One night I silently watched my Ise play with the rag dolls. After her fall, her behavior changed towards her high school friends. A good part had bicycles, but as a father I always took her by car, however, she showed happiness, but she was distant and quiet.

Sometimes it's necessary to give them the space and time they need, who knows, if she gets back on the bike? However, she needed to take this action for herself.

** 2001 - Texas **

- ... I can't do it anymore, I need to rest - Jennifer said, staggering back a few steps.

"We need to continue." Clara took her companion's hand.

Sweat ran down their wet faces.

Jennifer bent over, coughing, and her labored breathing was the sign that her strength was running out.

"I can't do it anymore," she said, her eyes shining, tearing up when the low light of the night touched her.

Jennifer's purple lips took in the icy forest air.

Clara looked around; the sad aspect of the gray sky, and the dark tone that covered the spaces between the trees bringing the night, started to frighten her. The terrible urge to cry was intense, and at any moment those feelings of fear and despair would explode. She tried to focus on good thoughts; she was far from the Drakes' clutches and with her mate who needed rest.

"Let's stop for a while," Clara said, sitting next to her exhausted friend.

-Let me see your hand-Jeniffer held her hand looking at the wound painted by the blood smeared on her hand.

She could barely feel her hand, realizing that it had gained volume and color in a reddish tone.

"It hurts a lot..." Clara said.

Jennifer leaned her head on her friend's shoulder, closing her eyes, so that Clara felt her body tremble for a few seconds, and when she laid her head on top of hers, she realized that she was hot.

"I can see Daddy now..." Jennifer said, wiping her battered nose with the sleeve of her blouse.

- What's he like?

Jennifer let out a few coughs, then continued:

-He has hair like mine, eyes too-his body trembled again-And he wears a very nice outfit…- She paused-How is yours?

Clara looked at the sky, the gray tones were lost, but between some clouds, beams of brightness announced the presence of the moon hidden in the sky.

- He has long black hair, he wears a beard, and his smile is like mine. -Clara looked at her friend; she was sleeping, feeling her body light.

Her eyes also closed, and her friend's quiet breathing was the sound that prevailed in her ears.

Night came with light and silent steps, she didn't want to wake them up. However, one of the branches cracked, waking Clara from her sleep.

Her gaze searched every corner of the surrounding trees, until she found a light coming from the middle of the woods, right from the path they had taken.

Clara shook her friend:

-Wake up Jennifer - she whispered - Please wake up.

But girl didn't show any signs, as if she was in a deep sleep, only her breathing became heavy.

Clara looked around, looking for a way out. But her heart sank as she returned to her friend. She couldn't leave it there; the Drakes would be arriving shortly.

-Please Daddy, help Jennifer ...-she said, closing her eyes.

And everything was silent again, until that heavy voice cuts through it, making its way to Clara's ears:

- Well well well...

The strong light fell on both of them, blinding the girl's eyes.

- I knew you wouldn't get very far.

Clara got up meeting that gaze in the darkness.

The thin silhouette of the man took the front, terrifying all his limbs, it was already too late to flee, taking a step back; off balance going to the floor.

- Got you - Long fingers wrapped around Clara's arms.

They wouldn't give up easily, so his small hands slammed into the man's body violently as he screamed. But he didn't feel anything, even though she put all her strength into it until she realized it was useless.

- Finished?!!! - shouted the man making his heart race.

She returned her gaze to her unconscious friend, over some dry leaves and dirt.

- Dad !!! - shouted Clara - Help us....

- What a daddy what a girl - Leona said with the flashlight in her hands - There's no one here but us.

Leona took Clara by the arm, and Jack took Jennifer who was unconscious.

- Shut your mouth...

"Leona, you said you wouldn't do something mean to girls…" Jack scolded, casting a glance at his wife.

-I know what I said, but they took Leona seriously, today ...-he justified, lighting the way back.

Clara didn't make it easy, holding the branches where they passed, pressing her feet against the path, however, Leona stood firm, until she discovered the wound in the girl's hand.

- If you don't stop, Leona will squeeze the bruise...

- Leona?! - Jack interfered.

- She doesn't want to be quiet; what does she want me to do? - muttered the woman.

Arriving at the farm, they entered the house and Jack left the girl on the couch. Quickly, he grabbed Clara's arm.

- Leona, the girl is not well, we need to take her to the doctor.

- So they can find us? - Leona held Clara's wrist and squeezed making the pain scream.

Clara let out a groan.

- Let the girl go - Jack said with an angry voice - It's hurting her.

- She deserved much more, after dropping that board on me, both in fact - he corrected letting go of Clara.

Jack remained with his fingers wrapped around the girl's arm. With the other she spread the few hairs on her head:

-We need to take her too, if she won't get infected.

Leona directed those huge eyes on the girl:

-Leona will clean the wound, anything we'll cut her hand, since she won't need both.

Clara widened her eyes, fearing:

- You witch!!! - shouted

Leona held up her hand, but Jack held it, giving her the same indescribable look:

- Punishment yes, hurt no...

- All right... But she's going to the punishment room today...

Leona dragged Clara up the stairs, through the bedroom, until she reached the door at the end of the hall. From the bunch of keys she chose one of the most worn, with mere details different from the others. As he turned it in the lock, the initials, similar to the one on the door, on the surface of the worn metal, almost imperceptibly highlighted the light in the hallway.

The structure of the room was completely different from the others.

Colorful lights woke up happily around the space until they found themselves around the old mirror; similar to the homes she watched through the window of the orphanage. Below the mirror was a rough, dusty desk where Leona had dragged the girl.

As the enraged woman searched the gilded metal drawer for something, Clara searched every corner of that space with her gaze.

