Abandoned; it was the one word Sahara had decided described her perfectly.

 She let out a long sigh as she stared at the rain pelting against the window pane only to run down, seeking a path downwards as it merged with other drops to form long streaks. Moodily Sahara watched one particular drop, which seemed to miss the others and make its way down the window on its own. With another sigh she couldn't help but picture herself as that one drop, unable to connect with the rest.

 As usual Sahara had gotten up that morning and made herself ready for school. She had sat through classes, ignored the stinging remarks she got from some girls at school, and come back again with a pile of homework. All throughout it, she had not talked to a single person other than the lunch lady.

 It was not as though she didn't want to talk to people, to interact with them more, it was just that she wasn't sure how to. She had watched the other girls at school laughing together and talking about their everyday lives, and yet when Sahara thought about it, she had nothing to talk about. It was the exact same routine every day after day, nothing different, nothing new.

 With fourteen she had been the oldest at the orphanage. The others her age had already had been adopted or were all placed in foster homes. For Sahara that wasn't the case. The orphanage had tried foster homes for her and yet she had never been there more than a week before her foster parents would bring her right back to the orphanage. Their reason, she was too quiet, they couldn't deal with her.

 In the end, when she turned fifteen, she was sent to Heirlen Home. It was the place where kids too old for the orphanage, and who had been sent back from foster homes, stayed; the trouble makers. Some even already had criminal records and Sahara knew that Miss. Bloomington, the lady who ran the house, couldn't wait until a kid turned old enough to be kicked out and live on their own.

 There was a loud crash from somewhere behind her and Sahara heard someone swear. Voices yelled as tempers flared and there was the sound of scuffling. Someone let out a yelp and Sahara could not help but let out another long sigh. It looked like another fight had broken out among the others. It really was just like any other day.

 She sat up straighter. No, actually, today was supposed to be different. Miss. Bloomington had conveniently remembered to tell Sahara, the day before, that a couple would be dropping by that day.

 Apparently they had always wanted a daughter of their own and yet did not want to adopt a baby or toddler. Miss. Bloomington has said it had to do with them not wanting have to take care of all the needs a young child had. No, they wanted someone older, who was responsible to an extent. Someone who was not too big of a handful, and apparently Sahara fit.

 Behind her the voices rose even louder and there was a bunch of cussing followed by the sound of something making impact. Someone snarled and then there was simply a sound of scuffling, as though someone were fighting.

 Ignoring it Sahara continued to watch the rain. She still couldn't believe it. Someone wanted to possibly adopt her, at her age? It seemed too good to be true, and that was why Sahara didn't let her hopes get up. No, most likely these people would bring her right back after a week, a month tops. I the end she just wouldn't fit the criteria.

 The noise was interrupted when something shattered on the ground. There was a moment of silence before "now you've done it," sounded and footsteps could be heard tromping up the stairs.

 "What's going on up there!" Miss. Bloomington's familiar voice boomed.

 "Run," someone said before there was a stampede of feet. Sahara could just imagine the culprits attempting to make their escape. Too bad for them, Miss. Bloomington would find out who they were, she always did.

 Leaning forward Sahara breathed onto the window pane causing it to fog up. She reached out with one finger and drew two eyes and a nose. She paused before she settled for drawing a straight line for a mouth. Making it a smile would be lying, making it a frown would simply make it depressing.

 It was then that she caught sight of the beat up car that made its way into the drive way, fighting its way through the wind and rain outside. Sahara's heart jumped into her mouth. Was it them?

 "Boys!" Miss Bloomington yelled from the corridor. "Who was it that broke the vase!"

 Sahara could hear her stomp down the hallway, every step signifying just how angry she was. Sahara's attention, however, was on the lone figure outside which made its way from the car towards the front door. Her heart sped up and her palms suddenly felt sweaty. They always did when a prospective parent came, despite the fact that she had long learned not to expect anything.

 "The culprits better show themselves or so help me when I find them...!" Just then the doorbell rang, cutting her off from whatever she had wanted to say. Sahara heard the floor boards creak as Miss Bloomington turned from her hunt to head back downstairs.

 "Mark my words; I will deal with you later!" She yelled back threateningly to whoever the culprit was as she descended the stairs once more.

 The door bell rang again. Sahara sat frozen at the window, still staring at the car below.

