"Alright Kid, where you going?" Stef asked. She was driving along side the girl as she walked. Callie's bag was over her shoulder, she was walking fast, constantly looking behind her to see if He was coming. She knew he knew she had left now. It's just a matter of time until she had to go back. She knew the cop would bring her back.
Callie looked at the cop, her blond hair in a tight bun. She was driving slowly, she didn't seem to worried. Maybe she's done this many times before.
"Not sure yet." Callie mumbled. Walking faster. The cop matched her speed, still driving next to her.
"Well, you have to come with me my dear. You have a missing report filed on you, you have to come home." The cop said. Her voice didn't waver, and she kept it in a calm tone.
"I don't have a home." The girl said.
"You have to come with me." The cop ordered. Callie thought for a minute, does she really think she could run forever? The cop will get her, maybe even shoot her down. She stopped walking, and the car stopped next to her.
The cop got out, opening one of the doors to the back of the car. Callie walked over slowly and reluctantly, getting into the vehicle. She tossed her bag onto the seat next to her. She put her seat belt and leaned back against the seat, fighting everything inside of her not to cry.
Stef looked back at the girl, sensing her pain. She sighed.
"What's your name Love?" She asked, looking into the rear view mirror at the girl.
Callie looked up, "Callie Jacob." She leaned back down.
"Alright Callie. Sorry we had to meet under these terms, but I'm Stefanie Foster. Call me Stef." She spoke calmly, in a soft voice.
Stef looked at Callie again while they were waiting at a red light. The street lights illuminated her face and she was able to actually see what the girl looked like. She took a sharp breath. Callie's left eye was black and swollen, there were scratches along her face. On her arms she could just barely see bruises and more wounds.
She felt a dull ache in her heart.
"What-what happened to you?" Stef asked her, and Callie looked up.
She rolled her eyes, and a sarcastic smile was slightly showing, "Why would I tell you?" The split, swollen lip made it difficult for her to speak.
"Because I'm an officer. You can trust me." She said, driving the car as the light changed.
"I should trust you? You're bringing me back there, and you wantme to trust you?" Callie's voice was raspy, Stef could tell that she was fighting off tears.
"I'm bringing you home, now tell me what happened." Stef ordered. It was a command, but it was spoken softly.
"I don't have a home." Callie spoke, saying each word slowly.
"Why's that?"
"Because I'm in the foster system. I live with foster parents. It's not my home and they're not my parents." She said. She talked quietly and angrily.
"So what happened?" Stef asked, she became concerned for the girl's safety. Callie sat up again, her face was just a shadow, but she could see that her eyebrows were raised.
"Do you really want to know?" She asked.
Stef nodded, looking up at the rear view more than the road.
"I tried to get away, many times. Each time he caught me he'd hit me. Every time he gets drunk, he hits me. He came home drunk last night, and he beat the crap out of me. I got away after he and his wife passed out." She said. She said it like she was in a trance, with no emotion. In the passing street lights Stef could see that tears had run down her cheeks. Her swollen, bruised cheeks.
Callie was looking out the window, it had started to rain. She watched the rain drops slide down the window.
"I'm going to help you." The cop said, she saw Callie shake her head.
"Don't bother. I'll just end up in a new home, and they get worse each time." She sighed, still looking out the window. Stef could see that she's been through a lot. She seems wise, and very adult like for her age. Stef's heart was aching for her already.
"Not this time you won't." Stef said, her eyes focused on the road, her mind focused on the girl in the backseat.