The Diaries of Hopper

4. A Blank Canvas

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the quiet town of Boulogne-Billancourt. It had been two days since the unthinkable had happened. His wife, Aelita's mother, Anthea, had been kidnapped, leaving their princess in a state of confusion and despair. 

Waldo, his brow furrowed with worry, held Aelita in his arms as they sat in their modest campfire in the woods. Aelita clung to Mr. Puck, her tear-filled eyes darting around the dimly lit room.

"Daddy... where's mommy?" Aelita's voice trembled as she looked up at her father.

Waldo's heart ached at the question, and he struggled to find the right words. "I don't know, my darling. We're going to find her, I promise."

But the promise seemed hollow, and Waldo knew it. They had no leads, no clues to follow. Anthea Hopper had vanished without a trace now, leaving behind only questions and despair. Maybe they took her to Japan, or maybe they... they took her out.

He had to find out.

With the weight of the world on his shoulders, Waldo decided to take Aelita away from the campfire, if only for a little while. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her out into a trail road that leads into four directions.

The two of them walked aimlessly through the woods, with Aelita perched on Waldo's back, her small arms wrapped tightly around his neck. She was too young to fully comprehend the gravity of the situation, but she knew something was terribly wrong. Her mother was gone, and her world had been turned upside down.

As they strolled along the huge trees, Waldo did his best to distract Aelita. He pointed out colorful leaves on the trees and made funny faces to elicit giggles from her. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't erase the sadness in her eyes.

But suddenly, Aelita pushed her head softly against Waldo's shoulder, her tiny finger pointing at a tree with a hollowed-out center. "Look, daddy... an elf tree!"

Waldo followed her gaze and smiled softly. "Yes, sweetheart, trees with a hole in the center also exist here."

Aelita's eyes sparkled from both the tears and the sudden idea she had. "I wish... I wish mommy could have found a tree like this to hide in. Maybe once she's safe inside, she could use some magic to change her appearance, like the elves do."

Waldo closed his eyes for a moment, memories flooding back. He remembered the day when Aelita had led them into the snowy woods in pursuit of the hidden rabbit. How he longed to turn back time to that simpler day.

"Once we find a new home," Waldo said, his voice filled with determination, "I'll make sure we have all the trees in the world to hide from bad guys, just like this one. We'll be safe there, and no one will find us in the forest. And I'll create one for Mr. Puck too. He'll be safe and sound, just like us."

Aelita's face lit up with excitement at the thought. "Really?" she asked, her hope rekindled.

Waldo nodded, his heart heavy but his resolve unwavering. He would do everything in his power to make Aelita feel safe and loved. That was Anthea's last wish. Protect Aelita.

Night fell, and Waldo found himself on the outskirts of town, still carrying Aelita on his back. He had no destination in mind; he was simply trying to keep both their minds full from the painful memories. Aelita's tiny sobs muffled against Waldo's shoulder stopped a few hours ago, he guessed she was sleeping. 

A step. Another step. And then, on a winding forest path, something caught Waldo's eye. A weathered sign, half-buried in the underbrush, announced the presence of The Hermitage. It was a medium-small house nestled among the tall trees. The for sale sign was weathered and faded, as if The Hermitage had been waiting patiently for someone to discover it.