Chapter 164 – Family
“Here we are,” Syrus said, but the exhaustion couldn’t be hidden from her words. It had been over a week since they were last at this house. It would’ve been two if it weren’t thanks to Marazada providing high-speed transport.
The sun had long since risen, and after a long trip, they had returned to Greenvale.
They had snuck back into the town and quietly had made their way to the house where everyone lived.
“Come on, everyone, let’s get inside quickly,” Syrus said. She pushed the children’s backs, and they felt a mixture of nervousness and excitement.
Standing at the front door, Syrus noticed it was locked. She knocked on the door and called out to say “I’ve returned.”
The children inside recognised her voice and peered out the window. Then fell back and scurried towards the door and opened it.
“Thanks, Jasper.” Syrus thanked him, and she brought the kids inside.
The noise of someone entering immediately alerted everyone inside.
Then the young girl with blue eyes that shone when she looked at the doorway. The ginger hair that had a blue shine reflected the light as she froze in place.
Then the adult walked down the stairs. “You made it back…” Elly’s hands covered her mouth as her words quietly whispered through the gaps.
“BROTHER!” Leah's heart started again, and she jumped and wrapped her arms around Jerry.
“Sis…” Jerry’s eyes finally started to water. “I’m—sorry for worrying you…”
“Don’t be! I’m glad you are back.” She hugged him tighter.
Syrus pushed everyone inside and closed the door behind them. Jack ran up to Susan, who projected an outward display of being fine. Ella, who just came out of the kitchen with an apron on, immediately ran to Billy, the youngest, to give him a hug.
Once that happened. The rest of the children of the orphanage were practically jumping over each other as the three had returned safely.
Then they dispersed slightly as Elly walked forward.
Elly hugged all three. “I’m so glad you are alive…” She bit her lip as she held back the tears.
[Finally…] (Eva)
[This never should have happened.] (Luna)
[Not the time. We know that.] (Syrus)
[Sorry. Still worked up.] (Luna)
[I know, it’s okay.] (Syrus)
Anlesa allowed the children to celebrate the trio's return. Some of the children ran up and gave Anlesa a hug as a thank you. Leah came up to her and whispered a thank you.
They watched as all the children were relieved as Jerry, Susan, and Billy were home alive.
Once the emotions had calmed down
“Did anything happen?” Luna asked, her words cold.
“Since you left, no,” Elly answered.
“No one came knocking around over the last five days?”
“...” Elly paused. “One day ago, some came knocking, asking if anyone was missing. We didn’t know if they were someone from in or out of town; either way, we told him what we told everyone else, that no one was missing.”
Syrus questioned, “Any issues with the kids missing?”
Elly replied, “Rumours have spread of children being kidnapped, but for anyone who asked, I said none of mine were taken.”
Luna asked, “Do we know how they spread?” She was cornered, as depending on who was spreading them, it could be a safety concern.
“I don’t know; rumours spread in mysterious ways.” Her eyes glanced at the children. Elly didn’t know who spread them; she figured it might’ve been the children, even if it was by accident, but like everyone else, they replied without knowing.
“As long as they don’t come back to bite,” Syrus warned. Everyone in the room instantly understood the warning, which caused the overall excitement in the room to drop.
“I understand…” Elly nodded.
She then clapped and organised all the children. Saying that she knew everyone was excited, but that she needed to organise everything first. The children ran around, dragging the three kids upstairs and finding clean clothes for them to wear. Not every child went upstairs, as there were many things downstairs that still needed to be done.
Elly said, “Thank you… Syrus.” Her eyes were still wet from the earlier crying. They moved to the table on the lower level to sit down. The emotions were still so raw in Elly that she needed to sit down.
“Don’t be… The cleanup wasn’t perfect.” Syrus didn’t hide her pained expression. “There are still people who could be looking for the children.”
Elly asked bluntly, “What can I do?”
Anlesa sighed, “I am not sure. You can keep the children hidden from the world, but that will only harm them. You can move somewhere else, but that would be extremely expensive.”
“Do we know why they were after the children?”
Syrus answered, but Luna switched in, “They have something the church would like–and it is for such a stupid reason as well.”
Elly asked, “If that is the case… is there a chance this happened again? Is there a chance they won’t be harmed?”
Luna replied, “No… When I found them, none of them were in good condition.”
Elly’s face crumpled up in horror. “No…”
Anlesa didn’t want to speak of the conditions of what they saw the children in, so she told Elly she wouldn’t talk about that, and instead she spent some time talking about the potential risks.
She mentioned at least one member of the organisation–she didn’t mention the church by name to not rile up the children–who had kidnapped the children knew they came from this city, but she had no one to know if that information had spread beyond that one person. Either way, they still didn’t know if the children actually belonged to the city or were simply captured while they were in the city.
Elly explained they hadn’t informed the authorities, which was good, as it meant there was no missing person case going around.
Luna also explained that while it would be hard, they would have to inform all the children about who attacked them. She also quietly hinted that they didn’t need to inform them that it was the same people who did the first attack. Anlesa didn't know what exact information had spread among the children, so she kept that brief.
Elly had also asked about possible locations to move to. Despite that being expensive, there was the fact that staying around contained its own dangers.
The conversation was long, but after a while, they had an idea of the situation and what, at a minimum, needed to be done.
Elly and the children knew they had to have a talk and be extra careful.
Elly questioned, “I know this will be hard, but what do you plan to do now?”
“Laying the hammer down hard with that one.” Syrus leaned back in her chair.
“I know… You have your own troubles.” Elly said, “But it would be great if you could–”
“I am already in a lot of shit, Elly.” Syrus was honest, “My name isn’t safe anymore; I am already in danger by simply existing, and I have people who don’t like me. If I stay around here, I am only inviting more trouble.”
While there were some aspects that were hidden, like their operations they did under Luna against the church, they had been Syrus when the attack on the town happened and when they fought Levi. That was a massive event that likely got her name in places they would rather not be in. Of course, they didn’t know what Levi’s connection to the church was, and maybe she didn’t say anything, but Syrus saw Levi as a dangerous threat on her own and didn’t want her gaze to be near the kids either way.
“Still—”
Luna said, “It’s complicated, Elly, so very complicated.” Eva turned her head to look at the children looking down from the staircase. “A part of me does wish to, but it is not safe, and I would be better if I were able to send you money.”
“Okay…” Elly closed her eyes, understanding she wouldn’t be able to convince Anna. “Just… Please be safe and try to visit.”
“I will try.” Syrus nodded. “I don’t want to come back to an empty home.”