I know this is probably cliche, but I just want to thank everyone so far for their kind words. It's a weird feeling knowing that people out there in the world are actually reading something you wrote, voluntarily nonetheless. Weird, but I love it. So thank you.

Also the story is about to pick up really fast here in a couple chapters.

13;

Riley sat alone in the middle of the musty basement on a rusty chair that looked like it could easily be from the fifties. She glanced up to the dangling light bulbs hanging from their wires along the length of the ceiling, frustrated at their silence.

She analyzed the room and observed few differences from the time that she was down here some five months earlier. The walls were still stained two different colors and some metal shelving now lined a small section of it. The food cooler in the corner now had a combination lock attached to its latch.

The chairs were the biggest change in the room that she noticed. Instead of some being randomly stacked and others fallen over, they were now lined up side by side.

"'It's not surprising no one wants you'… what the hell does he know?" His words dug deep and dislodged some unwanted past memories and allowed them free reign in her head.

Her memories of that night her mother was killed were vague, but the outcome drastically changed her life. Being only six she was unable to fully comprehend what was occurring and quickly became withdrawn. She was forced around by strangers until eventually thrown into a building with other children like her, her mother nowhere to be found. She'd often keep her distance from the others as she watched them run around and play with each other. Making friends was undesirable as was talking in its entirety.

Despite her detached personality, a couple gave her a chance not long after she was admitted to the orphanage and brought her home. She turned eight while in their care, but it wasn't without its stress. The parents were having a difficult time coping with their new foster daughter's extensive apathy. After several months of effort they decided that it was best they bring her back.

Her tenth birthday took place within the confines of the orphanage, celebrated by few others and some of the staff. Not long after, she met with an older couple looking for another daughter to join their already large foster family. They had a conversation with her and the caretaker Sara which soon after lead to Riley moving into a new home. Due to her only experience with familial living being short lived, she assumed it was normal. Sure enough she ended up back at the orphanage only months later.

Over the next six years she would find herself in and out of homes almost on a yearly basis. She expected nothing out of any of her new homes and slowly began to act out at those who were interested in her. Growing into her teens only intensified her emotions and, detrimentally, her actions. She would verbally lash out at anyone she believed was like the others who didn't want her, and to her they were all like the others.

The occurrences in which she was fostered out reduced considerably due to her age and attitude. By the time she turned fourteen she had been through seven different families, each one incrementally dealing with an increasingly troubled girl. None of them wanted her.

Every action throughout her life all of their subsequent consequences had led her to this very moment, locked up in a dark basement and left at the mercy of her memories. She slumped back against her chair, sitting motionless, letting the same sequence of thoughts play through her mind over and over.

By the time the door reopened and shot forth a thin sliver of light against her, the repetitious cycle had slowed itself to a stop, but not before leaving her exhausted.

A voice came from a silhouette that was now standing in the doorway at the top of the stairs. "Are you ready to join us again?"

She peered up at him with her head still down. "Yes."

"Can you keep your attitude under control?"

Her answer came quicker and more hostile. "Yes."

"Very well."

The silhouette shifted to the side, leaving just enough room for her to pass by. Riley struggled to her feet and sluggishly made her way up the stairs that creaked under every step. She walked through the door, passing uncomfortably close to David, and walked down the narrow hallway.

She had made it only a few steps past its walls before she was attacked by Ellie. The freckled girl ran up and wrapped her arms tightly around her which caught her off guard. Riley stood startled for a moment before managing to return to the gesture.

Ellie eased on her grip and leaned back. "Are you okay? He didn't do anything to you did he?"

Riley shook her head and looked over toward the front hallway. "Can we just get out of here?"

She followed her gaze and then turned back to her. "Do you want any food first? I saved you some."

"I'm not hungry."

"Okay." Ellie sympathetically nodded and pulled her arms free from around Riley.

She grabbed her hand and led the two of them into the bedroom and through the second and third row of beds until they reached Ellie's bed.

Ellie dropped onto the bottom bunk first and scooted to the far side. She patted the empty spot next to her which prompted Riley to crawl in beside her and nestle her head against Ellie's shoulder.

"What happened in there?"

Riley had her eyes shut and spoke after a long pause. "I really don't know… he got to me somehow, with just a few words. I've never given a give a shit about what people think about me, but it was just the way he said it."

"What'd he say?" Ellie waited a moment for a response and realized what she said. "Sorry, don't answer that."

"He said, 'It's not surprising no one wants you.'"

"…really? Well he's clearly an asshole." They both managed a chuckle under their breaths. "But really, that's it? Obviously he's wrong."

"See, that's the thing though. I don't know that he is."

"Riley."

"Think about it. Would I be in here if just one person did?"

"…it's possible."

Ellie's defeated tone caused Riley to reflect on her words. "Sorry. You know I didn't mean it like that."

"I know."

"I just…I hate myself for letting him get to me."

"Well screw him, right?"

"Right." There was a moment of silence before Riley sprang open her eyes and stared straight at Ellie. "We should get him back."

"Wait, what? How?" Her first question came off as a surprise, the second as suspicious.

Riley flipped onto her back and stared at the bottom of the bunk. She bit her lip and darted her eyes back and forth in thought. "I don't know yet. I'll think of something."

