Thrown Away And Forgotten.

chapter 1

"The children have an Aunt and Uncle. They live in Berrysville. " Layna a girl of 11 years heard the doctors wife say in a whisper. Layna had been hiding behind the kitchen door of her home listening to the doctor and his wife speak of what should be done about Layna and her siblings.

Layna wiped tears away from her eyes. Her whole world was changing and there was nothing she could do. Her parents fell suddenly Ill and in a matter of days she was orphaned. She turned around and headed back to bed where her younger sister and older brother slept.

The room was bare except for a bed. All of their belongings sold off and leaving them with nothing except a few personal items. Layna climbed into the bed with her sister Julie who was five years old. She felt sorry that Julie wouldn't know her parents like she did.

Layna thought about her Uncle Sam he was her mother's brother. His wife Agnes did not like their family. She thought they were too poor for her attention. She was well known in the small town of Berrysville. Layna could only guess how she would take the news of the children needing a home.

Aunt Agnes was a women who always thought about her image. She always wore the best dresses and had the best home. She had no time for children she would say. Aunt Agnes was especially hard on Layna. She had wanted Layna to dress as a young lady and act like one the last time they seen each other and Layna refused.

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Two weeks later Layna and her brother and sister were finding themselves looking at the front door of their uncle's large home. A stately home in such a small town. It was painted a startling white on the outside with black shutters on the windows.

A nervous feeling came over Layna as the door was opened to them. "Don't take all day! Come inside and let me see you!" Their Aunt Agnes exclaimed already unhappy about having to take in three children. Their Aunt  who stood tall was dressed elegantly in a green dress with her dark hair was pulled into a right bun. With her face looking sour she led them to the parlor of their home where their uncle sat reading. He was dressed I a dark suit and was tall like his wife. His dark hair was slicked back and he had a neatly trimmed beard.  "Come stand here in front of your uncle." Agnes said taking them each by the shoulders and placing them to look at him. "Yes, little Julie will do quite nicely with us. As for you Brian you will be going to Boarding school east of here." Agnes smiled at Brian and Julie. Brian stood tall but had no expression on his face. He had chestnut Brown hair that had been trimmed short before meeting his Uncle. His blue eyes looked tired. Julie had the same colored hair and eyes as her siblings. She was a little more plump and looked cute in her little blue dress. Agnes then looked at Layna with a frown. Layna was very thin and lanky with her hair pulled back in a braid she looked awkward. "Layna I have no desire to keep you. I have arranged for you go to the workhouse in the next town over. They are in need of young girls like you. You are to report there by tomorrow evening." Agnes explained to Layna as she sat down in her chair and looked over the children.

Layna couldn't believe what she was hearing. She was being sent away to work. She would be away from her brother and sister. Would she ever see them again?

Before all her thoughts could be processed her aunt was escorting her through the home and out the same door she came through. "Go to the end of the lane and ask for Mrs. Filler she will take you to your new home." Agnes explained ignoring Julie's pleas to keep her sister. Brian just stood unaffected by what was happening. Layna's heart broke for him. Brian who was twelve years old had not spoken or reacted to anything since their parents death.

With a heavy heart Layna gathered her things and walked away tears were streaming down her face. She was on her own now. As she walked and got closer to meeting Mrs. Filler she became scared of what was to come of her.
She reached the end of the lane and seen a plump looking woman who wore a scowl on her face. The woman stood in front of  a line of storefronts and a stagecoach tetherd to a post. The woman was vigorously fanning herself looking up and down the road. Layna approached the woman "Excuse me are you Mrs. Filler?" Layna asked quietly as she stopped the woman from her pacing. The women turned to look at the girl. "It's about time you made it. Here drink this We have a long journey to make." Mrs. Filler explained as she handed Layna a cup of water. Layna quickly drank it for it was a hot day. In the back of her mind she wondered why she was kind enough to give her water to drink when they were in a hurry. "Here climb in We leave soon" Mrs. Filler said getting in the stagecoach. Layna climbed in after her and sat down feeling exhausted and laid her head back to rest.

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Layna awoke to darkness and feeling sick. She could hear children crying but couldn't see them. As she became more aware she could feel something heavy around her ankles and the room she was in was swaying. "Stay still the poison will wear off in time." She heard a young girl say. "What do you mean? Where am I?" Layna asked feeling scared and nauseous at the same time. "I don't know where we are but I know we are on a boat going somewhere." The girl said across from Layna. She had a sad tone in her voice. "I don't understand. I was supposed to go to a workhouse and work. How did I end up here?" Layna said feeling the chains around her ankles. She soon felt herself wretch up all her contents in her stomach. She was soon covered in bile. The entire compartment smelled horrible. "You were passed out when the man brought you on the boat. I think we are going somewhere to work but I don't know what it is. There are a lot of children on here." The girl said finding a place A little further from Layna.

Layna's eyes finally adjusted to the darkness and She could see rows of children chained just like her. They looked as young as eight and old as fourteen. Most of them were crying. "How did you get here?" Layna asked the girl.

"My father gave me to an old woman. He thought I was going to be her maid. She told him I would be taken care of.  Then when I woke up I was like you confused only I've been stuck on this ship longer." The girl explained. Layna couldn't understand what was happening. Where were they going?