Chapter Two-

Two months, 3 attempted escape laters, Cody was still stuck in the stripped room. It was horrible, it was complete and utter isolation, no one there but your thoughts. And Cody's thoughts were usually morbid, if she could just get her hand on something sharp, end it all. Anything was better than this, anything.

Her hair had lost it's signature shine and she was sure that she must've lost at least 20 pounds since arriving, which wasn't entirely her fault considering the crap they tried to feed the girls.

Twice a day Cody was allowed out of her "cell" and into the center's campus. It was huge, it looked relatively happy and as she watched the other girls roam she could tell she was the only one depressed in this place, then again she was the only one in the stripped room. Everyone else was divided into 3 different cottages, Cottage A for the older girls from the ages of 17-23, Cottage B for girls ages 13-16 and Cottage C (which was the smallest cottage) was filled with 12 year olds.

Every Sunday parents were allowed to visit their daughters, although most of the girls did not want to see them. Cody dreaded Sundays the most because it reminded her of the reason she was placed in this stupid place, the reason why she was a PINS, her "crime". She had been deserted by her parents and the courts had nowhere to put her but at the shelter. That's how her runaway habit began and her PINS record.

She looked down at her clothes, she wore a large white T-shirt, loose blue jeans and running shoes, all supplied by the Center. But she also had on an orange jean jacket, it was the last thing she had bought before being brought to the Center. With it's shout of colour, unusually large pockets, brass buttons, the jacket screamed "Cody" to her from the store's window. Listen, it seemed to call out, this is me, Cody. Different.

As she walked down the grassy yard she spotted a lone dandelion, she bent down and plucked it. She tucked it into her jacket buttonhole. She wasn't aiming to impress the parents she was aiming to please herself, because she mattered even if other people thought otherwise.

"Isn't that just adorable." A young mother smiled as she passed Cody, Cody grimaced and threw the dandelion onto the ground and stomped on it. The woman looked in horror as Cody grimaced.

"Adorable." She muttered and watched as the woman scampered off to the side of her husband.

---

"It's the only way to keep her safe." The matron protested

"Safe? You call that room, safe? I don't believe in isolating the girls, Mrs. Brooke. Have you seen her, she's grown terribly pale, it's about time we move her to Cottage B."

"Sir, she's already ran from here 3 times, Cottage B will be giving her more freedom and more chances to run."

"Then let her run."

"Excuse me?"

"Let Cody Myers run, she's been doing it since she's been 10. You can't really stop her, the best thing to do is let her run."

"Are you crazy? The city doesn't want more teenagers living on the streets."

"Well it's obvious we can't keep her here."

"What are you suggesting?" The matron asked raising her eyebrow slightly.

"I'm suggesting that we find her a home."

"A home? Sir, she's been placed in a dozen foster homes and she runs."

"I'm talking about her family."

"The only family she has is in rehab."

"She has a father doesn't she?"

"I suppose but how will we find him?"

"I have a feeling I know where he is."