"Look, as much as I'd love to help you get back at him, and trust me I do, you need to think about it first. The entire place is under his control, hell I wouldn't be surprised if James is too. He'd just do the same thing to you again if he found out you were trying something. Maybe worse."

"It's stupid I know, but I don't care. Not anymore."

Ellie let out a soft sigh. "Riley, just give yourself a day to rest. If you still feel like you want to tomorrow, then… we can talk about it."

Riley half-smiled at her. "You're not hard to convince are you?"

"Not when it comes to you." She smirked at Riley and the two stared at each other for a moment before Ellie's focus suddenly shifted toward the middle of the room. "That's weird."

"What?"

"Sam's not in his bed."

"Why is that weird?"

"He wasn't at breakfast. I watched the hallway the entire time you were in there and I never saw him. I thought he was still sleeping, but apparently not."

"Maybe you just missed him?"

"I don't think so. I'll ask Tino if he's seen him." She winced after hearing herself say his name. "Crap, sorry."

"It's fine. But to be honest, you're probably going to be the only one of us talking to him. I've had enough of him for a while." She shut her eyes and rolled back onto her side facing the edge of the bed.

"Fair enough. I'm gonna go ask, you coming?"

Riley grunted. "Nah, I'm tired. How long was I in there anyway?"

"Few hours, I think."

"Seemed like an eternity… thanks for waiting."

"Of course. Get some rest."

Ellie crawled her way over Riley and off of the bed. She tiptoed out of the room as quietly as she could and passed by David's office as she made her way to the great room. She ignored him and continued walking until she reached Tino, who was sitting at one of the tables playing solitaire, and sat next to him.

He was focused on his game, unconcerned for much else. "Hey."

"Hey? That's it?"

"What?"

Ellie exhaled and decided to drop it. "Never mind. Have you seen Sam?"

"Not since yesterday."

"Me neither. Where would he be?"

"How should I know? Maybe he… went over to the stores, or something. I'm trying to play a game here."

"Pretty sure he would say something if he did."

Tino set down his cards turned his focus onto Ellie who clearly wasn't going to let up with the questions. "What do you want from me, Ellie?"

"Relax. I don't want anything from you. I just find it odd."

"Then go ask David. He might know."

She glanced over at his office door. "That's not happening." She stared back at him with her eyebrows raised.

He sighed realizing her reluctance. "Fine, I'll go ask. Just let me finish this hand."

"Thanks. I'm gonna rest, so let me know."

She left Tino at his table and headed back to her bed, but passed it by when she found that Riley had fallen asleep on it. She continued onto Riley's own bunk and climbed it to the upper bed. She let her head hit the pillow and threw an arm over her eyes to block out the midday sun that was pouring through the windows.

As silence returned, Tino returned his focus onto the game on the table in front of him. He dealt himself out another several games and succumbed to defeat on the fourth. He dropped the cards onto the others and headed into David's office wanting to get the question out of the way.

He reached the door and peaked his head around the corner. "Got a second?"

David again put down his pencil and closed his notebook. "Yes, Tino. What is it?"

"I was talking to-" He stopped himself, not wanting to get either of the girls involved. "Sam yesterday, but I haven't seen him today. Have you heard or seen anything?"

He paused for a second, seemingly to collect his thoughts. "Ah yes, Sam." He reached behind the desk and pulled out one of the metal drawers. He pulled from it a manila envelope and opened its top with one fluid motion and laid its contents in front of Tino. "Sam Thompson. Placed into a foster family just this morning. I'm very happy for him. Did he not say anything to you?"

"Uh, no, actually. He didn't mention anything about it. This morning?" He shuffled through a few of the papers but wasn't sure what he was looking at.

"Indeed. The process had been in the works for a while and today was its completion date. I'm sorry to hear that he didn't tell you, but you should be happy for him regardless."

"Yeah, I guess so. I would've liked if he had just said… something. Anything."

David didn't try to console him any further and instead chose to just grin. "Anything else?"

Tino shook his head and started for the door. "That's it."

As he made his way out of the room he could hear the folder being closed and the metal grinding as the drawer was shut. Both of the noises were unsettling as as he knew the only physical proof that Sam ever existed was being shut away.

He walked in a slight daze to Ellie's bed, which he quickly discovered was occupied, and moved onto Riley's where he found Ellie on the top bunk.

He grabbed the bed frame and shook it. "Ellie."

She grunted from the sudden disruption and let her arm fall from her face, the onrush of light partially blinding her. "What?"

"About Sam."

"...Sam? Oh, yeah. Did you ask?"

"Yeah."

"What'd he say?"

"Apparently Sam was fostered out to a family this morning. I guess before we even woke up."

Ellie was still disoriented from her sudden awakening. "What? Seriously?"

"That's what David said."

"Well why wouldn't Sam have said anything?"

"I don't know. I mean, we all talk to each other every day and he just leaves out this huge thing?"

"Maybe he didn't know before this morning."

"Never heard of that happening before. Besides, David said the process took some time… no idea."

Ellie let her head fall back against the pillow with an exhale. The scenario gathered in her mind and attempted to reach some sort of equilibrium of comprehension.

"Me neither. Thanks for asking."

"Yeah. Sure."