"Run, Ms. Cali, run!" Darren's high pitched squeal met my ears. His tiny legs were clutched around my waist. A cluster of kids dispersed into different directions, laughing and screaming in delight.

"My T-Rex is going to eat you!"

With a not-so-mighty roar and a wiggle of my stumpy dinosaur limbs I weaved my way through the tiny tables.

Darren refused to take a break between outbursts of contagious laughter. He pointed a chunky finger towards a hiding Valerie and Sadie.

"Get them!"

The two preschoolers popped out from behind the pink and cream play-kitchen like some sort of jack-in-a-box. They swivelled out from the protection of their shield and booked it across the room, hand in hand. Valerie gave a shriek and tugged Sadie along to go faster. With exaggerated movements I stomped around the classroom.

The game continued on with Darren grunting and yelling in an unknown language and me stomping about and letting out a pathetic roar every now and then. Pretty soon it was just the four of us playing while three other children, originally from another room, busied themselves on the carpet.

"No, no, don't eat us!" Valerie screeched once Darren and I had cornered them near the bookshelf. The two girls giggled and shrunk into each other, hands covering their faces as they laughed.

In one quick movement I swept the two of them up in my arms causing a release of uncontrollable shrieks and giggles.

"Nom, nom, nom!" I chanted in the best dinosaur-like grunt I could muster. Bringing my mouth close and chopping my teeth brought upon the most entertaining reaction. The duo kicked and laughed as I continued my attack.

"We got you! We won!" Darren announced as he made his way down my back. Bending down I made sure all three children made contact with the carpet safely.

"Can we play again?" Sadie wondered grabbing hold of my hand. Her teeth were on show and I couldn't help but smile back.

"I wanna ride the T-Rex this time!" Valerie's nest of curls were a mass of frizz after our little game.

"Okay, okay. After this T-Rex takes a quick cat-nap. Sound good?" Straightening myself out I continued to keep my hold on Sadie's hand. "Why don't we do something else for a little bit? Who wants to help me feed the fish?"

"Me!"

"Me!"

"I do!"

"That's what I thought." I laughed to myself as I watched the three little monsters race towards the aquarium set up near the arts and craft table.

Prepared to follow the children I turned, something emerging in my peripheral vision. From the corner of my eye I was able to see someone standing at the door of the classroom. Figuring Ally couldn't be back from cleaning the playground already I turned with a smile ready to greet whoever it was.

It wasn't a parent, or guardian like I'd been expecting. It was Lincoln Pierce.

The boy who fired me earlier that day. The only person in the world — besides my suffocating Aunt Becky — who I'd wished I'd never have to see again.

I probably looked like a fish out of water.

Correction. I definitely looked like a fish out of water, gaping and staring wide eyed at the boy who stood there.

Why in the world would Lincoln Pierce be standing in my daycare? How the hell did he even get in? Thoughts of the keypad security system at the front malfunctioning popped into my mind. Should I call for a lockdown?

"Can I help you?" I uttered in the most professional manner possible — even though my mind was screaming at me to run to the phone in the corner and tell Ally to hide the children.

Lincoln's gaze was piercing as he analyzed me from the half door, arms folded leisurely on top. His eyes searched the pale contours of my winter battered face. Someone wasn't expecting to see me.

When his lips parted I was prepared to hear his raspy voice tell me off. But his tongue never had a chance to form what he was about to say.

"Linky!"

Before I had a chance to process what was happening a pair of worn-out sneakers were pitter-pattering their way across the linoleum floor.

Lincoln was no longer bothered with my presence and disregarded me even being there. Instead he pushed the door open and caught a barreling Sadie, lifting her to the point of almost reaching the door frame.

"Hey Booger," Lincoln greeted after he situated the beaming little girl on his hip.

"I'm not a booger." Sadie huffed bringing her nose inches from Lincoln and giving him, what I'm assuming was meant to be, an intimidating glare.

"You're not? Are you sure?" The boy who I was sure ate nails for breakfast did the one thing I'd never thought I'd live to see. He lowered his head towards the blonde angel in his arms and rubbed their noses together.

Sadie giggled at Lincoln's antics and pushed at his chin with her tiny palms. My ex-student nipped at the tips of her fingers when she continued to push him away. The contagious high pitched giggles resounding around the classroom.

I was too busy watching Sadie to make sure she was all right to pay too much attention to Lincoln; who was smiling, by the way.

To be honest, it was a lot more beautiful than I thought it would be. His teeth were white and bright and straight. Something I wasn't expecting from the boy who never seemed to crack a grin unless it was one of malice. How could someone as evil as him contain a smile like that? Life just wasn't fair.

"Who's that?" Darren dared to step forward, scrutinizing Lincoln.

"This is my brother." Sadie explained while looking down at her friend.

"I'm taking her home today."

My eyes snapped back towards Lincoln. His gaze was steady, not giving forth anymore emotion. He was closed off again.

"Uhh-h... yeah. Okay." The suppose-to-be-functioning organ in my head short circuited. For a second I forgot about protocol. "Can I see some I.D.? Just to make sure you're authorized to pick her up."

His hand slid into his back pocket. His license was in my grasp seconds later and I scurried to the binder holding all the contact cards. I must have been in a state of horrible denial because even as I shuffled through the alphabetical pile I was sure I wasn't going to find Lincoln's name.

Landon.

Noah.

Livvy.

Sadie.

Yanking the cue card close enough to analyze I scanned over the given information.

Name: Mercedes Veronica DeLuca

DoB: December 7th, 2008

Mother: Amelia Pierce

Father: Lorenzo DeLuca

Adress: 66 Market Lane, Braybridge, Ontario

My eyes followed further down Mindy's impeccable handwriting. When I didn't find what I was searching for I flipped the rectangle over.

Authorized for Pick-up:

Amelia Pierce

Cordelia Fredrick

Lincoln Pierce

No way.

I'd been through the contact cards a hundred times before — most of the time out of sheer boredom. How did I never notice his name? I continued to blink at the same thirteen letters written there in blue ink. Lincoln Pierce was Sadie's brother.

Letting that fact sink in, I made my way back to Lincoln and Sadie who were now surrounded by every child left in my room. Sadie was showing off her brother. It was clear she was very fond of the boy who lashed out earlier that day.

Begrudgingly, I handed his license over.

"Ready to go Sadie?" His rough hand slipped the plastic piece of identification in his pocket without so much as glancing at me.

"Yup!" Never had I seen this little girl so happy.

Lincoln placed his sister down on her feet only to take her hand.

"Bye Ms. Cali, see you tomorrow!" Sadie said, peeking around the ajar door before Lincoln could shut it.

"Have a good night, Sadie."

She popped out of sight and Lincoln took the opportunity to put a barrier between him and I. Before the overexcited Sadie could drag him down the hall Lincoln gave me one last look. Not surprisingly, I didn't understand the meaning behind it.

I watched Lincoln and Sadie exit the building and weave through the parking lot, hand in hand.

Impatience ate at me for the rest of the time I was at work. I was so confused. How was she related to that?

The second I was off the clock and making my way through the desolate parking lot I dialled a string of numbers.

"Hello?" Ella answered on the first ring.

"You know that angel from the daycare I told you about?" I asked, "Yeah, we'll her brother's the son of Satan."