The Way Back Home's

Open Door

Farrell runs into the room, passing Jim and Joe who are asleep in their respective positions. Farrell knew there was no need to knock on the room. When the door opened, his heart trembled. On the bed, he saw the woman whose smile he missed. Despite seeing each other every day, Farrell never once saw his mother smile. Not even today. His heart even hurt every look at mother. Especially seeing him in an inn that was full of danger.

Farrell knelt in front of his mother. “Mother...” whispered slowly.

Mom didn't react. He didn't feel Farrell coming.

Farrell touched his mother's hand slowly. That hand was so thin as well as pale. Farrell had forgotten how carefree and crunchy mother's laughter used to be. Finding his mother's body cold, Farrell removes the scarf and coils it around his neck. “Mother,” said again. “It's me, Farrell. Mom, we have to go.”

This time mom's eyeballs are spinning on her, “Who?”

Farrell didn't think his mother would respond. It feels like the first time in forever. “It's me, Farrell. I'm your son.” Farrell can't hide his excitement. Even so, he stopped after saying that. She wondered if she also knew that she was not her biological child. Ah, of course I know. Mom must be the same as Dad. They kept this blood relation secret from him.

“Farrell?” Mom said her name.

Although not related to blood, Farrell is still very happy when mom wants to mention his name. He's been waiting for this for so long. Mothers usually do not answer when asked. He was always silent, sometimes taking his eyes off anyone who tried to make contact with him. Farrell smiled remembering that his name had just been mentioned. She made incredible progress for him. It's a pity that progress happens at a time like this. Deep down Farrell's heart, there was a stinging pain.

“We must leave here,” Farrell said again, ignoring the uneasiness of his heart. Farrell clasped his mother's hand and asked her to stand up. Mother did not protest. This woman obeyed all her will. He led my mother to the door. Remy's on guard there. He watches the surroundings, making sure no one comes to mess up.

Farrell looked around the room. He saw two eagles in the cage. Both of them were awake but made no sound. Their eyes radiated with fear. They lost the aura of the hunter and were trapped as prey now. Though never acquainted, Farrell knows they are both Bailey and Barney. In other words, Farrell was in Denise's room.

Maybe this is not the right time. However, Farrell took the time to open the cage of the two birds. “You must go!” he said half whispered while moving his hands away them. The two birds fluttered in place.

Farrell looked at her again. She found none of Denise's personal belongings other than a tiny pink wallet on the dresser. Farrell took the time to retrieve the object. He's not happy to take someone else's stuff. But Farrell feels it's a good opportunity to learn something from Denise. I don't know what it is.

Then she walked back to the door leading my mother. Not reaching the door yet, Remy suddenly closed the door and whispered silently. “Di— Dia here..”

Farrell gasps. “Denise?”

Remy shakes. “E— Emily. Today he is relapsing. Um. I mean. Emily has a double personality. He is being evil today. A— I saw him at the end of the hallway carrying a stone knife with a red gem in the middle. Scary..”.

“Blood knife? What is an artifact?”

“Please my mom for a minute.” Farrell hands his mother to Remy. He himself approached the door and peeked out.

Farrell flinched when he saw Emily was already there. The girl was standing right in front of the door. His eyes stared fixedly at Farrell. But there was no surprise there. He just stared at Farrell without speaking. A thirty-centimeter-long stone knife was in his arms. As Remy said, there was a red gem in the middle rather down close to the handle of the knife.

“Ha— Hi..” Farrell greeted him awkwardly.

Emily did not return the greeting. He glanced into the room. His eyes swept around the room though partially covered by Farrell's body. He knows Remy's inside. Looks like he saw Remy earlier. “Remy dare to oppose Denise and help you? Waw! It's new news. Denise must have been so stupid that she could let amateurs get in her way.” Emily chuckles softly.

Farrell flabbergasted. Emily who was in front of him clearly exuded a different aura to the Emily he met when the day. This Emily not only looks different but also scares her. The look in his eyes, the smile, the look on his face were very different. Farrell can't even believe he's Emily guarding the reception counter.

“Why see me like that? Not polite!” grouse Emily. Farrell shook his head quickly. Emily looked at him again. “If I may give you a suggestion, you better go to the back immediately before these people wake up or Christo is killed.” Emily walked away without speaking.

“Di— He's right,” whispered Remy. “We have to go immediately.”

Farrell rushes out of the room with his mother and Remy. Remy walked in front. He walked down the hallway, guiding them to the third floor. There, Remy opens the portal door and takes them out. Unlike the atmosphere on the dark front, the back is still brightly lit. It's still day. Light flooded every corner of the room. Some visitors to the inn pass by at the bottom. Maybe they just finished lunch.

“You think we'll catch the eye?” farrell Whisper.

“Maybe. So, we better hurry.”

Remy is leading the way again. They can't go through the dining room because Christo is there with Denise, uncle, and aunt. Remy took him around the other hallway. This hallway rotates to the left and takes it directly to the front lobby. In the lobby, Farrell was watching the surroundings. There's no one there. The visitor he had just seen probably returned to his room. There was no Christo, nor any other officer.

Remy opens the entrance for Farrell and mom. The next second, he turned around and exclaimed, “Run! Dia—” Remy behenti, pecking in place with his hands still holding the doorknob. His mouth was open but unable to speak. His body was stiff, not moving. Only his eyeballs could roll.

“Re— Remy?” Farrell knows it's bad news.

Someone bewitched Remy. Definitely Denise! Farrell sees Denise at the end of the stairs below the entrance to Eden’s Lodge. The woman extended her hand forward. When he saw Farrell, something slid out of Denise's hand. A white wave like a burst of smoke. Farrell pulled his mother inside and ran as fast as he could. Behind him, there was a splashing sound. Looks like Denise's magic is about the building.

“Farrell Eden!” yell Denise from outside the inn. “Aren't you tired of playing cat-splitting with me? I'm sure that you've understood all your uncle's wishes which coincidentally are the same as mine. How about we have tea together like I did with Christo? Pet mungkilku want to get acquainted with you.”