The Clash, Book One

Chapter 5: Hyperion Heights, Part B

            

When Alena walked outside of the daycare, she began walking toward her apartment when she saw a head of familiar black hair in the city garden area.

She smiled as she made her way over to her niece. She then greeted, "Hey, Lucy."

"Alena!" Lucy exclaimed before she came over and wrapped her aunt in a hug. When they pulled away, she asked, "What are you doing here?"

"I was just heading home to do some work when I saw you," Alena explained. She then stated, "I heard about your little stunt with your dad's laptop," with a raised eyebrow.

Lucy shrugged before she pointed out, "It got my parents together. I know they'll remember."

Alena couldn't but smile at Lucy's belief. She then bent down on her niece's level and told her, "I'm sure they will."

The dark-haired girl smiled before Alena stood back up. Lucy then began throwing flower seeds into the garden plots.

A moment later, both of them heard Henry's voice: "Made a new friend, Lucy?"

"She's actually..." Lucy began but at Alena's pointed look, she covered, "She works for my grandma."

"Ah," Henry replied in understanding. He then told Lucy, "I've been looking for you."

"So, tell me. I want to know to know everything," she replied.

"My car was stolen," Henry stated.

"What?" Lucy and Alena simultaneously questioned.

He nodded before he asked, "You didn't help with that in any way, did you?" with a pointed look toward Lucy.

"Of course not. My feet can't even reach the pedal," she stated.

"Uh, huh. You remember anything, you let me know, okay," Henry told her before he began walking away.

Lucy then started to run after him; Alena tried to hold her niece in place, but it was to no avail. "Wait, where are you going?" the dark-haired girl asked.

"To look for my car and then I'm going home," Henry answered.

"But you are home," Lucy told him as though it was a simple truth.

He sighed before he bent down on her level and tried to reason, "Lucy, listen to me. Your mom is really nice, and I get the feeling that you don't have the easiest life, and I'm sorry. But I am not the one who can save you."

A sadness filled Lucy's brown eyes as she came to the realization: "You still don't believe me. But you always believe."

"I can't do this again," Henry frustratedly stated before he stood up and began walking away.

Alena knew that Lucy would try to run after him, so the blonde quickly moved in front of her niece and held her by the shoulders.

"Just let him go, Lucy," she tried to reason. Lucy's only response was pulling away and running after her father.

"Wait," she said before she grabbed his arm. She then told him, "It didn't happen right away with Emma either."

Henry bent down once more as he pointed out, "Lucy, it was just a book. You are not my daughter."

"But how do you know that?" she countered.

"Because I know," he told her.

"That's the curse," Lucy maintained.

"Stop it, Lucy! It's not a curse!" Henry yelled before he took a deep, calming breath and continued, "I know because I had a family, okay, and I lost them," with emotion in his voice.