It wasn't long until everyone learned about the growing number of orphans all over Shady Brook. Some of them live in the alleys downtown. Others just run around, picking food from the stores. Those orphans are most likely to snare.

They get transported to the orphanage by Stephen O'Connor, the city inspector. The man's very swift on pursuing them, especially when he had a lunch break. Even that, several orphans are able to outrun him. Nonetheless, he said, "As long as orphans roam this town like gypsies, they will be captured."

Nadine, though reclusive as she is, kept a close eye. She doesn't have to leave the house at the same time. Nadine secretly witnessed O'Connor's captures day after day. The latest caught orphan is a young boy slightly younger than Nadine. O'Connor found him after the owner of the toy store alerted police for a stolen doll.

"The doll is for my sister," the toy thief cried as he was hauled into a van to the orphanage. In the middle of the struggle, the doll was dropped and abandoned by the grownups. Although Nadine let herself feel pity for the boy, she could not let herself be betrayed.

Every night, while everyone sleeps, she sneaks into the town for food. Although she avoids entering the markets, she collects scraps of food. The only exception was how Nadine took the abandoned ragdoll home that night. After a trip outside, she eats some of her scraps in her slightly burned room. As she goes to sleep, her mom's lullaby:

Gentle little bird, sing me a song. So sweet and oh, so dear. That I shall sing too. Until a new day comes and bids farewell. To the fading night.