 "Mrs. Kane!" Miss Bloomington's voice suddenly sounded cheerful and warm. "Welcome, welcome. Come on in!" In her mind Sahara could just see the stocky middle aged lady opening the door with a smile plastered on her face. How she always managed to transform characters in front of others so quickly had all the kids at the home stumped. It was as though with them Miss Bloomington represented an angry bear which had forgotten to go into hibernation, and yet with inspectors, and anyone else, she suddenly became a lovable, caring woman.

 "I see Mr. Kane is not with you."

 There was a soft reply where Sahara could only make out the word 'work'.

 "Ah," Miss Bloomington sounded sympathetic. "Well then, I suspect you don't plan to stay very long?" The hope in Miss Bloomington's voice that that was really the case, was not hard to miss.

 Sahara heard a reply, too quiet to hear.

 "Ah yes. Good. I'll have her come down so that you can get going on your way. You probably want to get home before the storm gets worse." Miss Bloomington sounded delighted, probably at being able to get rid of the lady, plus Sahara, so that she could resume her journey on finding the culprit for the earlier incident.

 "Sahara!" Miss Bloomington suddenly yelled.

 Although she had expected it, Sahara still jumped. She whirled around, away from the window, her heart pounding. She stood frozen.

 "She'll be down in a minute," she heard Miss Bloomington assure the visitor.

 "Sahara dear!" Miss Bloomington tried to call in a more pleasant voice. Sahara found it odd coming from her and yet it did the trick. Blinking she took a stiff step forward. It was time to go meet the person who claimed she wanted to adopt her, the person who would bring her back in no time, she didn't doubt it.

 Upon reaching the door Sahara paused. Slowly she turned around to stare at the room which had served as her bedroom. She had shared it with two others, Kylie and Gabby. Kylie had ended up in a foster home. What had happened to Gabby she wasn't sure but she had heard Miss Bloomington mention juvenile once. Ever since then Sahara had had the room to herself. Being the only girl left in the home Miss Bloomington had no choice but to let her have it.

 As she stared at the three empty beds, and the one wooden chest that occupied the small room, Sahara couldn't help but wonder how long it would be this time before she saw them again. Swallowing she turned, picked up the small suitcase that stood beside her, and opened the door. Like everything else in the house, it creaking loudly and by the sudden silence of voices from below Sahara knew she had been heard.

 Knowing there was no stopping now, she made her way towards the staircase. On the way she carefully took the pains to avoid stepping on, and further crushing, pieces of the shattered vase which lay sprawled on the ground, its stand tipped over. Passing a room with an open door Sahara glanced inside only to briefly meet the eyes of non other than Hecate.

 Hecate. Out of all the boys he was the one she steered clear of the most. Rumors were he was involved with a gang and there was a story flying around about how he only just avoided going to Juvenile. At school he apparently always got into fights with the others, usually coming out as the victor. He always had scrapes and bruises to show for it when he came back to the home. The only thing was, Sahara had actually never seen him get into a fight before and so she wasn't sure just how accurate the rumors were.

 Quickly averting her eyes from Hecate's steady gaze Sahara continued on her way. She would probably see him again later.

 Making her way down the stairs she winced as each and every step gave a creek as though wanting to announce her presence to the world. Keeping her head down, so that her straight, dirty blond hair hid her face, she came to a stop at the bottom of the stairs. She lowered her small suitcase which gave out a small 'thump' as it hit the floor.

 "Ah Sahara," Miss Bloomington said pleasantly as she hurried over to Sahara's side.

 Sahara awkwardly shuffled her feet, refusing to look up. She was scared that if she did the person who had come to get her would change their mind and go back without her.

 "This is Mrs. Kane. The lady who wants to adopt you," Miss Bloomington told Sahara in a voice she would use with a child

 "Hi Sahara, I'm Isabel Kane," a cheerful feminine voice spoke. "You can call me Isabel though...or Mrs. Kane, whichever you like."

 She's never even met me before. She'll bring me back as soon as I've spent some time at her place, Sahara thought bitterly as she slowly lifted her brown eyes to get a look at the lady who had spoken.

 She blinked in surprise when her eyes locked with a pair of sparkling grey ones. They stared at her kindly from the face of a middle aged woman with shoulder length brown hair. She was slightly taller than Sahara and a warmth seemed to radiate from her. Sahara blinked again. For a moment hope trickled through her and yet Sahara squashed it almost instantaneously

 You're only imagining things, she told herself.

