Chapter 1
New Home
"Get out! You don't belong here you murderer!" Biff (that's what he calls himself) shoves me from behind into the mud outside of the Orphanage of Rejection. I put my hands down to stop the fall splashing water from the heavy downpour on my face. I get up and turn to face the "click", so to speak, just as Jack slams his bony elbow into my jaw. I drop back on the ground. I'm sick of this. Why does everyone call me a murderer? I clench my jaw, pain shooting up it, balling up my fists as Jack pretends he's going to help me up, extending his hand to me. I won't fall for that again. I swing my foot up into his stomach, at an unexpected moment and punch his nose. Jack blanches and screams when drops of blood drip from his nose; then he starts crying. The others laugh at him, calling him a little girl. I feel sorry for my sudden outburst, but I didn't think he would come to tears over that. He's two years older than I, and a couple inches taller as well. Maybe that doesn't matter. "I should thank you for hitting that whiny girl, but I think I'll pass," Biff says and lunges at me.
Three Days Ago
"This is your room," Miss Kathy, lady of the orphanage leads me into a small space, with three older boys in the two bunks.
The bottom left one is unoccupied, and I ask her, "Is this mine?"
"Yes, now, what is your name?" miss Kathy ruffles my blond hair.
"Zane," I respond.
She smiles warmly and gives me a gentle hug, before saying, "Well, today has been very long, Zane. Have a good nights rest. Tomorrow is school and Miss Betsy and Miss Jasmin do not approve of attending class late."
"Are they unkind?" I ask.
She laughs quietly as she walks with me to the bed and tucks me under the white covers, "No. Of course not; they are very nice people and will like you."
"Really!" I exclaim, eager to meet them, "Can I see them?"
"Tomorrow, sweetie. Now get some sleep." Miss Kathy turns off the bedside lamp before leaving the room closing the door, with just a crack open so a beam of light filters in. I smile. No one has ever treated me this way before. I drift into a deep sleep.
"Where were you last night?" an officer interrogates me at the hospital.
"I don't…remember," I respond, "You are the first person I have ever met." I wince, lightly touching my burning shoulder, "Do you know where I am?"
The second man rolls his eyes and gets in my face, his putrid breath blowing on me, "Listen kid! We need to know what happened to that dead man in the alley! We don't have all day!" he snaps at me. "How did you get that stab wound?"
"Do you mean that gash on my shoulder? I don't know," I tell him.
"Are you trying to say that you lost your memory or something kid? Maybe we should get your brain checked!" he shouts and the other man pulls him away from me.
"Kieran, leave the boy alone. Let me deal with him," he says; then turns to me. "Where are your parents? If you answer the questions, we can take you to them?"
"I-I… don't know," I speak truthfully. Why won't they believe me?
Kieran mutters something I think about getting some air and slams the door behind him. "Please cooperate. A woman and girl your age were murdered last night," the man in the room pleads.
"What does 'murdered' mean?" I ask.
