Hidden | Elijah Mikaelson |

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"Ma'am? Ma'am?"

I felt someone gently shaking my shoulder and I opened my eyes to see the driver turned around trying to wake me up. I didn't even realize I had fallen asleep. He noticed I was awake and sat back in his seat, nodding outside. "Sorry to wake you, but we're here."

"Oh, I'm sorry," I apologized quietly while looking out the window. It was just like I remembered, aside from the chipped paint and overgrown grass in the yard. It felt like I had never left. But everything was different now. Everything had changed.

"Ma'am?" The driver said again, snapping me out of my trance. "I don't mean to rush you but I've got to be at the airport in an hour—"

"No, no, I'm sorry," I repeated quickly and grabbed my bag at my feet and climbed out of the taxi. I walked around to the trunk with the driver and helped him get my bags out. It wasn't a lot, just mainly the stuff I needed. I could always buy more clothes here.

I thanked and paid the man after he carried my bags to the porch and watched him drive off. I got out the only key I had on my key ring and slid it into the lock, pushing the door open with a slow creak. Almost immediately, I was hit with the smell of dust and mildew. I resisted the urge to gag and opened the door wider to walk inside. It looked so different. It felt so different. I knew it was my old house, but it didn't feel the same without my parents. It was so cold and empty in here.

I brought my bags inside and left them by the door as I shut it behind me. It was mostly empty, and the furniture that was left behind was covered in plastic. I guess I would need to get some more furniture, so I added that to my to-do list. Along with cleaning supplies and new clothes. And finding a job. I should have prepared more, but I didn't have any time. I just packed up and left.

I could still remember everything about this place, even if it was empty. I remembered running down the stairs on Christmas morning to open presents. I remembered playing with my dad and falling and hitting my head on the edge of the coffee table and needing stitches. I remembered playing dress up with my mom in all of her old clothes. I remembered everything. Even the bad parts, like coming home from my parent's funeral and leaving with my aunt the same day. I never thought I'd come back here. I never wanted to come back here, I knew it wouldn't feel the same. But I didn't know where else to go.

My eyes started to water and I quickly blinked away the tears. I had to get out of here. I grabbed my wallet from one of my bags and locked the door behind me as I headed into the heart of New Orleans. The house was almost at the center of the city so I could basically walk anywhere I needed in a few minutes.

It was getting dark outside and the streets were getting louder and louder. I had lived here almost my whole life so I knew how crazy things got at night. I kept walking for another few minutes before my stomach started to growl from hunger. There was a bar up ahead that seemed pretty popular so I decided to stop there and get food since I didn't have anything at the house.

I gently pushed my way through the people that were crowded around near the band up front and walked to the bar. I really hoped they served food here, actual food. I don't think I could last off a bucket of peanuts or some chips. I don't see how anyone could eat that little.

The music mixed with the drunken laughter of people was loud, but it didn't bother me. I actually liked all the noise. It made things seem less lonely. Everyone seemed like they were having a genuine good time and it was contagious. My spirits had definitely been lifted.

A pretty girl with blonde hair and a sweet smile, who I assumed to be the bartender, walked over to me and handed me a menu, "You look like a new face. First time in the city?"