Elora's point of view:

Two Days Later...

The warmth of the early summer rain soaked my hair as I checked out of the hotel. I couldn't stay there any longer. I needed to go home for a while. I had this silent hope that everything had blown over in a matter of two days, but I knew that wasn't the case. Even if I was coming home, I knew I couldn't stay for long. I would only have time to tell everyone that I was alright and that I needed to get out as soon as I could.

I quickly made my way to the car and started up the engine. I sped off out of the town and went towards my house again. They seemed like the worst forty five minutes of my life as I drove back to the place I knew was obviously the most dangerous place to be. Even if that was the case, I needed to see my family again, I needed to see Flynn. He was continuously on my mind, working like clockwork when I thought of the times we had when all was harmonious. That was enough to inspire me to keep going even though I was under the threat of death the closer I drew to Washington.

It was the middle of the night when I arrived at Lorelei's apartment. I didn't want to go home. I knew that if I was being followed that the first place they would look was there. Lorelei's place was the next best thing I had when it came to seeing them. I would have to make smart time there as well, who knows how much they knew about me. Obtaining my home number was one thing, they could have gone into some phone book. But to track me down with simple ease? That was a whole different spectrum of scary. Not to mention I hadn't heard or been through anything in two days. The silence was intensely suspicious, I had to watch my every move.

I took the elevator to her floor and with slow steps I approached her door. I was constantly looking to my sides and behind me and above for anything that could hurt me. It only took a few more seconds for her to come to the door, but my paranoia made it feel like hours. It was like withdrawing from some drug, I was all over the place, looking around and twitching in fear.

When Lorelei came to the door and opened it, the first thing I saw was her eyes widening in surprise. It was like she had seen the sun explode as she opened her door. I didn't mean to take her by this much exasperation, but as I looked at my sister for what felt like the first time in years, all I could feel was the desperate relief I had from seeing her face.

"Elora?! What are you doing?!" Lorelei asked as she jumped in for a hug the moment she began to speak to me. I held her back, taking in the warm and nurturing touch of my sister. I missed her so much that I didn't even realize it until seeing her just then.

"I couldn't be gone anymore. I had to come back and see you all for a while until I had to leave again," I replied. She gasped and chuckled as we kept hugging. Even though I couldn't see her face, I could tell she was crying from seeing me. I could feel my eyes beginning to water as well, tearing up as the pain had withered away within seconds.

"You have no idea how much I missed you. Mom is basically in a coma, and dad is in shambles. Not to mention Flynn is so damn angry and trying to cope with that. I tell you, I have no idea what that man is even thinking. How do you do it?" She asked. I chuckled and shook my head. Lorelei and Flynn didn't get along, nor did they even make an effort to speak to each other. I suppose it was best that way, since I had no idea what kind of explosion could occur when it came to them at their worst.

"I need to see them," I replied. I didn't know I had done all of this to them, but I wasn't at all surprised. I expected this to happen, and it ruined my sleep for the last two days. All I could do was think about what they were doing or what they were thinking. I cried so much those two nights that I basically had to come here or I feared I may not ever bounce back.

"I'll call them in the morning. Until then you can stay here and get some sleep. I want to hear all about what happened to you, but I'd like some sleep first. You can take the couch. I'll get it ready for you," she explained. I shook my head as I followed her inside the house. I crossed my arms along my chest and took a deep breathe as the warm scent of her home came into my nose. Everything about Lorelei and her home smelled amazing, like jasmine and warm tea.

"I can do it. You should sleep. I'm sure you have enough trouble getting it with Evelyn," I replied. She chuckled and thanked me as she placed some blankets and pillows on the armchair for me to set up my bed.

"Sleep as long as you want tomorrow. I can always move you to my room if we are up too early. I'm glad you're back. I was more worried than anything," she said to me. I nodded and thanked her as we said our final goodnights. I had to admit, it was nice to finally get some sleep for the night.

•••

The morning came into sight and I felt rested more than I ever had in the past two days. I missed the days where all I had to do was wake up in the morning to a fantastic day. Where had all those days gone? Right, they had vanished when I had killed three people from a group that could be more dangerous than anything else in America right now. Some of the things those people did, so unspeakable, it made me closer to fear than I had ever been before.

