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I walked into our neighborhood and approached hastily in the direction of Mrs Paula's house, I just needed Hazel right at this moment, her soft baby warmth would reassure me that everything was fine .

That we weren't discovered just yet.

I didn't like leaving Hazel with Mrs Paula but I didn't want to bring her with me to the grocery.

These days I always watched my back closely wherever I went and I don't want her to figure out there was anything wrong with me.

Seeing her was the only thing that always could manage to convince me that we were really safe.

I approached their front patio and knew something was wrong before I even stepped inside , I could hear Mrs Paula saying something in muffled sobbing and Shawn's voice promising her that he would find her.

Find who?

it couldn't be....

My palms began to get sweaty, even if I was walking in a ground filled with needles I don't think I would have noticed

I barged into their living room in panic, directing my fearful gaze from Shawn to Mrs Paula who was wiping her face with a handkerchief, her eyes swollen and red rimmed.

"what's wrong Mrs Paula?" my voice came out breathless and tiny, unrecognizable even to my own ears.

She looked up at me teary eyed and took a quick glance at her grandson before directing her gaze to me once more.

"I'm so sorry, I'm really sorry Grace. .i..d..didn't.." she managed out amidst fresh sobs.

The wheels were beginning to turn in my head but I refused to let myself believe that this was really happening..right now...

"Where is Hazel !"my voice came out rough with raw fear and panic

I searched around frantically with my gaze before directing it back on her and Shawn

"Where is she!"I repeated more stronger and forcefully this time .

Shawn came to clasp a hand over my shoulders but I shrugged it off, I knew that look In his eyes, I've seen it so many times whenever something went wrong with other people.

"We've been trying to find her since the last two hours, Grace I need you to just wait and....."

"What do you mean you can't find her!" I screamed

Mrs Paula was full-blown crying right now and panicked but so was I , panic couldn't any where describe how I was feeling right now.

"I swear to God she was just playing right outside and I was keeping an eye on her I only just went inside for only about a minute and when I came out...She...She wasn't there anymore...I searched everywhere but she was....Just gon.."

"What do you mean gone?I left her with you right?You said you were going to watch her!so why weren't you!"my voice rose with each word

"Grace calm down.." Shawn began but I didn't let him.

"I won't calm down!My daughter has been missing for two whole hours and you're telling me to calm down!oh god!Where could she be?" I sobbed.

I couldn't believe...I refused to believe that he...

"Don't worry we'll find her for sure,you can't file a case as its not been twenty four hours yet, but I'll help you in every way I can " he promised

I didn't want a promise, I just wanted to find Hazel

He shook his head his gaze sympathetic as he made his way over to produce a white looking...

"She'd been playing with this according to what grandmother says "