Post by Professor Layton on Nov 29, 2010 19:04:27 GMT -5
((yes, not only am I an artist, when I'm not in a writer's block, I'm a writer too. So, this first fanfic is called The Orphan, and it's about Helen finding Layton. So... enjoy, I guess.))
Chapter One
Helen looked at the letter in her hand. Over and over she had read it, and a she was sent to do a task. Her red hair flopped on her shoulders as the clunking bus had finally stopped. She had gotten off of it, knowing people were looking at her and thinking of how much she resembled her mother. She knew it because she never heard she looks like his child, only her child. Wearing a green sweater and blue pants, she listened to the sound of her shoes to try not to think of what the other people may think. But she always did listen to them, no matter what the young girl told herself.
"But, she's much too young to be her, and she couldn't of had a child!" were whispers Helen heard all the time. It had kept several people from adopting her. Helen never knew who her parents were, and that was what she was going to find out now. She was going to find her father, just as the letter had said for her to do. But she was not told of his name, where he worked, or if he had a new family already. She was only told he lived in London. Her heart raced as she began to walk on the streets, knowing that some stared at her, some only shrugged and ignored her, and some had also whispered about her when she walked by. But she was solving a mystery about who this mysterious father was, and she had to focus on that. Of course, she needed a place to stay, some place to eat, to sleep. Shelter would be hard to come by for an orphan like her, but she'd find it sometime.
"Well, this will be quite difficult." Helen muttered as she looked around for some sort of friendly person, or people. She remembered in her letter how her father was quite a gentleman and never knew about her, so if she found a gentleman, she'd know sort of what her dad would be like, right? She glanced about, noticing one specific man with a top hat upon his head. She expected him to be like all the others before, stare at her and quickly know who her mother was. It had always happened. But there was just a feeling that he would be different. "Sir?" Helen felt frail, small and fearful of what he would do for speaking to him. "Sir, I need a place to stay. I just got here and I need to find a place to stay. My name is Helen, and my mother wanted me to find somewhere I could stay."
The man turned and looked at Helen, looking at her for a short time before answering. "There is a hotel that's not far from here." he said as he watched Helen for a little while longer. He noticed something about her. Something familiar. He wanted to know more about her, to know if she was related to someone he knew. "But, I am Professor Layton, and I believe it would be fine for you to stay with me for a short time. How long do you plan on staying?"
"I just have to find someone and get back home, Professor. I'd say about a week would do, since mother wasn't so great with directions." Helen said. She was lying a bit, but as long as he believed her, it would be fine. "I suppose I could stay with you, mum won't mind. In fact, she'd rather have me stay with someone rather then at a hotel on my own. I mean, I don't have much money, mum's too sick to come with me. That's probably why the directions to find the person I must find is a bit difficult to understand."
"Ah, I see. Well, come along then my dear, it shouldn't take long to get used to where you'll be staying. It won't get lonely there when I'm away, and I'm sure Flora would enjoy some company. Now, come with me, I'll show you where you'll be staying."
Helen nodded and followed after the professor, thinking about if it really would be fine to go with him or not. But shelter was shelter, and what would be so bad anyways?
Chapter 2
"So, this is where I'll be staying then?" Helen had asked as she stood beside the professor. She watched him nod and set her bag down, her eyes looking about in wonder. Living in an orphanage all her life, she thought just about any place looked better without any orphaned children, even a prison would look better to her. I hope my father's home is like this. Speaking of my father, or much rather thinking, I wonder who he could b-
"Who is she?" Helen quickly looked over at a girl about her age standing in front of the door, staring at Helen. Helen was surprised and frightened by the girl, because she expected to now be thrown out because of her. Back into the streets, having much less of a chance to finding out who this mysterious father she searched for was. She quickly snapped her head to the professor, hoping he'd say something to help her.
"This is Helen, she's in town for a week or so to search for a friend. She'll be staying with us until she can find her friend." Professor Layton explained to the other girl. He looked over to Helen as he finished. "Helen, this is Flora. I do hope you two will get along well for this week." Helen nodded quickly as he said to get along. If she could look good to him, she may be able to go with him just to visit. But perhaps Helen was only thinking of a fantasy, a fantasy that would never happen. These people hardly knew her already, why would they want her to keep coming? If she got to know them over the week she was with them, maybe, but she doubted it. Her father probably didn't even want her anyways, so it'd be right back with the orphans.
