Martha sat silently in a vinyl chair beside his bed beneath the quiet glow of fluorescent lights while nursing staff entered periodically to monitor his vital signs.

Outside the hospital room door, equipment carts rolled over tile floors, and visitors spoke in quiet tones down the hallway.

The attending physicians reported that Christopher was severely dehydrated and covered in deep bruises.

The abdominal wound was infected but had not damaged any vital organs, though significant traces of strong sedatives remained in his blood sample.

He had been held captive in that basement for nine full days.

When he finally woke up, his very first question was about the casket at the cemetery.