Chapter Text
“Back to who I was, on to find my future; things my heart still needs to know. Yes, let this be a sign! Let this road be mine! Let it lead me to my past and bring me home...At last!” - Anastasia
Elo was called a lot of things. Crazy, was the staff’s favourite insult, and Clueless.
Five years of constant insults would get to anyone. Sometimes Elo struggled to tell himself that it was the staff who were crazy and clueless. They were the useless ones and people would have to be crazy to want them.
Elo was a lot of things. He was zany and loud; he could be withdrawn and quiet. He was curious, he was suspicious; he was friendly, he was closed-off. And he was hopeful. He clung to hope like a lifeline, never letting go of it.
The one big hope of his life was going to Burbank. His was one true hope, his only clue to who he was.
He had a family out there, somewhere. Despite what the matrons and teachers said, Elo knew, he just knew that his family were out there. They were out there, and they’d welcome him home with open arms. Maybe no one here wanted him, but he was sure his family would.
Without hope, you’d fade fast. Elo knew this all too well. Without hope, what did you have?
They could try their best to stamp it out of him, but they’d never fully succeed.
When Elo was told he only had a month left in the orphanage, he wasn’t sure what to think. At first, he mostly just felt shocked.
A job. A job for him? In Baron Plotz’s estate.
The idea was enough to sweep away the shock, swiftly replaced by anger. He didn’t want to work for Plotz of all people; he was one of Salazar’s lackeys, his chief tax-collector. This was the guy who kept Acme Falls broken down, taxing people as he pleased. Elo hated him, the idea of working for someone like that made his fur stand on end.
No way, there was no way, he couldn’t work for Plotz.
The head matron snapped at him for being ungrateful. “It’s better than the likes of you deserve!” she said.
Elo glared at her, head held high. “I could say the same for Plotz,” he snapped. She’d never hit him before, but she looked close to doing so for that comment. And yeah, maybe it would be a cushy job, an easy one like some of the other kids said- maybe. It was Plotz, so Elo doubted it.
Taking orders had never been Elo’s strong point.
When the anger died down, there was a glimmer of hope; the same hope that had been ingrained in him all this time, thrumming through his blood, beating in time with his heart.
Together in Burbank, together in Burbank, together in Burbank…
All those times he’d been punished for trying to run away and now they were willingly sending him out of those horrid gates. As soon as they closed behind him, Elo could go. Instead of Plotz’s estate, he could go to Acme Falls. From there, he’d just need to get a train, then a boat and…
And, at last, he could be in Burbank and start looking for his family.
But maybe he was being crazy after all. Stupid. Airheaded. Clueless. Elo liked to think he was a pretty optimistic person at the best of times, but everyone had fears and right now his fears were screaming inside his mind.
What if he was wrong? What if his family didn’t want him? What if they were dead? Or, what if he went to Plotz’s estate and it was even worse than the orphanage?
Nothing’s worse than here, Elo told himself. He perched on the windowsill, staring out at the front gates. Snow was falling, about the only time the orphanage’s grounds ever looked pretty.
How strange, to think he’d be walking out of those gates soon.
Elo had no memories of life before the invasion; he’d spent a week on the streets in Acme Falls, directly after Salazar’s takeover. He had no idea what life would be like outside those gates. A war-torn town, devoid of hope and happiness probably wasn’t the best example of what to expect.
No, Elo didn’t know what to expect, but he was sure of one thing: wherever he was heading, it would be better than here.
That was another hope to hold onto as well.
It took all of five seconds to pack; he only had his fairytale book and one spare shirt, and he’d be wearing his hat, scarf and coat.
The dorm suddenly seemed so small as he looked around. In a matter of hours, he’d be gone and he’d never be coming back.
He couldn’t say he’d miss it.
Elo left his things in the corner and went downstairs with his book. He’d promised to read to the others, one last time.
He hoped those little kids would be okay. That they’d be brave and strong; he hoped they’d be adopted and get out of this dump.
“Hey,” Elo said with a smile, walking into the living room. He held up the book. “So, which story first?”
The clamour started as usual. They cried out their favourites as Elo claimed his favourite seat by the window. He flicked through the pages, smiling as the kids all gathered around, sitting in a circle, watching him with bright eyes.
“I’m mostly hearing The Little Mermaid,” he said. Some of the kids cheered in triumph, some rolled their eyes, but they all settled down as Elo began to read.
One last time. Only a few hours and he’d be gone, off on an adventure of his own.
Elo’s heart was pounding, a strange mix of nerves and growing excitement.
Together in Burbank, he thought as he read. Burbank, Burbank, Burbank, Burbank. You could go, you could do it. How hard can it be?
It was late in the afternoon, the weak winter sun casting long shadows, when one of the matrons came in. She looked at Elo, frowned, and gestured at him sharply.
“Come on, you,” she said. “Time to go.”
Taking a deep breath, Elo closed his book. He hugged Daisy tightly, he ruffled Nathan’s hair and smiled at them all.
The matron was frowning impatiently. Elo gave her a sunny smile and went to get his things.
Time to go; to go and face his future and maybe, just maybe, it was time to find his past too.
Elo packed his book away. He put on his coat, hat and scarf. His heart was pounding more than ever, but he couldn’t quite hold back a smile as he went back downstairs.
The head matron stood in the entryway, hands on her hips, scowling at him.
Elo stood as tall as he could, chin up.
“Time to go,” he said brightly.
Together in Burbank.
At last, Elo was free. He waved and called out his goodbyes to all the others, grinning as they all gathered in the windows to say goodbye to him. Even if the staff hated him, the kids hadn’t. That was always a bright spot.
Together in Burbank.
It was time to go and face whatever the future had in store for him.
Elo wanted to be brave. He was sure he could handle anything the world threw his way.
