Lost | Elektra and Liam | The Dumping Ground

Seventeen

Elektra and Liam sat opposite each other in the train carriage, staring out at the blurry landscapes whizzing past. Despite the constant rattling of the train, they felt a sense of serenity as they realised that the worst was over. The past few days had been emotional, to say the least. Both of them had been crying their eyes out, but once the sorrow and pain and guilt had been wrenched out of them, they got to work.

Elektra found herself somewhat determined, as she strolled to Frank and Liam's apartment. They spent around a week planning, creating a timeline, searching up addresses in a directory. They researched court proceedings, accommodation, and places to eat.

Jack had offered to provide them a place to stay, but Liam and Elektra knew that they may have to move around. Jack's job as an undercover policeman meant that it was too risky for their cases to get muddled up with his.

The one thing Elektra was incredibly anxious about, was meeting Charlie again. She'd have grown up a lot by now, and Elektra wasn't too sure whether Charlie would even want to come back to live with her.

As the train slowed down at a red signal, Elektra found herself eased slowly from her thoughts.

She allowed her gaze to focus on Liam who was still gazing outside. For a minute, time slowed as she examined the way the sunlight rested against his cheek. A face that was so familiar and yet so troubling.

Her heart skipped a beat, as he yawned and caught her gaze.

"Where's Frank with those coffees?" he asked frowning disgruntled. Elektra couldn't hold back a smile.

"Well knowing Frank, he's probably chatting up some poor lady..." she replied.

They both shared a grin, before looking away. Liam stretched his arms onto the table.

"So London eh? Place where we both grew up," he remarked nostalgically.

"Different ends though..." Elektra added, remembering her posh middle-class upbringing.

Liam noticed her pause briefly. "Do you ever miss it?"

Elektra looked up, "What London?"

"No. I mean, do you ever miss living with them? Your parents."

Elektra sighed, somewhat pensively. Her parents weren't always horrible to her. I mean, she did feel like a right Cinderella sometimes, but they did love her. They were just a bit too traditional and uptight.

As a child, Elektra had never been the type to just sit down and obey. She made friends with all types of people and her parents fretted that this would cause her problems in the future.

Ironic, Elektra thought, That all my problems stem from them putting me in care.

Realising she hadn't answered Liam's question she returned his gaze.

"Sometimes. Sometimes I wish I could've just obeyed them, been like Melissa. Then maybe I could still have their respect, could still be living with them. But I don't think they ever really understood me. Besides, I can't time travel. What's happened has happened."

Liam nodded in response. "My parents were rich."

Elektra looked at him in shock, "Seriously? How do you..."

"Jack told me. They put me in care because they were on the run. They wanted to protect us. And that was the only way they knew how."

Elektra considered this. How two similar families could have two very different reasons for placing their kids into care.

Frank returned with the coffees, "Sorry I'm late. There was this girl..."

"Told you," Elektra grinned, as she sipped the warm liquid eagerly. Liam chuckled and Frank sat down to explain what had happened smiling from ear to ear. As the three of them chatted animatedly, they all felt a strong bond begin to tie them together.