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"If you are going to run away froave them a false one, it would take the police several days to identify who he is"

"So we are going to the shelter," I said, putting the pieces together "Just in case"

"We want to get to hiain"

"But once he's in the system, won't they hold on to him? We tried to leave ht us back They said if we tried again we'd go to juvenile court"

"They were scaring you," Raven said "They don't have time to chase runaways all over They have too "

Marc twisted his hands at the wheel again, and then sped up well over the speed liot picked up and didn't talk to the police and lied about his naure out where to put him That is, he’ll be there until he can find a way to leave”

"He can leave?"

"You can't keep a kid still if he really wants to leave You of anyone should know that"

I ignored the last part "How do you know all this about shelters?"

Marc pursed his lips, turning to look out the sideThe intersection he stopped at was dark and he looked like he wasn't sure which way to go Hea street that looked run doith trees on either side and potholes in the asphalt "Because I ran away a lot as a kid I've been through the system Several times"

He did see outside to see where ere headed

The potholes were plentiful and deep The truck careened forward and I grabbed onto both Marc and Raven before s my head into the dashboard The lane was small, like it only fit one car at a time, so there was no way to avoid the bumpy ride

A house sat at the end of the lane, surrounded by thick trees It ide, one story and brick with a circular gravel driveway Marc stopped the truck close to the entrance and shut off the engine The house had shuttered s, bushes pruned until they were almost sticks with a few dried leaves still attached "This looks like soovernment run shelter felt like it should beI wasn’t sure what I’d been expecting at the word shelter, but this wasn’t anywhere close to what I would have dreamed up

"Yup," Marc said He opened the car door, hopping out and reaching a hand out for me "Raven, stay here No offense but one look at you and they’re going to have their guard up"

"Just hurry," he said He slid over, taking up position behind the wheel

Gravel crunched under ave off a forgotten feel Don’t look at us Nothing to see here

We stood on the tiny concrete porch Marc pushed the doorbell

"Let me talk to her," he said

“To who?”

The door rattled as locks were being undone then cracked open just enough to reveal a shadowy figure behind a still-linked chain The woman was older, rinkles around her eyes and mouth Her blond hair was pulled back sharply and her eyes were critical

"Who are you?" she asked in a tense voice

"Mary," he said "It's Marc"

She tilted her head to the side, like she was trying to get a better angle "Marc Weiland? What are you doing here?"

"Sorry to just show up like this," he said quietly "We're looking for someone"

"Hang on" She shut the door and released the chain and opened it again, stepping back to give us room She reached over beside the door and flicked a switch

Harsh florescent lights shone in the nearly empty hallway The tiles were utilitarian, like what you’d expect in a hospital or a school Walls were bare except for a security keypad beside the door There was a single bench, a door to the right and the end of the hall extended to the right and left, not revealing anything else about the interior It was surreal that, like the outside, while poorly illuular, everyday house and the first step inside had the feeling of an institution

Mary’s wrinkles extended to her neck and her hands were bony She had a sht-colored sweater She turned to Marc after she shut the door "Who in heaven's naht

"Did anyone ne up here in the last few days?" Marc asked "A guy, allasses?"

"We've had an influx of kids," she said "Some left and others"

"Do you still take Polaroids of the intakes?" he asked

"I've got a digital camera now," she said "Come on"

They headed to the offi

ce I lingered in the foyer for a h the walls, I would see the rest of this house I wanted to, because if Wil was here, I wanted to get to hiht to a place like this Mary seemed nice, but it still felt like a cold institution Did anyone actually live here?

As if in answer to irl popped her head out froirl with apple cheeks and rows of short braids along her head Her eyes were big and she stared at me

I did a short two finger wave

She continued to stare

“You lost?” I asked quietly

Her stare continued, and I got the feeling she wasn’t curious aboutfor Mary Maybe she wasn’t allowed to come down the hallway

I pointed to the door where Mary was “She’s in there You want et her for you?”

Still the silent stare continued

“Kayli,” Marc reappeared in the doorway He gestured to come in

I pointed toward the girl “I think Mary is being requested elsewhere,” I said

Marc peered down the hallway at the little girl He squinted at her and then leaned back into the office “Mary, you’ve got a straggler”

Mary e behind the corner Mary shook her head “Go ahead into the office,” she said, encouraging me “I left the pictures on the desk I’ll see what she needs” She walked down the hallway, disappearing after the girl There werethe young girl to be patient and wait and not to go down the hall unless it was an eency

I joined Marc inside the small office It, too, was very sparsely furnished A sile computer on it There was a file cabinet, and a chair in front of the desk The walls were dingy and bare