A/N: There's absolutely no excuse other than life got busy; Christmas, prelims, projects, performances, easter, family stuff and exams etc. However I've finally left school and have just got to sit my 4 exams. So sorry that I'm that author...
Stef's POV
I awake to a gentle tug on my sheets. I open my eyes to see Cora looking at me with big teary brown eyes. She is shaking and sniffling. Another nightmare, she's been having them at least once a week for the month and a half we've had the girls. I lift up the sheet and let her in. I know it's not ideal but how else am I to console the the little girl who'd seen God knows what when she had been kidnapped.
Lena convinced her to go to a councillor. It doesn't seem to help. Cora tries to convince them she remembers nothing, the councilor said that she might not remember; that her subconscious suppressed it. It's times like this that I know she remembers something. I close my eyes and decide to go back to sleep.
"They were bad men.." She sniffles snuggling into me.
"I know... What did they do?" I ask hopefully.
"They made me sleep outside.. They made sure I could read and they gave me a check up." She yawns.
"A check up?" I ask, scared of how she'll answer.
"Yeah like the doctor, they said I don't breathe good but that I was cute so I'd make them a lot.." I sigh, they were planning on selling her.
"Do you remember anything else?" I whisper.
"Yeah Caleb-" she trailed off.
I close my eyes and try to fall back asleep with the thoughts racing through my mind. The girl had been caught up in a child trafficking ring.
Somehow I manage to fall asleep quickly and awake to the sun streaming though the curtains. Lena is standing by the door staring at us. Cora's lying in the exact same position she fell asleep in; thank god she's not a wriggler because I don't think I'd have got any sleep. I try to get up without waking her but as soon as I move her eyes are open and she's beginning to sit up.
"Morning," Lena smiles at us, Cora rubbing her eyes adjusting to the sunlight.
"Sorry.. Again," yawns Cora.
"You've nothing to be sorry for sweetie," Lena replies, "Now how about we go downstairs for breakfast?"
The little brunette bounces out of the bed and begins to race down the stairs giggling.
"No running!" I call after her, "Did you hear her last night? She was talking about the kidnappers and they were planning on selling her.. She mentioned a name."
"I heard... 'Caleb' but she didn't tell you who he was" Lena replies
"Caleb?" I hear a little voice from the doorway ask, "Our brother's called Caleb..."
We both turn around to an inquisitive Kirsten standing with her hands on her hips. Lena and I share a glance in shock; although she had mentioned it before. Kirsten then goes on to tell us that a nice family wanted him because he was little and cute, she told us that he was only 2 when they left the UK and was about 3 now. My heart breaks for these girls; they don't seem to get a break. It's times like these I question what the hell God was thinking to let this go on(if he even existed),
We talk with her for a little before joining Cora downstairs. She's sat at the table swinging her legs grinning; one of her pigtails has come undone in the night and her my little pony pyjama shirt has risen at the side showing off her hip. She's quite a girl. Kirsten rolls her eyes at her and fixes her shirt before undoing her second pigtail. I laugh at the little perfectionist who's hair always seemed fixed, never anything out of place.
I grab boxes of cereal and put them on the table and Lena places the milk down. Cora fires in and pours herself a bowl of Cornflakes while Kirsten has Cheerios. I grab a cup of coffee and sit at the table waiting for the older kids to wake up.
"So.. Cora, what were you saying about Caleb last night?" I ask her.
"He was there..." She says though a mouth of corn flakes.
My jaw drops, I don't know what to say but I'm sure he hadn't been found. The kidnappers got away with some of the kids before the raid and he must have been one of them. The only thing is I had no idea he was missing...
