Home
The police pulled in front of a large grey house. The shutters hung open on the darkened windows. Children could be heard laughing from the rear of the building. Slowly they climbed out and helped the girl from the back seat. She looked at the Foster home in despair, she never wanted to come back here. Slowly the police walk her to the house just as an elderly woman with her graying hair pulled tight into a bun came rushing down the stairs. "Oh thank heaven that you found our darling little angel."
"Miss Hope, it is a pleasure to see you again," the one officer smiled gently. "Like you had suggested we did indeed find her in her old house."
"I am ever so grateful for you to bring Ara home to us. We really did miss her," the woman lied through her teeth.
"Well ma'am it wasn't a problem at all, we just are glad to be able to help you out."
The woman smiled at the two officers then gently took Ara's hand in her own. "Come along darling so that these fine men can get back to their jobs. Take care officers," she called as they turned and headed back to their vehicle.
Leaning down she pulled the girl closer to her and squeezed her hand as hard as she could. Ara bit back her tears as Hope leaned down and whispered in her ear. "You are going to be punished for running away."
After the police pulled away Hope roughly pulled the girl in the house, through the kitchen, and roughly down the stairs. leading her to a small dark room that looked as if the walls were falling apart; she chained her to the floor. "You will stay in here until I feel you can behave yourself, until then you'll be lucky to get water, but you will not be fed!" She turned on her heel after she smacked the child harshly across her face. On her way out of the basement she killed the lights to leave the girl alone in the dark.