Ben awoke as the late morning sun drifted through the curtains. He heard no noises. Teddy was curled up next to him, sleeping peacefully. Ben got up slowly, as not to wake Teddy. Teddy stirred a little, lift his head up and when he realised it was only Ben, he went back to his dreamy slumber. Ben tiptoed to the kitchen where he could hear a soft sound. It sounded like sniffling. As he peered into the kitchen, he spied Edna, weeping quietly to herself. He walked over.
"What's wrong grandma?" He asked gently.
"Oh Ben," she said surprised, she looked up, "I didn't see you there. There's nothing wrong my dear little boy. Nothing at all. Now, I'm going to make breakfast for you." Edna tried to look happy but Ben saw through her act.
"You're not ok Grandma. Mummy was like that when Daddy was gone. What happened?" He pressed.
"Oh Ben...oh Ben oh Ben," she repeated lovingly, "It's just, we haven't paid the rent and they are going to make us move out if we don't I need to sell a few things to get more money and Ben? I don't think I could support you anymore..." A tear tumbled down her cheek.
"What do you mean? Am I annoying?" Asked Ben, sadly.
"NO no no no. That's not what I meant. I meant, I can't support you as in, I can't pay to keep you here or for your food and all." Edna clarified.
"Oh." Ben coughed. Tears started to form in his eyes but he angrily pushed them away. He looked up at Edna and nodded.
"I'll go pack Mrs Edna." He said solemnly. Edna burst into tears.
"Ben, please, still call me Grandma..." She begged. Ben walked out stiffly. He put all the things he had collected since living with Edna but then wondered if she actually wanted him to keep them. Edna came over to the room. She watched Ben pack up wordlessly. She didn't ask him to give all the things she had bought for him back. Teddy finally decided to wake up and trotted up to Ben. He wondered why Ben was packing. He could feel, uneasiness, sadness and fear coming from Ben. His emotions were mixed. Teddy rubbed himself against the boy to comfort him.

"I'm so sorry Ben. I could call the orphanage for you. That's what I should do. They'll take good care of you. They will." Edna suggested.
"No thank you Mrs Edna." Ben said firmly.
"But Ben. You can't go living out in the streets..." Edna said worriedly.
"Yes I can. Don't call the cops or the orphanage." Ben begged.

"A child like you can't be wandering the streets alone." Edna said firmly.
"Don't call anyone." Ben said darkly, starting to panic. Edn sighed and handed him a bag.
"What's this?" asked Ben whilst opening the bag. Inside he found a big water bottle filled with hot, steaming hot chocolate. A whole loaf of bread with ham, cheese and salad inside, a few fruits, some healthy bars, a packet of dog biscuits, 15 pounds, and a box of ham. Ben smiled.

"Thank you." He said gratefully. Edna gave him a weak smile.
"You can stay for a while. It's snowing out. Only leave when it's better and... I might call the cops.." Edna said gently. Ben nodded and went back to sit on the couch. He had no intention of waiting till the snow stopped. He snatched a pen and paper and started writing. He poured his heart out about how much he appreciated all Edna had done for him then open the window and pushed it open. He heard the floor creak behind him. Timothy stood there, watching him.
"Hi Timothy." Ben said nervously. Timothy didn't answer.
"Please don't tell Mrs Edna. I've gotta go. I can't let the orphanage take me. Never." Ben told Timothy. Timothy nodded.
"I know." He said before advancing on Ben and pushing an object into his hand. Ben smiled warmly and climbed out of the window. Timothy carried Teddy out and handed him to Ben. Timothy closed the window behind Ben and watched the little boy walk off, the snow blurred his vision and soon, Ben was gone.

Ben shivered in the cold. He entered the parc. Kids played, throwing snowballs, running in the snow, building snowmen. Ben wished he could join them. He sat down on a bench facing a frozen river. The bench was frosty and cold to the touch but Ben didn't mind. Teddy raced around, playing in the snow. Ben didn't know what to do. He thought for a while. He couldn't come up with anything. He didn't want to ever see Mr Koch's face ever again. A man approached him and scooted next to Ben. He was eating a sandwich.
"Want some?" He asked between mouthfuls. Ben shook his head and shuffled further along the bench. He knew not to talk or take anything from strangers.

"You alone out here kiddo?" asked the man now, more interested. Ben thought about it and decided to tell the truth.

"No sir." He answered, referring to Teddy. Teddy was playing by the river, pawing the snow and digging. His tail was wagging madly. The man caught Ben staring at the dog and grinned.
"Nice dog eh?" he commented, "I bet I could catch'im and sell'im and we could share the money." Ben knew it was a joke but didn't laugh, he stared at the man gravely.
"Not funny kid?" the man said innocently, he raised his arms, "Ok, I'll stop." Ben didn't answer, something about this man was unsettling.
"So..." the man pressed, "Where are your parents?" Ben ignored the man.
"Your parents aren't here?" The man was suddenly grinning. He took Ben's arm. Ben jumped back in fright.
"Come with me. We'll have a good time." The man said wildly. Ben shook his head, eyes wide in terror. The man pulled Ben up and brought his face to Ben.
"It wasn't a question. Follow me kid. Don't try screaming, it won't help. I promise you." The man threatened with a slight glint in his eyes. Be didn't answer, he was frozen with terror. The man pulled Ben after him. Teddy caught whiff of Ben and another man. He smelt fear surging through Ben. he ran towards Ben and saw him in the grasp of a man. Anger flooded through Teddy and he barred his teeth. His fur rose and his ears bent back. Teddy charged at the man and sank his teeth into the man's hand. The man howled in pain, letting Ben go. Ben staggered back and watched as the man tried to get his hand out of Teddy's teeth, the man beat Teddy hard with one hand and tried to kick him with his foot. Teddy shook his head side to side violently, making the man roll over in pain, blood oozing from his arm. Teddy growled ferociously and Ben quickly got Teddy to calm down and let go. A few people were approaching and Ben didn't want to get caught. They left to man lying in pain on the floor. He writhed violently on the snow, cursing and groaning in pain. Ben and Teddy escaped and hid under a weeping willow's leaves.