 "I'm sorry my husband couldn't make it," Mrs. Kane told Sahara apologetically. "But he didn't seem able to pull himself away from his latest project." Sahara thought she heard a hint of disapproval in her voice. "He's an inventor you see. At times he gets pretty caught up in his projects."

 Sahara felt surprised.  An inventor? An image of an old man with a blackened face and white hair, which stood in the air as though electrocuted, flashed through her mind.

 There was a sudden 'thud' from upstairs and Mrs. Kane jumped in surprise. Used to it Sahara didn't react. It was about time the others started coming out of hiding and resumed their normal behavior. They never stayed quiet for long.

 "Well," Miss Bloomington spoke up as she shot a worried look upstairs. "I'm sure the two of you can take it from here." She all but grabbed Sahara's small suitcase and carried it towards the door while ushering both Mrs. Kane and Sahara towards it. "I hope everything works out." She smiled, it was forced.

 Mrs. Kane seemed more than surprised when Miss Bloomington pretty much pushed her out of the front door. There was another loud thud upstairs followed by raised voices. It looked like another argument was about to break out.

 "Here you go," Miss Bloomington handed Sahara, who now stood on the porch beside Mrs. Kane, her suitcase. "Well," she attempted to smile and yet winced as there was another thud, bigger than the last which was followed by a cry of anger. "I wish you both the best." With that she slammed the door in their faces. "Boys!" Sahara heard Miss. Bloomington's voice boom one last time before it was gone.

 For a moment both Sahara and Mrs. Kane, who seemed more then perplexed at the way she had suddenly been bid farewell, simply stood staring at the door. The rain continued its downpour, steadily pounding on the roof.

 "Well," Mrs. Kane turned to Sahara. "I'm guessing that's our cue. How about we head on to your new home?"

 Sahara only nodded mutely, her grip tightening around her small suitcase.

 "We better make a run for it, I didn't bring an umbrella. Samuel misplaced it you see."

 Sahara gave her a blank look.

 "My husband, his name is Samuel," Mrs. Kane helped her out. "Now," she held out her hand. "Shall we?"

 For a moment Sahara simply stared. Then, ever so slowly, she reached out her own hand and clasped her fingers with Mrs. Kane's. It felt warm and Sahara stared at it in awe. She didn't remember the last time someone had so easily offered her their hand.  Without a warning Mrs. Kane ran forward, pulling Sahara along into the rain.

 Too surprised, Sahara did not resist as Mrs. Kane, who was squealing like a little girl the entire way, lead Sahara to the battered car she had seen pull up in the driveway before. It was only a few feet away and yet by the time Sahara and Mrs. Kane had reached it, thrown her suitcase in the back seat and dived into the front, they were both soaked.

 "Well," Mrs. Kane said cheerfully as she slammed her door shut and Sahara did the same. It took two tries to actually get the door to close. "That didn't turn out quite as successful as I thought it would." Mrs. Kane let out a little laugh and turned to face Sahara who was staring at her. Upon meeting her eyes Sahara quickly turned away.

 Mrs. Kane made no comment but simply started up the engine and began to back the car up. "I'm sure it came as quite a surprise to you," she said. Putting the car in drive she began down the driveway. The windshield wipers were going at full speed, battling the rain that poured down the front. "I mean me turning up out of the blue like this. It was rather a quick decision." She turned on the indicator at the end of the road and took a left. "But it's my husband you see. I've been wanting to adopt for the longest time. He finally agreed and so I jumped at the chance." She continued to babble on and Sahara simply sat in silence as she listened while watching the landscape pass by outside. "If I hadn't moved the moment he said 'yes' I'm afraid he would have changed his mind. He never sticks to one decision for very long you see."

 The car took another left. "I'm sure he'll be delighted though in the end. He's always had a soft spot for kids, at least from what I've seen." A smile crossed her face and she turned to shoot Sahara a wide smile. "I'm sure he'll love you!"

 For some reason Sahara suddenly felt something like a pet. She squirmed, not liking the thought.

 "So Sahara," Mrs. Kane adjusted her seat somewhat by sliding it forward. "I realize we know absolutely nothing about each other. They said you are around sixteen, is that right?"

