Adopted by JLaw

Prologue

Ella POV

I sit up in my bed, making sure I'm careful to not bang my head against the top bunk like usual. It's still very dark in here.

I check the time on my digital watch - it's 5:28am. I've woken up just in time.

I swing my legs out of my bed, and carefully slide my feet into my old, worn out trainers. I grab my bag from under my bunk, and rise out into the aisle of bunk-beds. This room has 20 14-15 year old girls in it. All in bunks that are in rows across the wooden floor.

This orphanage is so full up, I'm sure it's illegal. We have 6 carers - 1 for each age group. Marie cares for my age group, and she is HORRIBLE. Part of the reason I want to escape.

I tip-toe to the end of the room, where the light shines through the crack in the door. I push the handle down, and slowly open the door. It usually squeaks, but I made sure to sneak into the cleaners closet last night and grab some oil for the hinges.

I creep into the hall, it's lit up by the lights above me. It's like a hospital hallway- brightly lit, except it's not as clean as a hospital. There is dust everywhere.

I make it to the end of the hall, passing a couple of rooms that are full of the younger children. Now I have to try and get down these stairs without Steven hearing (he's been scheduled for night watch tonight). His office is at the bottom of the stairs, but I chose to try and escape when Steven is on watch because he usually falls asleep by 4:30. 

I take the first step towards my freedom. An almost silent creaking sound escapes from beneath my feet. Several more steps are taken, and I can now see the silhouette of Steven sitting at his desk. His head is tilted backwards, he must be asleep as planned. I take a few more steps, the creaks in the wooden stairs getting louder and louder. I take a breath before stepping down onto the 3rd step... Just 2 more steps now Ella, I tell myself. I creep down and reach the bottom. 

I sigh with relief and look up at the ceiling, closing my eyes as I do so. "Thank you, Lord," I whisper silently before dropping my head back down.

Steven is directly in front of me. A quiet snore leaves his body, he's asleep. I turn right and begin to make my way through the final corridor. This part of the escape will be the easiest, nobody will be down here to catch me.

I can see the big, dark door in front of me. Its usually a daunting, and scary door to approach. However, for the past few weeks it is all I have been dreaming about. To finally touch the brass door handle and to twist it open to my victorious escape, this door is no longer scary at all. This door is my way to freedom.

I close the door as subtly as I can, before making a dash to the front gate. I keep running through the empty streets. Its eerie and cold, but my only aim right now is to keep going. I must get as far as possible if I want this plan to work.

I must have been running for a good half an hour before I stop at a diner on the side of a very busy road. Im possibly 2 miles away from the orphanage now. I decide its time for a glass of water and something to eat before I set off again.

I enter the empty diner, and sit down at a booth that's placed on the outside of the restaurant. It is completely empty in here, except for the two workers behind the bar. One looks ancient, she's probably been working here for the last 50 years of her life. She has grey - almost white - hair and its tied up in a short ponytail at the back of her head. She looks very tired and haggard, her eyes puffy and wrinkly. On the other hand is the second worker, she is young. Probably only a year or two older than me. She must be in school still, maybe she is a Junior or possibly a Senior. This must be a job she has taken up outside of school hours. She has dark, glowing skin, and her hair is well-styled.