Elora's point of view:

Today was my wedding day. One that I wished could have my family in it, but I was still extremely overjoyed to be able to have one. David had offered to give me a wedding dress, one that belonged to his sister that she said I could use over the phone. Apparently that was a dress from her first marriage, and she had remarried with a different one.

I was lucky that when I saw the dress, I adored it. It was a gown, flowing in a wide shape as the summer wind blew. There was lace embroidery lined along the collar of the dress, light mesh acting as the rest of it until the neckline, which was sweetheart. I had my hair down and curled into a nice, simple do, with a pink and white flower crown instead of a veil. I actually thought that I looked pretty as I saw myself in the full length mirror of my bedroom.

There was a knock on the door and David came inside with a buttoned shirt and dress pants on. He was wearing a small, black tie along with it, and a black bowler hat. He looked quite dapper in his outfit, and I had to smile at him when he came in.

"Elora! You look absolutely stunning!" David said to me as he walked to my side and hugged me lightly. I smiled and thanked him as I placed my small bouquet of pink roses and white lilies on the little table.

"Is Flynn ready?" I asked. He nodded and held his hand on my back as he led me out of the room.

"Yes, he is. He's already taken a car to your destination. He doesn't think he should see you in your dress until the ceremony. So I'll be driving you to the place," he replied. I didn't know what place Flynn had booked for us to get married. He said he didn't want to tell me because he wanted it to be the best surprise of my life. Honestly, I trusted Flynn with that. He knew me like the back of his hand.

"I wonder where I'm going. It's odd to know the bride doesn't know where her own wedding is," I said with a small laugh as David led me out of the house and to the car. He nodded and chuckled as he opened the passenger door for me.

"Don't worry. You'll love it," he said to me. I smiled and breathed as he started the engine and drove away from the house.

The drive was surprisingly long, with a time of forty-five minutes making the whole drive. David pulled off into some random parking lot and stopped the car. I watched as he reached into the back and pulled out a white blindfold. Was he going to tie that around my eyes?

"I have to put this on you so you don't see prematurely. Flynn wants you to be amazed," David said. I sighed and nodded as I let him tie the blindfold around my eyes. When my vision was completely covered, I felt as the car started again and he began to drive off. Not getting married in a random parking lot helped a little with not being able to see.

Within about ten more minutes, David stopped the car again. He turned off the engine and stepped out of the car, telling me to wait for him to lead me to Flynn and the venue. David let me out of the car as I took his hand, and when I stepped out the humid, evening air covered my skin. I smelled around the atmosphere, and I could almost make out the smell of water, and the sound of seagulls in the sky. I could hear the shrill, calming sound of the waters moving around in their bodies. I was somewhere near it, but where?

David kept holding my hand as he led me down the walkway. Within a few minutes, he stopped walking and had his hand on my back to stop me. He said he was going to take off the blindfold, and as he untied it off my eyes, I was greeted by one of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen.

I was face to face with the evening sky mixing with the amazing sight of a pier, but that wasn't what had me. It was the small altar that sat on the dock right next to a beautiful boat, white lights all over the place and white orchids over an archway. Flynn stood under the arch in a simple, black suit, his hands held together as he smiled at me. David and I linked arms, and I found myself at the other end of the aisle, ready to begin the ceremony.

"Elora," I heard the sound of a woman say to me from behind. I turned to see my grandmother Irene and my grandfather Clark, my dad's parents. My eyes brightened as I saw them all dressed up to attend my tiny wedding ceremony.

"Oh my gosh! Hello!" I smiled as I went to hug both of them. I hadn't seen them in forever, and I was so glad that I was able to have some family here.

"Did you really think we were going to miss your wedding?" My grandfather said to me as he held me. I laughed as Flynn waited at the altar, looking at me. I released the hug and stared back at him.

"We'll go sit down. You get over there," my grandmother said to me. She kissed my cheek and I smiled as I waved to them. They went to the end of the aisle and sat in the chairs set up for them. I took David's arm again, and he began to walk me down the aisle.

There was no priest or rabbi there with Flynn, just him. I didn't care, as long as he was there. The walk across the aisle was slow, and with every step he came closer to me. I felt my eyes begin to get glassy as Flynn watched me. My heart was unstoppably thumping in my chest as David and I drew closer to the altar. When we reached it, I stepped across from Flynn, and as he took his hands in mine, my first tear fell from my eyes.

