When I woke up, I felt a soft surface beneath me and realised I was laying on a bed. I opened my eyes and saw I was in someone's bedroom. The mind hurt again but it seemed to have been healed. I at first thought it was my mom; she always used to be able to heal me quickly. I got up after realising I was never going to sleep on this surface.

At home, I slept in a tub. Mom said I was never able to sleep in a bed and have always slept in a tub. She sometimes slept with me and I could she found it safe like I did. I felt a tear roll down my cheek and I quickly wiped it away. I could hear voices in the other room and slowly made my way out the door.

I heard Nicole's voice, then Kyle's, then I recognised one as Stephen's, the other two, seemed to be not recognisable.

'But mom, she could be lying, she could be from Latnok...' Said a light perky female voice. Lori. The name echoed in my head. It sounded like my mom. Then that name... Latnok... What was that?

'You're right, we don't know.' Nicole said, I could hear the kindness from her voice had disappeared.

'I suggest we hand her to the police.' The other voice spoke up. It was deep and manly. Josh. The voice said again. Were they talking about me?

'But what if she is Jessi's daughter?' Kyle's caring voice pitched in, I smiled randomly before stopping myself.

'It's not possible Kyle, that girl...' I stung inside,' must be around fifteen Jessi's only been gone ten years. She would have had to had a five year old running around.' Stephen's voice said, were they all against me? I got angry, I felt electricity race through my body.

'Wait! Wait! There has to be an explanation. How can you explain the pictures?' Kyle seemed persistent.

'Photoshopped.' Suggested Josh. I got more angry. Are they saying I'm lying about my mom? I loved her!

I stepped forward so they could see me.

'Nicki!' Exclaimed Nicole.

'Are you suggesting I'm lying about my mom? I loved her! How can she say you were nice people! All you've done is doubted me.' A side lamp smashed next to me but I ignored it,' I loved my mom! What did she do that was so bad? What? Why?' I screamed and then there was a blackout. Car alarms ruined the quietened night outside. I rushed out, and down the street, tears flowed down my eyes. I didn't care where I ran. I ran through the darkness.

After a while I found myself surrounded by trees. The forest was pitch black and I struggled to see. I didn't know what was going on. Why did everyone ignore me? I reached into my pocket and dialled a number.

'Hello? Nicki is that you?' The deep voice on the other side greeted me and I felt better.

'Uncle Tom? I'm so afraid. Mom's missing, and my new family seem to hate me. Uncle Tom? Please help me!'

'Nicki calm down. Where are you? I'll come get you!'

'I don't know... I'm surrounded by trees.' I felt a pain in my leg and realised a glass shard from the shatter side lamp and impaled its self in me,' and I'm hurt!'

'I think I know where you are... I'll come get you... Wait there!' And he cut the line.

I reached for the glass and slowly pulled it out, the pain was excruciating. I searched in my pockets for something to wrap around the wound but nothing useful was there. I waited and waited, Uncle Tom would come, he always did. He wasn't really my uncle, my mom didn't have siblings. But I came accustomed to calling him that. He was always on call when we lived in Florida. He always came to help mom.

When I saw a flashing light of a torch and the crunching of leaves. I looked up. There he was stood searching for me.

'Nicki? Nicki are you here?'

'Yes! Uncle Tom! I'm over here!' I waved and he noticed me. He came running and shined the light over my wound.

'Come on we'd better get that sorted.' He picked me up and carried me slowly back into the forest. He was warm and I felt comforted. When we reached his jeep. He placed me in the back seat and tended to my wound. The pain subsided but I still felt angry and sad.

He drove me back towards his apartment. I fell asleep shortly afterwards. When I woke I was laying in the tub in his bathroom. He knew me inside and out. I climbed out and washed my face. Then I walked into the next room. I saw I was I an old worn down art studio loft. Unce Tom loved to help me with my art.

I called out and realised I was alone. I went over to the kitchen and saw a pack of sour patch kids along with a note.

Here you are thought you'd be hungry. Uncle T.

