This is the second part in the Kidnap series. Just to brush up your memory about what we talked about in the first part, which contained information on what to do to prevent a kidnap. Do you remember that:
- You should be aware of your surroundings at all time.
- You should do everything to resist a kidnap, and
- You should ensure to make a scene and leave evidence
But what if despite all your best efforts, or because of circumstances, they succeed in taking you away? Is all hope lost? Are there still things you can do? Let’s consider these.
1. Engage Your Captors In Conversation
Get in their head, and keep them out of yours. Speak about yourself, your family, those who are waiting for you, make sure they know you hurt, become a human to them – this will hopefully make it much harder for them to kill you. But be careful not to reveal sensitive information that may be used to further their selfish cause.
Another advantage of engaging them in conversation is that you will hopefully get an idea of what the situation is. Are they mentally unbalanced? Do they have a plan, or are they making it up as they go along? Are they desperate people who got into a situation that’s difficult for them to get out of?, or cold professionals with a specific goal in mind? These factors will all dictate what you do next.
2. Be Mentally Alert
In situations like this, the human tendency is to shut down mentally particularly if you have been abused or are terrified. But don’t! Fight it!!
Try not to let them overwhelm you with the power they have over you. Do not let them convince you they have more power than they do – that they can hurt your family in their safe lives if you don’t comply and things like that-. Pretending to be a passive victim is fine, but always be fighting and plotting in your secret thoughts. Whatever is done to you, remember that you are free in your mind – that is your battleground -, watch, listen, and wait for your chance. As long as you are thinking, you are free and fighting.
3. Never Lose Hope
You must never give up hope and always think of escape. You must try to escape at the very first opportunity. People will be looking for you. People that won’t give up until they have rescued you. These people believe that there is nothing more precious than human life, these will do whatever it takes to get you back and bring the perpetrators to justice. Having this hope gives you the strength to endure, and not accept defeat.
A big factor in deciding whether to escape are the conditions of captivity. If you’re being held in an armed compound, trying to escape will most likely get you killed. But If you’re being held in a house, you might pretty easily escape, if you wait for the right chance.
Even though considering escape is good, you should have some important points in mind because trying to escape may trigger your captors’ wrath, and quite possibly get you killed. So, weigh your options in very practical terms, don’t be blinded by desperation. If your plans have a 70% probability for success, then execute it. But the real question is, how can one be so sure? Truth is that one will never know except when in that situation, this is where mental agility, and the power of one’s instincts come to play.
See Also: What You Should Do When You’ve Been Kidnapped 1