2. Taken

"Yes indeed, but not only children from troubled homes are selected. Most of them are but parents can sign their children up as well. If they think their child will be better off with... someone else." 

His words came out with hesitance and I knew now why. It finally clicked in my head. My parents had signed me up. I turned to my parents and pleaded, "Please father, mother I can do better, I promise. Don't let them take me!" I desperately yelled. 

My mother looked away and my father's face hardened more if that was even possible. "You had many chances Alice, but you disappoint your mother and me again and again. You are a disgrace to our family! You will be way better of with some other family." He spitted out. My own father and mother had just disowned me. I couldn't help but cry softly. I was indeed not good enough to meet up with their standers but I always had hoped that someday I would.

I looked down at my hands, too embarrassed to face Mr. Carter. He had just seen what a dumb lowlife I was. The room was for a moment filled with silence when Mr. Carter spoke up. "As you may have figured out by now, your parents signed you up and we are here to take you with us." No this couldn't happen. Not now. My brother was still away. I couldn't leave him. He was always there for me and he didn't care about my grades. He always helped me. He was the perfect son to my parents but the perfect brother to me. 

"No, please can't you wait for another week. My brother will be home by then, so I can say goodbye to him," I again pleaded but now at Mr. Carter. 

My brother had joined the army as an engineer and he was away on a mission. My parents were so proud of him when he told them the news. It was his first mission and never had an engineer of his expertise and his age gone on a mission. I always wanted to be my brother. He was deeply loved by my parents. I wanted, no craved for their love as well. But I never met with my brother's accomplishments. I couldn't even get straight A's on my report cards even though I spent every free hour I had on my schoolwork. I always worked so hard to only see a smile on my parent's faces.

He shook his head, "I'm sorry Alice but the papers have already been signed and as for now I'm your guardian." He stood up and readjusted his suit. "Please don't make it any more difficult and go with us without making a scene," he pleaded. I didn't react to his pleading. I just sat there. I was going to leave my home without saying goodbye to Alexander. 

I saw him walking up to me and softly grabbed my arm. The moment our bodies touched I acted. I snatched my arm away from him and tried to run. But he was way faster. He grabbed both my arms from behind and soon the other men assisted him with taking me outside. At both my arms was a muscled man who guided me towards the front door.

"Please father, mother! No, please! Don't let them take me! Please I'll do better!" I pleaded with my parents. The two persons who had raised me had just given me away. They didn't even look at me. They just let them take me. I wasn't good enough, but they were wrong. I can be what they want to be. I just had to try a little harder. I knew I could do it. I just had to show it to them. If only they hadn't sent me away.

I was dragged away and gently put in one of the black cars that stood in our driveway. The car door closed and with that, I would never see my home again. My parents didn't even look out of the window to see us leaving. I wanted to see their faces one more time but didn't get the chance to. I couldn't help but cry. I wanted my brother but he wasn't there. I saw how the city I grew up in left us behind and was met with empty landscapes. I let them take me. How a coward I was.