Only Broken

The Town That Holds My Past

Through the black-tinted windows of the limo, the world looks like a dark, endless stretch. Trees and thick vegetation line both sides of the road, and it's been like this for hours.

I can’t help but wonder—are we moving to a town inside a forest? So far, there’s been no sign of life, no road signs, no landmarks hinting at where we’re going. Maybe this place isn’t even on the map.

“It’s a quiet place,” Mom says, smiling at me. She’s probably noticed the look on my face, the one that says I’m thinking way too much about our destination.

“Right, honey?” She nudges Dad lightly with her foot, pulling him from his laptop.

“Yeah, yeah. Right. Totally quiet and peaceful,” he mutters, flashing me a small smile before his attention drifts back to his screen.

A small smile tugs at my lips.

My workaholic, loving parents—that’s what they are. And honestly, I can’t blame them for being so dedicated to their jobs, especially since what they do is so fascinating.

They run EcoCycle, a world-changing tech company focused on sustainable energy solutions. Their smart grid projects have made them big names in the business world.

But as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility—or in our case, life-threatening risks.

EcoCycle has many enemies in the business world. They are competitors who are ruthless and cunning, willing to do anything to be number one.

That’s why we’re moving—to a place that’s quiet and peaceful, just like Dad said.

But to me, this town isn’t just a peaceful escape.

It’s where I was born. The place where I was adopted by two business moguls who like to keep their lives private.

A town I’ve never seen before. Not even as a baby.

You can probably guess why I feel so uneasy about coming back now.

I keep looking through the window for any sign that we’re close, but all I see is more road and trees. Realizing it’ll be a while before we arrive, I decide to rest my eyes—hoping to shake off some of the jet lag.

The limo slows to a stop, pulling me from my nap. Stretching, I step out of the car with my parents and rub my eyes, trying to wake up properly. When I finally take in my surroundings, my eyes widen slightly at the sight of the mansion before us.

"Looks like we won’t be heading back to the city anytime soon," Mom says with a smile, placing her hands on my shoulders.

"You’re going to love it here, Claire. I promise." Her voice holds both relief and excitement.

Do I really have a choice?

Because it’s either here, or the city—a place with no privacy and constant threats on our lives.

Dad heads inside first, probably looking for a comfortable office to continue working.

Mom stays back, directing the maids as they move our luggage to the right rooms. While they’re busy, I take the chance to explore.

The moment I step inside, I realize how eerily familiar everything feels.

The chandeliers.

The luxury.

The grandeur.

It’s almost like I never left the city at all.

I sigh and make my way upstairs to my new room, eager to collapse into bed and sleep off the jet lag before tomorrow arrives.

The Next Morning

After showering and changing, I head downstairs for breakfast, excited—yet slightly nervous—to explore the town later. But just as I’m about to walk into the dining hall, I hear someone call my name.

I stop mid-step, recognizing my parents' voices. But… they aren’t calling me.

They’re whispering.

Curious, I move closer to the slightly open door, listening in.

“We’re safe here, Caroline. Trust me.” Dad exhales deeply.

"I want to believe that, Richard. But until no strangers or murderers sneak into this house while we’re asleep, I won’t let my guard down." Mom’s voice is firm, unwavering.

"This town is safe. Almost hidden. Nobody knows we’re here."

A pause.

"And Claire?" Mom asks.

"What about her?"

"She believes we’re just here to lay low for a while." Mom sighs, frustration lacing her voice.

"That’s what she has to believe."

"And she doesn’t seem to like this place."

"She’s an understanding little one. Just give her time."

Silence follows. Then Dad exhales. "Carol, we’ve been over this. This is the best plan we could come up with. And if anything goes wrong—hopefully it won’t—our plan will ensure that she’s always be safe."

I frown. What do they mean?

What could possibly go wrong in a small town like Blueville?

"I just hope that if it ever comes to that, she’ll be welcomed with open arms. Don’t you think we should tell her?"

The sound of a chair scraping against the floor makes me tense.

"Caroline, we’ve been nothing but honest with her since she turned twelve." Dad’s voice is quiet, but firm. "But let’s keep this one to ourselves. It would be too much for her. She’s barely had a year to adjust."

Mom sighs but doesn’t argue.

I step away from the door and head toward the dining hall, my mind racing.

They’re right—they have been honest with me since I turned twelve a year ago.

Honest about my adoption.

Honest about the dangers that come with their fame.

Honest about why we had to leave the city.

But what aren’t they telling me this time?

Does it have something to do with this town?

Sure, it’s quiet and peaceful.

Sure, they have a small project here to keep them occupied.

But I have a strong feeling there’s another reason.

A reason that has everything to do with me.