Before it's too late

AHA!

THEM
"AHA" Agnes yelled as she scooped up the chicken, she had finished her hunt, her siblings would be so proud. "I caught you." She kissed its head and turned to go back home but couldn't for the life of her reason which way home was.

She stumbled into the road chicken in hand and looked along the forest line trying to see if her brothers were coming but she saw nothing and no one.

A car was zooming around the bend, the woman behind the wheel was arguing with her husband about their daughters new boyfriend.

"14 is too young to have a boyfriend and he is too old to be in love with a child!" Melanie yelled.

"I will talk with her, I agree this is ridiculous." Her husband said though the Bluetooth.

"I have to... I have to go" she hung up the phone and slowed slightly when she saw a little girl, a shadow of a girl really. She was in worn down faded and ripped clothes. Her hair looked to be a rats nest and mud covered the skin that was bare. She thought she was hallucinating. But as Agnes turned and Melanie saw the white in the little girls eyes and the fear that cascaded her whole being.

"AHH" Melanie screamed and slammed on the brakes, Agnes screamed and clutched onto her chicken, he squawked. She put her car in park and jumped out of the car. Agnes was too afraid to move, she wanted to run, she scream again but couldn't find the strength to move.

"I'm so sorry sweetheart. Where on earth is your mother?" Agnes shook her head, she had no mother. "Where is your family?" Agnes shook her head scared and confused. "Oh sweetie" Melanie looked around the forest but didn't see anyone following her. "I'm Melanie and I'm going to take care of you... is that all right?" Agnes just stared at the woman dazed and confused. "Can I help you? Get you some warm clothes? Some food maybe?" Agnes nodded slightly still holding tight to her chicken. "What's your name sweetie?"

"Agnes" she said softly as Melanie helped her into the car. This woman was nice and had beautiful music coming from her car, she had warm comfy seats and talked to Agnes in a soothing voice that made Agnes believe everything was going to be okay.

"Is that your pet chicken?" Melanie asked as she drove. The nearest, well anything was about an hour away. She couldn't imagine what a little girl was doing all the way out here. Agnes just nodded still petting her chickens head occasionally kissing it softly. "What were you doing out here?" Agnes didn't move, she knew her brothers and sister didn't like other people, said they were mean and scary and to stay away but Melanie was nice.

"I got lost." Agnes stated simply

"Lost? All the way in the middle of LaRoq Illinois?" Agnes nodded she didn't know where she was exactly but assumed the woman knew where they were. "Lots of farm land out here... do you live out here? On a farm maybe?" Agnes nodded. Melanie thought for a long moment, she should bring this girl home find out where she lives but by the looks of this little girl she hasn't seen a bath in months and her hair looks to have never seen a brush. She looked malnourished and even if she just went off of the child's clothes Melanie knew that she was bring this child somewhere warm and safe and not back to wherever she was being kept.

"You are going to be safe, I promise" Melanie stated as she drove along the rough country road. Agnes just nodded and looked out the window as the world she knew passed her by.

"Where the hell is she?" Prudence snarled as Hector and Drake appeared empty handed. They gave each other sideways glances. "WHAT?" She barked throwing down her butchers knife.

Hector and Drake had ran through the autumn trees, the leaves rustling beneath their feet and falling on top of their heads as they searched for Agnes.