Chapter 1: Chapter 2

The helicopter just dropped us off on the tarmac, Harlin and I were told to wait here, outside the helicopter. I kneel in front of my sister. We’re waiting for the men in black that saved us to come down from the helicopter. My hair is blowing all over the place. I’m so tired, but Harlin is panicking. We do not understand where we are and mommy didn’t end up fetching us. Truth is, I don’t think they are ever fetching us.

“I just wanna go home, Taylor. Why won’t we go home to McKinney? I swear I’ll eat spinach, please Taylor,” Harlin cries, her big blue eyes scared and I know that look. This isn’t good.

I grab her on the top of her arms and shake her, “Harlin listen to me, you can’t lose it now, you need to hang in there for a bit longer. If they see you go crazy they will separate us, do you understand?”

She cries louder and I turn my head around to see the one man coming from the plane.

My attention snaps back to her and I shake her harder, “You understand Harlin,” I snap at her the way daddy did when she got all weird. And she nods her head and looks at me before staring at the man coming toward us.

The big muscular man is younger than the bald one and the old uncle with the beard. He has a long nose, and deeply burned skin. He was the only one who really spoke to us. He said we’ll be safe. He talks funny like the people from Rico’s Pizza shop. But I like him, I trust that he is telling us the truth, we will be safe.

“Come on, there’s a car waiting for us. The rest of the guys would wait here,” The nice man says to us and I grab Harlin’s hand.

“What’s your name?” Harlin asks as we follow him.

“Agent C.”

“That ain’t your actual name,” I respond. Feeling a lot braver than I did 2 hours ago.

We rush after him, my legs paining with each footfall I take. My stomach growls in hunger.

We run down to the other side of the tarmac and the place takes us to what looks like a school. We see the black car with a man standing outside of it. He is even taller than Agent C.

“Come on,” Agent C says as he ushers us into the car with the tall man jumping in the driver's seat. We rush so fast from there.

We drive past a river and into a place with big houses, like Mansions and castles everywhere. We drive up a long road and take the first right.

Big, gold and black gates block us from going anywhere further.

“This place is enormous, Taylor,” Harlin expresses this with sticking her head out the window.

“Yeah,” The gates open and we go down a long driveway lit up with lights. We stop in front of the house where another man is waiting for us in a black suit. He is older than my daddy.

Agent C opens the door and Harlin grabs onto my hand as I get out of the car first. The place looks so fancy that it is only then I realize how dirty we must look.

The old man by the door smiles at us, his face is warm and he looks like a good man. Not like the ones by the restaurant.

He takes out his hand, “I’m Marcus Bray, what do I call you lovely ladies?”

Harlin, forever the brave one takes his hand and smiles, “I’m Harlin and that’s my sister Taylor.”

He frowns but keeps his smile, looking from Harlin back to me.

“How Old Are You?”

“I’m 5 next week, Taylor’s 8.”

“Wow, you are big girls. Why don’t you go on inside, and if you run down the passage and knock on the door, you might just get Kevin up to make you some hot chocolate? What do you say about that?” He smiles, and it is so big and honest that I get a little happy.

Harlin takes my hand and we rush inside and down the long passageway, and knock on the door. A few seconds later, a boy opens the door. He has dark blue eyes and messy long blonde hair that stands up in all directions. His top skin is bare, but I can see the lines on his face from sleep. He is wearing long blue track pants and is so tall.

“Who are you?” He asks us, and I can hear he is a Texas boy, which meant we weren’t that far from home. I didn’t like boys as yet. Harlin always teased me I would probably grow up liking girls. Maybe I would, but he looked somewhat alright, I guess.

“I’m..” I begin “We are visitors of Marcus Bray, he said we should knock on this door for chocolate milkshake.” I frown at my sister’s boisterous explanation, since I knew it was hot chocolate and we weren’t guest. We were... No, I can’t say it. Not until I know for sure.

He folds his arms across his chest, “Alright, but I should warn you, the milkshake machine is toast.” He walks past us and turns right.

“I think we should follow him,” Harlin mumbles, tugging my hand.

“Why did you lie?” I ask her as we follow his direction.

“He could be the helps son.” I roll my eyes at that one.

“I highly doubt that.”

No history.