 "Fifteen," Sahara whispered. "I'm still fifteen."

 "Almost had it," Mrs. Kane smiled. "So, any favorite hobbies?"

 "Reading," Sahara replied softly.

 "Ah, reading. Got to say I love it too. I can't ever get enough of Romance novels!" For the next twenty minutes Sahara sat in silence while Mrs. Kane cheerfully talked about topics ranging from books to her travels, all of which she had done before she got married apparently. She also added in some things about her husband at home and their life.

 From what Sahara heard she made out that Mr. Kane seemed a very forgetful man and liked to stick at home moving from one invention to the next. His success rate was not very high apparently, and yet Mrs. Kane assured her that he did manage an occasional breakthrough.

 "Oh my, I haven't even let you talk!" Mrs. Kane cried in dismay as they made a right turn onto a dirt road.

 Sahara didn't reply. Her eyes glued to the unfolding scenery ahead. The rain seemed to have magically dispelled and the sun was pushing its way back out from behind the clouds. Its beams found rain drops, which lingered in the lush grass to either side, and light them up like diamonds.

 Then the house came into view. It was a small double story farmhouse which stood on a hill. From what Sahara could tell, it had a large porch out front. The walls of the house itself were painted blue, almost making it blend into the sky. A white picket fence, falling apart at some places and yet still looking in somewhat good shape, surrounded it. To one side Sahara caught sight, of what she could only assume, was a chicken coop. A barn, also painted blue, stood some way to the other side and looked like it had patched up one too many times. An old tractor with no wheels had been dumped right before it.

 "We're here," Mrs. Kane announced cheerfully as the car coughed up the last of the hill and then spluttered to a stop, still some way from the house. Smoke spewed from under the bonnet. "Whew, looks like we just made it." Mrs. Kane said sounding just as cheerful as she calmly opened the door. "In all honesty, I thought we might end up getting stuck somewhere on the road!"

 Sahara stared at the smoke coming from the car in horror and yet Mrs. Kane seemed unaffected as she opened the back seat. She proceeded to haul out Sahara's suitcase. Slowly Sahara opened the door and stepped out into the mud, still staring at the smoke.

 "Um...is it going to be okay?" she asked uncertainly.

 "Oh this?" Mrs. Kane asked waving at the car. "It's quite alright. It happens all the time. I'll have Samuel tinker with it later and fix it up so it lasts another couple of days."

 "Next couple of days?" Sahara asked.

 "So," Mrs. Kane didn't seem to hear her as she whirled to face the house. "What do you think?"

 Sahara stood, her eyes roaming over the house once more. She had been to both nicer and shabbier foster homes. However, none of them had the same warm feeling this place gave off.

 "We found living in a more secluded area was better with Samuel's hobby...er job. You see, out here there are no neighbors to complain when things get a bit rowdy." Mrs. Kane seemed the need to explain why there were no other houses nearby. "It's a couple of acres of land...thirty something...I think. They told Samuel when he bought it but he seems to have forgotten. It's pretty big though so you have all the space you want to roam about."

 Sahara did not say anything.

 "Welcome home, dear," Mrs. Kane told her in a soft voice.

 Home. Sahara's stomach knotted. But for how long?

 Suddenly there was a loud bang. Sahara whirled. Her heart jumped into her mouth as she saw a piece of the barn roof fly high into the air. Smoke spewed from the barn doors as well as from a fresh, large hold in the side. With wide eyes Sahara watched the piece of the barn roof make its descent and land on the old tractor with a resounding crash.

 "Oh dear," Mrs. Kane seemed oddly calm, as though this were a common occurrence. "That doesn't look too good. Excuse me for a moment, dear." She handed Sahara the suitcase and then hurried towards the barn. "Samuel!" she called on the way. "Are you still alive, dear?"

 Sahara blinked. She had no idea what to make of all of this.

 Hearing coughing she watched as from the hole in the barn, a figure began to emerge. When he stepped forth from the smoke she was able to see a tall, wiry man. He had black hair, which was streaked with grey. A pair of glasses sat askew on his face. One side of them looked smashed, the other cracked, and his white coat looked singed. He was muttering something to himself before another fit of coughs hit him.

 "Samuel!" Mrs. Kane made a beeline towards him. "My goodness, are you alright?"

