Chapter 2 Scheming minds

THIRD PERSON POV

Slowly like she was surfacing from the warm depths of a river, the foggy ache in her head start to disappear, she had felt herself slipping in and out of consciousness, breaths came out in a shaky gasp providing her visions of the possible and impossible.

Suspicion unfurls in her stomach like a pang of hunger, her heart beating a mile a minute and taking in every detail

MISSING?

AMELIA WHITE?

MR AND MRS WHITE?

ARK VILLE ESTATE ?

The girl looks eerily similar like her, The same chestnut brown hair paired with green orbs that shimmer under the light

Twins!

The word going through her head like a railroad track, what was going on, does she have a twin or her face just happen to be that common, but they wouldn't look so familiar would they, it wouldn't be like those soap operas, would it?.

Would they come around poking when they see someone who looks exactly like their daughter, her hand gripped the newspaper ready to throw it in the trash but the curiosity in her made her stash the paper under their worn out matress.

'' what's wrong with you ''

Her sister's concerned voice cut her train of thought, Hannah blinks, looking over the six children all under the age of ten in the living room, their eyes unblinking as they stare at her with undisguised fear probably thinking the worst.

Hannah smiles going over to the duffle bag by the corner and uncovering the stuffs in it, the chief eyes widening at every item uncovered from the bag.

'' let's cook some pasta ''

She said with a laugh as they followed right behind her, everyone trying to talk over one another, Hannah picks lily up, the two year old giving a toothless smile and clinging onto Hannah, the feeling soothing Hannah, that her siblings still needed her.

She had waited by the door anxiously waiting the return of her mother, her nails has been reduced to nothing from biting on them so long, the door finally opens revealing a middle aged woman, not even glancing at Hannah before making her way to the kitchen and taking a bottle of beer.

Hannah didn't waste a second and thrust the paper into her mother's hand, she is better to talk to when sober

'' tell me the truth mum ''

Hannah questions trying to sound as politely inquisitive as possible hiding the array of chaos created in her mind, she pointedly look at her mother trying to see if the article invokes any kind of emotions from her, but her mother's expression remains blank, glancing tiredly at the article before squeezing the paper into her hands and throwing it in the trash without a second thought

'' trust me when I say this Hannah, we have nothing to do with them, I have never even heard of them before, they are all the way in the upscale, there is no way our paths would have crossed''

Her mother said before Hannah can even conjure up a word, mary, her mother smile at her tiredly before making her way to the couch to get started on her drinking retreat.

'' yeah you are right, I just happen to look so much like her ''

Hannah hope that came out as sarcastic as she intended before walking to her room and closing the door gently mindful of the sleeping toddlers

'' you ever wondered what you would do if you had a billion dollars ''

A quiet voice ripped through the silence, Hannah glance at her sister joan, the ten year old gaze held something undepicted, her glossy dark eyes stare back at Hannah, she Wondered where the question came from.

'' why, do you have a billion dollars stashed somewhere ''

Hannah chuckles turning her attention to her

'' no ''

The answer was short, joan has always been the smart one in their family, The girl is a full blown genius with huge interest in art, at just ten year old, her portraits are amazing, Hannah heart aches for her every day, she wanted to send her to the best art school in the world and watch her become a renowned artist, it all seems far fetched

'' I would do a lot of things, I would make our life better, for you, for our siblings, for grandma''

Hannah wishfully trails off, her hands tightening around Joan's hand that made its way to hers.

'' we would be so happy joan ''

Her voice cracked at the end, her throat tightening up at the prospect, she wondered how Amelia's life was, she looks like she would be happy, like she had the perfect life before she went missing

'' but I am happy Hannah ''

Hannah smiled weakly pulling the frail girl into her arms, she wonders how long they would be happy, would they stay in this cramped apartment that is seconds from falling apart, live on homeschooling forever, will she have to keep taking things from poor old man Joe just to feed her siblings when her mum decided alcohol was better to buy than food, would they keep being in tattered clothes, living on hand me downs from pitying hands, no one wants to live like that forever not when there is an opportunity right at their grasp.

'' how long did you say she was missing again ''

Hannah didn't fail to notice the smirk on Bella's face

'' are you going to do what I am thinking you are going to do ''

The blonde haired gives a wide smile with a knowing look

'' I think so ''