3 Chapter 2

Jade POV

Walking down the street, I make my way home from school. Well, it's not exactly home, but the orphanage. I was dropped here when I was born with a letter saying that my parents would return for me on my 18th birthday along with a necklace that was I would wear everyday to help remind me that soon it'll be over. Most people got a letter like this, and very few got taken back to their families, but I know mine will come back for me, I just do. I grab the charm on the silver chain with one hand as I think about how my birthday is only a few weeks away. 'Only 3 more weeks in this hell hole and I'll be back with my family.' Even though they left me when I was just born, I'd be glad to go back with them, as from the day I arrived at the place, people knew there was something odd with me and stayed clear of me. And, sure, there is something off about me, but it's one of those things that are so subtle, so small, that it's hard to find what it is. Like someone who had had a small haircut but you don't realise Until they tell you, or a painting that has a small detail forgotten on it. But this didn't bring me down, as I knew that soon it'll all be explained soon.

I enter the large doors of the orphanage and watch as people go silent upon seeing me. Well, all but one. "Jade! You're later than usual, everything ok?" "Everything's fine Jay, just had to stay behind in class to help clear up, we had a workshop and I volunteered to help pack up." "Ooo what workshop?" "It was a drama workshop, we had to act out a scene connected to nature, and there was a lot of props for it so I stayed to help put them away." "That's our Jade, always helping people out wherever possible! Your family must be really kind if that's the genes that you got!" I let out a chuckle to Jays outburst of energy, he's always looked on the bright side of things. Where others would see dark and shadows, he'd always make sure to brighten the room.

We go up to the lounge area, where we find some younger children playing board games with the careers. There were only few people within the orphanage that liked me, and I was thankful for that. At least I wasn't alone. There were some of the younger children's and their caretakers that would speak with me, and often I'd help them with entertaining the young. I was good with kids, at least thats what Jay would always say. 'You're like the mum they need!' Thats what he would always say, and I see why. I was good with calming down and spotting what was wrong the babies and I knew how to keep the toddlers and elder children entertained during times where the caretakers needed a break, but I was specially good at nighttime stories and lullabies. There was one lullaby, however, that all the kids loved but we could never find where it originated from. No one else knew about it besides me. It was an odd choice of words, and the lyrics could be interpreted in multiple meaning, but we all knew one solid meaning that it held; come home. So thats what we ended up calling it. For younger kids, they love the tune, and for some of the elder ones that could understand the lyrics, it gave them hope. It goes like this-

Above the clouds and down below

You will find your home.

And on your journey, you will see

That by your side we'll always be

And if you feel lost

Remember these words

That our paths crossed

So you could be heard

So above the clouds and down below,                                                       You will find your home

Where your return we will wait for, Just come knocking on our door.                                                           

Like I said, multiple meanings. Me and Jay keep trying to decipher it purely because that the most exciting thing around here. Jay thinks that its a song my parents sang to me before dropping me off here due to the last two parts. God, I'm starting to sound like a English teacher, analysing song lyrics when they probably mean nothing, just a product of some person making a lullaby, but if thats the case, why can't I find it anywhere? I see Jay getting out his notepad, getting ready to decipher it once more. "So, we going to try and crack the code again, or do you have something else in mind?" "I don't know, that's all we've really been doing for the last few weeks, why don't we give it a break?" "Yeah, of course! So what else you thinking of doing then?" "I not too sure actually..." "I have something for you two to do." Turning around, we see Rose, the toddlers caretaker. "Hiya Rose, what can we help you with? Is little Jack acting up again?" She let out a lighthearted laugh before waving her hands in a 'no' gesture. "No, nothing like that! I'm not too sure if you're a wear of this or not, but today were a little short on careers, so today I've been caring for the babies and toddles, and we appear to have ran out of baby milk formula. Could you two possibly look after the kiddies while I go pop to the shop to get some more?" "How about we go for you Rose?" "Yeah, after all, you have hurt your leg the other day when looking after the youngers, so walking two blocks to the shop isn't going to do it any good. We can go for you if you want!" "Are you two sure?" "Absolutely!" We said at the same time, making the three of us laugh. "Aw, well thank you very much you two, you're both very kind! I'm going to miss you when you're both gone, we all are, I'm sure!" "We'll miss you too, and no problem! Come on Jade, lets go get ready!" 

"So, what do we need to to get?" "The list says that we need baby milk formula, milk, skimmed and semi-skimmed, bread and grated cheese." "Oh, so the usual then?" "Yep." We walk in a comfortable silence for a while until we reach the shop. Entering it, we start to go around to get the listed items.

We had got all the items, yes, but whilst we were lining up for the till Jay had realised I had picked up two skimmed milk instead of a skimmed and semi-skimmed, and as it was my mistake, I was in charge of fixing it. Going to the back of the shop, I'm looking along the numerous rows of milk, looking for the green lids. "Ah, there you are!" I stick my hand to the back of the fridge, grabbing the handle of the six pinter, before pulling it back out and going to walk off. However, as I walked past the door to the employees only room, I hear a faint noise, almost like a whimper. Curiosity got the better of me, and before I knew it, I had my ear to the door. There wasn't many other out here as it was a late winters night, and the sun was already setting, so I didn't need to worry about being caught. Drawing my attention back to the room, I hear it again, the faint whimper. It sounded feminine and... human like... and that's when I heard someone speak. "Stop struggling will you? We're only here for the girl, we know she's here, we saw her enter the shop. Once my buddies have grabbed her, we'll be out of your pathetic excuse for a business." That doesn't sound good... Something told me to leave the door alone and to tell an adult, but who would believe me? I'm not liked as it is. So I stayed, questions running through my mind; who are they? What do they want with this girl? Who is the girl their trying to capture, and why?

I felt a hand land on my shoulder and another on my mouth, stopping me from speaking or freaking out. I freeze as I feel warm breath tickle the back of my neck, long with a low, gruff voice in my ear; "Found you..."

I fall on my hand and knees as I'm pushed into the room before us, the milk bottle exploding as it hit the floor with me. "What took you so long?" I look up to see that the same voice from before belonged to a man wearing all black that had a gun in hand. Looking to where the gun is pointed, I see two of the stores employees tied up and gagged; one a young male, most likely here for part time job, the other a woman in their middle age. But one things for sure; this was not in their job description. "We were following them, trying to find out how to split her up from her little friend out there when they got to the till. We carried on watching and found that they left to go back into the shop and went to follow, only to find we lost track. On the way back to you however, we found her listening in on your little conversation, so we took the opportunity, and succeeded." The first man grunts, slightly displeased with this I formation he received, before replying with "Well what are you waiting for? Knock her out!" I tried to get to my feet before the second man could get any closer, but man number one aimed his gun at me. As I backed down, looking at him in fear, I feel something collide with my head moments before my head collided with the floor...