 Mr. Kane nodded in response and slowly straightened. "I should not have let the two wires touch," he told Mrs. Kane as though that explained all. "I should have known but it didn't hit me. I was close Isabel, so close." He shot a remorseful look at the barn.

 "Well as long as you're alright," Mrs. Kane told him cheerfully. "And it's only smoking as far as I see." She joined him in staring at the barn. Smoke, which was by now coming from every crack in the barn wall, continued to endlessly spew out.

 "No fire," Mr. Kane agreed.

 "Well at least then we don't have to call the fire brigade. I think they are getting quite tired of coming out here."

 Mr. Kane responded by placing his damaged glasses on top of his head. "The hole can be fixed with some planks," he announced staring at the gaping hole he had come out of. The fact that the barn was still smoking did not seem to bother him as much as it should.

 Sahara stood where she was. Her eyes were wide with disbelief and she clutched her suitcase tightly.  She couldn't help but wonder if the people before her were sane.

 "Oh," Mrs. Kane suddenly clapped her hands together as her eyes widened. "Samuel, we have a guest!" She turned around to face Sahara.

 "The smoke should clear up within a few minutes. I'll fix up the hole and then I can resume," Mr. Kane was muttering. He seemed to have not heard Mrs. Kane.

 "Sahara," Mrs. Kane motioned for Sahara to come over.

 For a moment Sahara simply stood rooted to the spot.

 "Come on," she was encouraged.

 Slowly, and feeling very unsure, Sahara made her way forward.

 "Her name is Sahara, dear," Mrs. Kane was telling her husband while he still muttered to himself. Sahara came to a standstill a few feet away, her eyes darting to the smoking barn and then to the crushed tractor.

 "Sahara, this is Samuel, your new father," Mrs. Kane beamed at her.

 "That's right. New father..." Mr. Kane stopped short as he seemed to realize what Mrs. Kane had just said. For the first time he turned around to look at Sahara, his eyes almost as wide as hers. "Is-Isabel," he pointed a shaking finger at Sahara. "W-what is this?"

 Sahara's heart stopped as his response and Mrs. Kane's smile dropped a notch. Sahara saw a fierce flash of anger briefly pass through her eyes. "This is your new daughter, dear. The one I told you I was going to adopt!"

 "Daughter?" Mr. Kane mouthed the word as panic filled his eyes. "Father?" Sahara was able to make out the word and yet heard no sound as he pointed at himself. His eyes snapped back to her and for a moment the look he had on his face reminded Sahara of a deer caught in the headlights of a car.

  Mrs. Kane looked from Mr. Kane's terrified face to Sahara and back again. "Don't tell me you forgot. I told you before I left that I was going to pick her up." She sounded exasperated.

 Mr. Kane shook his head. "Puppy," one word made it past his lips.

 Puppy? Sahara blinked.

 "No dear, this is a girl," Mrs. Kane told him kindly.

 "No...puppy!" Mr. Kane sounded panicked. "I thought you meant a puppy when you said we were going to adopt!"

 Sahara's eyes widened and they flew to Mrs. Kane in panic. This is it. She's going to take me back. It's all over if the husband doesn't agree. She had been through this before, however not because she had been mixed up with a puppy.

 Mrs. Kane looked taken aback at what her husband had just said. "A puppy?" she repeated. Suddenly her smile returned. "Oh, so that's it. Well, it looks like it was only a small mix up. The way you acted had me thinking we had a major problem on our hands for a second! If that's all it is then everything is fine now that we have that all cleared up."

 A small mix up? Sahara thought dryly. It wasn't a small mix up. She had been brought to this home in place of a dog! What was small about that?

 "I was not talking about a puppy, dear, but a girl," Mrs. Kane rolled her eyes in Sahara's direction as though saying 'men'.

 Sahara didn't react. She stood there as still as a statue. What was she supposed to do?

 Mr. Kane looked like he was about to say something and yet Mrs. Kane spoke up before he could. "She stays," she told him firmly.

 Sahara's grip tightened around her suitcase as she watched Mr. Kane's eyes widen slightly. However, he did not protest.

 "Well then, why don't you sort out what happened here while I show Sahara her room?" Sahara wasn't sure but she thought she saw Mrs. Kane glare at her husband as though daring him to argue. He didn't.

