Chapter 1

Hailey knew her parents didn't love her.

Frank, her father, called her "waste of space."

He hit her often. His temper was a quick fire, especially when he drank.

Brenda, her mother, was quieter.

But her words cut, and her eyes were cold.

They both loved Kevin, Hailey's younger brother.

Kevin got everything.

Hailey got yelled at, or hit, or nothing at all.

Their apartment was small, in a bad part of the city.

Thanksgiving was coming.

Brenda announced they were going to visit some far-off relative.

"A long bus trip," Brenda said, her eyes on Kevin. "A Greyhound."

Then she looked at Hailey.

"We need to save money. For Kevin's new video game console."

Hailey waited. She knew something bad was coming for her.

Brenda smiled, a thin, sharp smile.

"Hailey, you'll travel in the big footlocker. We'll check it as luggage."

The footlocker was old, heavy, and smelled of dust and mothballs.

Hailey looked at her mother.

"It's the only way, Hailey. Don't be difficult."

Frank grunted his agreement. "Do as your mother says."

Kevin smirked. He knew he was the reason.

Hailey was used to obeying.

Arguing only made the beatings worse.

They made her climb in.

It was dark.

The lid shut.

The lock clicked.

She heard them talking, excited about the trip, about Kevin.

The footlocker moved, bumped.

Then the rumble of the bus.

It was a long trip, days.

The air grew thin.

She scratched at the lid, but her fingers were weak.

She couldn't breathe.

It got harder and harder.

Then, nothing.

She floated in darkness.

When the bus finally arrived, Frank and Brenda were eager.

They wanted to show off Kevin.

They wanted to enjoy the holiday.

The footlocker stayed in the luggage hold, then in a corner at the relative's dusty house.

They went to a local Thanksgiving fair.

Kevin got cotton candy and won a cheap prize.

Frank drank. Brenda laughed.

A whole day passed.

Finally, Brenda remembered. "Oh, the footlocker."

Frank grumbled, "Let's get it over with."

They opened it.

Hailey lay still.

Her eyes were open, empty.

Her skin was blue.

Brenda looked down.

"Well, this is just great," she said. "What bad luck she brings."

Frank cursed.

They didn't call anyone.

Brenda said, "We can't have this ruin Thanksgiving for Kevin."

They found a local man, someone who didn't ask questions.

They paid him a small amount.

Money saved from Hailey's bus ticket.

Money they would have spent on her food.

He buried Hailey in an unmarked hole in a field.

Quick. Quiet.

Frank and Brenda used the money they saved, and the money for the quiet burial, to buy Kevin more things at the fair.

He wanted more games, more treats.

He got them.

Hailey was gone.

Forgotten.