Page 55 of My best friends little sister

I lean against the wall as Ivan deals with business, taking a long drag of my cigarette i scan the area. Theres an old playground beside me, clearly rundown and barely in use. The place is completely empty and a creaking sound fills the air from the swing slowly swaying in the wind.

I thought it was empty. I didn't see any sign of anyone, not until i saw a bundle of light brown curls sitting curled up on the floor.

I look back towards the building Ivan is in and then towards the girl again.

She looked sad? I couldn't see her face all i could see was her body laying on the ground, her arms hugging her knees to her chest.

I panic a little, wondering if shes even alive. Thats just what i needed. To see the body of a little girl in the middle of an abandoned playground.

Sighing, i toss my cigarette to the floor and step on it to put it out.

I make my way to the gate looking behind me to make sure Ivan was still inside.

I walk into the playground and slowly make my way towards her.

She doesnt move, doesnt look up at me, not until my foot crunches a little piece of wood.

Suddenly her head shoots up, eyes wide with fear. She backs away from me as her body trembles but seems to relax after a second.

I study her. Shes a little girl, no older than maybe 10?

She has long light brown curly hair, so long like its never been cut before.

As i study her closer i grow concerned. Her clothes are torn and covered in blood.

Her arms are bruised, specifically around the wrists.

Her face is swollen on one side and her eye looks like its forming a shiner.

Her hair looks matted badly and her skin is dirty. She looks tiny too, like she hasn't eaten in weeks. I cant help but stare as she sits on the floor with her eyes scrunched shut like shes preparing for something.

I slowly sit beside her, far enough so i dont scare her but close enough that she can hear me talk. ''Are you okay?'' is all i can bring myself to ask. I dont know how to comfort people, especially kids. Why am i even here? I dont care about this kid.

But yet seeing her sat here, in an abandoned playground, at night in the freezing cold makes me care. She doesnt respond to my question. She just stares straight at me like shes waiting for me to do something.

I sigh and bring my hand to my hair but as soon as i raise it she flinches and cowers back, moving herself further away from me. I instantly lower my hand back to my lap. ''I'm not going to hurt you'' i whisper, desperately trying to calm her down.

She just nods slightly but doesnt look convinced. ''Whats your name?'' again she doesnt respond. I dont know what to do. I cant just get up and walk away. Its clear she needs help.

I reach into my pocket and pull out something I remembered i had, something Ivan gave me in the car ride over here. A Twinkie. Her eyes widen as i pull it out my pocket and i place it down in front of me, softly nudging it towards her.

''You look hungry. Take it'' she hesitates, keeping her arms firmly locked around her bruised knees. I nudge it closer to her and bring my knees up so I'm sat in a similar position.

After a little bit she seems to realise I'm not going to take it away from her and picks it up, unwrapping it and taking a small bite. ''T-thank you''

Her voice is a low whisper but it was enough for me to hear it. She does talk. I just nod in response and try and give her a small smile, something i haven't done for years.

''Were you crying?'' i ask referring to when she was laying on the floor curled up. She nods and takes another bite of the Twinkie. ''Why?''

I dont know why I'm asking so much. I dont even know why I'm sat here but i feel like i need to be. Like i need to help her. You dont know her Dante, shes not your problem. Just get up and walk away.

But i dont. I stay sat next to her saying nothing. She doesnt answer my question and i look over to see her slowly eating her Twinkie, like shes savouring it. I scan her body again. She looks so beaten and thin its heart breaking. ''My name is Dan'' i say not looking at her.

''Whats your name?'' i look at her this time and she stops eating. She shrugs and looks down at the floor. She doesnt know her name?

''how old are you?'' she shrugs again. I dont know if she just doesnt want to talk to me because I'm a stranger, or if she really doesnt know. I just nod and look back ahead of me. ''Well, I'm 16''

We sit in silence for a few more minutes as i wait for Ivan to come back out, also wondering what on earth i do with this girl. I dont think i can just leave her here. She doesnt know her name? Does she even have a family? Or a home? Has she been living in this playground?

I scan her once more, taking in all of her features and storing them in my brain just in case i need to go to the police.

Her body trembles as she finishes the last of her Twinkie.

She looks so cold. I dont think before my actions and suddenly I'm pulling my jacket off and wrapping it around her to keep her warm.

She looks shocked but gives me a sad smile in return. We sit in silence for a few more minutes. Come on Ivan, how long does it fucking take to get our money, kill the guy and then leave?

I turn my attention back to the girl who's name i still dont know. She looks a little more relaxed, just sitting there peacefully with her knees to her chest.

''Did somebody hurt you?'' i ask without thinking. Instantly, shes tense again. Her eyes go wide and her body goes rigid in place. She looks fucking terrified. Before i can say anything else i hear a mans voice from across the street.

''WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU? YOU LITTLE BITCH!''

The girls head whips around at the mans shouting and within a second shes on her feet, swaying slightly. I stand too and grab her to hold her still so she doesnt topple over.

''I-i need to go'' she says hurriedly as she takes off my jacket. ''Wait hold on! Let me help you'' i can feel the panic deep in my chest knowing shes leaving to go in that house. The house where the man was shouting.

She shakes her head violently as tears stream down her face. ''You cant help me'' she whispers and then suddenly shes gone, running across the street and into the house. Before i can run after her, or look inside the house to see whats going on, Ivan comes out with a sack.

He looks at me confused, probably wondering why the fuck I'm in a playground.

''Yo Dante! You good? Lets go'' he shouts as he walks towards my car, stopping at the passenger side.

''Uh, yea. Yea sure lets go'' and i walk over to him before getting in the drivers seat and leaving the playground.

Leaving the little girl behind and forgetting all about her.

I jolt awake. My body covered in sweat and my brain fuzzy. Holy shit what the fuck just happened?

I feel dazed and confused. Like someone just hit me over the head with a mallet like those fucking cartoons. I look down beside me and see angelica fast asleep cuddled up to the side of my chest.

Good thing she wasn't sleeping on top of me like she normally does. I probably would have flung her off the bed from jumping awake like that.

I grab my phone from my nightstand and check the time. 6:47. God, thats earlier than id have liked to wake up today. Groaning, i roll out of bed trying carefully to not wake angel.

I head downstairs to see Mateo making fresh coffee.

Thank god. I'm still mad at his suggestion last night but right now, i really need to talk to him.

''Morning Mateo'' i say as i walk over to the coffee pot.

He looks at me shocked, like he expected me to ignore him like i did yesterday.