Chapter 10: Returned Again

POV Ember

We appeared again in the clearing in front of Evergile, and I have never been so happy to see my own home. Or the figure who happened to be outside.

"Evangeline!" I cried, running to embrace her.

"Ember!" She called back. " I thought you were gone forever!"

We hugged tightly until Keefe cleared his throat. We both looked up and Evangeline frowned. "What happened?" She asked, stepping towards Jaelyn and Faybelle.

"We'll explain later." Keefe promised. Evangeline led us inside.

I was surprised to see Dex, Linh, Biana, Alden, Grady, Edaline, Della, Tam, Mystelle, and all the kids. But where were Mom and Dad?

Everyone spotted us quickly and I was consumed by hugs and sobs of relief. Somewhere in the mix Faybelle and Jaelyn were taken upstairs, and Elwin forced me onto the couch. Many lights flashed around my head and elixirs were dumped down my throat. Finally, everyone sat down and stared at me, like I was a dream and I would disappear if they looked away.

"So..." I said, not knowing what to say.

"What happened?" Alden asked. "Don't leave out details." He added.

So I explained it all to them. The building, the pit, the chains, the torture, our escape plan, Faybelle's fall, Jaelyn's scream, Keefe's heroic save. All of it.

The group seemed to grow grimmer and grimmer as I went on. When I was done everyone was silent except for Edaline, who was crying quietly.

I asked the question that had been on my mind since Keefe picked me up. "Where are Mom and Dad? Why aren't they here?" Everyone else exchanged looks. I didn't care. What happened to my parents?

Grandpa Grady finally stood and took my hand. He lead me to the guest room and pushed open the door.

Mom and Dad were both peacefully sleeping on the two beds that were in the room.

This scene was oddly horrifying. My mother had described what a patient of the broken mind looked like, and this was the description. I couldn't speak. I could hear everyone else file in behind me. I knew what I had to do.

I was just like mom, right? I unique and strange elf with weird powers and a ability to heal broken minds. So if this was my moment to prove that, I had to be the strange, weird elf.

I approached Mom's bed, praying that I could be a freaky weird elf. If not, I would never see my mom smile or laugh again.

I leaned over her bed, pretending to cry and rest my head on her chest. As I faked my dramatic scene, my hands slowly reached for Sophie's temples, and I soon reached them.

I heard someone shout at me, and someone else yell. I ignored that as I dissolved into my mom's head.

I thought I was in. Turns out I wasn't. I stood on a velvety surface, looking up at a large stone wall. This must be her blocking.

I knew I had to get through. Sophie... I transmitted. Nope. Sophie! It's Ember. Remember me? That did it. The wall fell backwards into a world of confusion.

I walked through memories that were mixed together, pictures that were out of proportion, and nightmares of all kinds.

I stretched out my conscience, trying to find a place away from the confusion. At first I didn't feel anything, but then I felt a faint spark to my right.

I charged toward it, needing, praying, for it to be the nook my mom told me about. I let it guide me through the swarm of garbled thoughts, and into the nook. I was there.

Sophie! I called desperately. I looked around, trying to find a sign that she had somehow heard me. Sophie! I tried again. No response.

I filled the nook with images and memories of the people she loved, letting her know she had to come back for them. Evangeline, Fitz, Faybelle, Me, everyone. Trying to find a sign of my mother, Sophie, not whatever this was.

I felt a tug on my shoulders. Someone was pulling me away. I transmitted frantically, trying to find her. No use. The tug gave one last pull, and dragged me out of Sophie's mind. I appeared next to my sleeping mom again, Grady holding my shoulders.

He was yelling at me, but the rest of the room was silent. Finally Grady calmed down, and he too, stared at me. Then it hit me.

Those weren't stares of anger.

Those were states of hope.

I started to look apologetically at them, tell them I couldn't get her to come back, but a jerking at my side interrupted me.

We all turned to see Sophie struggling in her bedsheets. We all stared intently at her, and soon enough, she jerked upright with a gasp. We all held our breath as her eyes fluttered open, then closed. She fell back again. We all sighed, except me. I rushed forward at her, thrusting my hands on her temples. This time no one stopped me.

I burst into her head, calling; Mom! MOM! I wouldn't stop. She had to be there. She couldn't leave me. MOM! Please come back! I transmitted frantically. Nothing.

Something.

I transmission. I'm here.

I relaxed, then emerged from her head. I looked around all the sad faces, and I smiled. "She's back."

Everyone cheered and hugged me, and Elwin ushered us all out of the room so Sophie could rest.

We all sat in the living room, laughing and joking and smiling. Soon Elwin went to check on Sophie, and he brought her staggering down the stairs and into the living room.

Me and Evangeline rushed up to hug her, almost knocking her down. She soon collapsed under the weight of everyone's hugs, and we had to drag her out of the crowd and to the couch.

We all explained what happened, and by the time we got to the part about Faybelle and Jaelyn, she was already upstairs making sure they we ok. Moms.

The best part was when we told her about Fitz. She rushed upstairs. No one followed her.

Soon she came back with Fitz leaning on her arm, looking tired and confused.

I leaped up, yelling, "Daddy!" And Evangeline followed. He got the usual hugs and kisses.

We sat and talked for a while. Tam went up to check on Jaelyn, and me and Mom went up with him.

Jaelyn was up, and I tackled her with a hug. Mom frowned at Faybelle, who was still asleep.

"She should be up by now," Mom muttered. "Let me check."

Any ideas on Ember's boyfriend?