II

                                    

                                          
The boy takes me back to his house, a place called Ashdene Ridge. On a first glance it looks like an actual palace compared to my mother's tiny flat. "Come in. Mike's really nice, I promise" I nod and follow him in nervous. 
"Tyler, who is this? You know our rule about visitors" I frown not sure who this guy talking to Tyler is. "Please Mike. She was sitting in the cold. I think she's a runaway or something" I look at the floor. "Alright she can stay the night BUT I will have to call social in the morning. Right, what's your name?" I swallow anxiously glancing at Mike. "Charlotte Lucy Taylor, sir" Mike nods and shows me to the kitchen. 
"Why don't you sit next to Tee? I promise she is very nice and gentle" I nod and do as I am told. Tee smiles at me before handing a plate of food. "I'm Tee. What's your name?"                                         "Charlotte. What is this place?"
"It's a care home but I promise it's not like the ones on the news. Everyone is really sweet and we all look after each other" I nod and begin wolfing my food down, absolutely ravenous. "Wow. Do your parents not feed you or something?" Tyler asks shocked. "Well Keith doesn't like me to eat. Says I don't deserve it." Tee frowns and looks at Mike raising an eyebrow, almost as if relaying a secret message. He shrugs in reply. "Charlotte who is Keith?" I gulp in fear and bite my lip. "Well, he's my stepfather. My mother tries to slip me food but he always finds out" 
After dinner, Mike pulls me into the office with another care worker called May-Li and sits me down. "Okay we obviously need to let your mother know where you are. No doubt she is worried sick about you" May-Li says gently. I nod. "Her name is Lucy Taylor. Her phone number is 07987654399" May-Li and Mike share a look and nod at each other. "On second thoughts we are going to hold off on that idea for now. Just until we speak to social okay? You will be sharing with Tee tonight if that is okay?" I nod confused.