text: [Themes: modern, drama]
  
  Picking up the handgun, you aim and fire at the man before he can shoot Tiffany. You strike the man in the side causing him to stagger. This buys Tiffany enough time to grab her gun off the ground and fire several rounds into his chest and he plummets to the ground. You rush out from behind the counter and run up to your sister who is still cowering on the floor.
  
  "Get away from me!" Victoria screams as you reach your hand to her.
  
  "Vic, it's me Ben," You try to calm Victoria down.
  
  Victoria looks up and when she realizes it is indeed you, she quickly gets up and hugs you tightly. "Ben, oh thank god, they were going to force me to do these horrible things and they said they would kill me if I didn't, it was just so awful."
  
  "It's alright, you're safe now," You reassure your sister.
  
  "I have a confession to make, I was dating this guy named Steve and I didn't tell you about him because I was worried you'd freak, anyway I was at his house yesterday and this guys showed up and Steve handed me over to them, I don't why and then they just killed him, it was so scary, I had no idea what was going on, then they took me to this chemical plant and held me in this room for several hours and then I was brought here," Your sister rambles due to being in a state of shock.
  
  "Look you two, this family reunion is very sweet, but it won't be long before Westfield learns what happened here and we have to be long gone by then," Tiffany interjects.
  
  "Who's she?" Victoria inquired.
  
  "Tiffany is a friend, you can trust her," You answer.
  
  The three of you promptly exit the hillside apartment building. As you make your way out you can see rays of sun beginning to appear in the sky. "I don't think I'll ever to repay you for helping me escape that place," Tiffany thanked you.
  
  "You helped me rescue Victoria, I should be thanking you."
  
  "Where are you going to go?" Victoria asks Tiffany.
  
  "A few blocks up the street is a bus station, around eight the RA-22 will stop by and it will take me to Ronan, once I'm there hopefully my parents will take me back in," Tiffany plans out.
  
  "Thank you again for everything," She hugs you goodbye and begins walking up the street.
  
  > Offer to drive Tiffany to Ronan
  You walk up to Tiffany as she is about to cross the street. "Look Tiffany, after what we went through last night, the least I can do is give you a ride home," You offer.
  
  "That's sweet of you, but you and your sister must be exhausted and Ronan is an hour away, I really don't mind waiting for the bus," Tiffany replies.
  
  "Westfield doesn't know who I am, he doesn't know who Victoria is, but he knows who you are and will be hunting for you after he finds out what you've done, so I think it's a good idea to be far from Van Hove when that happens."
  
  Tiffany ponders for a moment over what you said. "You're right, it would safer this way, I'll tell you how to reach my parents' house once we arrive there."
  
  You and Tiffany walk over to your car still parked in front of the apartment building where Victoria is already waiting. "Vic, we're going to drive Tiffany to Ronan and then we can head home," You explain.
  
  "But I want to go home now," Victoria protests, understandably stressed out from all that has occurred.
  
  "I know, but it'll only take a few hours and the worst has passed," You reason with her.
  
  You, Victoria and Tiffany get into your car and drive off. The ride is an uneventful affair as Victoria soon dozes off and you conserve your remaining energy on staying focused on the road. After almost an hour of driving you see signs welcoming to Ronan. Once you're in the high class town, Tiffany gives you directions to her parents' house. A few more minutes of driving you pull up to a French country house that looks like it cost more than your entire childhood. "Well, here we are, guess I should I knock on the door or something," Tiffany says with her voice beginning to sound nervous.
  
  "I'll be right here is case things go south," You reassure her. Tiffany gets out of your car, walks up the cobblestone driveway and to front door of her parent's house. She hesitates for a moment before ringing the doorbell. For a moment there is no answer and she looks back at you with uncertainty. Soon however the front door opens and a middle aged woman who somewhat resembles Tiffany stands in the doorway. She stares at Tiffany for a few moments before she registers who Tiffany is and once it becomes clear it's her daughter she hugs her tightly while breaking down in tears. They head inside and a faint smile appears on your face. You pull a U-turn and begin the drive back home.
  
  > Five months later
  You stare at the snow as it lightly falls to the ground. The sight of falling snow was always peaceful to you, but you're brought back to reality when your sister calls out to you. "Ben, let's get going" Victoria insists. You turn your attention to the French country house and ring the doorbell. You and Victoria had been invited to spend Thanksgiving here. Within seconds the door opens and you're greeted by Tiffany. Her face lights up when she sees you.
  
  "Hey Ben I'm so glad you could attend, please come on in," Tiffany greets as she gives you a hug.
  
  "Wouldn't miss this for anything," You say with enthusiasm as you enter the house.
  
  "How's college going for you Vic?" Tiffany asks your sister.
  
  "It's going great, the people are so nice, the classes are awesome and the best part is all the culture that's there," Victoria describes.
  
  "When do you go back?"
  
  "In January, you have to promise me you'll keep an eye on Ben so he doesn't get in trouble when I leave."
  
  "I'll do my best I promise, follow me to the kitchen."
  
  You and Victoria walk further into the entranceway, your footsteps echo on the hardwood floor. Light comes shining down on you from a giant chandler hanging from the ceiling of the foyer. As you follow Tiffany you notice something is different about her, she's more relaxed and calm, the survive at all costs attitude she had back at the hillside apartment building is long gone.
  
  "Where's the bathroom?" Victoria asks in a rather direct way.
  
  "Last door on the right," Tiffany informs.
  
  Victoria hurries way down the hallway as Tiffany turns towards you. "My parents are really looking forward to meeting you, they want to thank you for all you've done, just be careful around my dad because he can talk for hours on end without letting you get a word in, I'll introduce you to them when Vic gets back," Tiffany plans out.
  
  "Sophie deserves a lot of the credit," You respond humbly. "Without her I couldn't have found my sister or have been able to help you."
  
  "You're so modest, you've got to be more assertive or people will walk all over you, luckily for you I've been assigned to keep you out of trouble." Tiffany playfully teases. You get a warm feeling of happiness that causes you to grin. You haven't felt like this in a long time, it's most likely brought on by the fact that your lifestyle of being isolated and withdrawn is finally at an end.