Crown Of Thorns [ Michael Langdon ]

24 - lost time - 24

{Chapter Twenty Four - Lost Time}

~ I love you, baby,
And if it's quite alright,
I need you, baby,
To warm the lonely night ~

-  Can't Take My Eyes off You

When Elora opened her eyes, she blinked a couple of times. She looked around, she was holding someone's hand, and standing on a sidewalk.

It was Nathan's hand she was holding, and by her surroundings, she was in Los Angeles. She suddenly knew where she was, or more importantly, when she was. It took her a second to remember what she was supposed to be doing, and who she actually was.

When Elora was still living in New Orleans, she went on a trip with Nathan, her boyfriend at the time, to Los Angeles. That's what made them decide they wanted to move there. She looked down, and saw that she was not pregnant, and she looked considerably younger. She had definitely followed Mallory back in time. She looked over at Nathan, who looked painfully oblivious, and she let go of his hand.

"Uh, Nate," Elora started, "I think I forgot my phone... back at the hotel."

"Oh, okay..." Nathan frowned, "We can go back."

"No!" Elora said a little too quickly. "Just... wait here, please?" Nathan shrugged, indifferent, and Elora speed walked in the other direction. As soon as she turned the corner, she sprinted. Where would Michael be right now? She knew Mallory was coming to kill him, and Elora had to stop her.

She knew Michael was born in what was called the 'Murder House' in Los Angeles, and grew up in the house next to it with his grandmother. She prayed that she was close to Michael's childhood home, as she ran down the street.

The first people she came across was a couple crossing the road, "Excuse me!" Elora yelled at them. They stopped walking, and looked at her strangely. "Um, excuse me." She repeated, this time a little quieter.

"Yes?" The man asked with a frown.

"Can you tell me where I can find the... um, Murder House?" She muttered, breathing heavily.

"Oh, you a tourist?" The girl asked, smiling.

"Yep." Elora nodded, becoming impatient.

"It's about two blocks that way." The man pointed behind him. "But I don't think they are doing tours tod-"

"Thank you!" Elora interjected quickly, and bolted away without another word. She didn't care how rude or unusual her interactions were with these strangers, because if her plan went accordingly, it wouldn't matter.

Elora rounded the last corner, huffing. The Murder House came into view, a brick mansion that stood out among the others. At the end of the street was a Range Rover, sitting idly in the middle of the road, as if waiting for something.

"Mallory." Elora muttered, and stormed towards the car. Mallory jumped out of the car at the sight of Elora, holding a bat.

"What do you think you're doing?" Mallory hissed, her bat raised. "How did you-"

"Clearly you underestimated me." Elora snapped, folding her arms.

"You're not supposed to be here!" Mallory frowned, panic setting in.

"You will not harm Michael!" Elora hissed.

"I have to, Elora!" Mallory's lip wobbled, "For the good of the coven, and the world!"