Crumpled dresses, however, reminiscent of those of the princesses in the book she read with the young Medellin, expressed themselves among the small spaces of the wardrobe. More and more paintings on the wall, and a carpet made from the fur of a huge bear in its hibernation period.

- Sit down girl - Leona said indicating the bed across the middle of the room.

Clara obeyed, drawing her knees together as her feet glided through the air a few inches off the ground.

Leona took old rags from the drawer and some alcohol.

- Leona hates children...

While the woman conveyed her hidden hatred, in every word, which Clara necessarily ignored, directing her gaze to the immense amount of hats hanging on a rack next to the desk. Until the book with a brown cover and gold strokes caught her eyes, on top of the cabinet.

The photo.

Was it her real mother in that photo? What connection did that strange couple have with her? Why would her mother leave her at the orphanage?

Answers that she might come with over time throughout the story.

Leona tightened the rags around her fragile hand, causing her to moan again. She stood up, entering the girl's field of vision, beside the room's only window, grabbed her oak cane, then grabbed Clara with her free hand and dragged her out of the room.

The lights dispersed along with her gaze after the woman closed the door, turning the key in the lock again, latching.

Her wicked gaze glared at her. Her fingers dangled the key ring aloft, producing the jingle of keys coldly touching each other.

-You must imagine where you're going now, girl - she said holding the key ring now with her left hand along with her cane.

Clara took a few steps back, enough to distance herself. She descended the stairs, while the rattle of keys rang in her mind. She hurried across the room. Her feet dragged the carpet off balance, but not enough for her to fall over. She pushed open the door until she froze as she saw Jack standing in front of the truck, settling her friend unconscious on the seat. Her gaze found her, and then came striding toward her.

Clara descended the steps, but his long arms held the girl's shirt.

- That's enough Clara! – shouted the man, finally letting his anger at her show.

"Let go of me..." he shouted as his feet slipped on the grass.

Leona caught up with them:

- It's no use running girl, from here you won't leave anymore...

His firm fingers gripped the girl's arm, squeezing, and again the contest of strength between her and Clara. Jack let go of the girl's shirt.

- Leona as a good mother, and Jack as a father will give you a punishment, as every naughty child deserves.

- Let me go you witch!!! - Clara resisted.

Now her motionless feet glided toward the path where Leona was leading her.

Jack looked at the motionless scene beside the car.

- When daddy is not you will learn to respect me.

Leona opened the wooden room, holding Clara's arm tightly.

- Dad!!! - shouted Clara to the sides.

-Jack won't come rescue her-she said throwing the girl into the dark room.

Clara got up quickly, and tried to get past the woman, but she didn't have enough strength. She was pushed back into the dark room.

- You will stay there until we return with your sister.

Leona closed the door, and she heard the rattle of chains mingling with the cold sound of the key ring; touched her soul.

- Dad!!! -she kept yelling at the door. - Let me out, please!!!

The few lights came in through the cracks in the wood... And everything was silent.

-Let me out-she knocked for the last time on the door.

Tears streamed down her hot face, and fear ran through her entire body. Turning to empty darkness, she felt the wood of the door at her back, slipping until she sat on the hard floor.

She closed her eyes trying to calm down, but the fear of that place, of the Drakes, of Jennifer's health situation drowned her hopes, taking her deeper and deeper until she couldn't breathe.

"I'm scared," she said, closing her eyes as her body trembled, and her fingers gripped the small pendant.

Time moved in light steps, and the night chill touched her skin like a blanket of ice.

Hours and hours passed before she heard the noise of a car arriving at the farm.

It could be them or maybe a neighbor. It was the chance to scream for help:

- Please !!! -she started screaming, coming back to knock on the door with force-Help!!!

A short time later, footsteps towards the little room appeared, but Jack and Leona's voice came through the crack in the door:

- It's better not to say anything to her...

- She's to blame for all this...

The sound of the chain opening was the reason Clara walked away from the door. Those effervescent black eyes fixed on her:

"It's all your girl's fault!" Leona shouted.

"See what you're going to say," Jack interfered with the same look.

Clara stared at the door, wondering what happened.

- Don't you miss anyone girl?

Jack ran his hands over his head as he glanced at Leona.

- Where's Jennifer? - Her voice faltered.

- Do you know what happened to your little friend? - The woman took a step into the room - Your little friend no longer belongs to this world...

Clara let out a sigh:

-It's your lie - she replied, building up a little courage.

- She was very sick, and you had the brilliant idea to run away in cold weather like this... - Leona held Clara's chin - This is all your fault...

"That's enough Leona," Jack shouted.

"I don't believe it." Clara tried to keep her gaze fixed on the woman.

- Do not believe me? - She smiled mischievously - Ask Dad...

She looked at Jack looking for some sign on his face that disapproved of that lying woman's words, her only response was to look away from a guilty and tormented look.

- See? - Leona turned her back leaving the room - It's all your fault, can you live with it?

The words became difficult to digest, mulling over her thoughts as Leona closed the bedroom door.

-It's not true...-she said to herself, as she sat down on the floor.

She took the pendant off her neck, and threw it as far away as possible, hearing only the sound of it hitting the wood.

She buried her face in her arms and her soul released the pain stored in every tear she drew on her face.

As much as she felt fear, the hatred and regret became greater towards herself. Guilt crushed her heart to pieces, leaving it lying on the wooden floor like shattered glass.

And on that cold, rainy night, her hope was cast into the deepest depths of the sea, like stone sinking deeper and deeper.

...

Now you know what happened to little Clara and Jennifer after the rainy day.

Perhaps you are wondering; why that?

We don't know how things happen, let alone why. But the Father knows... So I encourage you to continue to trust Him even if our world crumbles to stone...

I can say that the beginning is just one piece out of the puzzle I used to put together with my daughter, and when all the pieces come together, the figure will be complete.

At this point it just takes time and patience...