The Way Back Home's

Letters

Farrell opened his eyes and found the room already bright. He groaned when he realized he was tired and had not yet gone from his feet. Her body still feels sore but thanks to the mattress and warm blanket, the cold does not come piercing her body. When he sat down, he could see that his roommate had changed clothes. Christo no longer wore the bright green suit of the inn uniform. He was wearing a black jacket and brown pants. Instead of discussing the clothes, Farrell chose to ask how he was doing.

“How are you hurt?” ask Farrell.

“Better.” Christo went to the table. There was already a basket containing some round bread and two apples. There is also a teapot complete with cups. “Breakfast?”

“What time is it now?”

Christo brought Farrell a basket of bread. “Almost seven hours.”

Farrell didn't think he would wake up so soon, he thought it was ten or so now. He sat down on the edge of the bed and turned to the window right next to him. They're on the second floor. The window shows the front street of the hotel. There were people passing by, sellers setting up their shops, dogs running around with small children. The streets are still covered in thin snow but will not be long because the sun is shining brightly. Last night's snow was an illusion. Now the warmth of the sun flooded every corner.

Farrell looked at Christo and picked up one loaf of bread. “Hotel facilities?”

“Better than none at all.” Christo raised his shoulders. “Now what's your plan?”

Farrell just looked down while looking at the unfulfilled round bread in his grasp. He doesn't know what he's supposed to do. He was completely blind to the magical world. To make matters worse, he is accompanied by a hotel clerk who is also blind to the magic itself. “I have to go back.” That's all he can say. “I have to meet uncle and help Milo and Libby.”

“How to?”

Farrell did not answer. His appetite that had appeared just now vanished somewhere. He has no answers, no plans, no information, only goals. Obviously that's not enough.

“You don't know what your uncle's destination is?” Christo asked again.

Farrell still did not answer. Let alone the purpose of uncle, his heart could not even accept the fact that uncle was working with Denise who was willing to bounce them off. What if uncle was Denise's victim, too? What if all the kindness uncle had done to them was real? Maybe now my uncle is panicking looking for him.

“No shadow at all?” Christo continued his question.

“It is precisely because of that, I have to go back. I want to make sure everything.”

“You don't believe all my stories?”

“I believe Denise has bad intentions. I saw him yesterday. But, uncle..” Farrell stopped. Ever since his father disappeared and his mother became ill, the uncle became their main financial backer. Indeed the family of his mother also helped, but not as much as the help they received from uncle. Even their double-cabin car was also a gift from uncle after he managed to get a driving permit. “I just... don't know the truth yet.”

“Uncle really poisons your mind or you are too innocent to see reality? How much do you trust Albert and forget Mr Alan, your own father? I don't want to imagine dad's disappointment—”

“Dad left us shortly after Libby was born. He's a irresponsible man,” Farrell said quickly. So fast that Farrell himself was surprised by his words. All this time, he chose to never discuss fatherhood in front of anyone. Not in front of Libby, not in front of Milo, not in front of uncle, and definitely not in front of pretentious officers like Christo. “I don't want to talk about people who just leave without news.”

Christo frowning. “Leaving? You guys left it.”

Farrell grunts amusedly. “Leave how? He was always at the inn and rarely went home. Then, all of a sudden he disappeared without any news.”

“Lewat what? E-mail?” Farrell was getting angry.

“There is no signal in the world of magic, young master Farrell Eden, I think you need to take note of that. So, your father was forced to use primitive means, letters. What else?”

Something tickled Farrell's mind. “Magic world? My father is in the world of magic?”

“Your father has been in the wizarding world for years and you don't know? Oh yeah, I forgot. Your father didn't even tell you that your inn could be connected to the magical world. Huh! She definitely did not want her tender children to be injured here,” Christo chuckled.

“You know where my dad is?”

“Of course. Everyone knows where your father is. Remy, Emily, William. How could you not know? Come on, Farrell, don't joke anymore. That's sickening.”

“I really don't know!” Farrell felt his tone rise.

“You're serious?”

“You think I'd joke about something like this?!” Farrell almost shouted. His heart was attacked with sadness and annoyance. I don't know which is more dominant. He felt like a child who knew nothing.

Christo fell silent for a while and began to say the things that happened. “After the case, Mr. Albert replaced Mr. Alan, your father, as general manager at Eden’s Lodge. He always told the officers not to mention the door to the wizarding world to you. Security reasons. You're not witches, your uncle is not, neither is your father. Then, he also said not to talk about your father at all because it would evoke bitter memories. Your uncle said your father's case was a family affair. We don't need to worry and interfere.”

“What case?”

“Murder.”

Farrell felt an uneasy feeling begin to creep up. His hands and feet were cold as if they were immersed in snow. Not only had his appetite vanished, now he had even forgotten to hold bread. The bread came off and fell on the blanket. “Murder?” he repeated the word with a trembling voice. “She... She..” Farrell is unable to continue. His mind formed two words that he did not want to mention. First word, victim. Second word, abuser.

“You really don't know?” Christo still can't believe it. His expression softened slightly when he saw Farrell's scowling face. “Maybe... Could it be that your uncle is hiding this reality from you?” Christo said a sentence that also came out in Farrell's mind. Bad guess about uncle.

Farrell is unprepared when his father goes missing with no news. As time went on, he began to get used to his father's absence and the worst possibilities. He was ready to hear some bad news about their father. However, today, inexplicably Farrell felt his readiness dissipate. He's not ready to hear the truth. Therefore, the next sentence shook as well, “Christo. My father... Is he still alive?”

“Ya.”

Farrell's heart was not calm. Knowing the fact that his father is still alive only eliminates one guess. Dad's not a murder victim. That answer also corroborates Farrell's other conjecture. “Can you take me to dad's place?”

Christo needed a little time before answering. “Sure.”

Farrell felt his mind was no longer working properly. Instead of successfully thinking of a plan to help his two younger siblings, he was now faced with another reality. His brain was unable to think of his next move. Now he has to obey his heart. His heart said father was involved in this matter from the very beginning. All related. The sooner you meet your father, the sooner Milo and Libby can be free. He should immediately get ready to go into a nightmare for the criminals.

Prison house.