by Carla Shaffer

Created on: October 06, 2009

The door to the bedroom creaked open and the light from the hall nearly blinded Lauren as she looked up. The dark form walking towards her was too small to be her Dad and too large to be her Mom. the house had been quite for hours and Lauren looked unafraid at the intruder in her room as she plead for God to let this be her last waking moment.

" You poor child!" the dark figure spoke in horror. Both of Laurens eyes were that blue/ purple color that comes from new bruises and her face had fresh cuts from her Dads knuckles. Lauren continued to stare at the person walking toward her with fear now showing on her pale thin face.Lauren was defenseless against another human because her hands and feet were hand cuffed to the old cast iron bed posts. The Person continued to move further into the room slowly inching toward as she felt her throat close over the screams that were trying to escape."It's okay child." the soothing voice spoke softly as he came close to the bed.Hal Maxwell was stunned at the deplorable conditions that this poor waif like child had been living in." Hi." he said as he pulled the old boards from the small window to let more light into the room. "I'm Hal.I'm here to help you." he said as he looked at the pot that had been placed below the hole that had been cut into the mattress the young girl was lying on. the excrement was over flowing onto the floor and the room smelled of feces and rotten flesh.

"Where's my Dad?" Lauren was able to croak from swollen and bruised lips she watched Hal warily. Lauren knew that if she left Daddy or Mama would find her and when they did she would get beaten worse than she had last night. She let herself think of the belts and whips that had been used on her and the welts were covered in dried blood.Mama had come in after Daddy had finished and used her fist to beat her in the face and stomach because they were going to have to move again and it was her fault. "I have to stay here mister because if I don't my Mama and Daddy will be real upset with me." she whispered through lips that began to crack and bleed as she spoke.

" Can you tell me your name child?" Hal asked as he slowly inched to the bed hoping to ease the fear in the little girls eyes.

"Lauren Timmons" the girl managed as she tried to lick her lips with a tongue so dry that it looked like sand paper.

"Well Lauren Timmons, this is your lucky day." Hal said with a sad smile." Your Mama and Daddy sent me here to get you." as he slowly bent over the foot

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