The activity in the house picked up after that night I saw Henry sneaking into my room. The kids stayed the same, it was the Rollins who picked up in activity. Henry was in and out of that 'Do Not Enter' shed out back frequently, and Betty did laundry more than twice a day.

I looked around for Shelby. I figured it'd be nice to try to chat to someone I kind of knew. But I couldn't find her anywhere. In fact, when I was searching, I saw some kids I've never seen before.

"Who are they?" I walked into the kitchen asking Betty. The new kids were gorging on food, like they haven't ate in weeks.

"They've always been here, darling. You probably just weren't paying close attention to everyone here." She smiled from behind her wooden spoon she used to stir pasta sauce. "We're having spaghetti tonight. You like spaghetti?"

I shrugged. "I guess so."

She eyed me suspiciously. "You'll eat it still, won't ya?"

The way she asked sound more like a threat than a question. I just nodded without saying a word. I left the kitchen, getting a few stares from the new kids. I shrugged them off and went to the living room to watch the movie that played. Luckily, it was a new one this time, still boring though.

After watching the movie to the end credits, I got up and ventured outside. The sun was shining and was warm against my skin. It would've been a peaceful place if it wasn't for the fact, well, that it wasn't. There's strangers that act strange and forbidden places that hold secrets. The peacefulness only felt like a mirage.

In the back corner of the yard, against the boarder of the cornfield, stood two apple trees. They weren't anything special, they just produced those small apples that normally stay green. I went over and found a nice place to sit between them. It was perfectly shaded and secluded. Both trees gave me a good cover at the back so I didn't need to worry about anything or anyone sneaking up behind me out of the corn.

As I sat there, I surveyed the yard. I had a good vantage point too. I saw everything that went on in the backyard. The backdoor to the house, the two sheds, the oak tree, the cornfield on the opposite side; everything. I tilted my head back and rested it against the trunk of one of the trees. I looked up and saw the branches were pretty thick a ways up.

"I wonder if I'd be able to climb up there..." I pulled myself off the dirt and dusted the back of my pants. Before reaching up, I searched the yard one more time. I saw a few kids at the swing and no sign of Betty or Henry.

This is my chance.

I pulled myself up and began climbing. I squeezed between branches, feeling some snag at my clothes and scratch against my skin. I stopped and snapped off the branches giving me trouble and tossed them into the cornfield. I continued to the last of the the thick branches and found a nice little place to sit down. The branches provided me with a seat and an armrest, both very comfy. I looked down and realized I had climbed up a bit further than I had remembered.

I scanned the yard again. I was hidden quite well from the rest of the yard. The branches and leaves protected me from any view, unless you were at the bottom and looked straight up, then I'd be seen. I took pride in my new hiding spot and got down. No one noticed I went up or got down, so that's a plus.

"Dinner!" Betty's voice carried across the yard. All the other kids went in without hesitation. After a few steps, I stopped and looked back at the trees.

"If you looked hard enough, I guess you could see me if you were this close too." Sighing to myself, I walked to the house.

The table was set when I entered the kitchen. Platefuls of spaghetti were set at each seat with a side of garlic bread. And again, everyone sat in their fancy clothes.

"Ahem, Alice, dear. Where's your dress?" Betty eyed my attire.

"Dress? Sorry, but I don't wear dresses. Never have, never will. What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" The boy who I met the first day of coming here, stopped stuffing food into his mouth and looked at me out of the corner of his eye. When he noticed I saw him, he went back to eating.

"We have a... Tradition. We dress nicely at dinner. We done it when I grew up, so I carried the tradition with me into this family." She smiled and reached for another piece of garlic bread, "Wear it next time."

"But-" I started.

"Don't sass back!" Henry slammed his fist onto the table, rattling all the glasses and plates.

Everyone jumped in their seats and looked my way. I was terrified. His tone was stone cold and the force he put into that hit to the table was no joke. He was clearly angry, like super angry. The vein in his neck was bulging out as he glared me down from behind his circled glasses.

"Okay, okay. I'll wear the stupid dress." I eyed the fork set at my plate and casually slipped it to my lap. I put it into my pocket when I felt no one was looking. I pushed back from the table and got up.

"Where are you going? Get back here and finish your damn supper!" Henry started to get up too, but Betty rested her hand on his shoulder to sit him back down.

"It's alright dear. If she's not hungry, then she can be excused." Betty craned her neck with a forced smile. The kind that gives you shivers.

I walked out the back door and headed to the apple trees. Once I got there, I sat down and took out the fork.

