I sat down slowly beside Alia and pulled her into my arms, her little body was still trembling under the oversized police hoodie. She wasn't crying anymore, but I could feel the fear in the way she held me, like didn't want to let go.
"You're okay now," I whispered, running my hand gently down her damp hair. "You're safe. Ash is just down the hall, okay?"
She nodded, but didn't speak. Just leaned into me.
Without thinking, I shrugged off my jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. It was too big of course, it swallowed her whole.
"There," I said softly. "That better?"
She gave the tiniest nod.
"Alia," I said gently, tilting her face up with a finger. "Listen to me. Never, and I mean never go anywhere with someone you don't know. Not even if they say they're nice or they know Ash. Not even if they say they work in the police station or the hospital."
She sniffled. "But he held my hand. He didn't seem bad at first..."
