Homesick

5

Alicia's pov
After asking for DAYS in a row, Diane has finally agreed to let me go outside. She had a long conversation with me this morning about it. The only way I was allowed to is after agreeing to remain restrained. So she put fuzzy cuffs around my ankles, blushing in embarrassment the whole time because we both know what those are meant for.

She didn't tie my hands because I mean, what am I really gonna do with them? Besides, if I had anything on my wrists right now I might break skin; considering how long they've already been bound. As we walk through her house to the back door, I notice a calendar. She's religiously crossed every day off as it passes and so I know for sure now how long I've been here.

It's been a month and a half. My eyes widen as we get to the door and I truly realize I've been trapped here for so long. She opens the door for me and I step outside, the warmth of the sun encasing my skin. It feels good and I even feel a bit better having gotten some sunlight. However, it doesn't make me as happy as I thought it would.

That date just keeps circling in my mind like a vulture above roadkill. I watched quite a bit of true crime when I was younger. Not so much as I got older because I began to feel an attachment to the people. They're just regular humans like all of us and using their horrible fate as entertainment felt like... capitalizing off of their pain.

However, I am a fan of horror movies and so I know how this goes. The likelihood of a person being found after 72 hours is slim to none. They could be anywhere, even in another country. Though, that rule might only apply to children but at this point does it even matter? I've been essentially off the grid for 47 days. I know Diane isn't dumb, she wouldn't have brought my phone because it can be tracked even when it's off.

I wonder how long Delia looked for me; knowing her, she probably hasn't stopped. I don't blame her for not being able to find me. Now that I'm outside, I can see that we're in the middle of nowhere. Wherever she has us staying is surrounded by forest on almost all sides, the only other view being an expansive field. I know I shouldn't even have hope but I have faith in Delia.

Even if my brain tells me that it's senseless to wish, I know Cordelia Goode. She won't rest until she finds me, even if all that's left is my body...

Delia's pov
The tires screech as Billie pulls into the parking spot, throwing the car into park so the doors unlock. We all get out, me of course being first. Billie and Tammy decide to wait outside, the latter keeping the medium company while she smokes. We figured a crowd of us coming in might be odd or extra alarming. Besides, the small station probably couldn't handle us—not due to the actual size but just all of our energy in one room.

Lana and Ally stayed behind, circling the block before parking to watch the house. Just as a precaution in case Diane comes by the house because at this point anything is possible. Though it's also because Ally gets anxiety with police due to previous experiences, which I understand. Wilhemina and I enter the station, not bothering to stop at the front desk.

She calls after us but I see Jim and once he lays eyes on me, he sends her back to her desk. He beckons us into his office since he seems to be on a call. He motions for us to wait for a moment and as he closes the door, the redhead takes ahold of my hand. "We are going to get that bitch, don't you worry. I will make sure Alicia returns home safely if it's the last thing I do" she promises me and I just nod silently.

Jim comes back in, taking a seat and smiling as he glances between us. "Wilhemina Venable" she says, to which he nods in acknowledgment before turning to me. "Diane Sherman" I state calmly, "I'm sorry—who?" he asks and rightfully so because who does that bitch think she is?! "Diane Sherman. That's who took her" I answer and he eyes me a bit skeptically.

"And you know this because...?" he inquires, "just trust me. It's her" I reply firmly. He sighs a bit before leaning up to type on his keyboard, seconds of silence flying like hours. "Nothing—she's clean. Either you have the wrong lady or she's a god damn mastermind" he states and I curse under my breath as I think. It has to be her and she's no mastermind.

Diane may be smart but she far from a savant so why didn't he find anything. "Not even a... parking ticket?" I ask desperately and he shakes his head showing me the empty screen. "Shit. She might've changed her name" I conclude, I mean even I have a speeding ticket. "Try Baronway" Mina whispers and I turn to her quickly, wondering how she even knows that name as I've never heard it before.

We all know Wilhemina holds secrets better than a damn holds water but even those crack under pressure. Jim types it in without question and I watch as his expression changes, his eyebrows raising. I see his finger rolling up the mouse over and over and I get impatient. "Holy donut shop" he mutters to himself, "what?? Tell me" I demand and it takes him a second but he does.

Shaking his head in disbelief as he turns the screen towards me with discretion, allowing us to see it. He scrolls and scrolls, my eyes skimming the many charges against her. "I think we've found our guy—girl, rather" he says and I just keep staring at the screen in shock. Everything for parking fines to attempted manslaughter, breaking and entering, harassment, restraining orders filed against her, and kidnapping.

"Holy shit" I whisper, "I'll... get my guys on this but—it might take a while to find out where they are" he tells me. "I think I know how to find them. If I can get the address, you'll send someone over with me?" I ask and he nods without hesitation, "of course!" he verbally assures me as well. "Consider it done" I state, getting up with Wilhemina right behind me.

While I think, the redhead tells the other two outside about what the chief said. "I need to go to the academy" I tell Billie, "what for?" Tammy asks softly. "I need to find a spell to track Diane... which actually might not be hard at all" I whisper to myself as a crazy thought runs through my head. At the end of the day, I'll do anything to find Alicia—no matter the cost.