Running From the Past
Started on 04/12/05
Disclaimer: I'm sure we all know I do not own any characters from POTO, Sara however is fashioned from my poor little brain.
A/N: I haven't abandoned "Love From the Future" at all, but I started this story and was on a roll, the Angel of Writing has been very good to me here, oh and Erik will make his apperance in the next chapter. I have it all written but I'm too tired to type it tonight, but it's ready to go.

Erik: It better be! You can't havestory without me!

Me: Ohh shush! You're the start, the Primma Donna, and you know it

Erik: And don't you forget it.

Anyway, here you go. Enjoy

Chapter III. Pain and Freedom

Sara scurried up the stairs in the chapel overlooking the rows where the organist played during mass. Delicately she opened the note and leaned up against the bench. "Dear Sara," it read "I'm sure by now you know why I am not around. God has called me in a different direction and I must answer. Never ever break a vow to God, as that is the most important vow of all. Enclosed are a few items I think you wil find useful. One is a compass so you can always find your way to me whenever you'd like. I will never ever let you go without help or turn you away. Second is a layout of the whole building, everything is there. All the exits and everything, use it as you wish. And third is my new location. I want to stay in touch wiht you. Let me know how you're doing or where you are. I never had a daughter Sara, but if I did, I imagine she would be a lot like you. Remember what I told you about finding your new family. There are two families for everyone, it just so happens whoever gets you first is the one that was ready, so the other one is out there. I know it. Say a prayer for me, and as always I'll say one for you.
Your friend forever in God,
Pat Lescallete.

Slowly she sat down on the floor holding the letter in both hands and looking straight ahead. Someone else close to her was leaving. Why did everyone always go away? Her father had no choice and didn't have a say in the matter, but Father Pat, he chose to leave. It's not fair, what's the point of living if everyone I know is just going to leave? She thought bitterly to herself. "Anything else you'd like to do God?" She lay down on the floor and prayed for the pain in her heart to stop "please God, send me someone who isn't going to go away and I promise I'll behave for the rest of my life."

Morning came all too soon for Sara, it felt like she just went to bed 10 minutes ago. Stretching her body out was painful from sleeping on the floor, but she did it anyway. Her heart hurt so why shouldn't everything else hurt too? She contemplated getting up or staying put in the little room high above so she didn't have to look anyone in the eye ever again. Voices in the distance influenced her decision hevaily and she got up. "- and we send that Sara kid off too. She's strong, she's healthy, must be worth a couple hundred francs at least. And what about that Peter kid? He's grown a lot in the past month."

"Fine by me, the more kids the better"

Sara didn't hang around long enough to see what they meant. She dashed down the stairs, through the hallways and burst into the dorms out of breath. Who could she tell? Nobody would believe her. She grabbed an empty laundry bag and shoved all her personals inside as qucikly as she could. A few peices of clothes, some papers, the compass, and a stuffed animal. She knew it would be hard to get out now; maybe during lunch or when everyone was sleeping. For now, she'd explore her ways to the outside world. Putting the bag under the bed, Sara walked out into the halls and looked around. There were doors she never knew existed, and being a kid she wanted to go inside and see what was hidden behind them. Only problem was, she couldn't afford to get caught. Oh, alright... maybe just one. She picked a door at the end of the hallway and invited herself in- the records room. Right then, she could find anything she wanted to know and get dirt on everybody who was there, even employees. Just as she was about to open a drawer in the filing cabinet, the doorknob turned and she froze dead on the spot, hands outreached and all. The door opened all the way and in walked Sister Mary Francis. "Sara? Is that you? What are you doing in here dear? You know this room is off limits to everyone. For Goodness sake child, off with you now. Go.

"You won't tell?"

"We'll keep this our secret this time, but next time I will have to punish you"

"Oh it won't happen again, I can assure you sister."

"Good, now go outside and play with the other kids"

"Yes sister" Sara responded backing up towards the door without turning her back on the room. She was thankful she didn't get in trouble, she could only imagine what lay in store for her if she was tattled on. This was it, now was the time. She ran back to her room, grabbed her back and bolted like a bat out of hell, not caring about who saw her.

"Oh good Sara, nice to...Wait, where are you going? Stop! Runaway, we have an escape attempt!" Ohh crap, that's ok, just keep running. Keep on pushing! She zigzagged down the halls, jumped over toys, and slid under legs in her persuit of the freedom awating her. She ran outside to the gate and looked back, there were 4 nuns trotting after her Not happening, I made it this far! Nooo She shoved her sack through the hole and proceeded to follow when one of them grabbed onto the back of her shirt. She kicked and struggled, finally breaking free and scurried through the fence as naturally and as smoothly as a dog at a junkyard. "You'll never make it!" she heard one of the nuns cry after her. "The streets in this city are not kind to the poor and homeless orphans!"