 "I suggest you hurry up and then get cleaned up. Dinner will be in an hour," Mrs. Kane finished off as though talking to a child. "Now," as she turned to Sahara her smile returned. "Shall we?" Without waiting for an answer she began to make her way towards the house.

 Sahara stood for a moment before she began to follow. At the steps leading up to the porch, she paused. Turning her head she saw Mr. Kane had resumed to staring at the smoking barn and was muttering to himself once more. He seemed to have forgotten about her already.

 Taking a deep breath Sahara turned and began to make her way up the stairs. She wasn't sure what to make of any of this. Had she somehow ended up getting stuck with two crazy people? Then again Mrs. Kane seemed alright. Mr. Kane, from what she could tell, was another story.

 As she stepped into the interior of the house Sahara felt a wave of surprise hit her. It was nothing as she expected it be. Not that there was anything wrong with that, no, in fact, it was better that way. For in place of what Sahara had expected to be a chaotic interior everything was arranged neatly.

 The living room, which was the first room one entered, had three comfortable couches all placed around an open fire place. A large rug with a swirl of colors, added a warm look as it lay in the between them on the wooden floor. A quaint coffee table stood in the middle with a vase, with fresh flowers in it, sitting at its center.

 Beside each end of the couches was another small table. One had a phone on it, another a picture frame. A bookshelf, filled to the brim with thick books, stood against the far wall. Paintings, which looked as though paint has been simply splashed across them in a hurry, were spread out on the four walls surrounding the room. They added a warm touch to the room and yet Sahara could not help but wonder how they were considered art.

 "Like it?" Mrs. Kane asked.

 "I-It's pretty," Sahara stuttered. The surprise in her voice at it being so was evident.

 Mrs. Kane smiled wryly as she seemed to pick up on it and also grasped the reason behind it. "Yes, well, while the barn belongs to my husband the house belongs to me. A good thing too. If it were up to him he would have blown the entire house apart by now!"

 Sahara didn't doubt it.

 "Now," Mrs. Kane clapped her hands together. "How about we go to your room so you can start unpacking while I make dinner?"

 Sahara had had her own room many times before. Each time she had been filled with hope that the room would remain hers, yet each time she had always left for the home once again. Therefore she had developed a strategy of treating every room as though she was in a hotel where she only would stay for a little bit. This meant not getting overly excited. Not spending time to explore the different aspects but only finding out and using the basics. Above all, this meant no making it personal and thus no decorating.

 However, when Mrs. Kane showed her the small room, on the second floor, Sahara felt the urge to claim it as her own. There was a comfortable single bed sitting next to the window. A tall closet stood to one side and a desk, with a chair, to the other. The best thing however was the view from the window. It was of the backyard of the house and consisted of a field, speckled with wild flowers with a small brook running through it.

 "We only have one bathroom," Mrs. Kane was saying. Sahara was barely listening. "We have another downstairs but neither the toilet nor the shower work. It should be fine though, we are only three people after all."

 Sahara stood by the window, staring at the view below.

 "Okay then. I would help you unpack but..." Mrs. Kane and Sahara both shot a glance at her small suitcase. There wasn't much to unpack. "I said dinner would be in an hour and if I don't start now then it will never be done in time." She smiled brightly.

 When Sahara didn't react she didn't seemed phased in the least. "Well then, I'll give you a heads up before so you can wash up. Until then, feel free to explore once you've unpacked." Cheerfully Mrs. Kane left the room.

 Upon hearing the door click Sahara turned around to stare at the empty room. She hadn't meant to be rude by not answering, it was just that...she wasn't sure how to react to Mrs. Kane. She was just so...different compared to the other people she had met so far.

 Deciding not to ponder on it further, Sahara went through the routine of unpacking her few belongings. She placed them neatly into draws, making sure that they were folded in such a way that she could easily return them to her suitcase for the time when Mrs. Kane would decide she was sick of her and bring her back to the home. Lastly Sahara shoved the suitcase under the bed. At first she sat down quietly on the bed and yet soon she grew restless.

 Mrs. Kane gave me permission to explore; so why not? She asked herself. Getting up she made her way out of the door and began to do that which Mrs. Kane has suggested, explore.

