Taken.

第1章

My eyes flutter open and I immediately bolt up. This is not my room. I look down at my arms and see that they are bandaged up. The walls are a beige color with black polka dots all along them. There is a beautiful chandelier hanging from the ceiling and attached to it are mini trinkets of kids and such. I look around and there happens to be three dressers, all made of black marble. I look down at the bed sheet I'm wrapped up in and its a dark velvet color. I look around to realize that there are no windows. None at all. This is not my room. What the hell was I doing here?

Then I remember.

December 23 \ 8:01pm

I close my eyes as they continue yelling at me.

Asking me how this happened. How? When? Where?

'I've always been this way.' I try to explain. But they won't take it. Any of it. As they continue yelling I imagine myself drifting away. Just disintegrating right then and there. Then they don't have to worry about me anymore. I won't be a shame to the family. I won't embarrass them. They won't be looked down upon for having a broken daughter.

And I won't hurt anymore. I'll be... free.

'Therapy! That will work.' My mother reasons. 'Medication maybe?' My father tries. Their stupid solutions keep on coming and only make me feel worse. I shouldn't have came out to them. But it seemed like the right thing to do. I stand up and push my chair to the ground. I run.

'Anaya?' I hear her small little voice call out. But I don't answer. I just run.

I come across a clear and feel a cold hand clasp over my mouth. She's telling me to calm down and not fight. 'Don't cry, my dear. It will be alright. Just obey and comply.' I kick and get away. I'm on the run and go once again. Running through the trees.

Pain strikes my arm as thorns from a rose bush meet my skin.

I come to a dead end.

She's got me
•

I start to sob and the room door opens. A girl about my height who looks around my age walks in. Her green eyes somehow compliment her tan skin. Large brown curls fall onto her shoulders, some in her face. She comes over and pulls me into a hug. I don't know who she is, but I can tell she's special. I didn't except her to say anything. But she starts to sing.

"Oh, child

don't you worry now

because soon everything is gonna be alright

oh dear

please don't cry here

because your tears aren't beautiful

lets replace it with a smile

let's remember the old times, lets remember the good

don't dwell on what's happening right now

so

oh child

hear me sing now

and maybe you can sing along too."

When she's done I pull away and she has tears in her eyes, but a small smile on her face. I wipe some tears away and watch as they fall off the tip of my finger. She does the same and we just sit in silence; my head in her chest, her humming soft tunes. I finally lift up my head.

"What is this place? And who are you?" I ask, desperate for answers. She nods.

"I'm Esperanza. And this is- our new home." She says the last part without looking at me.

"What do you mean our home? I have a home. It's not the best but it's something and there is no way this is my home! I will go back home!" I interject causing the girl to frown as she looks back at me. "I thought I would go home too." She says her voice quiet and almost weak. "That was 7 years ago." Her voice cracks as she says that. I gasp. No. No way she has been here that long. She was brought here as a little girl.

A little girl.

I bite my lip as I feel the tears about to surge their way through. It's my turn to consult her. "Please don't cry." I whisper into her hair as I pull her into a hug. I here sniffles and a hiccup. "Teach me the song." I propose. Esperanza lifts her head up from my chest where it was and smiles. Wiping her tears.

She nods. "Okay."

A/N

The song that Esperanza sings in this chapter is actually part of a poem I wrote so please do not take it. If you would like to use it, give credit.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter!