Chapter 44: Senna’s POV

“Run, I have to run from Ms Carter and the other mean lady, I can’t go back there.” I pump my arms and legs, hoping that if I can stay ahead of them and get to a hiding spot, they will never be able to find me.” I whisper to the night as I continue to race through the woods.

“Senna, Baby,” I turn my head and see Mommy racing towards me. I run towards her and finally feel safe with Mommy holding me.

“Ms Carter is coming,” Mommy says as we take off running again.

We run for a while before Mommy stops.

“Senna, climb in here and hide. You don’t come out for anyone ok. I will come back for you,” Mommy says before kissing me on the forehead and racing away in the other direction. Mommy had been gone for a couple of minutes before Ms Carter appears. She then chases Mommy.

“Mommy, it's dark here, really dark. I want to go home now; I don’t like it here. I don’t like these people,” I whisper to the night.

Mommy said that I need to be super quiet and not to make any sound, otherwise those psychos will find me and retake me. I never liked those women; they were always mean, and they never liked me, but they didn’t like Mommy either, so they have to be bad.

I watch the clouds cover the moon briefly before the full moon reappears. “Come on, Mommy, hurry up.” Being as careful as possible, I slowly poke my head out and take a quick look around before tucking myself back into my hidey hole.

I listen to the night and the critters skittering around out there. As I close my eyes, I beg for Mommy to come back and take me home.

“Senna? Senna, where are you?”

I stop and listen, thinking that I heard someone call my name. I hold my breath as I listen as hard as I can.

“Senna? Senna, where are you?”

“Senna? Senna, where are you?”  This time, I heard it, and it sounded so close to me

“Senna? Senna, where are you?”

“Tristan?” I call back softly.

“Yeah, baby girl,” Tristan replies. I pull myself from the hidey hole before I have a chance to turn and face him. I am scooped up into a warm embrace, and I finally let the breath that I have been holding out.

“Where is Mommy?” Tristan asks as he holds me tightly against his chest.

“She led Ms Carter away from here. She didn’t want her to take me, so she ran that way,” I say, pointing past Tristan’s shoulder.

“OK, I am sure that Mommy is fine and that she will be back with us shortly. Let's get you back to the house, and we will get the bad people gone, and then we are going home and not leaving for the rest of our lives, ok, baby girl?” Tristan says as he continues to hold me close.

"Yep, I want Uncle Tony’s food as well,” I mutter

“Deal”

Tristan carries me back to the house, not once letting his strong hug lessen.

As we walked into the house, police officers and ambulances were everywhere.

Tristan places me on the couch, and a police officer and an ambulance person come over and check on me. They poke and prod, check my temperature, and clean the cuts and grazes I got.

“This little miss is fine, apart from needing hydration as well as a good rest, she will be fine.”

Tristan nods but gathers me close again.

“Hi, little Miss, I am Detective Armstrong. Can I ask you a few questions?

“Yes”

“Can you tell me what happened?”

“We were at a party and we were all having fun, but at the end of the party we were walking outside when there were heaps of people and someone pushed Mommy and before I knew Ms Carter was there and she took to a car, I tried to fight but I couldn’t get rid of her. When we arrived at the car, another lady who works at the Kindy was there, and she was extremely rude. They threw me into the car and taped my mouth shut, and they sped away. They were arguing the whole time about how they wished that they had gotten the person they wanted before. But I will have to settle for second best, but it will be a better payday overall. Whatever that means.

When we got to the house, they continued fighting and arguing about what they were going to do with me. They were so loud, and they wouldn’t give me proper food.

After a while, they stopped and then told me that we were leaving. When we got to this house, they started fighting again. That is all they do: fight. I managed to get away and found Mommy, but then Ms. Carter was following us. Mommy hid me and told me to stay there until she came back for me.  But she didn’t come back, and Tristan found me and brought me back here. What happens if Mommy is looking for me? She could get lost out there while she is looking. What happens if Ms Carter hurts Mommy? What happens if Mommy doesn’t come home? I want Mommy!” I manage to get out before I start crying.

I can feel Tristan’s warmth and hear him murmuring to me, trying to calm me down. But the only thing that would calm me down is Mommy, and she isn’t here.

I feel a slight prick in my arm before everything becomes hazy. I scream, “MOMMY!” before everything turns black.

I vaguely hear Tristan’s voice yell loudly before the blackness takes me fully.

“What the hell did you do to her?”

“Relax, it was just a sedative; it is for the best if she sleeps. In case there are any issues with her mother, we don’t want her to witness that.”