The entire day had dragged.

We’d had Maths right after English class and even that had been boring for once. Normally, I mostly enjoyed it, but I couldn’t stop my mind from wandering.

I wanted to step back into that fantasy world where I was about to be adopted or fostered by Mitch and then become a treasure hunter. I didn’t really know what I’d be doing as a treasure hunter but that small glimpse into the future of the fantasy that I’d had before, where I was on the boat and about to scuba dive, had filled me with excitement. And a bit of fear, but it was a fantasy. I wouldn’t be hurt so it didn’t matter.

I’d basically run home as soon as class was finished for the day, calling a quick goodbye to my friend before rushing out the door and towards the quiet path home. The shadowy canopy protected me from the punishingly hot summer sun and the world took on a hushed quality as I slowly made my way along the old abandoned railway walk.

Years ago, way before I was even born, there had been a railway that cut through my town but, in the years that followed, it was abandoned. Most of the tracks had been pulled up and the materials used for something better. They’d pathed the majority of the walk but it was bumpy and uneven. Pitted slabs of concrete fought with the strong tree roots but mostly, the trees won.

The path always smelled a little… off. Even in winter, the scent of rust and rot lingered in the air. It came from the weak, stagnant and alarmingly orange water that lined one side of the path. The other side was mostly a mud and tree-covered bank.

If I paused for even a moment, the trees came alive. I could hear tiny animals scampering around, birds flapping and crying above me and something splashing in the water beside me.

Despite all of that, I always felt somewhat calm as I walked. I knew that I shouldn’t linger, someone could easily follow me down the path and I was too far away from the school or any houses for anyone to hear me if I shouted, but I couldn’t help myself.

It was my brief respite before I got home.

But, on that day, I rushed. I skipped over the bumpy pavement, ran across the road beyond and hopped the fence into the field on the other side. It wasn’t the safest or the smartest route but it was the quietest so it was my favourite.

The sheep weren’t in the field on that day. They sometimes were at that time but it varied. I was a little glad that they weren’t, it meant that I could get home quicker. Edging around piles of sheep poo and holding my breath when needed, I managed to make it across the field and slip out the gate without any difficulty.

As I traversed the dry field beyond, my heart sank. I was almost home which was good because it meant that I could go back to that treasure hunting fantasy but also, it meant I’d need to deal with my mom and I wasn’t sure what kind of mood she’d be in.

I hadn’t received any texts from her during the day but that didn’t mean anything. It was just as likely that I’d walk through the door to find her glaring furiously and ready to fight or passed out on the sofa already.

I wasn’t sure which I preferred.

At least if she were asleep, I’d be able to sneak past her and get upstairs. Then, I might be safe from having to deal with her for the evening. I’d be able to get my homework done before slipping back into the fantasy world.

Or maybe, I wouldn’t wait. I didn’t have to. I could do my homework during registration in the morning.

Plus, it was the run up to the school holidays; we only had a few days left. As much as the teachers tried to pretend, no one really cared what we did anymore. I’d finished my exams for the year. Now, they were just having us ‘get an early start on next year’ but it was halfhearted at best.

Some teachers didn’t care at all and didn’t even bother trying to set us work, like my wonderful chemistry teacher Mr Gais, but others did. Mrs Govern obviously didn’t mind setting us work even though we’d just finished our exams. Neither did Madame Noel.

I doubted any of the teachers would care that much if I didn’t hand in the homework anyway… So, if I didn’t have time to do it during registration, it didn’t matter that much.

I climbed over the fence at the back of my garden and stumbled as I landed heavily on the other side. Despite climbing over the fence most school days, it still caught me out at times. Normally it was whenever I was distracted really but at least this time I managed to catch myself before I fell on my face.

I crossed the garden, edging around the patches of weeds that my dad would have to sort out at the weekend, and pulled on the handle on the back door. It was locked.

I breathed out a sigh of annoyance and walked around the side gate towards the front door. If it was locked, it meant that Mom had gone out at some point today. That was good, kind of. It meant there’d probably be food in the fridge but also it meant that she was less likely to be passed out on the sofa already.

I pulled my keys out, carefully inserting them into the lock and turning as quietly as possible before pushing the door open. I padded in before pausing and listening carefully.

The house was almost silent, which could mean anything. Just the quiet buzz of the television could be heard. I slipped my shoes off and moved towards the noise, my body tensing in preparation for what could be waiting in the lounge. Just before I reached the edge of the door, I realised I could hear another sound. Soft, snuffly breathing.

She was asleep.

My shoulders drooped with relief and I peeked around the door frame, spotting my mom lying on the sofa with a blanket haphazardly draped over her. A half-empty glass of white wine lay on the table before her and some boring show was playing on the TV.

A smile came over my face as I turned and padded towards the kitchen. I’d be able to grab some food and then go upstairs without being disturbed. I could spend the rest of the day fantasising and finding out what happened next! I couldn’t wait.