"Hello, Helen." Flora said as she watched the other girl carefully. Something was vaguely familiar about her, but Flora was unsure what it was. "Who's the someone you're looking for?"
Helen felt a bit anxious and fearful about what to say. If she said it was her father, it would make them suspicous. "Um, a friend of my mom's." Helen said as she thought of something to say.
"Who's your mother? We might be able to help."
"I'd rather not talk about her right now, and I'll consider your offer of help." Helen spoke quickly now, in fear of Flora finding out that Helen was truly an orphan. "I should go rest now." Helen had walked away from the professor and Flora, into Flora's room, sitting down and getting a notebook out. She began to write in it, watching letter after letter form.
Dear journal,
I am fearful that these people I've chosen to stay with will find out my secret, that I am an orphan searching for the mysterious father I've never known, that they will kick me out on the streets if they do find out. I do hope whoever this father is, will love me and let me stay with him. I can't stay with the professor my whole life, so if my father leaves me out on the streets, I have no choice but to return to the orphanage. I didn't tell Marie I was going to leave, or she would have beaten me right then and there like all the other children who told her that. If I go back, that's going to happen to me too, and I will probably starve for a day or two. How horrifying it would be if I went there again! My only friend there, Henry, is the only person who knows I've left. How I miss Henry's happiness and laughter. I suppose it won't be bad here with the professor though, as long as they don't know where I live, or who my parents are. I don't even know that! But, I hear someone coming, so I shall end this entry right here.
Signed, Helen Walter.
P.S. According to the letter I have gotten, Walter is not my true last name, only the name Marie had given me. But my first name and middle name are. How peculiar.
"Helen? Would you like some tea?" Helen shut her journal and looked up at the professor.
"Yes please, Professor. I would enjoy some tea to help me relax." Helen wouldn't relax for long this week though. That was something she did not know at the time.
Chapter 3
Helen slowly got up, waking up with a yawn and a stretch. She looked around, not used to places being so empty like this. The orphanage was always filled with kids rustling about, or that despicable lady that had to take care of them, Marie. Her skin was pasty white, her eyes a pretty blue somehow, her hair was greasy and always put up in a sloppy bun. She was also on the 'big' side, as Helen enjoyed saying. She finally noticed Flora asleep, looking around to see if someone watched her. She flinched slightly when she heard a familiar voice, surprised he was awake.
"Good morning Helen. It's not often someone wakes up as early as I do now that Luke is away. How was your sleep?" Helen looked over at the professor who was drinking tea with a newspaper in his hand. At least she was only staying here for about a week so he wouldn't always ask her things like that.
"Oh, I slept fine. I should go look for mum's friend today." Helen said as she watched the professor drink his tea. "Everybody says he's quite a gentleman, or so I've heard.I don't really know him, and without mum's help, this might be difficult."
"I see. Who's your mother's friend?"
Helen thought of what to say for a few moments. If she said her dad, something bad would happen. "I'm not really sure, all I know is that he's a friend of my mom's. Don't know what he looks like, where he works, where he lives." And my father, can't forget that. Helen added in her head. She could never forget that fact. "But what about Luke? Who's he?"
"My apprentice, but he had to leave. He was quite good at puzzles."
"Like Henry?" Helen wanted to stop herself, but she had already said it. Henry, the only friend she had, Helen wished he was there because she now told a stranger who her friend was. Well, she might as well say who Henry was. "Henry's my friend, and he was really smart. But I think I'll have to move away and never see him again."
"I see. Well, I guess we can go out to look for your mother's friend, once Flora wakes up." Helen nodded as she glanced at Flora, hoping the girl would wake up soon. Her hair was a bit messed up from sleeping, but to Helen it didn't matter, just as long as she could find the mysterious father sometime that week. She watched as Flora finally woke up, her heart pounding as she thought of finding her dad now. She would probably now get dressed, fix her hair, look good for her dad since Flora had woken up. Well, if she found her dad and he saw her look pretty, maybe he would still want her. Henry met his father only a few years ago, and Henry's father yelled at him, telling him he wasn't going to ever let him see him again. Marie took Henry because his father worked with the law, and Marie wouldn't say no to the law. Henry came back to the orphanage crying, would Helen be just like Henry when she met her father? What if she saw Henry's dad? From Henry's description, his dad was mean, had his dark hair and yelled like crazy. What if her father was like that, not the gentleman in the letter? These thoughts ran about in her head as she got up from her bed.
