Light in the Dark

Chapter 8: Red (#F88379)

"Do you remember how you got on the street?" Nurse Rose attempted. 

"Car..." Kaela spoke. 

"Car? A car dropped you off?" Tricia inferred. Kaela nodded. 

"Can you remember what car it was?" Nurse Rose pressed further. Kaela shook her head. 

"Was it your Mama and Papa?" Tricia asked. Kaela shook her head again. 

"You don't know them?" Nurse Rose frowned. Kaela nodded. 

"Did they do this to you?" Tricia had discovered the bruises on Kaela's arms and legs. 

"I don't want to go back..." Kaela's eyes welled up. 

"It's okay, sweetie..." Tricia wasn't prepared for the outburst but still wrapped Kaela in her arms, calming the crying girl down. 

"I'll call the police and see what they can do." Nurse Rose informed Tricia before leaving. 

"You'll be safe here, sweetie. I promise." Tricia assured the girl. 

"Nurse Rose, you called about a lost child?" Jayden and Alex were at the hospital within 15 minutes. 

"I did...but since when were you in charge of lost children?" Nurse Rose was surprised to see them.

"Long story but this child may be a clue in one of our current cases...Mind if we talk to her?" Jayden couldn't divulge too much at this point. 

"Dr Tricia is with her. Come..." Nurse Rose led the way.

"These policemen are going to take good care of you, Kaela..." Tricia introduced Jayden and Alex to the frightened girl.

"No...Don't go..." Kaela held onto Tricia's sleeve.

"Hi, I'm Alex..." Alex bent down to say hi but it made Kaela even more scared. 

"Kaela...do you want to see something cool?" Jayden kept his distance so as to not scare Kaela. 

"Candy!" Kaela broke into a smile when Jayden performed a 'magic trick' and had a lollipop appear behind Kaela's ear. 

"Hi, my name's Jayden. Do you mind if I ask you some questions while you enjoy your candy?" Jayden tried broaching the topic now that Kaela's guard was lowered. The girl nodded as she sucked on the lollipop.

"Do you remember who dropped you off on the road?" Jayden asked. 

"Scary men..." Kaela's lips quivered. 

"Do you remember how the scary men look?" Jayden pressed. Kaela shook her head. 

"Where were you before that?" Jayden followed up. 

"I don't know..." Kaela shrugged. 

"Were there other people with you?" Jayden waited patiently for Kaela's answer.

"Friends..." Kaela nodded. 

"Friends? What do you mean by friends?" Jayden gave Alex a glance and the latter started recording the conversation. 

"Jack...Lily...Anna..." Kaela replied as she counted with her fingers. 

"Are they the same age as you?" Jayden was getting closer. 

"Jack is 10...Lily and Anna are 8...and baby is 1..." Kaela bit her lips. 

"Baby? There was also a baby there?" Jayden was taken aback. Kaela nodded. 

"Did they do this to you?" Jayden pointed to the bruises on Kaela.

"Jack got hit more...There was blood..." Kaela started crying at the memory.