Newfounded Family

Chapter Two

Merlin started the next day in angered determination,not put off by the rainy and gloomy disposition of the morning. His arrival at the shop was well-timed for nine,his arrival at the manor bang on half past and by 10 o clock,He was sat comfortably in his office accompanied by Eggsy's overfed lump of a dog,a steaming cup of tea and the open website of social services. Some sleuthing revealed the girls age - 15,her recent foster carers,her name and her school. Her school file showcased her truancy and behaviour,her late homework but decent enough grades. A headache had begun it's torment behind his eyes as he took off his glasses briefly to rub at them,replacing them only to look at past school photos and notes filed by teachers. How he had not been contacted sooner,he did not know.

Meanwhile,an hour away from London,the girl in question sat on a park swing,chatting with people she barely knew who barely knew anything about her. Southend on Sea used to be a popular,holiday destination for Londoners,the key word being used to. Now armed with Oyster Cards and interactive apps - Southend soon fell out of fashion with its murky waters and dissolving high street. The wet,murky day had mostly absolved students into school but not her,content on staying out in petrichor sodden soil. The drawing near of sirens jolted the group out of their chatter,pulling them up and heading towards the exit to the sea,sprinting down the hill as fastas they could. The yells of officers behind them only made them laugh as they continued down towards the train station,clambering down steep steps and slipping joyfully onto the platform. Luck was in their favour as a c2c train pulled up and left the officers in their dust.
The girl,known as Elizabeth or 'Lizzie',grinned a toothy grin at her counterparts who shared the rush of adrenaline with her. The cuts to the police force meant they didn't have to worry about transport police at the next station and their chatter resumed to Barking.

The rainy day did not cease in favour for the general public or the truants playing cat and mouse with police. A slow drizzle gave into an hour or two of gloom,the clock striking three as kids all across the country streamed out of their respective schools. Bethany had given up all pretence of caring as the group settled into a McDonald's,growing rowdy with the intake of food and drink. A glance at her phone prompted her to take her leave,slipping away unnoticed into the London bustle,making her way to the train station for the second time that day. She hated her social worker but hated her foster family more,all their tidy white linoleum and carefully packed front rooms with grey velvet themes. It made her feel sick. Hopefully,George the useless social worker has done something worth noting that isn't a referral to CAMHS. Boarding a train heading to Southend,She settled into her seat and watched as the scenery rolled by for an hour.

Back in London,Merlin was readying himself for an early leave,Rainmaker and a dark Kingsman-made jacket safely equipped for his journey. As he was perfecting one last check on the other handlers,his peacock of a best friend breezed in,throwing himself into the nearest chair. "Leaving?" Harry said,stating the very obvious as he surveyed the Scot. "I wish you luck,teenagers today are…well,good luck." His comment earned him the joyous vision of an eye roll,Merlin strolling out without a word.

The rain started back up as soon as Merlin was on the road,pitter pattering into its arrival. The drive was quiet,unremarkable as they entered Essex and all it had to give for history,the grey of the motorway and green of trees blurring into one as Eaun pulled out his clipboard,opening it and checking his emails.

George sighed as he dropped his pen,rubbing his eyes at the words of the teen in front of him. "You don't exactly get a choice in this,Lizzie." He said,picking his pen and gaze up to look at her. Lizzie shrugged and stared at him,unfazed. Despite being dressed for school,her uniform wasn't exactly faultless. Dirty converse contrasted greatly against the pearly white of her socks,friendship bracelets poking out from the cream oversized jacket,skirt rolled up against school standards. "Why can't I? They're shit,he'll be shit,your shit. Wouldn't it make sense to leave me alone for once?" Came her biting response,slouching in the scratchy office chair. "Can't even set me up with a decent family,why are you my social worker again? Your still getting over that blonde slag you was with,not exactly fit for combat are ya?"
George inhaled deeply at that and placed his pen down gently. His other kids tested his patience but none pushed it like her,he knew logically it stemmed somewhere from the feeling of insecurity and detached-ness that followed with foster children and traumatic happenings but god it tried him. As he internally counted to ten,Lizzie filled the silence with more unnecessary comments. "I bet this bloke bloody kills me,works for IT you said? That's creepy,he's gonna watch me through secret cameras like a nonce." Her voice rose with each word. As George was about to respond,brow pinching in frustration,his phone crackled to life about sending a 'Mr Addair' up. George gave the robot-voice the go ahead and smoothed his hair down,pointing a murderous finger at the redhead. "You,behave. I swear to fuck,if you don't..." His threat was left empty as a knock on the door interrupted him and a well-dressed bald stepped in. "George? George Riune? I'm Mr Addair,please call me Eaun."