"I'm going to get dressed now, and fix my hair." Helen picked up her bag and went to the bathroom, coming out with her hair in a ponytail as well as a dress. The dress was a light shade of blue, with short sleeves on it. She had gotten it on her thirteenth birthday, the same day she had gotten the letter. "Shall we go to town now, Professor?" She saw Flora and the Professor stare at her a few moments before the professor finally spoke up.
"Yes, we can go. What's the occasion for the dress though? You look very pretty in that dress." the professor said as he watched Helen.
"Just so I can surprise my mother's friend. And thanks. I've been told I look very much like my mother." This fact would help her find her father, hopefully, since her father must remember who her mother was, he would ask her who her mother was. She knew the answer, but told only Henry of it. "My hair, my eyes, my face, everyone says I look just like her. I don't think so though. Marie says my mom was always around her brother." Helen had now just mentioned the girl of the orphanage who always yelled at the kids! I really need to stop saying things like that. she thought as she looked at the professor.
"Huh. I had a sister with that name." the professor said. "But we should be on our way out, we have a man to search for." Helen sighed with relief that the professor didn't ask about Marie, only mentioning his sister had that name. And that Marie had a brother that was with her mother quite a bit. Helen discarded the thought and went on to thinking of who her dad was, walking outside with the professor and Flora. As they walked outside, Helen thought this was going to be a good day. At least, that's what she hoped would happen.
Chapter 4
Helen stood on the sidewalk with the professor, looking around at people who walked by. "Have you met a girl that looks like me? Did you ever see someone with my hair?" she would ask as men walked by. Many people stared at her like she was a freak, and Helen didn't blame them. This wasn't really going anywhere at the moment. She didn't ask the professor any of these questions, since he may ask her why she would ask him if he had no idea who her mother was. Then many other questions would come up, and Helen would give herself up as an orphan. She sighed as an hour passed with no luck. "Professor, is there somewhere we could go to find files about people who knew my mother?" Helen stopped for a moment, thinking of what she just said, then changed her mind about it. Then someone would know what her mother's name was, and then the professor would have to kick her out. "No, no, we need to go get something to eat. That may help a lot! Where do you think we can go, professor?"
Hershel looked at Helen, thinking of a place to go. "Well, we could go there to have some food this morning. I suppose that sounds just fine." the professor said as he pointed to a nearby restaurant. Helen, Flora and the professor all went inside, with Helen taking a deep breath of the aroma of food. She closed her eyes as she breathed in, opening them again as she looked at the woman at the counter. And then, that's when she noticed them. Her eyes looked directly at a table with two men sitting there, one that might have been smaller then Helen, and the other had such a familiar face that Helen thought Henry was just older and creepier. Henry's father. Helen gasped when she saw him, then quickly turned away, trembling in fear. Henry's dad, Henry's father! He must be Henry's dad, they look so alike! But this man seems much, angrier, so unlike cheery and filled with laughter Henry. Helen thought as she glanced back at the man. The professor heard Helen gasp and looked down at her. "What is it Helen? Are you afraid of Inspector Chemley and Barton, his bobby?"
"The inspector reminds me of Henry, my best friend." Helen whispered as quietly as she could.
"Hm. Strange." Hershel said as he looked at Helen. "Well, let's go get some food, Helen. You must be starving." Food. Actual food, like last night, when the professor had made her food. Not a small bit of food like at the orphanage. Henry always got more than anyone else, which was really odd. Perhaps Marie thought he had a good chance of getting adopted, so she fed him well, and Henry gave some extras to the other children, especially Helen. The three sat down at a table, Helen's eyes looked at each choice like it was the food, sitting right in front of her, waiting to be eaten. When a waiter had got their orders, Helen waited for her food and stared at the inspector and Barton. How could this scary person be father of one of the nicest kids she knew? When they looked at her, she quickly looked away and looked at the professor.
