THE LOST PIECE

rd

tly in the breeze, their branches dotted with fresh green leaves, while flowers o

ed with snacks or little trinkets they'd hurried to pack the night before. Excitement buzze

a bag that once belonged to one of the older girls, now hers, and hugged it tightly to her chest. "I can't

. He wasn't talking like the others, but his dark eyes were fixed on

quickly obeyed, their anticipation making it hard to stand still. "Alright, everyone

ter filling the air. Helen was just about to step on when she fel

led out, hurrying over

uickly to tie the laces back into a neat bow. "There you go

ped inside, her smile faltered. Every seat seemed to be taken, and her two c

d her heart sank at the thought of having to sit there. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted him-Tom Riddle, si

aisle, her braids swinging behind her, and plopped herself into the

y, smiling at him as though

had just been his, his brows furrowing slightly. He said nothing, but Helen didn't seem to

indow, his expression unreadable. Undeterred, she l

ce bubbling with enthusiasm. "I've never

dark eyes studying her face for a momen

ened her bag and pulled out a small, slightly squished cookie.

ached out and took it, his fingers brushing hers briefly. He didn't say thank you, b

tly. "See? It's

d, chewin

bag again and pulled out a small, worn toy teddy bear. "This

is lap. After a moment, he pulled out a small, carved w

, it's so pretty!

around the bird. For the first time, his

he said gently. "Like Lucky." She held out the

earnest smile seemed to chip away at his defenses. Slowly, he hel

g the bird in her hands. "See?

ds. It felt like a small victory, even though it was something so simple. After so many days of trying, of offering him sm

like the other boys-he didn't play games or talk with the other children. He often kept to himself, distant and

r energy practically spilling over as she bounded down the steps of the bus, bag clutched tightly in her hands. The sun was shining brightly, and the meadow that lay in front o

taking off toward the open field. Her voice carried the

he air felt different here, fresh and free. He tugged at the strap of his bag, fingers tight

t's so pretty here, Tom!" she called again, twirling in a circle

oft grass beneath him. Her voice called to him again, and this tim

and laughing. A part of him wanted to stay back, to keep to himself as he alway

m, a hand reaching out. "

e shrugged and took a step toward her. The grass felt soft under his feet, and the mo

er, and without another word, she gr

y with mud. He grumbled at first, his usual aversion to messiness taking over, but Helen's persistent che

oss the grass. As she bent down to gather everything, her eyes caught something moving out of the corner of her vision. A small squ

rd for a nut, picked it up wit

ed after the little creature, her heart pounding in her chest. It wasn't just any toy-it was Tom's

cking behind it. Helen's legs pumped faster, her breath c

n playing, his hands still damp. But as he scanned the field, he realized with a si

he might've just wandered off to find her other friends, bu

n't she

promised him anything, but why had she left without saying anything?

oughts that clouded his mind. His eyes narrowed. He spotted the spot where

ing behind the horizon. Mrs. Cole had gathered the children, calling their names one by one to make su

out, her voice a little

espo

ou?" she repeated,

easy to find, her laugh echoing across the field like a bell. But now, there was only silen

apart from the group, his arms cro

ight red hair, but there was nothing. No sign of her

be?" Mrs. Cole mu

dow. And then, like a sudden spa

she gone somew

e trees. His feet moved quickly, quietly, as he slipped pa

ed, the more the darkness seemed to press in. His breath hitched as he

nd loud against the quiet of the tree

him forward. The night air was cool, and the woods seemed oddly calm, the trees swaying softly in

faint sobbing soun

imply walking toward something mildly interesting. A few steps later, he found her-Helen,