied behind her back, and her eyes were filled with a mixture of fear and defiance.

“Ashley?” Jack breathed, his voice barely a whisper as he struggled to comprehend the gravity of the situation.

“What? What happened?” Jill's voice crackled with concern, her eyes widening as she leaned in closer to see the screen of Jack's phone.

For a moment, Jack's mind reeled in disbelief. It took several seconds for the reality of the situation to sink in—that the woman in the vi