I sighed to myself as I listened to the waves break against the rocks by the small island's dock; it seemed to make me realize even more that I was now free. I walked right to the edge of the dock and froze when another realization hit me: Now I was here, who was going to give me a lift?

My sudden fear became the last thing on my mind when I heard a sharp voice yell from behind me.

"Oi! What do you think you're doing?"

I slowly turned to find the voice's owner: an old man with quite a few grays but still had some light brown hair poking out from under the hat he was wearing, his teeth were yellow, but at least he still had them. He walked towards me and looked down at me sternly.

"Where are your folks? Little girls like you shouldn't be alone at this time of night."

I started to speak but stopped myself; if I told him why I was there, I'd probably be at the orphanage in ten minutes waiting for the worst beating I've ever received from Ms. Carter. He looked at me for another moment before he sighed; he knelt down to my level and looked me in the eye. There was no more sternness; just understanding.

"I've gotten tons of kids like you before; all trying to run away from the orphanage."

I was shocked into more silence.

"Most of them were able to get away, with the help of Martin. Only the one last week wasn't able to make it to the other island."

I knew he was talking about poor little Billy, who at the moment had two broken legs and a several deep cuts all over his body from the horrible beating he had received from Ms. Carter.

He put his hands on my shoulder. "Look, Martin was arrested for helping you all out, and everyone else is too scared to help anyone off this island. You might as well run back to the orphanage and hope they didn't notice you had left."

What? I came all this way just to be told it was no use? I should just go running back to beatings, days without food, and other horrible things?

"I can't go back! I bet they already know I'm gone! Carter has eyes everywhere! Including the back of her horns! If I go back-" I started but he cut me off.

"You're just going to have to accept it, I'm sorry."

He stood up and started to walk away; with tears in my eyes I clinched my hands together into a fist making my nails dig into the palm of my hand. "So that's it? No other option?"

He didn't turn, but just kept walking as if he hadn't heard me. By this time he was already at the door of his little house by the dock.

"Why can't you do something?" I yelled, the tears finally starting to roll down my face.

Now he had one hand on the doorknob, but he didn't turn it and walk inside. He stared at it for a moment, not moving, then he slowly turned his head slightly to look at the boat that was behind him.

I saw him bit his lip for half a second; I then gave up and started to turn and slowly walk back up the path to the orphanage.

"Wait!" His voice suddenly yelled out.

I turned to find him walking towards me, looking as though he regretted the decision he was about to make. When he finally made it to me, he looked me over for a moment then sighed.

"What's your name, kid?"

"Cassandra Livingston."

He sighed again and put on a fake smile. "Look, Cassandra. If I get caught for trying to help you out...." He trailed off, but still kept his eyes locked with mine.

No one, never, had ever done something like this for me before. My heart felt as if it was in my throat and tears of joy were slowly rolling down my face.

"You're...going to help me?"

He rolled his eyes. "I guess you could say that."

Before he could say anything else; I threw my arms around him, making him stop and looked positively alarmed that a little girl was hugging him.

He didn't put hug me back, but awkwardly peeled me off of him and back up few steps. "Right, well..."

"Thank you." I said, tears still welling up in my eyes.

"It's nothing." He quickly said, turning to walk down the dock to the smallest boat docked there.

"Come on. We have little time before they realize you're gone."