Barcrow's: Codename K9

Chapter forty one - Life goes on

'So what were all those colours?'

'Just- colours. Still experimenting. They're all written down but I'm just too lazy to learn all that. Besides, it's more fun like this.'

'They're written down?'

Celeste looked at her. 'I'll send you some e-books.' She nodded.

They walked on, out of the building.

'Do you feel emotions? If you learnt how to react...'

'Depends. They come back randomly (or when I'm watching a movie or listening to a song) but I usually have a better control over them than before, I can also cancel them whenever I want to.'

'Hm...'

'Have you ever just remembered something or felt something that didn't belong in this life?' Celeste asked.

'What do you mean?'

'I remember. I remember my past lives, though only in fragments, and usually the time just before I died, but I remember. I feel my death a thousand times over before I go to sleep. I feel arrows, chainsaws, guns, knives, swords and many others. But there's one life where I actually remember my whole life. And others where I feel myself knowing, I'm better off not knowing. What's weird is that sometimes, I remember things that happened in this timeline, things that happen now.' She paused. 'If that makes any sense.'

'It does. I don't remember anything.'

'Yet.'

They made it to the bus stop just before the bus arrived.

'Bye.' Celeste waved.

'Bye.' Ellie got in and asked for a ticket.

She picked a seat near the back and waved back to Celeste.

Celeste on the other hand, didn't go home after the bus left. She didn't want to be trapped indoors again, so she decided to go for a walk.

*

'Elaine? Elaine! Over here!' The man waved. 'Hi there!'

'Hi.' She replied shyly.

'I'm gonna be your new father!' He seemed really excited. 'But maybe calling me dad might feel wrong.' He rubbed his neck. 'You can call me Sam if you want but feel free to call me dad, ok?'

Ellie nodded, noticing the little boy behind him.

'This Marty. Marty, say hello to your new sister.'

Marty glared at her and stuck his tongue out before turning away.

O~kay?

'Hey, be nice!' His father frowned. 'Let's go. The car's this way.'

Ellie followed, watching Marty stare at her from the corner of her eye.

'You don't look like a problem child. So, the rumours about that company were full of hot air after all.'

'I don't know about that... I was only there for a couple of days.'

'What? You mean? I- I'm sorry to hear that.'

'No-, er-, not like that. I was in a different orphanage before.'

'What's an orfinich?' Marty asked in his high baby voice.

'It's-' Sam glanced at Ellie uncomfortably. 'Where Elaine used to live before coming to us.'

'You can call me Ellie.' She added. It feels weird being called Elaine.

'Why did she have to come to us?' He asked angrily.

'Because mum and I have a lot to do and you need someone to play with, right? Plus, she can help mummy make food and clean up.'

'I don't want to play with her, I want to play with you!' He started sobbing, then screaming.

Sam picked him up and bounce walked the rest of the way to the car.

He was still pretty upset when his father strapped him into his seat and told Ellie she could sit beside him.

In the semi-detached house, Marty's mother welcomed Ellie with some freshly made soup.

Ellie could now tell why they needed a helping hand around the house. Marty's mother's tummy was notably large, and not in a "fat" way. Soon she'd have her hands full, and they didn't want Marty feeling left out.

*

'Is she here? Can she hear us?' Abi sobbed.

The answer's pretty obvious. 'Umhum.'

'Does she have a message for us or anything?'

Celeste thought, translating the feelings. 'Yeah, clean up the closet 'cause it's a mess, and Debi should drink a pink lemonade. Also "don't leave the toilet lid open".'

'She was always telling us stuff like that, this isn't a joke.' Tina brushed it off angrily and went out to the balcony.

'What's a pink lemonade?' Celeste asked innocently, ignoring Tina's comment.

'Anything else?' Debi started crying against her will.

'Yeah... She says she loves all of us and doesn't like to see us sad. And that Hina should put her smelly socks inside the laundry basket, not beside it.'

'Hah.' A smile snuck in beside the tears on both girl's faces.

It was different when their grandpa died. They were never all that close (though the girls still cried) and his only message to their grandma was that she should close the window.

Although she knew everything was true, Celeste was still surprised when their grandma told them about how he hated the wind coming in and how he'd always yell about having to close the window.

(As a side note: their grandma was much happier after her husband passed on.)

*

'You're finally back? It's a wonder they let you come back every time.' Ben told him. He was still upset about Zack leaving him.

'Yeah, well at least here I don't have to listen to K9 whining about how I deserted.'

'K9? Oh, your brother right? At least he's got some common sense. Unlike you.'

'You two are alike in more ways than you know.' He muttered.

'Huh?'

'Nothing.'

'Anyways, I'm glad you're back. While you were gone I was put in the Herolds group, and you know what they're like...'