A slight breeze blew gently. Ben sat against the tree trunk, listening. Teddy was pacing around, guarding the place. Ben heard the clattering of hooves as horses approached. 2 men dressed as police emerged riding horses. They were patrolling the parc. Ben rolled out of view and Teddy snuck up to Ben and they sat silently. One man got off and walked his horse.
"Why are you getting down?" asked the baffled policeman to his fellow colleague.
"Canter needs a rest. I think Clover needs one too. Let her stop for a little. We can continue later. Let the horses rest a little." the other man replied. The man on the horse huffed and jumped down.

"Ok ok. DO you realise how many times you said little just now?" the man who just dismounted questioned.

"Twice?" the man who said "little" a lot said. The other man shook his head. He bent down and saw a few tracks on the snowy ground.

"Hey Nate. What's this? Looks like tracks." he beckoned his friend over. Nate came over and looked carefully at the snow.
"Looks like a dog's pawprints. Let's check it out. No harm in it." Nate suggested.
"Yes we should." The other man agreed. The followed the tracks towards Ben and Teddy. Nate rounded the tree and saw Ben and Teddy huddled there. He cried out in fright then realised it was just a child and his dog. He looked at them closely.

"Hey Cam. I think I've just found the kid," Nate informed his companion, Cam, then he turned to Ben and Teddy, "Hey kiddo. I'm Nate. My buddy here is Cameron, call him Came. Whatcha doing out here alone? In the dark. Is your name by any chance Bennett?" Ben looked at the man and decided he was good.
"Yeah." he answered unsurely.

"Oh my really? Nate! I think we've found the one." Cam said approaching excitedly.

"You mean, I found the one." Nate cocked his head.
"Yeah yeah." Cam shrugged.
"We're here to take you home. You know your Uncle Koch? He wants to see you. He really does." Nate told Ben. Ben let them lead him to the horses and he mounted onto Clover and Cam held him as they walked out of the park. Teddy trailed behind them, baffled. Ben didn't know whether to feel scared or happy. He didn't like Mr Koch but if Mr Koch wanted to see him maybe it was important. Or maybe Mr Koch really did love Ben? Ben shook the idea out of his head. He concentrated on the steady hoofbeats and the clattering of hooves on the pavement. After a while, they finally reached a private lane and they walked up silently. Ben wondered if he had made a good choice to follow them. Teddy didn't seem to mind or think they were danger so Ben tried to shrug it off. They entered the grounds of the house. The house was giant, it loomed over them. The lights inside were lit, the walls white and it was spectacular. They walked towards the big double front doors where 2 doormen stood. Cam passed Clover to a stable hand and Canter was taken by another helper. The 2 doorman opened the doors and they entered the house. Inside, the floor was covered in a big expensive white carpet and big stairs led up to a balcony viewing a big hall. Portraits, vases and different artifacts decorated the walls. Ben stared around in astonishment and awe. Nate was transfixed but Cam pulled them along a hallway. At the end of the hallway, they entered a circular room, it was small with a fine sofa and a tea table. There was a door at the side of the room. Cam gestured for Ben to sit down.

"Sit down for a while. I'll be right back." Cam ordered. Nate started to protest.
"But Cam.... I wanna go too." begged Nate childishly. Cam laughed mockingly.
"Don't be a child Nate." Came shook his head in disbelief and walked out of the room. Another man, well dressed entered. He wore red robes and looked a bit like a wizard butler.

"Good day, er, night sirs," the wizard butler stammered politely, giving a small bow, "I am Willson, your helper, well, I'm a butler really but I am here to help you and assist you and make you comfortable until you meet my boss." Nate stared at Wilson in a weird way and sat up straight.
"I would like something to eat," Nate reported grandly, then added, "Please?"
"Yes, as you wish Sir." Wilson bowed and clapped his hands twice. A line of people dressed like Wilson but somehow not as grandly, poured into the small room. They pushed trolleys laden with foods and treats. Ben tucked into the warm food. He ate hungrily then remembered the food he had in his bag and pushed the silver plate away. A man took it and walked out of the room with it. Nate was eating hungrily, not paying attention to anything. Ben pulled the sandwich out of his bag and ate it. He was happy with the simply made food. He appreciated the way Edna had made it for him, with care and love. Wilson looked at Ben in disgust but didn't say anything. Ben fed Teddy a bit of his sandwich then wrapped it up and placed it into his bag again. How wondered how much it must have cost Edna then settled down on the sofa. Nate was still greedily stuffing himself when a woman entered the room. She was dressed casually and she waved at them to follow her through the door.
"Dominic Koch is awaiting you," she invited them into the other room, then she turned to Nate who was following Ben.

"Not you." she hissed. Nate looked embarrassed and returned to the couch but Wilson stopped him. Follow me sir. I will lead you to the visitor waiting hall." Wilson escorted Nate out. "Why only visitor?" Ben could hear Nate ask as he walked out. Ben entered another circular room where a big desk dominated the room. Papers were neatly folded around it and a big modern desktop sat on the desk. The room was covered in pictures and as Ben looked closer it was pictures of Mr Koch and important people. On the desk, there was also a framed picture but Ben didn't get to look at it. He was escorted to a black couch where he sat down again