 She found that on the second floor there were two other rooms. One was a slightly larger bedroom, which no doubt belonged to Mr. and Mrs. Kane. It too, was arranged as neatly as the sitting room before. The second room, at the end of the hall, was a bathroom. It was nothing fancy and consisted of simply a toilet, sink, and a shower. The third room, if one could call it that, was one filled with the most random pieces of...well what looked like junk. Sahara noted that it must simply be a room used for storing anything and everything not needed.

 Having seen all the rooms upstairs, Sahara returned to hers and sat on the bed. She didn't want to walk around downstairs for fear that Mrs. Kane would yell at her for doing something wrong. She didn't want to risk that. No, she was still in Mrs. Kane's good book. The longer she was in it, the longer she could stay.

 Just as promised, Mrs. Kane gave Sahara a five minute warning for when dinner would start. Getting up Sahara headed to the bathroom and washed her hands before she headed down stairs. Almost every step creaked on her way down making her wince.

 Upon reaching the first floor Sahara realized that she had no clue where the dining room was. Hearing two voices she decided to follow them. Sure enough, the voices led her through the sitting room and into a slightly smaller room. It was filled with a small dining table surrounded by four chairs and set with three plates, glasses, and cutlery. The voices themselves came from another room and from the delicious smell coming from it, Sahara could only guess it was the kitchen.

 "A child, Isabel, a child!" Sahara froze in the doorway as she heard the voice.

 "Oh hush, Samuel," Mrs. Kane replied calmly. There was the sound of pots banging.

 "A puppy I could handle, but a child?"

 "Now, Samuel. You know we've always wanted a daughter of our own. Time's running out and I wanted to adopt while we are still young enough to appreciate it," Mrs. Kane sounded like she was getting annoyed. "I told you, Samuel. I told you before I left but once again you were lost in your own little world."

 "That's not the point," Mr.Kane sounded equally frustrated, and, if Sahara wasn't mistaken, also somewhat scared. "I..." Mr. Kane lowered his voice somewhat. "How am I supposed to you know...act around a child? How am I supposed to treat her?"

 There was a moment of silence in which Sahara held her breath. Was Mrs. Kane going to decide to send her back now.

 "Just treat her as you would a puppy," came Mrs. Kane's moody reply showing she was still somewhat upset by the mix up.

 Sahara blinked in shock. The fact that Mr. Kane didn't reply showed he was equally surprised.

 "Ah, there you are, dear." Sahara looked up to see Mrs. Kane walk in holding a steaming pot. At once Sahara's face reddened as she realized that she had been eavesdropping. Mrs. Kane however, didn't seem to realize. "Have a seat," Mrs. Kane nodded at one of the chairs.

 Sahara scrambled to do as told.

 "Samuel, bring out the potatoes would you?" Mrs. Kane yelled. She turned back to the table, placed the pot in her hands down and sat down across from Sahara. "We're having boiled potatoes, broccoli, and trout. It's all from right here on the farm. I hope you'll like it."

 Sahara simply nodded. Just then Mr. Samuel entered the room holding another pot. Upon seeing Sahara he froze, a panicked look taking over his face.

 "Sit," Mrs. Kane ordered sharply.

 Mr. Kane seemed to snap out of it. Swallowing he hurried forward and relieved himself of the potatoes before he sat down at the head of the table, between Sahara and Mrs. Kane. Sahara didn't meet his eyes as she stared down at her plate. She bit her lip. He doesn't want me here, she thought.

 Stuttering a few times Mr. Kane said grace before dinner began. The food was delicious and yet the conversation was almost nonexistent. Mrs. Kane tried to start it now and then yet Sahara would timidly only answer with 'yes' or 'no' and Mr. Kane kept shooting her sidelong glances.

 When dinner was over Sahara offered to do the dishes and yet Mrs. Kane brushed it off.

 "Oh no, they'll be plenty of opportunities to do so later on," she said casually. "Besides, I've done it for so long I'll be fine. It's Samuel that should be offering to help." She pressed her lips together tightly. "He's been eating here for the last twenty years and hasn't offered to help wash the dishes once."

 Somehow Sahara got the feeling the two weren't getting along too well at the moment, and something told her she was the reason. She shot Mr. Kane a guilty look only to see he was lost in his own world and hadn't heard a word his wife had said.

 With a sigh Mrs. Kane got up and began to pile together the dishes. Sahara got up to help but Mrs. Kane shook her head.

