Chapter 2

It took my eyes a second to adjust to the lighting. As soon as it did I saw a small girl sitting on the edge of the cot. God, she was so small. She couldn't have been more than fourteen. She immediately stood up as I entered. I noticed that she was shaking violently so I stopped and let Amara take the lead. She was so smart for a five-year-old, well taught, and compassionate. She calmly approached the girl and reached out her hand. When the new girl took it, Amara, gradually led her to where I was. She slowly started to open up and I soon figured out her name was Sienna and she had just turned thirteen. She had run away from her abusive mother and was seeking refuge with us. She hadn't fully experimented with her sexuality but said that she had crushes on other girls.

I email the team telling them to set her up a room in the girl's wing. It took about three hours to set up her room but I did get her acquainted with several of the older girls before showing Sienna to her room. Amara was the sweetest thing. When Sienna would stutter out of fright, Amara would gently place her hand on Sienna's arm to remind her that she was safe and that she was surrounded by people who would help her in any way they could. I was so pleased to hear that she had settled in nicely.

"Haymond, do you have a minute?" Cameron asked as he sat in the chair crossed from my desk. I set down what I was doing to give him my full attention. Our night watch would have to wait. I had grown accustomed to Cameron going to Caleb for help. So if they came to me it was something important.

"What is it, Cameron?" I asked.

They fidgeted with their hands. I patiently waited for them to feel comfortable enough to share what they had to say. They hadn't been here as long as most of us and were still a little shy when it came to talking with people other than Caleb. I understood the anxiety that came with sharing something personal with someone you didn't fully trust yet.

"Do you want me to get Caleb?"

Cameron shook their head.

"No, I don't want to bring it up to him just yet." I was starting to get worried by this, but before I could say anything more Camron blurted out:

"Could you help me find my sister?"

I didn't know what to say. My mind came to a screeching halt as I tried to process the situation.

"Your sister?" It sounded stupid as soon as the words left my mouth.

Cameron looked apologetic. They slid a small picture across my desk of a beautiful girl, who was probably fifteen or sixteen. Cameron and the girl in the photograph shared the same eyes and face but their hair colors were completely different. while Cameron's hair was a stunning Auburn color, the girl had long dark brown hair that shimmered when the light was just right. I glanced over the picture before handing it back to Cameron.

"Where did you last see her?" I pulled out my notepad. Cameron recognizing that I was going to help, let a thin smile grace their lips. Which quickly disappeared when they answered my question. It threw me off just a little. Cameron rarely ever smiled when they were away from Caleb, but just seeing that almost instant switch in their facial features.

"I don't know where she is now, but when I left she was still with my parents."

I quickly jotted their answer down in my notes. I didn't what to forget anything that might help with the process of tracking down Cameron's sister. Then, I asked,

"How long ago did you leave?"

The question seemed harmless, but when Cameron didn't answer me right away I glance up only to see tears in his eyes. Cameron was silent for what felt like ages, but when they finally spoke they whispered so quietly that I almost didn't hear what they had said.

"It's been almost two years."