The first thing Abigail Hernandez considered when he was kidnapped in 2013 was how to survive.

"I remember thinking," Okay, I have to work with this guy. "I told him," I do not judge you for that, if you let me go, I will not tell anyone, "Hernandez said. during an interview with ABC 20/20 that aired on Friday.

Hernandez recounts that she came back from school in Conway, New Hampshire, at the age of 14. She said that she had accepted a ride from a man, later identified as Nathaniel Kibby.

Hernandez said he asked to be dropped off at a nearby restaurant, but Kibby instead went to a Home Depot, pulled out a firearm and held captive.

Kibby assaulted and tortured him repeatedly, including using a stun gun on Hernandez.

"I remember that I never said" amen "in my mind," Hernandez told 20/20. "I never wanted to end my prayers because I did not want God to leave me, I just wanted to live."

About nine months later, in July 2014, Hernandez was released by Kibby. The security images from the cameras in Hernandez's home show when she returned to her family.

"I never thought it would happen to me, but I'm free," recalls Hernandez once released by Kibby. "And I just got home."

Kibby was arrested at his home later in the month and accused of kidnapping Hernandez. He was sentenced in 2016 to 45-90 years in prison.

"Do not lose hope … even if you feel that you have lost everything, hope is something that no one can take away from you," Hernandez said.

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @ brettmolina23.

Read or share this story: https://usat.ly/2oTvrPf