 "No, dear. You can do what you want now. There's a TV in the sitting room if you want to watch something. We also have a VCR and a tone of films."

 Sahara tried not to show her surprise. VCR? It looked like the Kane's didn't get out much. For a moment she couldn't help but wonder if they even knew that something like a DVD player existed.

 "Marry Poppins is quite a nice one," Mrs. Kane continued. "From what I heard it is a big hit."

 Before I was born it was, Sahara hid a smile at the thought. "No thank you," she spoke up politely. "If it's alright with you..." she paused, "I'm quite tired. Could I just go to bed?"

 "Why of course, dear, you don't need to ask." Mrs. Kane smiled at her encouragingly. "It's been quite a big day for you I suppose." To Sahara's surprise she put the dishes down and came over to her side of the table. "Well then," she spread her arms. For a moment Sahara stared stupidly at her before she realized what Mrs. Kane wanted.

 Awkwardly she got up and walked forward into her outstretched arms. As they enclosed around her she froze.

 "Good night, dear," Mrs. Kane told her softly and she squeezed.

 Sahara felt a warmth flood through her and she found herself wishing that the moment would never end. Mrs. Kane might have believed that she was simply giving Sahara a hug but to her it meant so much more.

 "Well then," Mrs. Kane pulled back. She turned to her husband who still sat at the table. "Say goodnight to Sahara, Samuel," she told him.

 Blinking Mr. Kane looked up. His eyes widened slightly as what Mrs. Kane had said seemed to reach him. "Ah, yes." Clearing his throat he stood up. Sahara watched as he walked towards her.

 She froze, not sure what he was going to do. Mr. Kane himself looked panicked and yet he bravely pushed his way on. Upon reaching her he came to a stop. Stiffly he raised his hand and Sahara's eyes widened as he lifted it high. Suddenly it came down to rest upon her head.

 "Ah...good girl," Mr. Kane said as he awkwardly patted her head.

 Sahara raised her eyes to skeptically look at his hand. It seemed he really had taken his wife literally about treating her as he would a puppy.

 Shooting a glance over at Mrs. Kane, Sahara saw her smiling encouragingly at her husband, who had the look on his face as though he had made a big accomplishment. Mrs. Kane gave him a thumbs up and he shot her a nervous smile in response. Seeming to suddenly realize he was still patting Sahara's head he froze and then jumped back, as though startled.

 Sahara took it as her leave. "Good night," she murmured before she turned and headed back to her room.

 She didn't let herself stop to think the day over until she had gotten changed and was lying in bed with the light switched off. Lying on her back she listened to the sound of crickets outside of her window. Somewhere in the distance a dog barked.

 Sahara snuggled deeper into her blankets. She hadn't been to a home outside of the city yet and while she wasn't used to the animal noises outside and the lack of traffic, she decided she liked it.

 Turning onto her side she let her mind wonder to the events of that day. Mr. and Mrs. Kane were certainly an odd pair. Sahara had never met anyone like them before. Mrs. Kane seemed genuinely nice and Mr. Kane...well she wasn't sure what he was.

 As Sahara's mind replayed the hug Mrs. Kane had given her that evening she felt tears prickle at the back of her eyes. How long had it been since someone had held her in their arms like that? An image of a figure walking away through the pouring rain popped into her mind. She had been left alone, abandoned by her own mother at the orphanage when she was only four years old. No one had wanted her then, why would it change now? And yet Mrs. Kane seemed to really be happy that she was here. Was it alright to for once in her life hope that things would actually turn out for the better? Was she really going to finally get officially adopted and have a family to call her own?

 Stop it! Sahara told herself as she turned to face the wall. Look at it. Not even one day here and you're already getting your hopes up. Don't do this to yourself. They're all the same. You'll be back at the home before you know it.

 As she closed her eyes Sahara calmed her breathing as she tried to sleep. It wasn't fair. Why did no one want her? And why was Mrs. Kane getting her hopes up? It would only end as it always did; with her back at the home, back in that room all alone.

 'Abandoned' it was the word that echoed in her mind as she drifted off to sleep.

Below is a link to an awesome comic of the first chapter created by Bookcoverchick so check it out of you're interested!

http://s1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg618/BookCoverChick/Regona%20City%20Comic/?action=view&current=RegonacityThecreedchapter1page1copy-1.jpg