Saving Lauryn

Chapter 3

I came across a bus stop after running for what seemed like forever. I got on the bus, paid the driver. I fell asleep, after a few seconds. I was woken up by a voice, as it became light outside.

"Are you okay?" It was a girl who looked like she may be around my age. I nodded my head at her, but she didn't believe me. "Who are you running from? Can I help you?"

I looked up at her in shock. It had been years since anyone's been nice to me. I guess she took that as a yes because she continued to talk. "My house is at the next stop. You're getting off with me. I'll take good care of you." I shot her a small smile. It was all I could muster. She grabbed my hand and pulled me off the bus behind her. The bus driver shot me an empathic smile. I allowed her to drag me along, not trusting myself to walk on my own. We walked up to a really big house and she unlocked the door. There were a lot of people in the living room, and it looked like they were laughing and having fun- something I hadn't done since before he took me. They all stopped what they were doing and looked at me. I cowered away at the attention.

"Don't be rude," the girl snapped at them. "This is my friend. I found her on the bus stop. She's running away from someone. She doesn't talk much. I'm keeping her," she announced to the group of boys.

"You can't just keep her, Maddie, she's a human. Not a pet," one of the boys called out. So her name was Maddie.

I realized they were all looking at me. "It's fine," I whisper quietly, looking down at the ground.

A phone started ringing and I was glad when everyone shifted their attention. The boy who spoke to Maddie ealrier, answered his phone. He exchanged a few words with whoever was on the phone, before hanging up.

"Dad wants all of you to leave," the boy said and everyone followed his instructions, except for me. Maddie had a tight grip on my arm still.

I was standing there awkwardly as the boy pulled Maddie aside and talked to her for a few seconds. She  walked out of the room, leaving him and I alone. He told me to come over to him. I slowly made my way over to him, sitting down on the couch he was pointing at.

"My name is Jameson. Maddie, my twin sister, is the one who brought you here. We are seventeen. The other guys who were here are basically family as well. If you stay here, you'll get to know them too. I don't know who hurt you or who you're running from, but we can help you, if you let us. Will you let us help you?" He asked me. I nodded my head.

"Th-thank you. I'm Lauryn," I whisper slowly. Lauryn wasn't my real name, but I'm not stupid enough to use my real name. Lauryn was my best friend's middle name from before I was taken. "I'm seventeen, too," I say looking down.

"Can you tell me who you are running from?" He asked, taking my hand gently. I shook my head no vigorously. I didn't even know the man's name. It had been four years and I still didn't know his name. "My parents will be home in a few hours. I'll introduce you to them, but in the meantime, I'll show you to the guest room. You can take a nice warm bath and relax a little bit."

"You don't have to be nice to me, I can find my way," I said, my voice finally breaking the whisper.

"No Lauryn. You're hurt. I won't let you go back out there," he said.

"Why do you care, you don't even know me?" I asked still kind of shocked by everything.

"You remind me of someone," he said before motioning for me to follow him. I walked into a room with him. The room had its own bathroom. I saw a pair of clean clothes on the bed with a washcloth, towel, and shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Maddie walked in as he left. Shshe showed my how the shower worked and handed me a couple bras and pairs of underwear. I thanked her, before she walked out.

I turned the water on, stripped my clothes off and got in the shower. This was the first shower I had in a very long time.