The Lost Daughter

Chapter Four: Orphan

I sat for hours, watching from the bench, hearing the sirens.

In my frozen state, a police car pulled up along the curb. An officer stepped out, but I barely heard them as they approached me.

“Miss…?” The voice drifted by my ears.

“Miss. Are you okay?”

The officer kneeled in front of me. I lowered my chin, meeting his eyes. Hazel, with a yellow ring.

“Hi. I’m Constable Trevors. Do you need a ride home?” He asks.

I shake my head, closing my mouth as I come to. “Sorry. No. I… I’m fine.”

He shines a light close to my face. I flinch, the hood falling off my face.

Constable Trevors holds still.

“Kid, did something happen to you?” He looks me over, reaching towards my

face. I flinched, turning my face away from him. Then I stand abruptly, losing my balance from sitting so long.

The constable catches me. A voice comes through his com.

“Missing girl. Blue eyes, dark hair, freckles. Looks to be sixteen. Found items from the fire of a teenager living in the house. Only adult bodies found.”

My face paled as I listened. My legs gave out as I collapsed to the ground.

“Hey. Hey! Kid. Are you okay? Are you… did you…” Constable Trevors asks.

“Were you living with Darryl and Amber Mailey?”

A strangled noise escapes me as I cover my mouth. Then my world turns

black.

*****

I woke up to voices, phones ringing, beeps and other noises. I slowly open my eyes, bright fluorescent lights glaring above me. I hold up a hand, noticing I’m lying on a couch. I sat up, looking around.

Police station. How did I get here?

“Hey, Aurelia. How are you feeling?” A familiar voice asked.

I look at the closest desk, seeing Constable Trevors.

“My… My head hurts. Everything is loud and bright. Why am I here?”

“I couldn’t leave you on the park bench, sweetie. I looked through your bag.

Checked your ID. I guessed from your reaction from my radio that you were the missing kid. I brought you here as we have to go over a few things.”

I blinked, remembering everything from before I passed out. My face paling

again, and stomach rolling.

The constable must have noticed as he quickly grabs his small trash can, handing it to me. I shoved my face into it, retching. Not that there was much in my stomach.

The day flashes through my mind, nothing making sense.

“From that reaction, you have no idea what happened. Seems someone was

cooking, had tossed vegetables into the oven, but in paper bags. They caught fire. Your parents were asleep in the living room, newspapers all over, so the house went up pretty fast. No one survived though.”

“Darryl wasn’t my father. I only had my mother. Sort of. Maybe I had no one.

And now I really have no one.” My voice shakes.

“Children Services are coming in. But if Darryl wasn’t your father, do you

know where your father is?”

“I don’t know him. I don’t know if he is alive or anything. He didn’t want me.

I know that much. Just like my mom.”

“Your marks… on your face. Was that Darryl or your mother?”

I sit up straight, having forgotten about the bruises. I touch my face, looking

away. “It… It doesn’t matter now. Not like anyone can help. I’ve tried to get help,

but… I’m just a kid.”

A woman about my height approaches us, holding a folder. Her hair was

black, eyes dark, wearing a green coat and dress.

“Hello. You must be Aurelia Lilac Mailey?” Her voice sounded like nails on a chalkboard, but her smile was soft.

“Lia. I just go by Lia.”

“Well, Lia, I am Katherine O’Leery. I work for Children’s services. I am looking for a bed for you tonight, but things have been a bit busy.”

“If she is okay with the couch, or one of the night duty beds, she can stay

here. We all agree that we would rather give the space to a kid than them having

nothing.” Constable Trevors offers.

“Would that we okay with you, Lia?” Katherine looks to me.

I pull my knees to my chest, hugging myself.

“Yeah. Wherever.” My voice is

small, my chin resting on my knees.

“Okay. I have a few questions. May I sit?”

She walked closer to me. I look up, then to the spot beside me. I nodded my head, moving closer to the armrest.

“If it is okay with you, Lia, I’d like to sit in with you.” Constable Trevors

offered.

“Yeah. That… that’s fine.”

Katherine sits beside me, opening the file. My full name is on the lip of the

folder. I look away as she clears her throat.

“Did either of your parents have any

relatives? Nearby or ones you can contact?”

“Darryl isn’t… wasn’t… I don’t have a dad. Ever. My mom… Amber… never said anything to me about anyone.”

“Okay. So, there could be someone. We could take a blood sample and run it

through files with hospitals. See if we find anyone with relative markers.

Otherwise, you will have to go into foster care. Which, isn’t bad, but for someone

your age, it can be difficult to find a permanent home.”

“Two years and I’ll be a legal adult. Is there a way to speed that up? Have you

vouch for me for my own place. I can work. I have saved money. I can live on my own. I don’t need to live with anyone.”

“I’m sorry, sweetie, but legally you have to be with adults.” Katherine looks

at me softly.

I roll my eyes. “Always. And when have they ever done anything good for

me…” I mumble.

“Well, tonight you can hang out here. I’m on night shift, so you and I can

hang out. Is that okay, Lia?” Trevors smiles.

“Yeah… I guess.”

“Okay. I will come back tomorrow morning. I can either bring a nurse here,

draw some blood, or we head over to the closest hospital.”

I flinch thinking about needles.

“Is there another way to check? I… I really don’t like… um… needles.” I try to not react, but my stomach rolls. I grab the can again, retching into it.

“Oh.” Both Katherine and Trevors say.

“Well, we could do hair, but blood does

give us a better view. I will let you know in the morning. Until then, rest.”

Katherine patted my leg, then stood.

Constable Trevors and Katherine walked to the front of the station, speaking softly between each other, but I couldn’t hear

anything. They kept looking back at me, which drew a shiver from me.

I laid back down on the couch, curling into myself.

Darryl is dead. Amber is dead. I’m an orphan. Maybe? What if my father is

alive? Would he want me? What if they were right? Nobody wants me.

I closed my eyes tightly, exhaustion drawing me into sleep.