What Once Was Lost Can Be Found Again

Homecoming

WC: 1,821

Kiara says, "Yeah, they are a bunch of fancy people. They've had three governors in the family. They've run Charleston for, like, 300 years."

Pope pulls up to the house.

"These Kooks make our Kooks look like Pogues," JJ said.

Bella looked up at the place, trying to see if anyone was home.

"You sure this is the place, Pope?"

"Looks kinda... menacing," Bella mutters.

Pope hesitates, "Pretty sure."

"Alright," JJ opens the door and they all get out.

Pope grabs the letter.

"Fat City for sure."

Pope holds it up, "Twenty-seven King Street."

"Talk about home security," JJ points to the gates.

Bella looks at the spikes, "That is one fence I'd rather not climb."

"Are those spikes to keep people out?" JJ asked.

Kiara shakes her head, "No."

"The slave quarters are over there," Pope points.

Bella scoffs, "Me da cólera. Vile things."

Pope sighs, "These spikes were to keep people in."

🌊

Pope knocks on the door. "You think that was too much?"

"It echoed the entire house, that's for sure," JJ said. "So they definitely heard it."

Bella leaned against one of the columns.

Kiara said, "Maybe nobody's home."

Pope knocked again, as the door was opening.

A man leaned against the doorframe, "You must be Pope." He points.

"Um... are you Mr. Limbrey?" Pope asked.

"Ms. Limbrey was expecting you yesterday."

"Oh. Um... I'm- I'm sorry. My car broke down on the way up here."

JJ adds, "Carburetor blew up in the middle of Nowheresville. Sorry about that."

"Yeah, she was uh, real upset when you didn't show up."

Kiara speaks up, "We tried to call, but there's no number on the invitation. We got here as fast as we could."

"She also expected you to come alone."

Bella stands fully up, "Anyone with an ounce of a brain knows to never come alone, especially from a cryptic letter from a stranger."