Mark pulled his expensive black sedan into the long driveway of his suburban Dallas mansion.
The afternoon sun reflected brightly off the polished marble steps of the grand entrance.
He had cut his executive board meeting short after feeling an uneasy knot in his stomach all morning.
His seven-year-old daughter Lily had seemed unusually quiet when he left for the office that morning.
Mark stepped out of his car and adjusted his sleek designer suit jacket while checking his watch.
The quiet neighborhood usually brought him a deep sense of peace after long work trips.
However, today the eerie silence surrounding the luxury estate made his heart beat a little faster.
He grabbed his leather briefcase from the passenger seat and walked quickly toward the heavy double doors.
Inside the grand house, his mother Evelyn was supposed to be supervising a quiet afternoon with Lily.
Mark unlocked the front entrance and pushed open the massive solid oak doors without making a sound.
The bright light from the hallway extended across the pristine white marble floor of the foyer.
Instead of peaceful laughter, Mark heard a strange sharp sound echoing from the formal living room.
He set his briefcase down near the doorway and walked silently along the polished floor.
A high-pitched giggle echoed through the hallway, followed by a soft, trembling voice begging for help.
Mark paused right at the edge of the living room archway as his chest tightened instantly.
His eyes widened in complete disbelief at the unbelievable sight taking place right in front of him.
Little Lily was sitting motionless in a large vintage armchair near the back window.
Thick soft ropes were wrapped firmly around her small arms and waist, pinning her to the frame.
A bright orange foam dart was stuck directly to the middle of her pale forehead.
Tears were streaming down her soft freckled cheeks as she sobbed in pure emotional distress.
Standing just a few feet away, his mother Evelyn held up her smartphone with a wide smile.
She was recording a video while laughing out loud at the young girl's tears.
Mark felt a wave of cold horror wash over his body as he took in every detail.
Lily: Ow, please stop!
Evelyn: Woohoo! That was a direct hit!
Mark took a deep breath as pure outrage surged through every nerve in his body.