"Wouldn't it be funny if the person I've been searching for this whole time was you, Professor Layton?" Helen asked, trying to think of some way to start a conversation to not think about Henry or the inspector. "I doubt it, but it would still be pretty funny. Like I did all this work, and the answer was right in front of me. What do you do for a living, professor? What's your favorite color, what do you like to eat, why do birds fly, are we going to get arrested?" Helen shook from being so nervous, her voice quivered with each word she said, fearing that the inspector would walk up to her and ask her who she was.
"Well, Helen, I think you just need to relax and wait for some food. Is that fine with you?" Hershel said as he looked at the frightened thirteen year old who nodded. "You must just be really hungry if you're shaking."
"Yeah yeah yeah, I'm just really hungry, so hungry I could eat twelve meals today. I can have quite an appetite." Helen smiled as best she could. "Because it's not Henry's fault his mom died and his father was terrible to him."
"What did you just say?" Helen gulped as she looked up at the inspector, fearful that he was going to do something terrible to her from the fierce look in his eyes.
Chapter 5
"Henry's my best friend, the nicest person I know and the most loved kid at home! You didn't even get to know him!" Helen said as she looked at the inspector. She knew what she had done when she got out of her seat and pointed at him. She made a scene, of course, which happened a lot at the orphanage at dinner. She remembered the finger pointings at people, saying that aliens invaded their food, or Marie chewed the food already, which usually got her into a beating. That was quite normal for her though. And she had made a scene right in front of the professor too, so she couldn't go back now. Something bad was going to happen to her because of her loyalty to Henry, and she would fight for Henry if she had to. He and one other boy were the only two people she would fight for, but if things got bad here, she'd retreat. If this man was Henry's father, she remembered what Henry told about him. Angry, seemed like he would punch you as hard as he could, and Helen didn't have the money to end up in a hospital. In fact, she hardly even had any money.
"How would you even know who his father was? Doesn't he already have parents?" the inspector said, raising his voice slightly. Helen felt her heart pound at what he said. She was really in trouble now. She would have to tell them he was an orphan, and she was an orphan, and everything would go downhill from there. Of course she was in quite the predicament. Oh, why did she have to have a strong loyalty to Henry?
"I-I met him at the orphanage one day. We saw each other again and again, slowly becoming best friends. He told me he was going to meet his father, and came back home bursting in tears. I thought to myself, I will help Henry whenever I can, if I can prove he's the greatest, nicest person you would ever meet, he would always laugh that laugh, smile that warm, gentle smile, and be one of the greatest people you would ever meet." As Helen spoke, she spoke softer, and tears welled up in her eyes. "And you rejected him, you rejected him because Henry is like his mom. You didn't want a constant reminder of what slipped through your fingers, what was it, eleven years ago? When he was two you left him. He told me he remembered Susan, he remembered you hardly though."
Helen watched the inspector's face when she said the name Susan. She thought she could predict the future when she heard the next words he said. And it wasn't a happy prediction either.
"You know nothing of that day, nothing about her, and you should watch yourself next time you go accusing people, kid!" Helen was quite scared of what the inspector had said, watching him and Barton storm out. Her eyes were wide when she watched them go. Well, now what would the professor say to her? To get out of his home?
"Well Helen, it seems that you've met your best friend's father. Not the greatest encounter either, but it appears you knew his father with just one look at him, and what knowledge you had from your friend. I am impressed, though you shouldn't be accusing people like that, Helen." Hershel said as he looked at the girl. She hung her head down for a while, wondering if he would say anything else. "And if you plan on coming again, perhaps you could be my apprentice? You seem to be quite intelligent. All you would have to do is not accuse anyone." Helen looked up, blinking a few times at what he said. Because she was right about who Henry's father was, he was interested in making her his apprentice.
"Well sir, that's something to think about you know. But, if I can, I certainly will become your apprentice." Helen told him after thinking for a few moments. She watched as food was given to them by a waiter, and the group began to eat. If Helen's dad left her to fend for herself, would she stay with the professor as his apprentice? That was something she wanted to look forward to, but would she ever see Henry again? What would she do without her best friend? She probably would be able to visit him, or write. Helen had to think long and hard about it over the next few days she would be staying with the professor. When Flora, Hershel and Helen finished eating, they went outside again. "I suppose we'll be trying again, right professor?" Helen's voice was a bit more upset now, feeling quite discouraged about finding her father.
