Penny ran down the street as fast as she could; she looked back and didn't see anyone behind her. She kept running; she had no idea where she was going but she had to escape.
Her eyes stung from the tears but she refused to stop and wipe her face. Forced to stop by a busy road, she bent over and attempted to catch her breath. After the cars passed she started to run again.
She was running from more than just Prue and saying the spell; it was everything.
It was life with no parents, watching her adopted parents die, and she missed them. It was about her sisters going missing, the exhaustion of not resting the last few days, and having to send mom and grams away after getting a glimpse of what a family is like.
She was running from everything and she refused to stop until her legs gave out or someone got in her way.
The sisters were running through the neighborhood frantically looking for a trace of where Penny ran off to. When they finally stopped to catch a breath Phoebe spoke up, "there's no way we're going to find her like this," her voice was shaky.
Piper put her arms above her head in an attempt to breathe easier, "I can't do this," she shook her head. "If something happens to her," Piper drifted off. She couldn't bear the thought of something happening to their little sister.
"Leo, can you orb home and see if they've heard anything or have any ideas," Phoebe said quickly.
Leo ducked behind a dumpster and disappeared in those familiar blue lights.
The girls stood completely silent for a few moments before Prue spoke up, "I can't believe this happened; but at the same time I can. This is too much for any 13 year old to handle, it's too much for me and I'm completely grown." Piper was pacing and starring at the ground while Paige and Phoebe stood silently listening to Prue.
"Where are some places that she likes?" Phoebe asked turning to Paige.
Paige thought for a minute, "Golden Gate Park," Paige said. "We went there after our parents died a few times," Phoebe nodded. Leo orbed back in and let them know Grams and Patty were still working hard on the spell. "The park is this way, let's go," Paige led them.
Penny ran until she passed a familiar spot; Golden Gate Park. She and Paige had spent countless hours there after their parents passed away just quietly thinking by one of the creeks.
She ran there and when she arrived she fell to her knees on the ground and cried out.
Starring up at the elders she gave a death glare that could kill; but she knew it would do no good. They had to leave.
She hoped her sisters wouldn't find her right away; she was surprised Leo hadn't sensed her and orbed them there already. She looked around and remembered being 8 years old sitting in this very spot mourning the death of their adopted parents.
There was a rustling in the bushes and Penny looked up hoping it was just an animal or something. Nothing came into view. Taking caution; she stood up and listening carefully.
She heard it again; this time behind her. Her heart started to race as she saw something running towards her.
Demon, She immediately knew they had found her; the demons.
Now that she was outside the manor she was no longer protected.
An energy ball came flying her way; she telepathically sent it back towards the demon and tripped over her own feet trying to duck before he burst into flames. Great she thought to herself. If her sisters did find her out here they would be so mad knowing she had to fight demons alone.
Her heart was racing from the familiar adrenaline of fighting.
It seemed to always be that way; the adrenaline rush of battling demons. It would kick in immediately and before she even realized; the fight was usually over. Maybe I just happened to stumble into his territory while he was innocent hunting.
She sat down again near the creek and watched the water rush over the rocks. She was so tired; sitting down alone made her see just how tired the past month had made her.
She looked down and realized her jeans had ripped from tripping and she had scratched her leg. She got a little water in her hand from the creek and smoothed it over her skin before propping herself against a tree to get some rest.
"We're almost there!" Paige said. They weren't running as quickly anymore because they were rapidly running out of energy.
"Are you sure you know where it is? We're going in circles," Phoebe said.
Prue stopped them and pointed towards the sky. "It's about to storm." Everyone looked up in unison and just as she said it the heavens opened and in came the rain. "That's San Francisco for you," Phoebe said pulling her hood over her head.
"Penny's all alone in the rain, who knows where?" Piper said quietly.
They all stared at each other before Leo spoke up. "Paige, think for a second, what's a familiar landmark from where you think she is?" He asked.