I grabbed a bag of crisps and a cereal bar from the cupboard and quietly edged up the stairs, avoiding the fifth step which always creaked loudly, before racing into my bedroom and shutting the door behind me. I dropped my bag down by my desk and threw the food onto it.

I needed to look like I was doing work. If I was just sitting in my bed blankly and staring into space when my mom woke up and came to check that I’d come home, she would definitely accuse me of being high or something ridiculous.

I ripped my bag open, my mind reaching out towards the fantasy, and pulled out my French books.

They would do, I did have French homework after all.

A smile came over my face as I dropped into my chair and opened the books.

“Don’t worry, Betty will be able to sort everything out,” Mitch said with a soft smile. “She’ll get it all squared away so that I’m fostering you and your other foster parents know what’s going on.”

I glanced around quickly, blinking quickly to try and get rid of the lingering sense of dizziness.

Mitch glanced back at me before stopping in the middle of the busy street and pulling me into a doorway.

“Kid, don’t worry. Everything is going to be alright. Betty’s good at what she does. You can trust her,” he said, thinking that my lack of response was due to anxiety.

I nodded, taking a deep breath of lightly urine-scented air.

“Plus, we have to be quick. We’re heading up to Edinburgh after this and it is quite the drive,” he said with a smile.

“How long is it?” I asked, finally able to speak.

He hesitated.

“How do you feel about long journeys?” he asked cagily.

“Fine…” I replied hesitantly.

I actually really enjoyed them. They felt a little bit like the fantasies, like they were separate worlds of endless motion and music.

My mom and I always took a long drive up to Scotland during the summer to go stay at my grandparent’s house for a few weeks. It was one of the few times we got on well. Her anger was always directed at her mom until they inevitably left for their other house.

They always vaguely hinted that they’d stay with us for the whole time but, after a few days, they got bored of our company and would leave. I didn’t mind that too much. It was always good to see them but I wasn’t particularly close with them and the atmosphere was generally much nicer once they left.

“Bout six hours but it’ll probably be more due to all the detours and pitstops we’re going to have to make,” Mitch said finally.

“Why are we going to have to make so many?” I asked as he peeked out onto the street before gesturing for me to start walking again.

“We can’t go right there, people might still be following us,” he said, surreptitiously eyeing the others walking around us. “wE’re going to take a small detour to a garage outside Sheffield where a buddy of mine has a car for us which should add some extra time too. Plus, I like snacks. Here, it should be this one.”

I glanced up at the glossy red door we’d stopped in front of, fear suddenly bubbling within me.

I wasn’t sure what awaited me on the other side and that made me anxious which I knew was silly.

“I’ve not been to this office yet but Betty should be on… floor six,” he said as he scanned the labels next to the buzzers on the left of the door. “There we go! Child Protection, that’s her!”

My eyebrows drew together as Mitch pressed the buzzer.

It didn’t say anything more than just ‘Child Protection’ but all the other labels had actual business names. Confusion buzzed in my head but I couldn’t work out if it was just my brain being lazy or if the label was purposefully vague.

“Hello,” a voice said over the speaker in a clipped, professional tone.

“Hi there, can you please tell Betty that Mitch is here to see her?” Mitch replied in a light tone.

There was a pause and I glanced worriedly back at Mitch.

“Don’t worry,” he said with a smile. “She’ll see us.”

I opened my mouth to ask him why he was so certain but, before I could speak, the door made a loud thunk.

“Come on up, please,” the woman said.

“See?” Mitch asked before grasping the metal door handle and pushing.

I wasn’t sure what I expected to see on the other side but I was surprised by the wide, open corridor.

The black and white checkered marble floor was shiny and perfectly polished, causing our footsteps to echo loudly until the corridor opened out into a circular space lined with chairs. To the right, a man in a carefully tailored suit waited behind a dark wooden counter, with a pleasant smile.

“Hello,” he said as we approached. “If you could please sign in here, I’ll take you up to the sixth floor.”

Mitch smiled at him politely and picked up the pen, leaning over the thick, leather-bound book. I leant around him to peek at what he was writing, noting with a smirk that he definitely hadn’t signed his real name.

“Does the kid need to sign in too?” Mitch asked as he straightened again. “It would be better if she didn’t, you know, in case anyone comes looking for her.”

“Don’t worry,” the man said with a smile, showing his straight white teeth and giving the vague impression of a shark. “We never ask any minors to sign in when they’re visiting Child Protection.”

I tried to smile back at him but it died on my lips.

“Great. You don’t need to show us up,” Mitch said, already turning and striding towards the golden elevator doors.

I hurried after him, expecting the man to follow us but he stayed at his desk, his attention already turned back to the computer screen in front of him.

“Hate that guy,” Mitch muttered as he stabbed at the button. “Smarmy git.”

“You know him?” I asked quietly.

He hadn’t done anything that smarmy as far as I was aware. I mean, he was a little… condescending but basically fine.

