All I heard were screams. I didn't want to enter the rickety barn, but I could not ignore the anguish that I heard inside. I searched my pockets for a weapon. Nothing but keys. I clutched the longest one between my fingers and slowly opened the rickety barn door. Stepping inside, I discovered that the screams were coming from the back of the barn. I didn't see an obvious "bad guy," so I raced forward.

The screams were coming from underneath a large pile of hay! I quickly dug through to real the face of a 10-year-old boy. I dragged...