I smiled and walked over to the sofa; opening the packet and eat them. My mind went back to the previous night when I lost control. Mom said I should always keep calm. She said once when she got angry she broke some lights. I didn't know why we could use the electricity from our bodies to shortcut the lights and power sources but we did.

Uncle Tom didn't return until around one o'clock. He came in and smiled at me,' feeling better?'

'Yeah, I think the tub did some good for me.' He held out a bag for me and indicated I open it. Inside were some new clothes, and a new phone seeing as I lost my old one in the forest,' thanks Uncle Tom.'

He came and sat down next to me,' so can you tell me how you ended up in the woods? Alone? With a shard of glass stuck in your leg?'

'The family I was sent to... They kept saying things about me lying about my mom,' I looked away from him,' they said stuff like Latnok and I knew their names without even having to ask them. They said because mom was only gone for ten years that I'm not hers. What's so wrong with me?' I started to tear.

'We'll find your mom, Nicki, I promise and I'm sure she'll look after you again,' I smiled at him and he wiped my tears away,' do you want to go exploring? You loved that back on Florida.'

'Sure, I'll get changed.' I leapt up from my seat and ran to the bathroom with the bag. I changed quickly into some black skinny jeans, and a white crop top. When I was at home I'll loved to show off my empty abdomen which was bare with no belly button. Then I slipped on a leather jacket. Then I picked up the phone and placed it in my pocket. I was ready.

Uncle Tom took me to a hangout place named the Rack. He said people have been hanging out there for at least ten years. I asked him if my mom hung out here. He nodded before we entered. The place was alive with people. There were some computers to the left and a smoothie counter to the right. Next to the entrance were some magazine racks and at the back there was a conservatory.

We went up to the counter, people looked at me and then at Uncle Tom. Did we look strange? There was a blonde woman working at the counter. Her hair was tied up and she was where glasses but I swear I recognised her. Amanda. The voice told me. Uncle Tom ordered a black coffee and I ordered a cherry cola. That was my mom's drink and we shared it.

Uncle Tom guided me to the chairs in the conservatory and we sat. I drank silently while I scoped the room. This too felt familiar. I looked through the glass into the other room. It was crowded but I could see the familiar faces of the Trager family. Kyle walked up to the counter and kissed the blonde girl on the cheek. I felt angry somehow but my anger subsided.

I turned to Uncle Tom, who had been staring at his drink.

'Uncle Tom,' I pointed into the other room,' they're here!' He turned his head to look,' hide me.'

'It's alright Nicki. If they do see you, I'll handle it.'

'Well, can I have a magazine?'

'Sure! I'll go get you one!' He stood and walked out; He weaved through the crowd. But Kyle spotted him. They started mumbling and I wished I could hear what they were saying. Strangely I felt my ears open and they filtered through the noise of the cafe.

'Foss? It's a long time, no see!' They hugged each other in a manly way.

'Yeah, been busy you know?' Uncle Tom walked away from him and towards the magazines. He searched for one on science. Strangely Kyle followed him.

'What you doing here? You don't spend time out in public.'

'Just need time to relax, Kyle,' he grabbed the magazine and made his way to the conservatory. Kyle grabbed his shoulder.

'Foss? Is there something you're hiding from me?'

'No... I'm busy Kyle.' He shrugged off Kyle's hand and made his way to the conservatory.

My ears suddenly shot back to normal. He sat next to me and handed over the magazine,' what was that all about?'

He looked at me surprised,' do you hear that conversation?'

I nodded,' yep. Do you know him?'

'You know how I looked out for you and your mom?' I nodded,' well back when you're mom was with the Tragers, I used to watch out for Kyle too.'

'Ok, I trust you Uncle Tom.' I settled into my seat and looked through the magazine. I looked up at the other room again. The Tragers were talking, I strained my ears to listen. But this time I tried, a flash came across my mind, I tried again and felt blood trickle down on to my lip. The flashes happened again and for the second time, I blacked out completely.

A/N Here it is the second chapter of hidden! I hope you enjoy! Please review!

Thanks xx

PeppyXY