Chapter 2

I have always been alone so I am use to being lonely. At Fosters I would always see kids come and go. Seeing kids looking so happy because they have found a home, I so longed to hold the hand of a new mother and father to take me away but I never even got the chance at least to look at couples as they walked in. I can remember back when I was young Ms. Thompson with her disgustingly red curly hair, had told me that when people came that I was to hide because my ugly face and bad manners would scare off the parents and I would ruin it for the other kids. She said that she would do anything to get rid of me. Even though I didn't think that I had bad manners, I didn't know if I was ugly or not. So whenever a couple came looking for a child Ms. Thompson would always hurry me into a room upstairs where I would look out at the child that had found their new family.

One day when I was 9 I ran into a young couple who were on their way out. Obviously they had not found a child that would fill the space in their hearts, but as they looked at me the woman looked at her husband and started to cry but she looked so happy, and the man smiled and walked over to me.

"You are the most beautiful child I have seen in my life, what is your name sweetie."

I didn't want to say anything because I thought my bad manners would scare them away so I took off running up the stairs to the room I usually hid in and looked out the window awaiting the couples departure. As I looked out the window I heard footsteps coming up the hall.

"I'm quite sure she came this way Ms. Thompson."

"Mr. Collins, I assure you that there is no child of that description here at Fosters, now if you would pleas-"

"No, we saw the child plan as day, big green eyes, curly blond hair, we couldn't make her up, she's a beauty, the child we have been waiting for, we want to take her home with us today to make her ours. We don't understand why she just ran off like that without saying anything."

My heart stopped for a moment, a couple wanted me? I jumped to my feet and rushed to the door.

As I awoke the next morning it was like waking in heaven, I have never slept in my own room, I always slept in the beds with younger children. I felt so energetic; I had a good nights sleep with a full stomach of mysterious bread, a nice hot bath, undisturbed, and a big comfy bed.

I jumped out of bed and ran to the curtains and threw them open letting the warm sun shine on me. I ran out to the hall and into the big living room and ripped open all of the heavy curtains and watched as the room glowed beautifully of all of its glass antiques. I was in a wonderland, and it was all mines, I would have never thought that I would experience a day like this in my life.

Admiring all the artwork on the wall I glance up at a portrait over the grand marble fireplace.

'Margaret Rozette', is this my great aunt? The portrait looked as if it was painted in the mid 1800's or later. The women was breath taking and she looked as if she was in her late 30's, with long curly brown hair and beautiful green eyes. Her smile was the loveliest so warming and loving just staring at me.

She looks nothing like the crazy aunt that I had imagined. Just looking at her picture I felt a sharp pain in my heart. I had never seen this woman, yet met her, I felt tears coming to my eyes and they just fell. I loved her and missed her so much and I don't even know her. I have to find out more about my Aunt Margaret.

I breezed through the mansion in what seemed to be hours, opening curtains and doors letting the sun pour in. This house, my house could not be a dark and gloomy one.

I had lost count of how many rooms I had entered and which floor I was on because he farther I went I couldn't tell if I was gong up stairs or down.

I had gotten deeper and deeper into my new home and yet there never seemed to be an end?

Countless bathrooms, bedrooms, and libraries, all fully furnished. I was now in the second part of the house which I got to threw going out to a court yard. This house never stopped, yet I never left a curtain closed because that showed me if I had been there or not.

My stomach is now killing me, it seems to now be around 7 o'clock and the sun is about to start setting and I haven't eaten anything.

I'm getting so sleepy and hungry. I'm at the end of a hall and open the last two curtains, I open a door to room a plop right on a bed. I should just rest a little and then find my way out to eat later. I don't realize when I doze off.

What was that!

I look around droopy and confused and remember that I took a nap in a room in the house.

But something just woke me? A loud sound woke me?

I looked over to see out the window but the curtains were shut. I think I do remember opening the ones in the bedroom, but it doesn't matter because definitely remember opening the ones outside the door.

I get up feeling the hunger even stronger in my stomach.

Looking out the window I see that it is pitch black. How long did I sleep? I head out to the hall.

I did open all the curtains didn't I? Why are all of them closed?

I looked up and down the hall, and every curtain was closed. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, I grabbed the cross around my neck. Who closed the curtains? I know I opened them because that's the reason that I am here but why are they closed now.

Without thinking I start sprinting down the halls, turning corners, leaping down stairs. Closed, closed, closed, every window is closed, I know that I am definitely not crazy, I opened every window.

I have to get out of this house… NOW!

I just need to find out how to get out?

I have finally realized that I am lost and that has not slowed me down at all. I'm still running and I see big double doors ahead of me. They don't look familiar, but I burst threw them anyway.

I stop.

"Well, now may I say that it is such a pleasure to finally meet you Miss Taylor Rozette, my beauty, aren't you just as lovely as your aunt."

My legs go out and I'm on the floor. I feel as I slowly lose consciousness. The last thing I remember are cold hands lifting me and carrying me out the room.