Chapter 2
The police dragged them away,
kicking and screaming all the way down.
Vanessa cursed my name,
swearing she would get her revenge.
Marcus remained silent,
his head bowed in sudden defeat.
I stayed on the floor,
holding the two trembling children close.
A female officer approached us,
her expression softening as she saw the boy.
He was severely malnourished,
his ribs showing through his torn shirt.
We need to get him to a hospital,
the officer said gently.
I nodded immediately,
knowing exactly where to take him.
St. Agnes Hospital was my second home,
and my colleagues would protect him.
I scooped the boy into my arms,
surprised by how incredibly light he felt.
Mia held onto my jacket,
refusing to let go of my side.
We walked out of the house,
ignoring the neighbors gathered on the lawns.
They whispered and pointed,
shocked by the scene unfolding before them.
I did not care about their opinions,
not anymore.
We climbed into the back of an ambulance,
the paramedic wrapping a warm blanket around the boy.
He looked up at me,
his large eyes filled with unshed tears.
What is your name,
I asked him softly.
He hesitated for a long moment,
glancing nervously at the open doors.
Leo,
he finally whispered.
It is a beautiful name,
I told him with a warm smile.
You are safe now, Leo,
nobody is going to lock you away again.
The ambulance doors closed,
shutting out the flashing police lights.
As we drove through the dark streets,
I gently examined the bruises on his arms.
They were in different stages of healing,
a clear sign of prolonged abuse.
Rage boiled in my veins,
hot and undeniable.
Vanessa and Marcus had lived in my home,
eating my food and spending my money.
All while keeping this innocent child,
locked away like a forgotten secret.
I silently vowed to destroy them,
to ensure they never saw daylight again.
When we arrived at the emergency room,
my supervisor Dr. Evans was waiting.
Elena,
he said in shock,
what on earth happened tonight.
I will explain everything later,
I promised him quickly.
Right now,
this little boy needs full bloodwork and fluids.
They whisked Leo away on a gurney,
Mia holding his hand until the very last second.
I sat in the waiting area,
my adrenaline slowly beginning to fade.
My hands shook violently,
the reality of the night crashing down on me.
A detective walked through the sliding doors,
holding a familiar manila folder.
It was Detective Harris,
the man I had sent my evidence to earlier.
You did good, Elena,
he said as he sat beside me.
We found the fake walls in the basement,
exactly where you said they would be.
I closed my eyes,
letting out a long and shaky breath.
Who is he,
I asked quietly.
Where did Marcus and Vanessa get a child.
Harris sighed heavily,
rubbing the back of his tired neck.
He is Marcus's nephew,
the son of his late sister.
She died in a car crash two years ago,
leaving behind a massive life insurance policy.
The money was placed in a trust for Leo,
but Marcus was named his legal guardian.
I felt sick to my stomach,
piecing the horrific puzzle together.
They hid him to steal the trust money,
I concluded with disgust.
Exactly,
Harris nodded grimly.
They declared him homeschooled,
and kept him locked out of sight.
If you hadn't noticed the missing food,
he might not have survived the winter.
I looked down at my hands,
thinking of Mia's secret acts of bravery.
She saved him,
May you like
I whispered proudly.
My brave little girl saved his life.