Paige thought long and hard before responding; "It's a bench along the creek, maybe we should just follow the creek?" Leo paused again and looked up; "Grams is calling me," he said.
"Okay, we'll stay here, go!" Prue said looking around to make sure the coast was clear. She nodded and he disappeared in orbs.
Prue looked at each of her little sisters and they looked completely defeated. Was this the final straw? Was this the thing that would break their family apart? She had a sudden urge to finish strong.
She looked at Paige who was beside her; the rain was clouding her vision so it was hard to see if she was crying. She led them over to a nearby tree and they stood beneath it to wait for Leo.
Prue took Paige's hand in her own and nodded for her to grab onto Piper's, who then reached for Phoebe and Phoebe looked up and reached for Prue. Before Prue had a chance to speak, Leo orbed back in; "they found her, she's here in the park, opposite end," Leo pointed.
The adrenaline picked up again and they started to run in the direction Leo was going in.
"Wait, why can't we orb?" Phoebe asked.
"I can't actually sense her; there could be other people where she is. It's too risky," He answered. Phoebe sighed, "God protect her," she whispered and they kept running hoping that Penny would stay where she was.
Penny sat completely still against the tree stump. She was too afraid to actually go to sleep in case another demon tried to attack.
The rain was pouring hard but she continued to sit there silently allowing it to soak her.
She was thinking about everything; though she was still angry; she paused to think about how her sisters must be feeling right now. She knew they had to be frantically searching for her and immediately she felt guilt. She was putting them through exactly what she and Phoebe had been through just a few short days ago.
Her mind battled between her anger and her love for her family. While it was completely unfair; her sisters were not at fault for all that they had been through.
Tears welled up in her eyes but just before one could slip down her cheek she heard her name.
It echoed through the trees and it was loud enough to hear over the pitter patter from the rain; it was Piper.
She couldn't see them but she could hear them rustling through the forest nearby.
Her heart raced as she sat up, she hoped they weren't angry with her.
It was a familiar scene that had taken place just a few days ago but this time the first one to come into view was Prue.
Penny wasted no time; she took off running towards her big sister.
Those tears stinging in her young eyes began to fall as she met Prue in a deep forceful hug. She buried her face in her sister's chest and every emotion, every pain, every anxiety, every joy, every sorrow; everything came rushing to the surface and her entire body wracked with sobs.
She was still a little girl and in that moment she allowed herself to be.
She could feel many different arms around her and that was her safe place, in her sister's arms.
"I'm sorry," Penny was saying over and over. "It's okay baby, it's all going to be okay," Prue responded tearfully.
There were a lot of tears; they were fully aware of what was to come when they returned home.
Moments passed and when they looked around they realized Leo orbed them there and they were standing in the foyer all huddled together. Grams and Patty stood watching it all unfold.
They knew it was almost time for them to leave.
Prue was holding Penny; almost like she was a small child again but Prue couldn't bring herself to let her go. The next hour was going to be the hardest even harder than the last few; goodbyes were never easy.
In the attic they formed a circle; Piper looked at each of her sisters. Phoebe's tear stained face, Penny staring the ground refusing to make eye contact, Prue's worried eyes, and Paige's tired ones. This was painful.
Ready of not it was time to read the spell.
Their mom and Grams stood together in the middle holding hands; they had taken the last hour to say goodbye to each girl individually.
The attic was silent until Grams nodded for them to go ahead. Once the chanting began there was not a dry eye in the room.
It was the end of the glimpse of what life would have been like with a normal family but yet they knew they had experienced something no humans have ever had the privilege of doing once someone has passed.
They squeezed each other's hands tight, the connection could not be broken or the spell would not work.
"Blessed be my darlings, we love you so much," Patty said.
Those familiar white lights materialized around them. Grams looked each granddaughter in the face; "Be strong my angels," with those last words they disappeared and they stood still holding hands.
There was just the five of them. It was done.