one of the Pet stores

She was walking by the shops in the mall, with her parents. Looking at them you never would have guessed they were related. Appearances could be deceiving though as her parents both had blonde hair blue eyes, and she had long, straight red hair with deep brown eyes. She was ten years old and close to her parents. They had arrived on the island the week before for a couple week long vacation. Currently they were in the mall searching for the pet store that they had seen their third day on the island. Her parents had, after she had seen a puppy she'd fallen in love with, said that if the store still had it today they would buy it to take home with them.

She was thinking of her friends back home and the plans they had for the day after her family returned from their trip, when her mother broke through the young girl's thoughts. "Anna?" Her mother placed her hand on her shoulder. "Anna, honey? Isn't that the dog you saw?" her mom nodded toward a liver and white spotted dalmatian puppy that was curled up in the window of the shop. Her dad broke in, saying "I'm almost certain that was the one. Anna had such a fit over not taking it home last week I don't think i would forget it even if I tried." He smiled.

She moved closer to the glass and leaned closer. "Yes. That's the one." She put one hand on the window, tapping lightly and watching the small dog's ears twitch at the sound. Catching the girl's movement on the other side of the window the puppy woke up quickly and smooshed it's nose against the glass, licking the smooth surface, trying to lick the human girl. several other puppies were attracted by the commotion and soon there was a large group all trying for her attention. "Mom, dad?" she looked at them. "Can we get her now?"

Her mom nodded. "I don't see why not. A pet is good for a kid, and we did promise you years ago that we would get one when we thought you were old enough." Anna didn't wait for any further aknowledgement before opening the door and making her way straight toward the puppies. She scooped the little dalmatian up and by the time her parents made it over it was licking her face wildly.

"now you need to pick a collar and leash," her dad commented, but she was way ahead of him and was already looking through the collars. Her mother had already picked up two sturdy bowls for the puppy, so Anna was concentrating on the collar and leash. She looked through many colors. red, pink, green..in all sorts of patterns. She completely passed over anything pink. Finally she found one she loved. it was a dark blue leather and she quickly located the matching leash and headed toward the counter. "come on, I'm ready mom!"

Gadiel was in the store searching for a collar for his Pug, Bug. His doberman had just decimated the smaller dog's collar that morning and he was very much in need of a new one. He chose a dark blue nylon collar, and on the way to the counter he grabbed a couple packages of treats. As he approached the front of the store, he came to an abrupt stop. The little girl's bright red hair was exactly the shade of his own. He'd never forget that particular shade..would recognize it anywhere. as he moved up to the counter he racked his brain, to remember the identifying marks he remembered his baby sister had.. a tiny reddish brown hear shaped birthmark on her right hand came to mind almost immediately. Now if he could only get close enough for him to see her hands.

The girl set the puppy on the counter, and as she moved her hand, Gadiel could feel his nerves jumping. what would he do or say if she had his sister's birthmark? How many kids would have the exact same one in the exact same place? He had hardly a time to plan what he'd say when the evidence was there, in plain sight. The tiny birthmark, same shape as when she was a baby, exactly as he remembered it. He stared at her. The world completely stopped and he felt like he was about to pass out. Ten years he worried about his baby sister. Ten years he had blamed himself and beat himself up. Ten years his own mother blamed him. and here she was, looking happy and cared for.

He looked at the couple that was with her..both blonde haired. Were these kidnappers? They looked so normal. How could they be normal everyday people and not look like monsters?
He stared again. "Kelsie?"

Anna and her parents all turned to look at the red haired stranger. Anna looked into his face her dark brown eyes meeting his. "n..no..I'm anna" she said. She was shocked to see someone that looked so much like she herself did. In her entire life she had never seen someone look so similar to her. the red hair, exactly her color, and the deep brown eyes too threw her off and her voice trailed off. What had he called her? Kelsie? But her name was Anna, not Kelsie. She was intrigued by this new mystery.

Her mother spoke. "Anna, put the collar and leash on your puppy so we can go. She is paid for now so she is all yours." The ten year old did as she was asked, as she continued talking to the red haired stranger. "Do you have a dog?" she asked. She was getting slightly uncomfortable as she was beginning to feel as if she should know this guy.

Gadiel was having a hard time answering her. what would he say, yes I have 2 dogs and you're my sister? all he knew is he couldn't let them leave. "yes, I have dogs." he said, then added, "I'm your brother." He looked up at the shopkeeper fighting back an explosive reaction. "Please call the police. This is my sister and she was kidnapped on the island when she was a baby." The store clerk looked at them in surprise.."You do know I can't let any of you leave until this is cleared up, I hope." reaching for the phone the clerk dialed the number.

Gadiel looked back at her. "Forgive me sister, but I am not losing you again." He pointed at her hand. "You have her birthmark, and you look exactly like her." he focused his gaze on the puppy. "I would know you anywhere, no matter how old you were. You're ten years old aren't you?" he questioned her, although he already knew the answer.

Blinking in surprise, Anna felt scared. This stranger said he was her brother, but she had no siblings. There was still the fact that they looked like siblings, almost the exact same although they were different ages. She looked up at her parents. Could it really be true? Her whole life couldn't have been a lie could it? Her parents couldn't really be capable of kidnapping someone else's child could they? This island wasn't her true intended home was it? Whispering she answered him.."yes..I am ten years old."

She held the small dalmatian puppy tight in her arms. The day she had been waiting for, for so long had turned into a nightmare she didn't know if she would wake from as she listened to the store clerk on the phone with the law enforcement, and seeing the fear on her parents faces. Her parents' faces, the expression they both had, made her wonder if it was true. If they weren't her family who was she really? where did she live? Where was her school? Did she have family that looked like her?

She shook her head. Surely this was all a misunderstanding and she and her parents would be on the way home in a matter of hours. The sound of the telephone being hung up brought the little girl back to reality. "The police are on their way." She didn't know who said it, her mom or dad or one of the others, but she was scared.