"Elora," I heard the sound of Mihn say to me as I sat at the table that morning with a coffee cup in front of me. I was sitting while Lorelei was making some breakfast for everyone. Evelyn was playfully sitting in her high chair.

"Hello," I replied. I stood from the table and went to him. We embraced tightly and I smiled. It was amazing to finally be reunited with my family and their holds. One doesn't recognize the utter importance of family until they have an experience in which they aren't there to help you. Being in that situation was one of the most horrendous feelings I had ever had.

"It's good to have you back," he said to me. Mihn was a man of few words, we all knew this. Even if he didn't talk to us much, he loved us equally as we all did him. He was an exemplary man with exemplary morals. He didn't talk, but sometimes that was exactly what one needed when in this world. It was hardly ever people had the chance to just be together instead of talk and talk until the sun goes down. Mihn was one of the people that helped the world go successfully around.

"I'm glad to be back," I replied. Mihn chuckled a little as we released the hug. He followed me back to the table and Lorelei served him a cup of coffee as he said hello to Evelyn. She always smiled and laughed happily when he said hello to her. It was adorable, and it brought my mood up but what seemed to be about one hundred and fifty percent.

"Breakfast is ready. It probably isn't as good as your cooking, but who's is?" Lorelei asked with a light laugh. She was so casual, and I missed that. I had spent so much time being tense and wondering if I was going to survive the day. Now I had Lorelei to distract me from the problems for a little while, and the pancakes she had made of course.

"This is just as good, believe me," I said to her as she made her way into the kitchen to make some more. She smiled at me as we heard the door knock. She left the now cooking pancake batter on the frying pan as she went for the door. When she opened it, the food had just become null and I was distracted by the sight. My whole entire family was at the door, looking eager to see me in her apartment. I stood from the table and waited for Lorelei to invite them all inside.

"She's in here. Come on in," Lorelei said as someone asked. It sounded like my grandfather. So everyone knew I was gone by now? That was also not very surprising. If someone went missing, everyone in our family would find out about it sooner or later. That was inevitable for most families, though.

My grandfather entered first and saw me standing there between her kitchen and living room. He saw me there and smiled gently at me. I walked to him slowly to keep him from walking too fast. He was an old man now, and I didn't want him pulling in too much effort and to have him end up hurt. He looked the same though from when I was a young child. The man never seemed to age, much like my mother. So that's who she got it from then?

"My beautiful granddaughter. You're back. Thank God in heaven that you're back," he whispered to me. I smiled as he placed his hand on my cheek and kissed my forehead gently. I held my hand on his as it rested on my cheek. I loved my grandfather like no other. He was the best one a girl could have. He was kind, loving and informative. He was always there to answer a question when we wanted to ask, no matter what that question was about.

"I'm alright, grandpa," I replied. He nodded and hugged me lightly as he quietly laughed in happiness. He went to take a seat on the armchair for a while so he could have some rest. Both my other sisters came next. Emmaleigh and Carina hugged me vigorously, saying how worried they were and that they had no idea what they would do if they found they wouldn't see me again. I was glad to know they cared so much.

My father was next to come from the door. He wobbled on his fake leg as he entered the apartment. I stopped as he came to me, and it was like my body froze in time. My eyes were watery with tears and my breath shaky from anxiety. The room had seemed to dim slightly as I took a few steps closer to him. Just to blink was like leaving him again. He looked like he was about to cry.

"Elora, it's my fault," he said to me. I shook my head and felt a surge of relief as I felt his massive arms wrap around me in a tight hug. I cried fully as I felt the arms of my father hugging me again. I missed his grasp, he always gave the best hugs. I couldn't believe that he said this was his fault. He was only trying to protect me, and everyone constantly depended on him for a plan. He couldn't do right by everyone all the time. I didn't blame him for a second. I blamed myself and only myself.

"Please don't say that. I don't blame you for anything. That's all we have to focus on," I replied. He sighed in relief and I felt him hold me tighter as I said this. My smile was uncontrollable as I drank in the affection of my father. I had no idea how lucky I was to have a father like him, it was amazing. I wished all men were like him when it came to raising children.

