The Eye Of The Ankh #Wattys2016

Chapter Forty-Six: Hugo

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The blue sky. The bright sun. The summer warmth.

Freedom.

Being free at last is so different than anything you imagine. You expect to want to run, you expect to want to do anything and everything.

But I wanted to breathe. Just breathe.

I have so many things to do. I've got an apartment to go to, jobs to apply for, find my mother, find Alice.

I'll start with my mother.

My house. It hasn't changed.

I walked up to the front door and knocked. A woman I didn't recongize answered. "Hello?"

"Hi, uh, is there an Elizabeth Kress here?" I tried not to peek into the house. I didn't want to scare this woman. I didn't want to scare anyone.

"Oh, no. She's moved. We bought this house from her."

"Oh. Do you happen to have her number?"

"No, I don't think so. I'm sorry."

I gave a smile. "No, it's fine. Thanks anyway." I walked down the sidewalk and to the street. Next up was Alice.

The only place I knew I could find her was Anna's house. She's got to be at least twenty-eight by now, maybe twenty-nine. She's long since moved out.

I've wondered about her, what she's been up to. What did she go to college for? Did she go to college? Where is she now?

Does she miss me?

Anna answered the door. "Hugo,"

I smiled. "May I come in?"

She nodded and opened the door. I could tell that she wasn't completely comfortable around me. I'm fresh out of prison, charged with the murders of at least forty people. I can't blame her. She doesn't believe my innocents.

"What brings you here?" She asked, staying standing in the living room. She looks older, but not by much. More wrinkles.

"I was wondering if I could have Alice's number? It's been years since I've talked to her and I'd love to catch up."

I need to quit explaining myself.

"Oh. Sure." Anna grabbed a pen and pencil and jotted down Alice's number. She handed me the slip. "Just understand that it's been ten years, okay, Hugo? I'd hate for you to be disappointed."

I nodded. "Thank you, Anna, I appreciate it." I smiled and walked out the door.

At my apartment—thankful funded by the government for a year—I sat down at the kitchen table and grabbed the landline. I dialed Alice's number, partly hoping for a voicemail.

"Hello?"

I cleared my throat. "Hello, uh, Alice? This is Hugo. Hugo Kress."

"Hugo?"

I bit my lip. "Yeah. I got released today and I was wondering if you wanted to meet up at some point? Maybe go and have lunch together?"

She was silent. Did she hang up?

"Alice?"

"Hugo," her voice cracked. "Is it really you?"

"Alice," I lowered my voice. "Of course it's me. Who else would it be?"

She took a deep breath. "After everything people would call me and say they were you and Hugo I need to know it's really you. Tell me something only Hugo knows."