Chapter 2 - Somewhere Beyond the Sea

From the deck of the ship, Shilo watched the island she had called home disappear into the fog. She had spent the time waiting for the ship to set sail debating on if she was really making the right decision for herself. She still wasn't one hundred percent sure, but it was too late to turn back now.

Reaching into her messenger bag, she pulled her out her old wig. The wind from the sea pulled at the fibers greedily as she brought it close to her face. Eyes closed tight, a single tear escaping before she tossed it over board. She wouldn't be the same Shilo Wallace when she returned, if she returned, and she didn't need the constant reminder of that horrible night looming over her. Watching as the wind spun the wig around before it was swallowed by the waves, she smiled. "Goodbye Dad. I'll be home before you know it." Turning her back on the railing, she retreated to her cabin. Forcing herself not to look back.

-Eight Years Later-

The breeze played with her long, ebony hair as she slowly made her way to the railing of the upper deck. Carefully placing her suitcase and medical bag by her feet, she pushed her sunglasses onto the crown of her head, allowing her first un-obscured view of her childhood home in eight years.

Watching with a critical eye as they made their slow journey into port, she sighed. A minuet smile tugging at her lips, she settled her sunglasses back onto her nose and gathered up her things, she murmured to herself, "Hope everything is still standing." Making her way towards the other end of the ship, she watched the ropes being tossed to the dock as the last of her things were brought out of the hold.

A cage housing two very sleepy ferrets was brought to her by one of the ships crew and she smiled fondly. Gently taking the cage from the young crew men, she offered him an envelope. "Thank you, and if I could impose one more request of you. Once we are docked, please hire me a vehicle to take me to my house. Directions and fare are in the envelope, along with something for you for your trouble."

With a smile and a smart salute, "Yes ma'am," he was off to finish whatever other duties he had upon docking before carrying out her request. And there she stood, watching and waiting patiently. Once disembarked, she would make her way to the home she once new. Then she would go to meet with the banker about the purchase of the hospital building her father once worked at, pre Repo-man status. Perhaps Graverobber will be at her house. Would make tracking him down a whole lot easier if he had actually taken care of things like he said he would.

The ship was docked; the ramp was secure; there was no turning back. Shilo Wallace had returned.

-The Wallace House-

The cab ride over wasn't the most comfortable of rides. There wasn't enough storage space in the trunk of the vehicle and the driver didn't want to transport her ferrets. Once she had made it perfectly clear that leaving them was not an option and relinquishing him of his pay was, he relented. Money was still the greatest power on the island. Or more accurately, greed was the greatest power.

But non of that mattered, she was home. All of her luggage was secure inside the gates, she would worry about bringing everything in once she was sure Robber hadn't allowed any squatters to move in. The gates were locked and it was clear that those in the neighborhood still feared the departed Repo-man's home.

Once through the door, she placed the cage on the ground and let her two little vermin hunters loose. "Make sure the house is clean," she instructed as they pranced off to explore. Eager to find any tasty grubs to eat or rats to chase out. This was their home now and they weren't going to let anything in that could harm their mistress.

Letting her eyes scan the room, she breathed in deep and marveled that it still smelled the same after all these years. A bit musty perhaps, and a lingering order of something that was also familiar but not from home, but the same non the less. It was fairly confusing and overwhelming that something as simple as smell could of lingered for so long. She had to catch herself on the doorway to keep from crumbling to her knees as memories that she thought she was strong enough to deal with came flooding back. "Oh Dad, why did I think I was ready for this?"

Shilo had made it this far and she wasn't about to quit now. Blinking back tears brought on by the onslaught of memories, she pushed herself off the wall and made her slow progression through the house. Despite her determination, she wasn't ready to face upstairs. Her old room. HIS old room. Deciding how she was going to set up the rooms to make them HERS only. She knew she would have to face it before the day was done, but for now, getting to know the downstairs was enough.

She had forgotten how beautiful the old place was. Her parents had very good taste and while it would take a lot of effort on her part, there was enough left that she could restore it to its former glory. Wandering from entery way to living room and back again, she paused as she ran her hands along the walls. The clicking of her ferrets claws on the wood floors could be heard echoing through the house, as well as someone moving about in the kitchen. The smile that broke across her face couldn't be helped.

Making her way into the kitchen, there he was. Standing at the counter, a beer in one hand and a sandwich in the other. Looked like peanut butter. "Hey stranger," she called out before she could stop herself.

His head whipped around, eyes wide as he took in the sight of her. Placing his meal on the counter, he waisted no time in crossing the space between them. "Kid?" he asked as he grabbed her shoulders. "You finally back?"

"Yeah Robber." The smile from before lit up her face once more. "I'm home now." And that was that. She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tight. "I'm home for good."