Trust Chapter 3

Kitchen duty wasn't all that bad, in fact it was almost fun. The cook, Brady, was kind and gave me small portions here and there.1

I learned my way around the underground tunnels pretty fast and I got to go into town a few times to get things. Of course, things change. 2

It happened one morning, I jumped down the small set of stairs into the kitchen, to find it empty. So I picked up the newspaper and started to read the front page headline.3

Another Child Missing!4

Agents Green and Falirn have been working on the case of missing children for the last five years, but today they revealed that Clare Wright was most likely dead, along with the twenty-five other youths.5

I didn't think much of the story, so I put the newspaper down and made my way to my room, hoping to catch up with El. But on my way I noticed the door to the spare room wide open, Mrs K normally locked it. I peeked round the door to find a girl, around two years old, sitting on the bed crying. I don't know what came over me, human instinct? I rushed over and put my arm around her. She got a fright and wriggle out from under me. 6

“Its okay,” I whispered. “My name is Grace, Grace Hayfield.”7

She looked at me through puffy red and eyes.8

“Hi,” she said. “I'm...I'm Clare.”9

“Hi Clare, you want me to help you unpack?”10

“Yes please,” she croaked.11

I kneeled down next to the small chest of drawers on the other side of the room and started to put away some of her clothes, she was unaware that she'd never get to wear them here, only on her birthday and Christmas. I felt sorry for Clare, there was no one else in her room, and did look so young.12

“How old are you?” I asked, unable to hold my curiosity any longer.13

“I'm two today.”14

“Your very bright for a two year old.”15

“Yeah, my mum always says that I'm really mature, but I dunno what that means.”16

We packed away the rest of her things and I made her bed for her, telling her all about the routine.17

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I didn't even think about the newspaper article.19

Not until I was in bed that night, listening to El snoring lightly, I was thinking about my day. Thinking about the newspaper. The article. Clare Wright. Clare, the new girl.20

Coincidence? I didn't think so.21