Screaming Saviour

One

I was sitting on the sofa, watching 'Scuzz Meets Of Mice And Men' (that I had recorded yesterday) with the remote in my hand. In just a few hours I was going to be getting on a train to go to a signing these five wondrous people were holding at my local Drop Dead store- 45 minutes away- and I could barely contain my exitement. My parents had been gone for three hours, (longer than usual) but would be home from shopping any minute. I knew they didn't like 'all these weird shouty bands' that I liked, so I needed to change channel quickly when they came home. The front doorbell rang.

Weird, I thought, they have keys, and we never use the front door anyway... I still changed the channel and went to open the door.

When I did, I found two police officers, a tall, slightly chubby male and a shorter female. My mouth hung open and a gave a questioning look as the male cleared his throat.

"Are you Miss Delila Westwick?" He asked, adjusting his hat. I shuddered at the use of my full name. No one called me that. Ever.

"Depends who's asking." I replied, giving him a confident glare.

"My name is PC Smith and this," he pointed to the woman, "Is PC Thernstorm. May we come inside?" They showed me little cards with proof of identification on.

"No. I don't know you. What d'ya want?" I kept my voice deadpan. Showing no emotion, even thought I was terrified as to why they were here.

"Miss Westwick, we are very sorry to tell you that the bodies of your parents were pulled out of a car collision on the motor way half an hour ago."

I froze. For a moment, I couldn't here anything, and my vision was starting to cloud as my eyes filled with tears. I stood aside as the officers went into my house and sat on the sofa.

I wiped my eyes, shut the door and followed them, standing awkwardly.

"I'll, um, put th-the kettle on." I sniffed and started walking towards the kitchen.

"Actually, Delila-" PC Thernstorm started,

"Didi. My name is Didi." I corrected.

"Right, well Didi, we would like to discuss some things with you." I sighed and sat on the love-seat opposite the sofa the officers were at on, and nodded.

"Go ahed."

PC Smith looked at some papers he had taken out of a briefcase and then at me.

"You are thirteen years old, correct?"

"Correct."

"Date of birth?"

"Twenty seventh of October, 2000."

"And your parents were your only living relatives? No grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins...?"

I gupled, "None."

The officers looked at eachother. Then PC Thernstorm spoke,

"Didi, we are going to have to move you on to a children's care home." I felt the colour drain from my face. "Hopefully then you can be fostered, or adopted. We know it will take some time to adjust but-"

I held up my hand, silencing her.

"Can I-I go t-to the bathroom pl-please?" I was starting to freak out. This couldn't be happening.

"Of course. And while your up there, start packing a few clothes in a bag. We can get the rest later."

I nodded and headed upstairs. When I got into my room, I sat on my bed and stared at my OM&M poster that had fallen to the floor. In that split second, I knew what I was going to do. I grabbed my large shoulder bad and stuffed as much from my wardrobe as I could manage. I added my phone, iPod (with headphones), a book, charger, wallet and a small picture I had of my parents.