Found (New Earth Saga)

Ch. 34

I opened my eyes and was surprised to find I was in a small room, a human sized room, full of white and gray walls, and bright fluorescent lights. I was in a doctor's office. Wait- How did I get to a doctor's office? The last thing I remembered was being in the bathroom with Eric. Ugh, Eric.

I slid off the cot I'd be lying on, and made my way towards the door on the other side of this room. As soon as I cracked the door open the brief hum of conversion I'd heard earlier came to an abrupt halt.

"River!" a somewhat familiar voice said just as Carol came into view. Looking right behind her, I saw that she was not alone. There was someone who appeared to be a nurse, and then that man, Nathan, who'd first met with me when I came to live with the Reeds. Why was this Nathan guy here? What was happening? All too soon I was back in the doctor's office, sitting on the cot with Carol sitting next to me, and the man Nathan sitting across from me.

"How are you feeling?" Carol asked. I felt my face scrunch up in confusion when I looked at her. How should I be feeling? Did something happen?

"I- What's going on?"

"River, I know it's been a few weeks since we last met. We need you to answer everything honestly. We're only here to support you," Nathan spoke. I don't even know this guy. He's from child services or something. Why was he here?! What had I done? Was this because I was in the bathroom with Eric? I had skipped class again - was this why this Nathan man was here?

"River, you were found passed out in the bathroom... Do you remember this happening?" Nathan asked.

"I- I didn't mean to. I'm sorry,"

"You're not in trouble RIver," Carol said, placing her hand on my shoulder briefly. Was she trying to comfort me? Carol was not someone I needed for comfort. I don't actually need anyone. Just a pencil and paper, and that's all the therapy I truly need.

"River, upon finding you, we've discovered some pretty serious bruising along your torso," Nathan said, sounding gentler than he had before. I felt my face heat up, even though I was just dark enough for the blush not to actually show. My torso had been bruised from Issac the other night- Okay so it wasn't really from Issac, as in, he didn't mean for it to happen. And, honestly I'm fine. I've had worse. "Could you tell us how you acquired these bruises?"

"What? Why?"

"Your safety is our top priority. As I shared with you a few weeks ago, I am a resource for you if you ever feel unsafe, or like you lack the agency to acquire reasonable independence as a human in your situation,"

"Thanks?" I replied in question.

"We need you to share who did this, even if it's your parents. You were only ever to be placed back with the Reeds with the understanding that you don't have to stay if you're not comfortable. At this point though, if it is now a safety concern, we are prepared to step in and place you with a different family,"

"What! I don't want to go with a different family," I said, feeling panicked. What was even happening? I may not be as close to the Reeds as other people are with their family, but It's the only "family" I have now. I don't like meeting new people. I don't want to meet anymore people. I don't want to have to go.

"How'd you get hurt like that?" Carol asked.

I guess this was simple, I could just tell them about what happened with Issac. It was a simple mistake. Issac wouldn't get in trouble for this, right? Abruptly, I was saved from having to answer when the door opened and a woman in a long gray cardigan, and polka dotted pants entered the room. "We've got the camera footage, and it looks like a human student, Eric Sheen may be to blame," The woman stated.