"You look beautiful," he whispered to me. I smiled in the utmost happiness as I looked up at him. There was nothing here but elation, nothing but Flynn and I together, uniting ourselves together.

David moved from me to behind us at the altar. Was David marrying us? I had no idea he was even ordained. It wasn't exactly surprising, though. He did everything else with his life, this was probably one of the minor things that David Canmar had done in his life. To think I thought my parents were an adventurous couple of people, but this man was a whole other level.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the marriage of Flynn Nash and Elora Horowitz. Let us begin with the vows, that both parties have written themselves," David spoke only to my grandparents really. It was only them that were here, otherwise we were eloping.

"Don't cry," Flynn whispered to me.

"I'm not crying. You're crying," I said as I wiped a tear from my eye. I didn't want him to see me as such a wreck at our own wedding. He didn't seem to care if I was crying or not, but to me it felt silly.

"Flynn will begin with the vows," David said after. Flynn nodded and as I saw him take out the cards he wrote his vows on, I saw that he was beginning to tear up.

"Look at that, I am crying," he said as he looked down at the cards. I laughed as both of us let tears fall from our eyes. Now that he was crying too, I felt a little more comfortable.

"Alright. Elora, I'm not exactly the most fluent of people when I'm speaking English. Even though it's my first language, I find it easier to speak emotionally when I'm in a different language. So, I thought I would speak in the language of where you come from: German," he explained to me. I thought it was an amazing idea for him to do this. Even if no one understood what he was saying but me, all I cared was that he put thought into it.

"Ich könnte Tausend Kriegen zu kämpfen, laufen tausend Meilen, tausend Feinde zu kämpfen, und jedes Mal wird es für Sie sein. Ich verspreche, dass egal was passiert, werde ich nie aufhören für Sie kämpfen. Ich werde nie aufhören Sie zu lieben und nie aufhören, Sie alles geben. Sie haben mein Herz und meine Seele, und wenn Sie es mit Ihnen halten können, ich immer wieder zu dir kommen. Egal wie weit ich bin," he spoke. Every word was like magic falling onto me from the warm air, his vows were so perfect.

"Well, I wrote my vows in English, but I can do something else. I'm a good translator," I replied. He chuckled and even though my grandparents couldn't understand the German, they were both smiling up at us, my grandmother was crying tears of happiness.

"Ci siamo innamorati attraverso il linguaggio, ma se non fosse stato per voi venire a stare a casa mia, non sarebbe mai stato in grado di trovare l'amore che ho sempre desiderato. Ti prometto che farò tutto quello che posso per tenerti con me per sempre, e ti prometto che farò qualsiasi cosa per te, quando ne hai bisogno. Per tutto il tempo come io vivo, si batterà per mantenere il fuoco tra noi bruciando luminoso," I spoke in Italian. I hoped that I translated that right. I had only just begun speaking Italian fluently, and sometimes it was still difficult. But I knew Flynn loved the language, so I did my best.

"Flynn Nash, do you take Elora Horowitz, to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?" David asked. Flynn grinned happily at me.

"I do," he replied. My eyes never left his as he said this, my body freezing as I realized I was two words away from being married.

"And do you, Elora Horowitz, take Flynn Nash, to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?" He asked. I smiled brightly and nodded my head a little as I silently thanked God for giving me this man.

"I do," I replied.

"Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may kiss the bride, Flynn," he said to him. Flynn grabbed my waist and pulled me close as he quickly brought his lips to mine in a passionate kiss. I felt bombs going off in my head as my first kiss as a wife to someone started. I didn't know a kiss of marriage could feel so much more different from a regular one.

•••

Hilda's point of view:

It took me by surprise when I heard the front door crash open when I was away working in the kitchen. Emmaleigh and her boyfriend Harry came in, and their faces had an urgent expression. I left the dishes I was washing in the sink as they held hands, definitely looking for me as they ran in.

"Mom! Harry and I were talking and I think he can help with Elora," she said to me. I just about dropped the plate I held on the floor. I placed it in the sink and brought the tall, broad Harry to the table where he could sit.

