Home Blues

It had now been two months since Phoenix started traveling with Lara and Jonah. So far they had gotten the Fire Bird Feather Keys from Washington State, Oregon and two weeks ago Montana and Wyoming. She became close with Jonah and Lara. Over the course of their journey Phoenix developed a crush on Lara. Now they are on their way to Nevada. Phoenix had insisted that they stop at St. George, Utah. Where her father and stepmother's home and her former home is at. Just recently she found out that her father and stepmother filed a missing person's report on her. There was also another thing she needed important documents to start a new life which she had forgotten about until now. The documents are: her birth certificate, social security card, high school diploma, and her passport. They are all at her father and stepmother's house. Now they are stopped at a diner in Salt Lake City for lunch.

"They really did file a missing person report on you." Jonah alongside Lara were looking at the website showing St. George's town newspaper on the new cellphone that Lara got for her. Before leaving for Alaska, Phoenix ditched her old phone at her former home knowing that her father had a tracking app put on it.

"Jonah, we gotta get her documents out of there somehow," said Lara

"It's her call, what's the first move when we get to St. George Phoenix?" asked Jonah

"Well, St. George is about four hours from here and it's now noon. By the time we get there it would be past four. My father and stepmother leave the house then and are back by seven. So we have a few hours to get in, get what I need, and get out. Then we'll head to the police station and tell them to drop the missing person report." Phoenix explained

"Sounds like a plan. Jonah?" Lara turns toward Jonah

"Like I said it's her call whatever she wants."

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Phoenix had been nervous during the whole four hour drive to St. George. Lara and Jonah reassured and comforted her during the whole drive. Once they reached the city limits, Phoenix started giving Jonah directions to drive into her former neighborhood. Phoenix's old neighborhood was in the upper class part of town. Phoenix felt a sense of dread seeing her former home for the first time in two months. Lara had Jonah park across the street a couple of doors down. She got out of the car and scoped the area. Phoenix looked outside with Lara. There were no cars in front of the house.

"Oh good, no one's home," said Phoenix, relieved "Let's get in, get my stuff and get out of here. I don't want to come back again after tonight."

"Don't worry, you have something different now. Better than what you had when you were living with them. I'm going in with you to help out," said Lara "Jonah be on the lookout. Text me if you see someone head for the driveway of Phoenix's former home."

"Alright and keep an eye on Phoenix," said Jonah

"I will."

Lara and Phoenix climbed up the tree that leads into Phoenix's old bedroom. Phoenix had always kept the window unlocked. She had a habit of sneaking out of her room to escape the abuse sometimes back when she lived with them and check out the stores and restaurants in town. Phoenix pushed the window open and she and Lara climbed inside.

"This is my old bedroom, even after two months they forgot that I always keep the window unlocked," said Phoenix

She and Lara went through the hallway to find Salem's office. During their walk to Salem's office Lara noticed some pictures on the wall of Phoenix, Ramona, and Salem. In all of the photos Phoenix looked miserable and even faking a smile in some of them. There was one photo on the wall that stood out to Lara. It was Phoenix, Salem, and Ramona wearing funeral garb. Phoenix was crying in the photo, while Ramona and Salem had smug looking grins on their faces. It made Lara's skin crawl.

"What the bloody hell?! Who smiles at a funeral?!"

"Oh no, that's the photo of my Mom's funeral. They told me that I belong to them now and that there was nothing I could do about it. They said it like they won a trophy, some kind of prize," said Phoenix.

Once they reached Salem's office they started looking through his things until Phoenix found the safe combination and they walked toward the safe, punched in the combination, and opened it. They found a file cabinet drawer labeled "Phoenix". Phoenix flipped through the papers and pulled out the important files: her birth certificate, social security card, high school diploma, passport, and a folder marked "Medical". They slipped those into a file packet that they had brought with them and placed it into Lara's backpack. They closed the file cabinet and the safe door. They went back to Phoenix's room to pack some things from there. They moved to the dresser to pull out some of Phoenix's clothes. They packed five changes of clothes for warm weather and five for cold weather. They were specific, jeans, t-shirts, and sweaters. It took them some time to find such clothes in a dresser full of skirts and blouses Phoenix's father and stepmother forced her to wear, but somehow they did and stuffed them into a backpack that Phoenix found in her closet. They stuffed Phoenix's underclothes, winter coat, socks, and whatever hoodies they could into Phoenix's backpack along with a pair of hiking boots and flip-flops.

