Chapter Seven: Memory

Eve stuffed the green note book into her bag. She didn't feel like writing. Then, she stood up to scan her bedroom. A room she would most likely never return to. Everything was straightened, and Eve's traveling bag sat packed on her golden bed. She had hoped that the bag would never have to be packed like this again, yet there it sat, zipped up and ready to go.

"Eve. You ready?" It was Peter's voice. Eve knew that right away; but, she still couldn't help hoping that as she turned around, it would be her brother in that doorway. That's how it had always been. Derrick making sure they left on time… Probably the only thing he'd ever made sure of in his life.

Eve nodded. She hadn't wanted to leave, but she had no choice. She made sure her bag was fully zipped, then, reached into the side pocket, and pulled out the heart shaped locket. She could almost see her brothers face again, so full of excitement, as if she was opening the present all over again. Sighing, Eve draped the locket around her neck, and locked the clasp. She watched as it fell upon her chest, taking her reflection with it. Then, Eve threw her bag over her shoulder, and followed Peter out the door and down the stairs.

Eve was in awe at how many people had already arrived at her house, decorating it with tape, and lighting it with the flash of their cameras. Downstairs, it smelled just as a crowd of people normally does. A mix of sweat and perfume filled the air, making Eve want to hold her nose.

These people were the FBI, and the man before her was an FBI agent. Eve had of course been surprised to find this out, but now, as she looked at him, she couldn't think of anything else he could be.

"What's with your anklet?"

"It's a tracker."

"Who's tracking you?"

"The FBI."

The conversation with Neal popped into her head. She didn't understand how Neal was friends with Peter; how he had so happily gone to Peter's house for dinner. Eve tried to imagine having dinner with the people that had tracked her, and shook. The thought was horrifying.

"Can we go now?" Neal stood in the frame of the front door, waiting. He looked bored, and Eve noticed that he was now wearing a hat. Had he had that before?

"Please don't tell me you went back to you apartment just to grab that." Peter scowled, but Neal just laughed. He angled the front of the hat over his face, and walked out into the front yard.

Eve glanced back behind her. The grand hall was still a mess, just a taped off mess. She could almost imagine Derrick and Leo still standing there, just behind her. Laughing.

"Don't worry, Derrick. I'll be fine in the attic."

"Come on, Eve."

Eve followed Peter out the door. She could see Neal just ahead of them, as he moved toward a small black car. As she and Peter approached, he opened the back door.

"Don't worry, Eve. Everything's going to be okay."

How could he possibly know that?

Neal smiled at her, and she crawled in. The door was shut behind her, and the other two men crawled into the front seats.

"Can we get a car, D?"

"Sure, Eve. Whatever you want."

Eve winced at the memory. She would never have that car now.

The black car began to drive off, and Eve couldn't bare to look out the window. She couldn't bare to look up at the house she had once dreamed about having. If it wasn't for the house, Derrick would still be alive. If it wasn't for the house, Leo would still be beside her. They'd probably be sitting on a plane right now, squished all into one row. Eve would have the window seat, so that she could overlook all that they were leaving behind; but, at least she'd still have the only two people she'd ever known, not the two strangers that now sat in the front of the black car.

"Can I at least turn on the radio?"

"No, Neal. I need to concentrate on the road."

"But there's no one out here, Peter! It's almost midnight!"

Eve listened as the two men bickered. She laid her head against the seat belt, and allowed her eyes to follow the empty streets as they passed down them. The sky was dark, and each ally held it's shadows. Eve wondered where Leo was, wondered if he was okay. He had to be okay. She didn't know what she'd do if he wasn't.

"Live? As in stay here for the rest of our lives?"

"Well, at least for a little while."

Had he known how literal his words would be? Had he known that they would barely get a day of happiness, before the glass walls were shattered all over again?

Eve heard the glass door shatter, the smell of the piney Colorado air filled her lungs.

"Eve, let's go."

"Eve, get in the truck. Now!"

Eve was running toward the black pick-up truck, Derrick and Leo just behind her.

"I've got you, Eve. Don't worry. Just get in."

Then they were driving away. Away from the house she had known all her life. It's wooden walls towered over the dirt road, as Derrick drove them away. Away.

"Eve. Wake up."

The black car had stopped moving, and the door beside Eve had been opened. She could smell the strong odor of gasoline, and the dream was quickly forgotten. It was once again shoved to the back of her head, just as it had been so many years before.

"Come on, Eve. Get up." Peter was leaning through the door, he reached out to shake Eve, and she quickly inched away. She could hear a soft chuckle coming from some where outside the car.

"Still not good with kids, are you Peter?"

"Come on, Eve."

Peter stood back, allowing Eve to hop out. She quickly scanned her surroundings. She stood in the middle of a parking garage, that was almost completely empty. Except for the single black car, and the two men who still stood staring at her.

"It's okay, Eve. Let's go." Neal wrapped his arm around her, but she quickly shook it off. He stared at her, surprised, then shrugging, walked off. Eve followed.

Eve followed the two men into a large glass building, and through multiple doors and elevators. They passed many unfamiliar faces, none of which even noticed Eve. They were to busy running around with their stacks of paper.

The men led Eve through even more doors. Written in glass above them, Eve noticed the words "White Collar". They made their way up even more stairs, and through even more doors, until they finally ended up in a small glass office.

Peter walked behind the desk in the middle of the room, and sat down. Neal grabbed a chair from the front of the desk, and did the same.

"Have a seat, Eve."

Eve sat down in the only chair left, and stared up at Peter, waiting for the questions to begin. After all, she knew they would come. Why else would she have been brought here?

"I need you to tell me everything you know, Eve." Peter said.

"I know a whole lot, sir. My brother always says I'm very smart for my age."

"I meant about the recent events."

"Well, if it's recent events you want, you can try reading a news paper."

Peter moaned, and leaned back in his chair. Eve sunk into hers. Of course she knew what the man wanted her to say, but she wasn't ready to just hand that information over. Not everyone is allowed to tell their story. They were Eve's secrets, the stories she'd kept hidden for so long. Why would she start talking now?

"Eve, please." Neal was staring at her. He wasn't smiling, and he had his hat pushed out of his face. His blue eyes stared straight into hers, begging her to speak. "We can't help Leo, unless you talk."

Eve thought of Leo. She could see his pale face, his blond hair, his pale blue eyes. She could here his warm voice calling her name, feel him hug her and tell her everything was going to be okay.

"You'll find Leo?"

"Of course."

"Promise?"

"We promise, Eve." It was Peter who spoke. She looked from him to Neal, as they watched her, waiting.

"I don't know where to start." It was the truth. She wasn't exactly sure where the story really began.

"How did your parents die, Eve?" Neal asked. Eve closed her eyes, as if trying to remember. When she opened them, the story began to flow out. As if one had finally turned on a sink faucet, after many, many years.

(So I was hoping to have Eve's story included in this chapter, but it was beginning to get to long. I should have Chapter Eight up by later today, and that'll tell you all the details about Eve's past. It's a story I've had stuck in my head for so long now. I was going to use it in an original story of mine, but couldn't make it fit. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do writing it.)

"Now there's no place like home,
To make me feel alone.
I see you everywhere I am,
And I remember, how you ran out to hide.
You kept me close behind,
Following your every move, so I remember."

~Yellowcard