"What do you know?" I asked. Harry seemed a little nervous. I didn't mean to make him anxious, I just wanted to know if he could save my baby. I got a little frantic when it came to the welfare of my children, as any mother who loved them would.

"I don't know much, but I know how to find someone who could. Julius, he's a friend of mine, he has a history with the KKK. His father was a member and he was as well. I haven't seen him since the night of the carnival where Elora and Emmaleigh went with us. I don't know where he is. He won't answer his phone at his apartment," Harry said. I remember when Emmaleigh told me about that night, but most of it was about her and her infatuation with Harry. She also informed me that Elora wasn't having any fun, but that wasn't a big portion of the conversation.

"So, this Julius, what do you suppose we can do to find him?" I asked. Harry held Emmaleigh's hand tightly, and as I saw it I was reminded of when Jack and I first began our love, and he would never let go of my hand. Over time, he and I were so close that we didn't need to do that constantly to prove we loved each other. Almost twenty-seven years of marriage was enough.

"Well, I'd like to check at his apartment first. I have a key in case there's a work emergency. I didn't do it earlier because I thought he had left work. He has done that before. But now that I've heard Elora was kidnapped, I'd like to make sure he doesn't have anything to do with it. I told Emmaleigh to tell you in case you wanted to come with us," he suggested. I nodded, definitely wanting to come. If I could find any way to make sure Elora was alright, I would do it in a second.

"Let's go," I said to them.

We drove into the city and down to the place where Julius's apartment was located. The street he lived on was bordering on the slums. His building was shabby and there were people all over, all looking under-privileged. The children that played ball in the street were wearing clothing that was torn or too big, some of them didn't even wear shoes. The adults were either men and women looking exhausted, probably from working two or three jobs, or they looked riddled with drug addiction, my guess was cocaine. All I knew was that I looked extremely out of place, and all of them noticed as well.

I tried to ignore it as we walked to the building and Harry opened it for us. I walked in and went into the elevator as quick as we could. I had to admit I was glad to get out of the streets. I didn't mean to look like a snob, but I had a feeling the people didn't know that and would've tried something. Maybe they wouldn't, maybe they were good people in a bad place. That was usually how it worked around cities this big.

When we came to the sixth floor where his apartment was located, Harry went for the key he had and unlocked it. We walked inside and a terrible stench made its way through my nose. It was like the scent of death in here, no one had been inside this place for a while. I saw the remnants of half-eaten plates of food by the sink in the small kitchen, which was probably the cause of the smell, and clothes sprawled across the whole floor.

"He hasn't been here for a while. If he was here it wouldn't be this bad," Harry pointed out. I stepped over some clothes as Emmaleigh held my hand to keep her balance on the floor as we leaped over some of the garbage on the carpet.

"Where do you suppose we should look to see if he's left something?" I asked. Harry thought for a moment as he had his hands on his hips, thinking. His long, blonde hair was straight but disheveled along his head as he trudged through the dingy apartment.

"His bedroom would probably have the most to look at. This way," he said as he walked down the short hallway. We followed him and entered the room. The bedroom smelled less terrible but it was just as messy. Mostly clothes, but the desk was covered in papers and what seemed to be spilled ink. He was writing something before he left in a hurry. It seemed to me that Julius was in danger of something---or someone.

"He didn't leave by choice. He ran from someone. He was writing a note, and he spilled the ink and left before he could finish it. Wait, look at this," he said as he fished through the pile of papers and took out a ripped piece with black ink scrawled along it in one line.

"What does it say?" Emmaleigh asked as he read it. He shook his head as he struggled to read it. He handed it to me to see if I could read it. The writing was hardly legible, but I could make out a little to spell it out.

"It's an address. In Washington. I don't know who lives here, but it's addressed to you. Have you heard of McCauley Street?" I asked. He shook his head as he thought. This was strange, but it was not impossible to decipher.

"Do you think dad would know?" She asked. I shook my head and thought of who might know where this address is. I didn't want to go to it without first knowing what---or who---lied there.

"I think I may know who would. Come on, we're going to Max's house to talk to Arden," I replied.

Note: sorry for a couple day's wait on this one. I've been working on a new story so I've devoted a lot of time to that one. Anyway, be sure to vote and comment on what you think! I love a little feedback! Also make sure to follow me for updates on all things writing. Happy reading!