The journey back was nothing special. They had strayed a lot farther away from their original destination than Eli had anticipated and as a result had to spend the night in another house, this time in the city.

Now the dirt road that was all too familiar to Silas and Sebastian was quickly passing beneath their feet as they pushed forward on the last leg of their journey.

Sebastian beaming with the thought of being home again, "I can't wait to see mom." He said for the fifth time.

The trees to their right thinned slightly and they knew that had to be what was once their driveway.

"Race you there." Sebastian said to his dad as he slapped him on the back and took off jogging.

Silas laughed, "Even at 23 he's still such a child." He sighed, "I wish him and Alyssa didn't have to live in a world like this."

The two men walked in quiet a few moments, the only things audible were their boots against the ground and faint chirping of birds in the distance.

There was something bone chilling about the silence.

A shiver shot down Eli's spine and he remembered the masked man's warning.

"They'll come for them"

"Tell me something." Eli said.

"What do you want to know?"

"Has anyone in your family ever killed somebody else?"

Silas stopped in place.

"Well," He began, "Alyssa and Rebecca never leave the house, I don't want to risk their safety."

Eli nodded.

"As for Sebastian, no he hasn't. He's only ever hunted."

“And what about you?" Eli asked.

Silas sighed again, "Once. Only once have I taken another person's life."

They stood in silence once more.

"I have a feeling I already know the answer to this but I'm gonna ask it anyway. Have you?" Silas asked Eli.

"Yes"

"I figured as much." Silas said with a small nod, "Do you care if I ask how many?"

Eli was quite a moment before he answered, "You don't want to know, and I couldn't tell you even if you did."

"That many huh?" Silas said to himself

Eli started walking once more, Silas following.

They were almost to the end of the driveway when Eli heard wind chimes ringing in the wind.

"You need to take those down." He said to Silas.

"You know after this trip I think you might be right."

As the house finally came into view, three distinct voices were becoming louder the nearer they came.

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"Dad!" Alyssa shouted as Silas and Eli came out from the trees.

She came running towards them. Arms open she flung herself into Silas embracing him tightly.

"I missed you!" She said, her voice cracking.

"I missed you too sweetheart." He said back, obviously holding back tears.

Rebecca and Sebastian were making their way over to them, tears visible in Rebecca's eyes.

“Can I hug your mother now?" Silas asked Alyssa in a joking tone.

"I guess." She responded as she let him go.

He quickly strode over to his wife.

Eli started walking towards the house.

"Family"

He kept walking.

"Hey, where do you think you're going?" Alyssa said almost in a shout at him.

He turned around and without warning she wrapped her arms around him and held him tight just like she did with her father.

"Thank you." She said, "Thank you so much."

He felt a tear drip down from her face onto his shirt.

Not knowing what to do, Eli stood there awkwardly.

She held onto him for what felt like forever to him, showing no sign of letting go.

"This is the part where you hug her back." Sebastian said in a very loud whisper, holding back a laugh.

Eli went to move his arms up but as he did Alyssa moved away.

"Sebastian you jerk. What do you think this is?" She shouted at him.

She was blushing, her cheeks red like roses.

Eli felt his ears and face get hot.

"I better not look like that." He thought to himself, although the mask he wore would hide it even if he did.

Sebastian was laughing as he continued teasing his sister.

"Family"

He heard footsteps behind him.

He turned around and once again was wrapped in somebody's arms, this time it was Rebecca.

"Thank you Eli." She said to him and let go.

She hugged him much shorter than Alyssa did.

"Alright everyone I think it's time we went inside, I don't want to be caught in that rainstorm I see coming in those clouds over there. And I also miss my recliner." Silas said.

"I could go for some dinner right about now." Sebastian said.

"That too."

They all made their way inside, Eli going last.

He made his way towards the stairs that led down to the room he had been staying in.

Seeing him start going down the stairs, Alysss remembered about the gift she had left for him.

“I can't miss his reaction." She thought.

She quickly walked over to him.

"Let me help you carry something down." She said.

He looked up at her from his position a couple stairs down.

"No it's okay I got it." He responded.

"Please." She said, "It's the least I can do."

He sighed, "Fine, you can help."

She let out a big grin and her face got covered with excitement.

He handed her the backpack he was carrying and his quiver.

She followed behind him, making sure to go slow enough so that she wouldn't interfere with him when he initially saw the picture.

"I hope he likes it."

Eli made his way into the room, dropping his duffel bag by the bed. He didn't unpack anything, there was no point. He planned on leaving after dinner.

The sun peaked its way through the clouds for a moment and reflected off something shiny on the nightstand next to the bed.

"What's this?" He asked himself.

Alyssa was watching eagerly from the doorway.

He picked up the picture frame and looked down at it.

He stared at it

"I can't see his face." Alyssa thought to herself

She saw something fall from his face and land on the frame.

"What was that?"

It happened again!

And again.

And once more.

She took a couple steps into the room. Hearing her do so he turned and looked at her, eyes red and tears flowing down his cheeks.

She stopped and put a hand over her mouth in surprise.

He fell down onto his knees, bent over still holding the picture. His tears turned into sobs as his body started quivering lightly.

Alyss took another couple steps forward.

"I'm so sorry Eli." She started, "I just wanted to do something nice for you like you were for us. I didn't mean to make you-"

He cut her off.

"Thank you." He said so softly she couldn't hear.

"What?" She said, stepping forward.

He looked up at her from his spot on the floor.

“Thank you." He said louder.

"You- You're welcome." She responded confused.

He leaned over and hunched in a ball, his sobs becoming louder as he did.

She kneeled down next to him and wrapped her arms around him as best she could, his position making it difficult.

"Shhh shhh shhh." She said in a caring voice, "It's okay it's okay."

He unrolled from his ball and buried his head in her chest, still holding onto the picture he wrapped his arms softly around her just above her waist.

"I- I miss her… so… so much." He managed out between sobs."

"I know… I know." She said softly. "Is that your mother?" She asked.

He didn't answer with words, only nodded with his head still in her chest.

"I miss her so much." He said again.

She started running her fingers through his hair, "It'll all be okay. It's all okay."

They were quiet, except for Eli's cries.

She began humming a soothing tune softly, still running her fingers through his hair.