“Do I just. That asshole has been working with Child Protection for almost as long as Betty has. I don’t know what it is about him but I hate him.”

I smirked and stepped into the lift.

“I get it,” I said, eyeing him as the doors closed. “I think it’s his smile.”

“Damn right. That boy looks like he could use a good punch in the face.”

I snorted at how accurate that description was before the elevator dinged lightly and the doors opened.

Anxiety started to churn within me again. What if Betty was mean or wanted to send me back home? Mitch had said that she was nice and that she’d get it but what if he was wrong?

The corridor on the other side of the doors was bright and cheerful, which immediately set me more at ease. The red carpet was plush but worn and the walls were covered in framed children’s drawings. Some were really bad, little more than scribbles, but they’d been framed nonetheless. The wide windows were open, letting in the bright morning sun, and a woman sat behind a desk facing us.

She looked up as we exited the lift, a joyous smile crossing her face.

“Mitch McHoughen. What a sight for sore eyes you are,” she called, leaning back and shaking her head, causing her curly blonde hair to bounce around her shoulders, before pushing away from her chair. “How long has it been? And there I was thinking you’d be dead in a ditch somewhere!”

They both laughed as they embraced warmly.

“More like you hoped!” he chuckled fondly. “Did Bets get my message? She knows I’m coming, right?”

“You mean your frantic message at three in the morning? Something along the lines of ‘I kidnapped a kid but ain’t that big a deal. I am gunna need your help though’? Yeah, judging by the state she was in this morning, she got that message,” the woman said, her voice brimming with laughter as she stepped away from Mitch and turned to me. “And this must be your little abductee! I’m Kelly, what’s your name, ducky?”

“Grace,” I said before feeling the need to quickly add, “and it wasn’t so much of an abduction. I did go with him willingly.”

Kelly chuckled and readjusted her bright blue blazer which had ridden up slightly when she’d hugged Mitch.

“Well, that is good to know at least. Alright, you can find her office, right, Mitch? Go on in, she’s been waiting for you,” she said, gesturing down the corridor.

I stepped forwards but Mitch hesitated.

“How’s she doing today? Is this a ‘one cup of coffee’ kinda morning or…” He trailed off, waiting for Kelly to jump in.

“Oh no, sweetie, she had two cups before she even got in this morning. And she’s waiting for another cup to be delivered.”

Mitch winced.

“Well, time to rip that band-aid right off, I guess?” he said, shrugging at me.

I looked back at him, completely at a loss for words, as Kelly went back to her desk, still laughing.

Mitch shot her one long glare before starting down the hall.

I trailed behind him worriedly, a million questions running through my head.

I wanted to ask him how he knew Kelly and Betty, how long he’d known them, and just everything else; but anxiety was stopping me from saying anything.

Mitch paused outside a door with a gold nameplate that simply said ‘Betty Smith’ before turning to me.

“Remember, kid, same logic here as when facing a poisonous snake or spider: they’re more scared of you than you are of them. Wait, maybe that doesn’t apply here, she ain't scared of anything. Eh, it’ll be fine. No sudden movements?” he suggested with another slightly helpless shrug.

“I can hear you out there,” a voice twanged through the door. “You better get yourself in here and explain the situation before I call the police on you again.”

Mitch’s lips twitched and he glanced at the door quickly.

“It was one time and mostly a misunderstanding. Betty!” he cried in a warm voice as he pushed the door open suddenly. “It’s been too long, you look great. Age has been kind to you.”

The dark-haired woman seated behind a grand but cluttered desk in the centre of the room narrowed her eyes at him.

She didn’t look at all like I’d expected her to. She was in jeans and a t-shirt with a brightly coloured blazer draped over the back of her chair. A brown folder was open in front of her but she closed it as we entered the room and pushed it to one side.

“Yeah, because I had the good sense to get out of the sun before it could damage my skin like it’s done to yours,” she said, leaning back in her chair and swirling the disposable coffee cup in her hand. “Now, why don’t you come in and explain yourself so I can help sort out this nightmare you’ve brought to my door? And, no, I’m not talking about you, darling. Why don’t you come in and take a seat? Can I get you anything? A drink, some food? Do you need a change of clothes?”

I looked back at her in confusion, not quite sure how to respond to her kindness.

“Umm… I’m good thanks,” I said awkwardly.

“Come sit down at least whilst Mitchell explains everything to me?” she asked, her voice hardening as she glanced at him again.

I crossed the room and sank into one of the surprisingly comfortable brown leather chairs in front of the desk. She smiled broadly at me before tapping on the phone on her desk.

“Kelly, could you bring in a selection of drinks and cereal bars?” she said into the phone then looked back at me. “I know you said you didn’t want anything but I’ve found it’s always better to have some food out in case you do get hungry.”

I smiled uncertainly at her.

“Sure thing,” Kelly said over the speaker.

“Great. Now, Mitch, sit down and start talking. What are you doing kidnapping people again?”