"Helen, we can relax a bit today if you want, or try to figure out puzzles instead." the professor told her as he looked over at Helen. She smiled and nodded, and they began walking back to Hershel's house to look through his book of puzzles to see if Helen and Flora could get the answer right. It had seemed that Helen was a bit smart when it came to puzzles, and she wished she knew her parents so they would be proud of her. So proud she would be the happiest child on Earth, but she thought it would never be. She would always be Helen Walter, the orphan who was loyal to an orphan boy, and a heart for a different child.
Chapter 6
As Helen awoke the next morning, she noticed Flora was up as well, and the professor must have still been in his room. Helen yawned and blinked a few times, looking over at some pictures. She saw the professor in one picture, a couple that seemed to have been old now, and two children in front of them, a girl and a boy. She thought that they both looked familiar somehow, and noticed another picture. The professor knew Luke? Oh, that was right. Luke mentioned the professor several times before. And she believed when she had just woken up, she heard the professor mention Luke. And then, that's when her heart raced. The professor and a young woman. She was so pretty, with her hair, her smile, everything seemed to be perfect in the picture. She noticed a picture of Flora as well, and it seemed to be fairly new. "Hey Flora, do you know who that girl in the picture is?" Helen called to the kitchen. Flora looked up, walking out to see the picture. She looked at the picture for a while, then a Helen for a while, studying both the girl and the picture. "She looks so pretty."
"Claire. She was here a year ago when that catastrophe happened. You know, the one with Clive, Dr. Allen, and the underground London. She's dead now." Flora said as she looked at the picture and Helen. Helen heard about that day. Marie had let them read newspaper, but no one read about Claire, or even saw anything about her. "She loved the professor and was his college sweetheart. It was a romantic story, but one with a very sad ending."
"Oh. Well, it's a shame then, because she seems like she was really nice, very pretty. I bet the professor misses her a lot." Helen sighed as she looked at the picture for a bit longer. Would she ever look like that? She then caught whiff of whatever substance Flora was cooking. She didn't even think it was food anymore. "You want me to help you with some food, Flora? I've always wanted to cook." She turned to Flora, awaiting her answer.
"Well, I suppose so. You could show me what I could do." Flora smiled as she said this, watching Helen walk with her to the kitchen. "You know, you look a lot like Claire. Your hair, your eyes. Are you related to her, or are you her?"
Helen was unsure of what to say. "Oh, I'm sure it's 's dead anyways, right?" Helen wished Claire was her mother, though. If she were her mother, the professor would be her father and she would stay with him forever. But what Flora said after, are you her, seemed a bit strange. "But, let's continue with breakfast, alright?" Flora worked on food while Helen worked on the tea. She heard the professor walk into the kitchen, a grin on her face. "Professor! I made you tea!" She poured a cup of tea and smiled at him. "For your hospitality, a good man deserves a cup of tea you know. I really want to be your apprentice, but I'll have to ask about it." Oh, no. Marie. She would have to ask Marie, and instantly get into trouble. But hopefully, that would not happen.
"Why, thank you Helen. Now, I must work today, so you'll have a day to spend with Flora. I'll be on my way now." the professor was gone out the door, and Helen helped Flora with the rest of breakfast.
"Flora, is the professor your father?" Helen asked suddenly as she looked at Flora. Flora didn't look a bit like Hershel, but she may have just looked a lot like her mother.
"Yes and no. He adopted me." Helen felt her heart pound when she said that. She was adopted, something Helen thought she never would be.
"What's it like to be raised by someone other then your family?"
"Well, it's a bit different. I do see him as a father, but why do you ask?"
"My best friend's an orphan. He wishes he had a family, but once you hit thirteen, you're done for. No one wants you, and they adopt the young children first."
"Who's 'they'?"
"The couples who walk in, the ladies, the gentlemen. Anyone, either getting rid of a kid, or adopting one. Life is quite hard there." Helen was a kid who was taken when she wasn't very old, kind of like Henry, except she was there before him. She stared at a wall instead of at Flora, trying not to think about life as an orphan. "Henry may still have a chance. Me? No." She sighed and looked back at Flora.
"But, I thought you said your mother was just ill." Flora said with some suspicion. "Or do you mean something else?"