I can use this to pick the lock. Now, I just need a few more things and I'll be set.

I scraped away the top layer of dirt at the base of the tree and placed the fork there. I covered it back up and relaxed.

"I'll figure out what's in there. I love mysteries." I smiled to myself.

I heard the ringing of a phone. It rang three times and stopped. A few seconds later Betty opened the back door.

"Alice. The telephone rang and it's for you."

I ran to the house. I got to the phone and pressed it against my ear. "Hello?"

"Hello Alice! See? I told you I'd check-in with you. How are you?" Mrs. Morrison's voice yelled from the other side.

"Hey Mrs. Morrison. I'm okay. Would be better if I was there." I looked around to make sure no one heard me.

Mrs. Morrison sighed softly, "Alice. I want you to know I'm happy that you've stayed. I know it's only been two days, but I hope you stay longer. How is it there? Are you having fun? Make any friends?"

"It's boring here. They don't have Wifi, internet or cable. We watch movies, that's okay I guess. It's hard to have fun when you live in a place that hasn't heard of the word yet." I felt like I wasn't alone so I turned around and saw Henry sitting on the steps.

How long has he been there?!

"And friends?" Mrs. Morrison replied.

I turned back towards the nightstand the phone was on. "I can't say she's a friend, but I met a girl my age. Her name is Shelby, but I haven't seen her around. I honestly don't know where she went."

"Hmm. Maybe she went to a friend's house." Mrs. Morrison clearly didn't know how unlikely that was.

"Maybe you're right." Even though I said it, I didn't believe it. Not one bit.

"Well try to have fun. I'll call again tomorrow and we can talk more."

"Alright. Good night, Mrs. Morrison." I didn't want to hang up. I wanted to keep talking to her.

"Good night Alice." She hung up. The line went dead, sending a soft hum to my ear.

I slowly put the phone back on the receiver. I turned back to see Henry putting on his worn out boots. He looked at me as he passed by, heading through the kitchen and out the back door. I ran up the stairs and into my room. One of the windows in my room faced the backyard so I peeked through the curtains and saw Henry taking the lock off the shed. He opened the door just wide enough to squeeze through and shut it behind him.

There was a creak behind me and I turned to see Betty standing in the doorway holding a dress. I stepped away from the window and tried to act casual.

"Here you go. I hope it fits." Betty handed the dress to me.

It wasn't anything special. It was white with gold trims and floral designs stitched into the bottom of it.

"Thanks." I took it and laid it across my bed.

"Make sure you wear it tomorrow for dinner, alright?" Betty said as she stepped out to the hall.

"I will." I huffed. I don't want to wear this stupid dress, but they are really pressing it.

After Betty left, I went out to the hall and made my way to the bathroom. I locked the door behind me. The doors in this house had old knobs. The metal kind with a little latch to lock it and a key hole in the shape of an ancient key. Like one of those big ones you'd see used to lock people in dungeons. I had to go to the bathroom too, but I also wanted to look for something. I began searching the drawers. One after the other, I didn't find it.

"Come on... There's gotta be one here somewhere." I mumbled as I dug through a drawer full of useless things.

There was a soft squeak, followed by a small clink. I faced the door in time to see the doorknob jiggle. My heart raced and I quietly fought the drawers shut. The jiggling intensified, someone was desperately trying to get in.

"O-occupied." I said.

The door went silent. I sighed and began my search again.

Found it!

A Bobby pin. This'll help me get into that shed. I lifted the back of my hair and slip it on at the base of my neck and let my hair down over, to cover it. As I shut the drawer, the bathroom door swung open. Henry stood there with a skeleton key in his hand, forcing it out of the door.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"I'm in the bathroom, so I was going." I nodded towards the toilet.

"Don't get smart with me. Don't lock the door. No doors here get locked, you understand?"

Then why is the shed locked?

"I understand." I glared at him. I really don't like him. He made me feel uneasy.

"Good. Now get to bed. It's lights out." I heard his stomps get fainter and fainter.

I marched off to bed. I got into my night clothes and lay awake for awhile, staring at the ceiling.

I run my fingers along the bobby pin. "Tomorrow, I'll see what's in that shed. I guarantee it."

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*Author's Note*

Oh boy! Henry is the strangest person, ever.
Alice is such a sneaky devil too!

I hope you're all enjoying it so far! If you liked this chapter, it'd help a bunch if you hit that star and comment on your favorite parts!

As always, Happy Reading!

~ZeB