Chapter 4

The Christmas after the Collins had left I was mopping the kitchen floor when Ms. Thompson came in.

She looked at me then rolled her eyes.

"There is a gift on you bed; I suppose that you get to it before the other kids do."

I ran and gave Ms. Thompson the biggest hug.

"Thank you ma'm-"

She pushed me off of her.

"Stop all this fuss, why would I ever get a child like you a gift. It was not me who gave it to you. Now run along."

I looked at her wanting to say more, but stopped myself and ran to the rooms. I got to the bed that shared with a 5 year old and saw the loveliest little black box with a shinning gold ribbon.

I ran yanked up the box and ran to the bathroom to hide before the other kids saw. I was not a greedy child, but I have never in my life had something of my own that was not passed down or thrown out. I ripped open the door, locked it and sat behind it.

I then carefully unwrapped my precious gift with as much care as a new born baby. Slowly taking off the lid I could already see the little golden chain. Glistening from the light of the bathroom, attached to my lovely chain was the most extremely beautiful golden cross about the size if my little pinky. The cross had engraved vines going through it with red and white diamond on either side. It was gorgeous. I admired my treasure with delight. I turned the cross around to see the most fine-looking tiny inscription of my name written on the back.

Exactly who gave me this gift? I was surly not going to return it but who gave it to Ms. Thompson to give to me. Surely knowing Ms. Thompson, I'm sure that she wouldn't have given it to me, so why did she?

Knock-knock-knock

"Who's in there, I have to pee."

I jumped up quickly and unlocked the door putting the necklace behind my back.

Whitney one of the older kids who took pride in tormenting me looked at me with a disgusted look n her face.

"Hey stupid, get out of my way, just standing there didn't I say that I had to pe-"

She looked down to the floor at my little black box.

I squeezed my necklace tighter in my hand.

"What's that?"

She looked at me as I backed into the wall.

"What are you hiding stupid?"

I tried to run out pass her, but she grabbed my hair as I winced back in pain. She ripped open my fist with her big barbaric hands.

She snatched my precious cross out of my hands and pushed me to the floor.

"Who'd ya steal this from you little fool?"

"I didn't steal it from anyone, its mine."

I jumped up trying to snatch it from her big greasy hands, but as I jumped up she slapped me so hard that my left ear rung. I landed on my back and looked at her with tears in my eyes.

"What are you crying for? Get out of my face before I-"

She didn't have to say anything else, I got up and ran to my bed and cried until I went to sleep.

Who called Mr. Roger when Aunt Margaret died and what could she need birth certificates and passport that don't need to be mentioned for?

When I got out of the tub the clock over my bed read 2pm.

I went to the kitchen to make me a sandwich, as I walked in on the counter was more juices and canned goods.

This would have made me run a couple of days ago, but now I just pushed it aside and made my sandwich.

I said out loud to myself, "I have come to the conclusion, that I am truly crazy."

Yes, I was still afraid. I there are many different questions going through my head like, where is the food coming from, how did all the curtains close, and who was that man from last night and did he carry me to my room?

I was not going to open all the curtains again in the house, but I want to go back to the other house by the courtyard.

When I got to the house, I walked the halls. All the curtains were drawn and doors were closed.

Where was that room with the double doors?

I went up and down staircases, went through living rooms and luxurious dining halls.

I had somehow found my way into a library. It wasn't like the many other libraries that I had pass through. This one seemed as if it was personal. It was a lot smaller than the other ones also it had the most gigantic of all the other pictures that I had stumbled upon of my aunt. When I first saw the picture I was amazed because it was just as beautiful as the picture in the living room what startled me was the fact that this picture seemed as if it was painted way before my the last. Way, way before, maybe even in the 16 or 1500's. I stared at the picture for what seemed to be forever.

I look to a little desk sitting under the painting. I was curious so I sat at the desk. I opened up the first drawer and found nothing. I opened up all of the drawers and still found nothing. That kind of killed my curiosity.

I was getting up when my knee hit under the desk what felt like a handle. So I reached my hand under the desk a pulled. A secret drawer.

Inside the drawer were stacks of picture. I looked through all the picture.

How, no why were all these picture of me in this drawer, and who took them?

The pictures ranged from me as a young toddler to what looked like just before my birthday last year?

They all seemed to be taken at the orphanage, but I was never looking at the camera, but someone took all of these secret shots of me. My heart started to race a little. This is totally weird.

I put all the pictures back in the drawer and closed it.

I laid back in the chair and looked at the ceiling.

This has to be my aunt's room. She must have taken these pictures.

Why if she could take these pictures, just WHY couldn't she take me with her. She could have just picked me up and took me away.

"Why couldn't she just have taken me with her?"

The door of the library closed. Behind the door stood the man from last night.

"Then how could she have protected you here in Paradise."

I didn't run and my heart didn't stop. I think the reason I really came back into this house was to find him.

Then man looked at me and smiles crookedly.

"Well, I see that you're still breathing this time Taylor."

I wanted to say something, but what?

"Oh yeah, that thing with the curtains, let's not do that again."