Ella Xu

Looking down at the little girl who had fallen unconscious in his arms, Matt looked at the abandoned cottage with worry. Was the little girl in danger? Had she been kidnapped here? But he had no weapons. And even though he could easily handle any goons alone, he could not put a little girl at risk. He needed to call the police as well as take her to the hospital first. The police could find whatever was going on here. Walking to his car, he pushed back the passenger seat and carefully placed the girl, fastening the seat belt and then racing to the driver's side. Turning on the GPS, he keyed in the address for the nearest hospital and called the Police explaining the details and asking them to check the place out.

Just as the car had driven a little distance, another scream sounded in the closed confines of the car. Matt winced as the shrill sound almost pierced his ear drums and threw a look to the side seeing the little girl had woken up. Slowing down the car, he stopped the car into the corner and looked at the little angel who was staring at him wide eyed. The little innocent girl reminded Matt of his own niece and he tried to smile at her reassuringly. As his face stretched into an awkward but somewhat reassuring smile, he tried to question the girl," Little angel? Are you alright?"

Ella looked at her prince with wide eyes before her eyes moistened and she started to cry fiercely shocking and scaring Matt who had not interacted with any child for almost two years. Matt wondered if his looks had probably scared the girl and tried to reassure the little one," Little angel? Please don't be scared. I am going to take you to your mama and papa! I have already called the police and they will arrest whoever has scared you. Are you hurting anywhere? Do you know your mama's number? I can call her or if you know your address, i can take you home...Are you very scared? You need not be scared. I am not going to harm you..."

When the girl only cried louder after he tried to console her, Matt was tempted to pull his hair out. Finally, through a snot filled nose and tear filled eyes, she said hoarsely," Will the police be able to catch them?"

After a bit of difficulty, Matt understood what the girl was trying to say and hastened to assure her! "Yes. Yes. The police can arrest whoever terrorizes little girls. Can you tell me who scared you and how many bad uncles were there?"

Ella frowned at her prince charming and shook her head, "There were no uncles."

This made Matt pause as many thoughts of child abuse passed through his mind. Trying to not get the girl more scared, he tried to ask," Then there were any bad aunties."

Ella shook her head again before she threw her hands wide and complained, " They were this big! And brown and furry! The biggest and dirtiest rats I have ever seen! I did not even do anything to them and they tried to bite off my fingers! My Prince! They ruined me! My mama tells me that modern day princes like strong girls. And I am a strong girl but I am scared of rats! And now because of them I have ruined my first impression on you and you probably think that I am a weak girl! I was planning to woo you by teaching you how to paint and now everything is ruined. I am sorry, my prince! Wuah Wuah Wuah! Please don't pity me!"

As her voice raised higher, Ella did not notice that she had succeeded in stunning her 'Prince' who sat next to her and his mouth had fallen open comically!"