Lost

Chapter 25

Belle’s POV

BETHANY?!

About a million thoughts run through my mind within that same second we make eye contact, and it those many thoughts that make it seem like I can’t think straight, because suddenly nothing makes sense anymore because everything is wrong.  Bethany was supposed to be with two people that would love her forever. She was supposed to finally be a part of the family she deserved. She was supposed to be happy. I wanted her to be happy, and I still want that. So why is she here? How did she end up here? Did she run away too? But why would she? She had just gotten her dream come true. I should know; it’s all she ever wanted. It’s all she would ever talk about at night. She prayed every night to be adopted and this is what happens? How could her dream turn into this nightmare? I just don’t understand it.  She looks so sad, so exhausted, so tormented…Is this what’s going to happen to me? Am I going to have to endure that same kind of pain and suffering? I thought I’d already been through enough, and now there’s more. There’s always more.  But I don’t want more and I especially don’t want any of this. I wish Bethany never left the orphanage; then, I would have never left. I wish I never left.  I’m pretty sure this place is worse than prison…

However, even though I couldn’t feel worse about the situation, knowing that she’s here comforts me in ways words can’t express.  Bethany’s  always been there for me when I needed it the most and right now I couldn’t be more thrilled to see her, especially since I never thought I would see her again-she was everything to me when I lost everyone. She was my sister, my best friend, and she took care of me like my mother used to.  I doubt there’s anything she can do to help us get out of here and I’m pretty sure she’ll never be able to teach me how to work a loom (because it looks extremely complicated), but I’m just really happy to see her.

I practically run, dodging through work tables, cords, and wires, to get to Bethany and I don’t stop until I am safe wrapped in her arms, once again. My face nuzzles tenderly against her shoulder and I can tell the poor girl is trembling-why, I just don’t know. She loosens her hold to get a better look at me and I can see more clearly now that she’s been crying.  

“What-How did you get here? How’d they find you? Do you have any idea what this place is?” Bethany hisses angrily in my ear, when the truth is I know she’s just scared for me.

How did I end up here? Oh yeah...Oh.

“It’s kind of a long story. But what about you! How’d you get here?” I murmur back just as befuddled as she is, and maybe even more so because, to be frank, I’m pretty sure Bethany knows more about what’s going on than I do.

“You know I got adopted. “ Bethany lowers her head in shame and mumbles an elusive response.

“But how-“ I plan on repeating my question again, only this time much louder and more demanding-in fact, so much louder that some of the other girls stop working on their rugs to give me inquisitive looks.

“I got sold! Okay? They were no good. It was all a part of some plan and now-n-now I’m here.” Bethany roughly grabs my arm and pulls me in closer so only I can hear her. Though it doesn’t matter  because her unbearable sobbing drown out the words and just attracts more attention. But the part I do understand, I still don’t understand.

Sold? Sold! People don’t get sold! You can’t buy people! There must be some mistake. Maybe she’s confused. This doesn’t make any sense. Why would her adopted parents sell her? Why would anyone want to sell Bethany? She’s perfect. She’s what any mother and father would want.  I don’t understand.

“Bethany I don’t-“ I try to tell her that I couldn’t be more confused, but she just cuts me off.

“Did someone adopt you?” She blurts out in between sobs, somewhat implying that she thought I had suffered the same fate as she had, which I did not; but nevertheless, it made her cry more.

“No. I sorta…” I stop midsentence, because I know now what I did was foolish and I wish I could take it back.

“What?” She grabs me tighter to emphasize her concern for me, but I just didn’t want to feel any more shame than I already did.

“I ran away.”

The first thing she does is hug me and then she looks me right in the eye and says with the utmost truth and honesty…

“It’ll be okay. I’m going to get you out of here no matter what. I promise.”

If there’s one thing I know, it’s that Bethany cannot tell a lie and when she makes a promise she intends on keeping it. That is a 100% guarantee.

I hope so.

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