Clara (1)

After running for nearly three hours, and killing some zombies and a mutated bear along the way, accumulating four blank points, Ellis finally arrived close to Zarechny.

Stopping on his track and looking at the faraway entrance to the city, where he saw a very eye-catching military checkpoint in front of it.

Walking slowly towards it, Ellis saw the soldiers aiming their guns at him. Thinking "maybe it's because of the blood stains at his clothes," he raised his hands but continued walking.

Arriving in front of them, and not wanting any problems to arise for the time being, Ellis chose the peaceful way and spoke to them.

"Hello, my father is from the military, Major Nikolay Miller. As I came here to see my family. Can you connect me with him? Or could I just go inside?"

Seeing how they started to whisper something between them, and eventually one of them went inside while another said, "Wait here."

Ellis chose to stay put, waiting for nearly 15 minutes. Finally, the soldier came back, accompanied by another man walking behind him – a tall man with black hair and some gray strands, honey-colored eyes, and a trimmed beard. His appearance which gave in to his age, still had an authoritative gait.

Arriving in front of him, Nikolay, despite the changes that had taken place in his son, recognized him immediately, and while still being surprised a little, he concealed his expression just as quickly.

Staring at his son, he opened his mouth to speak but after some hesitation decided not to. Turning his head to one of the soldiers, he spoke in his authoritative voice: "He is really my son; I'm taking him with me."

Seeing how he gave another glance at Ellis and then started walking away. Ellis who didn't expect anything from his father, didn't comment on his cold and dry welcome, and just started to walk with him.

After getting some distance away from the soldiers, and not being able to hold it anymore, Ellis finally spoke up:

"So what about Mother and sister?"

Even though there were a lot of things he wanted to say to his father, Ellis decided to leave that conversation to later, and do things in his order of importance.

"We returned to our house and they are home currently," Nikolay replied.

Hearing the short and concise reply, Ellis didn't say anything else. But he looked at the passersby doing their own things and couldn't picture how they seemed to have returned to their daily lives. Then he continued walking through his usual but now unfamiliar road…

…

"Knock" "Knock"

Responding to Ellis's knocks was a girl wearing normal shorts and a T-shirt, doing a bun hairstyle with her dark black hair. With a short height reaching 159 cm, her petite but still firm body resulted from doing some sports and practicing martial arts. And her arguably considered large breasts gave her body a nice curve, making her look dazzling.

With her V-neck T-shirt revealing a hint of her enticing cleavage, he couldn't help but let his gaze linger there. But returning to her sky-blue eyes which were now staring back at him with deep longing eyes and her slightly parted mouth – a mixture of surprise and invitation – seemed to challenge him to kiss her.

Ellis was looking at his big sister Clara, whom he hadn't seen for nearly two years. And while being glad that she was safe and sound, he didn't know how he should treat her for now exactly. But Clara who froze a little then registered his presence, hesitantly took two steps forward before throwing herself at him and burying her head in his chest.

Ellis upon seeing her in his arms felt like wanting to tighten his hold on her even more than ever, not letting her go away ever again. Still deciding to take things slowly – like at least having some talk with her before doing anything – he gently patted her back while giving a glance at their father who had stood still there, observing them a little before deciding to return to work.

Seeing how they became alone now and bending his head to Clara's ear: "So you missed me that much?" Ellis couldn't help but whisper teasingly.

Hearing him and hurryingly letting go of her hands wanting to get away, but Ellis who held her more tightly not letting her go, asked again: "Who is in the house?"

"Just Mother," Clara replied in a mosquito-like voice.

And hearing this low whisper seemingly inviting him, Ellis felt like chains being broken; not being able to restrain himself anymore. He put his hands on her hips and raised her up: "Kyaah!" shouting but still in a low voice; Clara feeling herself being lifted up instinctively wrapped her legs around him and her arms around his neck.

Entering the house holding Clara in his arms, just to see a tall woman with a voluptuous figure, lustrous Auburn hair, and vivid blue eyes looking in her early thirties coming out of the kitchen asking: "Who... came?"

Dragging out the last word on her lips, Selena was first surprised to see a man hugging her 25-year-old still single daughter. But then looking at the man's face, was surprised again finding it was her son whose appearance changed, somehow becoming much more handsome, and looking back at her with his mesmerizing gray eyes: "Ellis."

Saying his name, she found the current scene awkward to her, especially since she knew what had happened before. Selena who wanted to welcome her son more warmly didn't know what to do with this situation. But Ellis, taking in his mother's much youthful appearance and feeling his sister's flinch in his arms burying her head deeper in his embrace, paused for a moment before deciding to greet her with a simple "Mother, I'm back" and leaving the more emotional reunion for later.

"Welcome home son," trying not to get bothered about the situation and radiantly smiling, she replied back.