The Girl Who Was Taken

Nicole is a static protagonist whose life is profoundly shaped by personal loss, unhealthy family dynamics, and a search for identity and belonging. She is deeply affected by the loss of her cousin Julie, who was kidnapped when she and Nicole were both nine years old. This has resulted in her having a dark side and enjoying a Gothic aesthetic, dyeing her hair a deep black and wearing black lipstick and nail polish. Nicole’s family has exacerbated her sense of loss and confusion by refusing to talk about Julie and acting as though she never existed. Nicole is angry about losing Julie and frustrated by her family’s silence, driving her to seek comfort and validation in potentially dangerous ways such as dating an older man.

Nicole’s character challenges the idea that victims of crimes must be perfect to be worthy of empathy or a serious investigation. She is often spiteful, petty, and cruel, especially to Megan McDonald and Diana Wells. Her darkness is reflected in her hobbies and interests, particularly her involvement with Casey and the Capture Club. She is also confrontational and often uses her sexuality to get what she wants, intimidate prospective sexual partners, or make other girls feel insecure. Similarly, her plan to abduct Megan as a prank demonstrates a misguided attempt to gain a sense of power and validation.

However, the night of Megan’s abduction reveals that Nicole is not as dark or callous as she imagines herself to be. Although she wants to frighten Megan, Nicole is alarmed when Casey takes their prank farther than she intended. When Casey encourages her to help him kidnap girls for his mysterious client, Nicole instinctively rejects his offer and flees to seek help. That evening is a defining moment for Nicole’s character, suggesting that had she survived her captivity, she might have had a chance to properly heal from her trauma and find a healthier way to interact with others.

Megan is a dynamic protagonist whose healing journey is integral to the development of the story. Megan’s journey is characterized by her resilience and search for closure, highlighting the impact of trauma on personal identity and interpersonal connections. Megan’s character is primarily defined by surviving and escaping her abduction. Her experience leaves her with deep psychological scars and PTSD symptoms. Driven by a need for closure and justice, Megan becomes actively involved in the investigation of her own abduction and the connected cases of other victims. Her willingness to help Livia search through case files at the courthouse shows her commitment to seeking justice not only for herself but also for other victims like Nicole, Paula, Nancy, and Elizabeth. As the story progresses, Megan’s ability to face her fears and actively participate in the investigation reflects her inner strength and determination. She repeatedly expresses anger at the media’s neglect of Nicole’s case, indicating her deep sense of justice and empathy for others who have endured similar fates.

Megan’s sense of identity is crucial in her quest to reclaim control and rediscover herself, particularly because her memoir and the overwhelming media attention have challenged her sense of self. When Megan reveals that her memoir, which she detests, was written by her therapist and is not an accurate reflection of her true self, it underscores her struggle to reclaim her identity from the narrative imposed on her by others. Her active participation in the investigation is a way to redefine herself beyond the label of a victim.