Chapter 4 Finally Home

The officer closest to her stepped forward, concern shadowing his face.

"Miss, are you alright?" he asked gently.

Elena blinked, suddenly aware of her surroundings. She was at the airport and she screamed.

"Oh... I'm fine, officer," she responded quickly, forcing a smile.

"Just got a really good message. That's all."

The officer nodded slowly and stepped away, though he kept a lingering glance in her direction.

Elena placed a hand on her chest, trying to calm her racing heart.

Her thoughts spiraled. Who could have sent that money?

Then, her phone rang.

"Hi, Elena," came a warm, familiar male voice.

She gasped. "Michael?!"

Heads turned toward her again. She waved awkwardly at the other passengers in the terminal, embarrassed.

Michael chuckled over the phone.

"I guess you saw the alert by now. It's not much. Just something small for your flight ticket."

"Small?" Elena's mind reeled. It was nearly five times her monthly salary.

Her ticket barely scratched the surface of the amount.

"Elena?" Michael's voice came through again.

Elena was brought back from her thoughts.

"This is more than little, Michael," she said, smiling. "You're the best."

"If you ever need anything," he said, "I'm just a phone call away."

"Thank you," she replied softly, her voice with thick emotion.

She ended the call, it was her turn in line and soon, she was on the plane.

As the aircraft rose, she stared out the window, her final goodbye to Alvero City.

The flight landed at 2:30 PM. A 4 hours flight from Alvero City.

Elena sat quietly in the cab she had booked, watching Velvis City scenery through the window.

Nothing had changed. Same streets. Same quiet corners. Same ghost of her past.

The car pulled into her old estate. Elena leaned forward as the black motion-sensor gate slid open.

The house stood just as she remembered; grey-bricked elegance sprawled across land, trimmed lawns on either side of a tarred driveway leading to a three-layered duplex.

When the car stopped, a figure appeared at the front door.

Nan.

Tears welled in Elena's eyes. She threw open the door and ran straight into her arms.

"I've missed you, Nan," she said softly, holding on tightly.

The scent of home wrapped around her like a blanket.

Ten years had passed.

Then, another voice. "Well, look who's back."

Elena turned.

"Sandra!" she squealed, launching herself into her childhood friend's arms.

(Sandra was fair-skinned, busty, 5'6", with deep black pupils. She wasn't as tall or striking as Elena, but she carried a confident beauty.)

Sandra laughed. "Girl, you've definitely added weight! How are you lifting me like this? I used to carry you!"

The house echoed with their laughter.

Inside, Nan led Elena to her old room. Everything was just as she had left it, only neatly cleaned up.

Dull grey walls. A white pop ceiling. Double-decker bed in the left corner facing the windows.

The golden-brown rug ran on the floor with the image of a young cub still feeling warm underfoot. Her wardrobe still stood tall and firm.

And her paintings. Her art still hung exactly as she'd left them.

"You kept everything," Elena said quietly.

Nan smiled. "We never touched your room."

Sandra placed her luggage beside the wardrobe.

"Freshen up fast. You've got stories to tell," she teased, winking as she slipped out with Nan.

Alone now, Elena opened the window and breathed in Velvis air.

She walked to the wall, her fingers brushing over old portraits like they were sacred relics.

She reached for her locker, heart tightening.

Inside were her crayons and pencils. Untouched.

Beneath them lay a photo, her and her parents smiling on a beach. The last picture before the sea took them.

Elena's breath hitched. She placed the photo back, locked the drawer, and turned toward the shower.

The bathroom tiles were cold beneath her feet. Elena unhooked her black bra, slid off her blue jeans, and pulled her pink undies.

Her naked figure moved majestically to the shower.

The water hissed to life. Cold, steady, numbing.

She stood beneath the flow, her eyes closed, moaning, her body trembling as memories flooded in.

"Elena!"

The last cry from her mother, drowned by the sea. It echoed in her ears.

Her breath, unsteady.

Then...

The door creaked open. Elena's eyes snapped open.

The water blurred her vision. Her heart slammed against her ribs.

She tried to make out the figure through the haze of steam and droplets.

Then.

Hands wrapped around her.