Chronicles Of The Going Home Club Novels & Stories

**Homecoming** The familiar scent of home—the faint aroma of Claire’s lavender candles, the comforting smell of old wood, and the lingering hint of last night’s rain—filled the air as the Hayes family finally stepped through their front door. Despite the exhaustion from the relentless chase and the constant threat looming over them, the warmth of their home brought a fleeting sense of safety. For the first time in what felt like ages, they were back where they belonged. But the sanctuary of their home was tempered by the reality of the battles still ahead.

I watched Mom and Dad fuss over my little brother, soothing him as they took him out the door. The door closed softly behind them. It was not loud, but it landed in my chest like a stone. I thought I would cry. I did not. My eyes stayed dry, almost painfully dry. I stood in the living room for a very long time before going back to my room and dragging the little suitcase out from under my bed. Five years ago, I had dragged that same suitcase into this home. I had been so small then that I could barely remember the children's home. What I remembered was Mom crouching in front of me, her eyes bright and kind, asking, "Do you want to come home with me?"

Hayes whispered to me, “Sorry.” I elbowed him lightly. Emma guided me inside like I belonged there. The house smelled like lemon and vanilla. Family photos lined the walls. Kids, holidays, vacations. All the warmth I never had with Lucas’s family. A tall man with dark hair peppered with gray stepped out of the kitchen. “Ah. The famous Ella.” “Dad,” Hayes warned, “don’t make it weird.” Jasper Flynn grinned. “Too late.” Before I could speak, someone barreled down the stairs. “Is she here? Did she run yet? I told Mom she’d run.”

My sister, Nancy Wood, wanted to be the family's only child, so my mother had my name changed and handed my identification documents over to my grandmother. She even told me I had to pay for everything if I wanted to live under their roof. The change and coupons Nancy got from her shopping were the sole source of allowance I'd get. If she saved 30 dollars from her shopping trips, I would get 30 dollars next month. It was the last day for all students to enter their applications for college. I begged my sister to let me use her computer. She extended her hand. "You have to pay me 20 bucks." I fished all the money out of my pocket. I only had 19 dollars. So, I hastily blurted in a panic, "I

But I knew it hadn’t. Over the past three years, the time Cicio Russo spent alone with me had grown shorter and predictably shorter. He would rather stay in the grand study, where he dealt with all his family business, facing those dull shelves with bulky books, than come home to be with me and my everlasting warm company. The meals I reheated again and again, the lights that stayed on night after night—it all felt like they were telling me: He was not coming back. One night, Cicio came home late and paused for a moment when he stepped through the door.

“Start over.” Kc led her to the car, holding the door until she settled in, then followed, the door closing behind them with a solid click. As the SUV rolled into the steady stream of Manhattan traffic, Valeria leaned into Kc’s shoulder, her hand resting over his heart. He pressed a kiss to her hair and whispered, “We’re going home now.” And for the first time in a long time, home no longer meant hiding from danger. It meant healing. Together.

Malumanay kong saad habang sinisipa sipa ang mga maliliit na batong aming tinatapakan. “Does it feels like home to you?” Muling usisa niya sa akin. “Ashcroft is home for us. But the kingdom that was built by my Dad is where I belong” “Are you planning to return there when the fact that your step-mom is still there ruling the kingdom?”

Her eyes dilated and she read the lines of the Chapter carefully; _For the witches who doesn't know exactly who they are;_ __I am Amy Walker... I and my_ _grandmother lived in the small town of Decardo._ _ __It was peaceful and welcoming._ _We were loved by all...__ _Grandma would always make muffins for my_ _small butter cup team every Saturday._ _In the evening... I and my team would always go up the hill_ _in search of Lilies and Peaches._ _But one unfaithful day, when we went up the hills... we_ _came across two huge wolves fighting themselves._

After three long years of being shoved to the margins in Aronespire, stepping back into a home where I was cherished was overwhelming. Hot tears spilled uncontrollably down my face.

I glanced sideways and saw Isabella desperately trying to hide her face behind my shoulder, yet her hand clung to mine with a strength that surprised me. Amid the deafening cheers, I looked at my family in the front row. Their faces were almost ashen. In that moment, I felt no vindication or even hatred. Because at last, in this reckoning 20 years overdue, I'd taken that scarred little girl by the hand and led her home. I finally understood that home wasn't where one was born, but where the love was.