Disclaimer: DON'T OWN IT!
A/N: I am soooooo sorry for the long wait. I was away. But here is the next update.
Maya tried to get to her feet and her head spun as she staggered forwards. She touched her head and came back with blood on her dark skin.
"Annabelle," she suddenly whispered as the realization hit her.
He daughter was stolen.
...
"I d-didn't know where else t-to go," Annabelle stammered.
Angella had her wrapped up in a robe and she was bandaging her few cuts and bruises.
"It's okay," Angella said, seeming very shocked at the whole thing. "Listen Annabelle, you are safe here. Okay?"
Andrew sat in a chair, staring at Annabelle's bruised and bloody face sadly. "Your mom did this?" he asked and Annabelle nodded slowly.
"Andrew," Angella warned. "Why don't you give her some space?"
"No," Annabelle said quickly. "I um... I want him to stay. If that's okay with you."
"Of course," Angella sighed.
"What's going on?" a voice asked, gaining their attention.
Annabelle gasped in shock as a little girl with curly blond hair and big brown eyes stood before them. "Who are you?" the girl asked Annabelle.
"Missy, go back to sleep," Angella instructed and when Missy didn't move Angella sighed. "Andrew, hold this towel over the cut on her head until it stops bleeding. I'll be right back."
As Angella passed by Andrew, she whispered, "Keep her busy. I'm going to call the police."
Andrew's eyes widened but he said nothing. He just picked up the towel and gently held it against Annabelle's head. "Ouch," she whispered with tears in her eyes. "That stings."
"I'm sorry," Andrew sighed. "What happened?"
"I don't want to talk about it," Annabelle responded, staring at her broken, bloody fingernails. "Who was that little girl?"
"My sister Missy," Andrew answered.
"And that woman- Angella, is she your mom?"
"Foster mom," Andrew replied sadly and dabbed at her forehead a bit.
"What's that?" Annabelle mumbled.
Andrew was barely surprised by the question. Annabelle knew close to nothing about the real world. "She takes care of me because my real parents can't."
"But why?" Annabelle asked.
Andrew looked incredibly sad. "Because they died."
"Oh. I'm sorry." Annabelle continued to stare at her hands. "Did your parents ever hit you or anything?"
Andrew shook his head slowly.
"Because, maybe I just deserved it," Annabelle sighed. "My mom loves me. She didn't mean-
"Annabelle," Andrew cut her off. "Look at yourself. You're a mess. She nearly killed you for having me inside the house. You look nothing like her and she pretends you don't exist. She hides you. She probably stole you Annabelle."
Tears welled up in Annabelle's eyes and ran down her face. "Maybe," she sighed. "But what now?"
"You can should stay with us," Andrew responded, his face lighting up. "Or better yet, we could find your real parents."
He heard Angella quietly speaking on the phone in the other room. "Really?" Annabelle whispered, looking up at him through tears and a black eye.
Andrew nodded. "Yeah. We could make it an adventure."
"Would Angella and Missy come?"
"No. It's too dangerous for them. Angella is pregnant and Missy's five."
"Dangerous?" Annabelle repeated, suddenly nervous.
"Oh come on Annie- can I call you Annie?- this will be awesome and we'll find your real parents. Maybe they won't hit you or anything like that. Maybe they'll be really great. I bet they love you a lot."
Annabelle stared for a long moment. "Okay," she finally said. "Just don't call me Annie."
Andrew grinned widely. "Okay. But we have to go like right now because Angella's calling the police."
"What?" Annabelle gasped.
"Let's go up to my room and pack a bag and some money. Then we'll climb out the window."
"The window?" Annabelle squeaked. "What about the front door?"
"Wow, you really are no fun are you?"
Andrew sighed and dropped the bloody towel before bandaging Annabelle's head. He grabbed two jackets, took two hundred dollars from Angella's purse, and left her an IOU. Lastly, Andrew took a pack of cookies just in case. "Let's go," he said, wrapping one of the jackets around Annabelle's shoulders. Angella's footsteps could be heard on the steps. "Hurry. Now!"
The two of them stood and ran/limped to the front door where they quietly made their escape.
...
"Zola's been really quiet tonight," Meredith said as Derek climbed into his bed.
"She's asleep," he yawned. "She's fine."
Meredith nodded and cuddled close to him as he turned off the light. A moment later she quickly pushed away from him. "But I'm gonna go check on her anyway."
Meredith stood and made her way to Zola's room. Derek sighed and pulled the covers up to his chin, finally able to get some rest after a long day at work.
"Derek!"
Derek's eyes snapped open and he quickly got out of bed, running over to find Meredith in tears, staring at a piece of paper in her hands. Derek looked over her shoulder and his mouth fell open. "She couldn't have gotten far!" Derek gasped, running down the steps to the front door. "Call the police. I'll go look for her."
Meredith started sobbing as she followed his orders, squeezing the note tightly in her hand.
I had to go away for a little while. It's really important. Don't come looking for me.
Love you. Sorry,
Zola
...
The vehicle slowly shifted to a stop and Zola opened her eyes that were swollen from crying. She had a hood pulled tightly over her head.
"We're here," the voice from the front seat said.
Zola pulled some money out of her pocket and payed the taxi driver before getting out and heading towards the train station.
...
A/N: Once again, sorry for the long delay. I really hope I didn't lose any readers. Please review and tell me what you would like to see happen.
Thanks :)
