Illumination Island

"I'm not sure. Was just trying to break the silence."

Serenity appeared in the living room, clutching her wand tightly. She opened her eyes, and nearly threw up. "I made it!" She screamed, looking around in delight.

The house was almost exactly as it had been left five months ago. The only difference was the dust, emphasized by the morning sunlight shining through the windows.

"Wow, what happened here?" Serenity said, looking around. "Where is everybody?"

There was an owl sitting in the kitchen window.

Serenity had came back after searching the school to no avail. She saw the owl and rushed over to it, untying the letter. "Hello, little owl.." She muttered, opening the letter.

There was no return address.

To whoever gets this:

Hello. I'm just writing to say that I'm alright. In Blackpool. Have gotten a job filing papers for some company who does god knows what. Volunteering at a church. Staying in a shelter. Going to have a son soon. Don't worry. Don't come looking for me.

Elroy Astor

Serenity stared at the owl, and wrote a response on the back.
This is Serenity! Hi! How are you?! Can I come visit?! I'm in your house right now and it's really empty and dusty. But-- you're pregnant?! Oh, no of course not sorry. yeah can i come visit you? I'm slightly better at apparating now!!! HOW ARE YOU!???!" She sent the letter off with the owl. "Go to Elroy! Go, little owl!" She seemed hyper, and the letter was written in horrible grammar.

A few hours later, the response came.

Get out of our house, quit eating our food. No you may not visit. Feed the owl.

E.A.

This time he had used an envelope with the name and location of the company he worked for. He must not have noticed.

Serenity squealed, but decided to wait until later to apparate to the company. She ignored the entire letter and started eating more of their food.

The owl hopped towards Serenity and stared at what she was eating.

Serenity gave the owl a piece, smiling. She seemed to be in a good mood.

The owl bit the tip of Serenity's finger trying to take the piece of food. Having completed its mission, it again flew away through the window.

"Ouch..." Serenity muttered, sucking the tip of her finger.

Serenity apparated back. Well, she wasn't in Amsterdam, but she was standing on the dining room table. She hopped off and went over the sofa, closing her eyes for a nap.

Then another bird entered.

Serenity!!
It's me, Kelsi. I miss you so much. I really do. I'm really sorry I didn't send any letter to you ever since school ended. I've been really busy at the school, and I'm going back in a few days. I'm visiting my sister's so if you ever need to visit me, I'll be at her house. It's in Diagon Alley, she works at the Diagon Alley Paper building... thing. It's in upper Diagon Alley, by the bank.

How's life been for you? You need to tell me what's been going on with you, okay?

Reply soon, please.
Kelsi~C

Serenity, the cause of all the torture and murder in Amsterdam, was asleep. Not on the couch- the thought had occurred to her that the cannibals that had once resided on the island could break the glass door and get in and eat her in her sleep. She was asleep in Angel's bed, curled up under the blankets. If she had known exactly what was going on, she might have chosen Olivia's bed, or even Elroy's. But, she was just peacefully asleep in Angel's house, in his bed.

A week later, Serenity was chilling in the house again. But she was getting more and more frightened of those fictitious cannibals. She had taken to staying upstairs, in one of the rooms of the people she knew. Being alone like that, not really going outside, scared her greatly.

There was the sound of the front door opening, then slamming shut. "Whoever's in here, come downstairs immediately!" resounded a somewhat gravelly, powerful female voice.

Serenity came down two steps of the stairs, staring. "Are you a cannibal..?" She asked, eyes wide with terror. She really had taken the fantasy out of proportion.

There stood a woman in her mid-fifties, dressed quite professionally, hair cropped short and liberally sprayed into place, in a fashion similar to various politicians. She stepped across the room to the base of the stairs, scanning Serenity through the small, rectangular lenses of the reading glasses perched on the tip of her beak-like nose. "Who are you?"

"U-Um, my name is Serenity Rosensteel. I'm Angel's girlfriend.. Olivia said I could stay here. Honest. I'm not trespassing.."

Her green eyes narrowed, piercing into Serenity's. "Oh. Yes, I remember you." She turned away. "Eloise Astor. I'm their mother."

"Yes ma'am." Serenity said, something about this woman struck terror into her heart, and Serenity was not about to cross her.

"Good. I'll say this once; I don't enjoy talking, let alone thinking about it. Angel has received a life's imprisonment under the charges of murder. Some punk in Amsterdam. I assume he MUST have struck first; my little Angie would never even consider such a thing without provocation." She sighed. "That brat sister of his is off somewhere as well. Not sure of the exact location; I suspect she's trying to hide from the consequences." Mrs. Astor turned to glare at Serenity again. "If you have any information, tell me."