Noelle

I had no idea what I was doing. No idea what I was signing up for. I just knew I was upset, and I didn't want them to take them away. I jumped in front of them and blocked the police from getting to them. I wasn't expecting the sharp, paralyzing pain. I collapsed onto the ground and stared up at the police. I thought I had been shot. One of them shoved a taser back in her pocket on her belt.

One of the others grabbed Kris by the arm and started leading them towards a nearby police cruiser. I screamed at them from the ground, begging them to leave them be, but I couldn't do much else as I was still on the ground, unable to move. The police put Kris in the back of the car and climbed in with them. I couldn't anything about it.

As the car drove out of sight, I cried harder. Unable to move from the ground, I felt useless. Nobody knew where I was. Nobody would care, either. I was alone, and nobody was going to come looking for me.

And that's what I deserved.

Kris

I sat in the back of the police cruiser, saying nothing. Nobody said anything to me, either. It was a slow and silent ride. Finally, someone broke said silence.

"It's okay, you don't have to be scared. You'll be back with your real parents soon. They'll take good care of you." It was the officer who had tased Noelle.

"You didn't just leave her there, did you? You at least told someone that she was there?"

"Of course. You alerted the squad, right MacDonald?" the woman asked.

"...didn't you do that?" Anger shot through me.

"So you mean to tell me that she's just lying there alone!? Are you at all worried about what could happen to her?!" I screamed.

"Hey! Calm down, I'm sure your friend is fine. She's lucky she isn't being arrested for attempting an assault. What is the worst that could happen?"

A million possibilities ran through my head, but I could tell the question was rhetorical. Panic swelled up inside me.

"We're almost there. Get ready, we have someone waiting there with your things." I stared out at our surroundings and to my dismay, I didn't recognize any of it.

Soon, the car began to slow, and a large white house came into view. Lanie and Beth stood out on the porch holding each other and smiling like idiots. The car stopped and I was told to get out.

"Look Lanie, there they are! Our baby... They're finally returning home!" Beth exclaimed. I was immediately locked in a hug. Once again, I pushed them off. These were not my parents. Lanie began to cry.

"Shh... It's okay baby, they're just out of it. They've been living with criminals for years. They might not be used to affection. We have no idea what conditions they lived under. We have to take it slow."

I pushed past them and trudged towards the front door. I pushed it open, and something bright and colorful exploded in my face. I stumbled backwards as a few teary-eyed people screamed "Welcome home!"

Again, I pushed through the party and towards a room labelled as mine by a childish sign with basketball and football graphics all over it. I walked in and felt weak.

The room had once been painted bright blue and had a faded sports themed throw rug. Toys and sports paraphernalia were scattered across the floor. Everything was coated in a thick layer of dust. They hadn't touched this room in years.

It scared me. These women had a child and the kid got kidnapped. They thought that I was their kid.

Unless...

I was.

~~~~~~~~~~

Big ol' oof