Phoenix's POV

Zeph, Emerald and I ride the train back to my home town, a 13 hour ride. We all slept most of the way, in our own little area that people seemed to avoid like the plague. Maybe it was the fact that I was covered in blood, or that Emerald was bloody and ..yeah. Or maybe it was because they knew Zeph and I were different, someway, somehow.

Eventually, the train pulls up in a station I recognise and I quickly wake Zeph and Emerald and the three of us depart from the train and start walking down the street, the siblings following me, since I know where I'm going, and with the way they're looking around curiously, they've never been.

My heart starts racing as we get closer, like a horse in the wild, running for its life to avoid getting captured. My throat starts to knot up, making it difficult to breath, my palms become sweaty and cool sweat causes my shirt to stick to my skin.

Our clothes from Heaven long since been discarded and changed for something more laidback. T-shirts and jeans.

We arrive at the door, and I can't knock. My entire body seizes up and causes me to become unable to move, somehow, seeming to sense my inner turmoil, Zeph steps forward and knocks on the door before stepping back beside me to wait.

A few moments later, the door opens, and standing there is my mother, Melanie.

"Phoenix... oh baby.. is that really you..?" She whispers, holding out her shaking arms, like she's unsure if I'm real or not.

Tears spring into my eyes and I launch forward, hugging her tightly.

"Yes mum.. it's me.. it's Phoenix.." I reply, voice thick with tears.

My mum sobs, clutching me to her tightly and checking me over at least five different times before going back to hugging me tightly.

"Oh... my baby... my baby.." she whispers, cradling me in her arms as she sobs.

I sob softly against her chest, hugging her to me tightly.

"I missed you so much mum.." I whisper.

"Mum? Who is it?" Eliza's voice calls from inside and when she gets no answer, she walks to the door to investigate.

I smile teary at her, before motioning her forward for a hug too.

"Phoenix..?" She whispers before running forward and joining the hug, all of us sobbing and sniffling, being reunited.

Zeph clears his throat behind me as Emerald watches with teary eyes and a small smile.

"Oh... yeah." I start, "mum, can my friend and his little sister stay with us for a while? They've been living on the streets for the last few years, and I can't bare to leave them there anymore.." I lie, not wanting to tell her the whole truth.

My mum's eyes fill with more tears as she looks at them, "of course, Phoenix. Come in, come in. Our door will always be open to you...?" She says.

"Zeph and Emerald." Zeph informs.

My mum practically beams as she ushers all of us inside and to the bathrooms to shower and get changed.

I make my way into my room, my old room. Completely different to the one I had in Heaven. So bare compared, really.

I look around the messy room, noticing not a single thing has changed since the day we left for the cliff. I smile gently at that, knowing my mum would have been in here everyday, tempted to tidy up, but knowing it would just end up like this again in just a few hours.

I put on some fresh jeans, underwear and a long sleeve shirt, before putting on my shitkickers and walk into the living room where my mum is feeding Zeph, Emerald and Eliza.

She looks up when I walk and smiles brightly, "Phoenix, I made food. Grab a plate."

"I'm okay mum, I should actually go see Rune, I told him I would as soon as I got back." I reply.

My mum deflates, causing guilt to pool in my stomach.

I look away.

"I'll be back with him..?" I say, making it sound more like a question. My mum nods.

"Alrighty, I'll see you a little later then." I wave goodbye and walk out, heading to Rune's house.

•••

When I arrive, the house is dark and so full of gloom and pain, it might as well have had a sign up.

I knock regardless, remembering what Ru told me the last time we talked, about how his brother is gone.

The door opens, and standing there is Hannah. Usually she would be dressed in very nice, fancy clothes, hair done beautifully, makeup on fleek etc. but this person in front of me? Not at all.

Her hair was in a messy bun, looking like it hadn't been brushed in weeks, her eyes were dim, bloodshot and dark half circles curved under them. Her skin was sickly pale and her features were sunken.

"Phoenix..?" She rasps. I nod and she moves forward and hugs me.

"Thank god you're back.. Rune needs you, he's in his room." She says, voice quivering with worry.

I nod and smile softly, "I'll look after him, don't worry Hannah."

She smiles tiredly, but gratefully and allows me to enter the house, where I instantly make my way to Ru's room, walking past the living room where his father is reclined on the couch, whiskey in hand, and just like Hannah, Chester's eyes were dim and bloodshot, dark half circles clinging to his sunken face, hair a greasy mess.

I nod to him, and he nods back, before going back to staring blankly at the tv that's not even turned on, taking swig after swig of whiskey. I purse my lips slightly before walking up the stairs to Rune's room.

I knock.

"No ones home." A voice grumbles from inside, causing me to bite back a smile before opening the door and turning the light on, walking inside.

"Bit dark in here, vampy." I announce as I close the door behind me.

Instantly Rune is on his feet and tackling me to the floor, hugging me for dear life.

"Phoenix!!" He shouts, tears welling up in his eyes and overflowing as he pulls back to hold my face, looking at me like he couldn't believe it, and he probably couldn't. Not after having to bury my body, I know he did because I was watching him as soon as I got to Heaven. It must have been so traumatic for him..

Rune and I stay hugging for probably about 30 minutes, not going to lie. Just enjoying each other's company, in the flesh, and not that dream state.

"You're back... you're alive.. you're okay.." Ru breathes, touching my face, then my arms, chest etc. trying to assure himself that I'm actually here.

I smile, "yeah, I'm here."

Rune bursts into sobs and throws himself into my arms, hugging me tightly. We move to the bed to cuddle and put on our favourite movie. I use his phone to call my mum and let her know that Ru needs me right now, and that I'll be back soon, and that I love her, because lord knows I didn't say I love you enough before I died.

Rune and I stay in bed, cuddled up watching out favourite movies, just bingeing and getting each other up to date on everything, except, I didn't tell Rune about my being an angel, or an elemental angel, I didn't tell him why God would call me back, just that there was an evil in Heaven, I never told him much about Heaven either, because it was against Heaven's laws to tell others what it's like, either they get in and see for themselves, or they have to imagine.

Eventually, Rune falls asleep, his head buried in my chest, one arm around my waist and one leg thrown over mine. It seems even in sleep he's afraid of letting me go.

I smile softly, stroking his hair out of his face gently before placing a kiss on his temple.

"Sleep well, Ru. I'll always be here for you.." I whisper before closing my eyes and joining him in the realm of sleep.