Unknown P.O.V.
Texas 2006 (9 years old)
I ran as fast as could through the dark tunnels. Away from THEM. And by them I meant the foster care people. Why am I running? I'll tell you.
I've been a foster child since I was five. I've always been treated bad by the other kids because I was dumped here by my dad. Well I was supposed to be. He didn't want me. He claimed it was because I had reminded him too much of my mother. Whoever she was. He died though. Anyways, the kids always make fun of me for that. I hate it. And the people who always end up taking me in, they're not so nice either. If not, they're even worse. So, I run away. Which is what I'm doing right now.
I ran deep into the dark tunnels as fast as I could. Not really caring that I couldn't see anything.
"Where'd she go?" One of the guys asked.
"I don't know, I can't see shit down here. Let's just leave her. She's a useless little shit anyway ." The other guy said.
"You sure? Won't the boss get mad that you let her go?"
"Nah, we'll just tell her the little runt got lost and we couldn't find her." The guy said.
"Okay, well let's get out of here then. This place is creepy. And it stinks." The other guy said. I heard them climb up the ladder and leave.
I sighed and sat against the wall, trying to catch my breath.
"Hello?" I heard a voice call out from inside the tunnel. I sat up immediately and brought out my pocket knife.
"Who's there?" I asked, holding my knife in front of me.
I heard footsteps splashing on the water through the tunnel and saw a light up ahead. I got in a defensive stance as the figure approached.
As they got closer, a bright light shined on me. When they were right in front of me, I made the figure out as a boy. Maybe my age, or younger.
I still held up the knife in front of me. "Who are you?"
"I'm Leo. Leo Valdez. Who are you?" He answered.
"Why should I tell you my name?" I asked.
"Because I was kind enough to tell you mine." He said, with a slight smirk. I rolled my eyes.
"Why were are you in a sewer?" I asked. "How long have you been here?"
"I ran away." He simply stated.
"From who?"
"The foster care people. And I'm guessing you are too." He said. I looked at him and slowly put my knife away.
He noticed and furrowed his eyebrows. "Why'd you have a knife pointed at me?"
"Ever heard of stranger danger?" I said.
"I'm only eight." He stated, amusingly.
"And I'm only nine, you could've been anyone. I had to be safe." I told him.
"Understandable." He said. "Why'd you run away from your foster home?"
I looked down. "I hated it there. Everyone made fun of me."
"Why?"
"Because I have no parents. Well as of four years ago when my father decided he didn't want me. Then he died so I really had no choice." I said.
"What about your mother?"
"Never met her."
"Looks like we have something in common." He said. "I never met my father."