"You said you have some items of sentimental value that you wanted to bring with you Phoenix?" asked Lara

"My Dad and Stepmonster deemed them "ungodly" which is why I have to...Hide my stuff." Phoenix remembered hiding them in two places. She opened a vent that contained a small box in it. She opened it revealing a photo of Bridget Star, her deceased mother. She reached under her bed and pulled out a box revealing a laptop that she labeled for gaming along with it's charging cable, a Skyrim baseball cap that her mother had given her, a Nintendo ds, 3ds, some Pokemon games and a plush Pikachu toy, a Vault 111 jacket. She closed the box and took them both out of their spots.

"We can finally get out of here," said Phoenix as she puts on the Skyrim hat and Vault 111 jacket.

Phoenix put the smaller box into her backpack and slung the backpack onto her back and carried the bigger box under her arm. Lara slung her own backpack onto her back. They both climbed out of the window and onto the tree with Lara closing the window behind her. They climbed down the tree, made sure no one saw them and rushed to the car, opened the trunk and put the items they brought with them in. They got in the car.

"How'd it go, did you guys get what you need?" asked Jonah

"Yes we did." Lara answered

Phoenix glanced out the window and saw a familiar sight roll into the neighborhood. Salem's red Chevy Silverado. Phoenix dove under the back seat so her Dad wouldn't see her.

"What's wrong?" asked Jonah

"It's my Dad's truck, he's coming!" Phoenix exclaimed with fear in her voice.

"Oh shit! Jonah, we need to go, now!" Lara ordered

Jonah started the car and put it in drive.

"Go, go, go, go! And don't drive off fast like you're committing a crime!" Lara urged

They managed to drive past Salem's truck without him noticing them. They drove out of the neighborhood just to be sure.

"Phoenix, it's okay we're out of the neighborhood, you're safe, your father won't hurt you." Lara reached out to hold Phoenix's hand. This was enough to calm the red head down.

Phoenix got up to sit in the back seat and buckled her seatbelt.

"Hey you're doing the right thing," said Jonah

"I know," said Phoenix

"It's okay to be scared."

"I guess I am scared," said Phoenix

"It's going to be alright. I know this is hard, but you'll be okay," said Lara comforting Phoenix

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Phoenix was nervous, she was staring out the window keeping her eyes peeled for anyone who would recognize her. Her heart skipped a couple beats as Jonah pulled into the police station and parked.

"Okay we're here, good luck Phoenix. We'll be waiting out here," said Jonah

"Wait, you guys are not going in with me?" asked Phoenix

"If we go in with you the police might think we kidnapped you and are forcing you to do this. You have to show them this is your choice."

Phoenix let out a squeak of fear from her throat. Lara notices this and wraps an arm around her lightly squeezing her shoulder in an assuring manner.

"You'll be okay, just call us if you need anything." she comforted her

Phoenix nodded, took a deep breath and walked out of the car and into the police station. She glanced about until she found the front desk where an officer was looking at her phone.

"Excuse me, ma'am, I need to close a missing person's case."

The officer looked up and recognized her and yelled out to another officer

"Officer Warren, it's the Star girl!"

A graying officer shuffled from the back hallway and chuckled at the sight of Phoenix.

"Well look what we have here. Phoenix Star, Salem's daughter in the flesh. What happened to you girl? Where have you been for the past two months? Your daddy and stepmom will surely be happy to see you."

"No!" Phoenix shouted, causing the two officers to jump. Phoenix took in a deep breath to calm herself before explaining "No, I don't want them to know where I am."

"Miss Star…"

"I've started a new life, and I would like them out of it. I'm leaving St. George, and I don't want my father and stepmother to know where I'm going. I just want to close my missing person report and go about my day. Also I'm eighteen so legally I am allowed to do that."

After a long pause Officer Warren shrugged and replied "Sounds good to me. Johanna, close out that missing person's case."

"Yes sir." Johanna walked off

"Are you sure you don't want to tell them anything?"

"No. Tell them I'm sorry it had to be this way, but I'm safe and happy and that they need to move on with their lives." Phoenix answered

"Alright, good luck to you girl."

Phoenix smiled and nodded, then turned and walked out of the station. She walked to the car, opened the door, slipped into the backseat and closed the door behind her.

"It's done." she announced as she buckled herself in. "Let's get out of here. I don't want to look back."

"Alright let's go," said Jonah as he started the car and drove off.

Phoenix curled into a ball. Let's get out of this town and not look back. Too many painful memories. As they got on the highway and drove on it, she saw her former home. She could see several parked cars crowding the driveway. It must be a search party looking for her. Tears brimmed her eyes.

"Are you alright?" asked Lara

"I'll be fine."

"Well this has to be difficult for you." Lara reached from the front seat to touch Phoenix's hand

"It had to be done. Let's just get to Nevada."