"You know I love you, right?" He said. I nodded and smiled at him. I had no idea why he asked that. He knew that I loved him more than any man in the world. I loved Flynn, but that was a different kind of love. The love of my father would never fade no matter what happened. I didn't know if the love of Flynn was temporary or not. The love from my father was much less confusing and a lot more inevitable. It was a relaxing love that required not a thing.

"I always know. I love you too," I said as I pulled in for a hug once again. He always took my embrace. Even if he was mad at me at any time, he never said no to a hug. If he didn't want me to cry over a boy, if he didn't understand why I was upset or happy, he would always take my embrace and hold me until I didn't need it any more. That was one of my favourite things about him.

"Your mom is coming. I'd suggest seeing her first. She's been a wreck since you left. Then I want to hear just exactly what you did for two days," he said to me. I chuckled lightly and nodded my head.

"I didn't do much, to be honest," I said.

I walked away from the apartment and went into the hallway where I was told my mother was waiting. She was slow as she made her way down the hallway but stopped as she saw me out of the doorframe and staring at her from a few feet ahead of her. Her face was so hollow, so drained of all the happiness that she used to have. Did I do that to her by leaving? How could I have done that? How could I have taken all that high and mighty spirit that used to burn in her like a wild flame? Just by leaving I did that, and just by seeing it, my heart smashed into two pieces.

"Mommy," I slowly said as I felt a tear fall down my eye and down my cheek. She weakly walked forward, staring at me as she took my hand in hers. I felt her skin and found it was as cold as ice. It was like her physical being had died, and the only thing that remained active was her beating heart. My mom had turned into a corpse in a matter of two days.

"Elora, is that really you? Or am I having another dream?" She asked. I laughed a little as both my eyes poured with tears. I shook my head and held her hand tight, squeezing it until my body heat relayed to her.

"It's not a dream, mother. It's me," I said to her. She took a botched breath and smiled in relief as she stormed to me. We hugged quick, lingering in our hold as we both began to cry. Her body seemed to warm up as her smile went back to its common place. My mother was already turning back into the bright angel she always was.

"Don't ever leave me again, Elora. You had no idea how paralyzed I felt when I found you were gone. I almost hurt your father, I couldn't breathe, I felt like I had died. If you need help with anything, you tell me. Don't run off like that," she lectured. Even though she was giving me this run down on what I should have done, I smiled and laughed. Just to hear her voice was this unconditional relief pooling over me in large, unrequited showers of happiness.

"I promise I won't leave again. I need help mommy, I need you to help me," I replied. She nodded as we released the hug. I knew I could always depend on her for anything, but this was scary and I had no idea what to do. I was just pulling to survive this ordeal right now. I didn't have anything else on my mind but that.

"Don't pay no mind to it, I'll help you. We will all help you. That's what I do for my babies, I help them," she replied. I nodded and thanked her as I hugged her once more before she and I began to walk into the apartment. My mother was happy again, she was bright and sunny like summer again. It was all I needed to be in a good mood today. My mother's smile was an immediate booster when it came to the happiness of someone. However, as I held her hand to go in, I heard the voice of a man who made it all the more better.

"Elora," Flynn said to me as I stopped in the hallway. Both my mother and I turned around to look at him. There he was, standing there a few feet away from me. I felt dizzy as he stood there, waiting for something to happen. He looked the same, his eyes on me the way they always were. It was like being returned to my soul.

"Flynn," I whispered. My mother kissed my cheek and went into the apartment, leaving me in the hallway with him. I didn't move at first, I just watched him seriously and affectionately for a few seconds.

"Come here," he said to me. I nodded and ran as quickly as I could to him. As I took his face in my hands and his arms wrapped around my waist, we kissed passionately. My arms hooked around his shoulders as he pulled me into him, feeling the whole of my back and below. He pinned me against the wall, keeping me there as we kissed aggressively and longingly. His lips on mine were like heaven on earth, like a reunion with everything that was ever important to me.

"I love you," he said.

"I love you even more."

Note: hello! Sorry for the wait again. It wasn't as long as the last one though so I'm taking it as progress. I've found a pattern I need to keep consistency for a while, which is good. Anyway, be sure to vote if you liked the chapter and to comment on what you think. Also be sure to follow me for daily updates on all things writing! Happy reading!