All Chapters of FINDING ELENA : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

ELENA I stood waiting for him to come take the test. Why was he hesitating? From the corner of my eye, I caught Julia’s amused expression. Turning, I saw none of my colleagues. I didn’t give it much thought until a memory flashed in my head; whispers I had overheard about the no-nonsense owner of the Family Center, Ary Banks. No scandals, no gossip. Just older employees preparing the new ones. It was said that he hardly visited. Not more than twice in a year. Yet, he saw everything. He never spoke to the staff but would spend time with the children, listening, granting their requests, and indulging their countless questions. He didn't tolerate any harm coming to the children. Something as simple as a scraped knee left untreated or a toy left in the wrong place was grounds for penalty. For him, the children weren't part of the job. They were the job. And he never gave second chances. Suddenly, it made sense why my colleagues had slipped away. And why I, by engaging him,

ELENA The nursery door opened to soft lullabies and gentle cooing. My baby, Sky, lay in her crib, her tiny hands shifting, eyes wide and curious. I expected her to be crying. Relief washed over me like a wave. A little smile tugged at her lips at the sight of me, making my heart swell. In that moment, every anxious thought from the kitchen - the sudden appearance of Ary Banks, the fleeting distractions, and his unnerving stare - all melted away. I quickly warmed her bottle. Afterward, I sat in a rocking chair feeding her while her faint baby-lotion scent flooded me with warmth. “There you are, mini me,” I murmured. For a few precious moments, the world disappeared. There was Sky, me, and the steady rhythm of my heart as I held her close. Nothing else mattered… Until the thought of Brad’s memory card slipped into my peace like a shadow. Again. No matter how safe the Family Center felt, I was never truly at peace. I never forgot. Even in my rare pockets of calm, the fe

“I was lucky he lost my trail on the same night I fled,” I went on. “I shudder to think of what would have happened to us if you didn't find me. I'd be dead somewhere. Probably in an unmarked grave.”Julia didn't respond. She looked deep in thought. I grabbed her hand and kept talking.“Julia, Brad isn't ever going to stop looking for me as long as I remain alive. And I can no longer hide after watching this. So, it's only a matter of time before he finds me. If I leave now, he'd never know about Sky, you, or the Family Center. I’ve made up my mind. It's better this way. He-”Her voice cut through my spiraling.“Darling, you are not throwing your life away now that you've only begun to live again.”My eyes burned with tears.She pushed the tablet aside and drew closer, taking my face in both her hands.“Listen to me. You're not running again. Not with Sky. Not alone. This burden has taken enough of your peace. But, it’s mine now, too. And I swear to you, Elena, we will find a way.”

Third Person POV Jon Nolan sat in his armchair, the glow of the television flickering across his lined face. The mug of tea on the side table had gone lukewarm, his glasses slipping lower on his nose. Outside, Essex was quiet under a cold winter evening, the kind of night that hummed with chirping crickets and the whispering of the wind. A neighbor's dog started to bark, and before he could read any meaning about it, his front door exploded inward. He jumped, kicking the table, tea sloshing as the mug toppled. Three men stepped inside with heavy boots, blank eyes, and no hesitation. Violence clung to them like smoke. Jon raised his trembling hands. “Please- take whatever you want. My wallet’s over there on the dining table. Just… just don’t hurt me, please.” But none of them even looked at the wallet. One shut the door behind them, another dragged a chair from the dining room into the center of the room. The tallest, who seemed to be the leader, had a predator's grin an

ELENA“Hey Julia,” I said, smiling as she stepped into my room. I’d just finished bathing Sky and zipped her into a warm onesie for the night.Holding her against my chest, I rocked her slowly.“She’s ready for bed,” I told her, then froze at the look on her face.When she returned from her outing in the morning, she told me she had begun handling the issue in Brad's SD card and not to worry.Now she had a look that said there was an update. One I will not like.“Julia?”She took a sleepy Sky from my arms and sat on the bed, patting the space beside her.My pulse began to hammer, but I joined her slowly.“We’ve identified the men in the videos,” she said at last. “We think it’s best to move you somewhere a lot safer.”My jaw hung open for a second.“We?”She squeezed my hand gently.“Yes. Mr. Banks and I.”I jerked my hand from hers and stood before I could stop myself, my heart racing.“No!” The word shot out sharper than I meant, making Sky startle. Julia patted her back gently.I b