"You can't tell the professor, alright? I'm an orphan, OK? I'm not searching for a 'friend' of my mother's, I'm looking for my father. I'm looking for him because of a letter."
"You can trust me. I won't say anything. But, can I at least see the letter?" Helen nodded and walked to her bag, grabbing the letter and sitting at a table with Flora, breakfast at the table as well. Flora looked at the letter, reading it in her head.
Dear Helen,
I'm sorry I couldn't stay with you. I wish I could, but because of what I did, I never will. But, now that you're old enough, I want you to find your father soon. Helen, you're last name isn't your true name, and once you find your father, show him this letter and he'll know who you are. I want you to have his last name, and for you to stay with him until you are an adult. I want you to live a good life with your father, but it may be impossible. If he can not take you in, you must go back to your orphanage. I will give you some clues about him, but I want you to figure out the rest of the puzzle. He is a very kind gentleman, he misses me, and he is very smart. Your father also enjoys tea, but that may not help, since many people love tea. You're a great kid I would say, though Marie said otherwise the last time I ever spoke to her. She said she gave you the last name Walter because she didn't want your father to find you. I told her to she could do so, but she will find him. I know you can do this, Helen. You are just like your father, but you look just like me.
Since you're thirteen now, I sent a dress with you to surprise your father. He loved to see me in a dress, and he may recognize you to look quite a bit like me. Happy birthday, Helen! You can find your father at any time you wish now, and I'm sure Marie won't mind that you're finding your father. After all, she is your aunt, and if she hasn't shown it yet, she loves you a lot. Haven't you noticed you get a bit more food? Not by much, but still. You're not beaten as much, and she holds back some of her anger on you? It's because you're her brother's daughter, and that is why she doesn't look at you often. I must finish writing this letter, and wish you luck.
Love,
Mother.
After Flora finished reading the letter, she looked back at Helen. "So, all you know about him is that he's your dad, he's a gentleman, he likes tea and he's smart?"
"Yes, that's all I know about him. Now, where could I find a man like that? Besides the professor of course." Helen said, thinking for a while. "Unless, the professor IS my father! I look like my mum, he's a gentleman, he loves tea, he's smart, but now, the question is, who's my mother?"
Chapter 7
As lunchtime rolled around, Flora and Helen talked about how Helen was going to stay with the professor. "Hey, you know, we're pretty much sisters now. Because you're the professor's daughter. I wonder how shocked he's going to be when he finds out about your mom's 'friend,' it's making my heart pound!" Flora said with a giant grin upon her face.
"Yeah, sisters." Helen said. The word seemed strange to her, for she thought she would never have a sister. She was shaking a bit as she looked at Flora. Would she ever see Henry again? She doubted she'd see Luke, since he had gone away somewhere. "But what if he doesn't want me around? What if he leaves me back at the orphanage?"
"I'm sure the professor would want you around. After all, you are his long-lost daughter." Flora said, and then the smile on her face faded. "Claire. Claire must have been your mother." When Helen heard this, everything seemed to click together in her head. The stares she got from people, the whispers she heard, why Marie acted like she did, and how the answer was staring at her the whole time she was with the professor. She was smart like him, and she had the face of her mother. Why couldn't she have figured this out sooner? "I'm so sorry about your mother, Helen."
"It's fine. I didn't even know her. The important thing is that I've got my dad, and I can't wait to see him again. He and Marie are the only family I have now." Helen said as she looked at Flora with an emotionless expression across her face. She began to eat, and the rest of lunch went silent. It wasn't quite true what Helen said. Henry was like family, too. He was abandoned as well, sent away by his terrible father, and she thought she would never see him again. The only way she could ever talk to him again was by letter if she stayed with her father. When the two finished eating, Helen went to look at the picture of Claire and the professor again. "Her hair, her eyes, and his nose. Hm. When he comes back, I'll be glad." She muttered to herself. She then saw a figure walking towards the door and her heart pounded as the door opened. When she saw the professor, she instantly ran up to him and hugged him. "Welcome home, sir. I found out who the friend of my mother's was!" She could tell by the expression on Hershel's face he was surprised.
"And who was that?" the professor asked as he looked at Helen.
"You, Dad." Helen felt her stomach churn when she said that. "I'll go get the letter." She went to grab her letter and gave it to the professor before he had time to say anything else, her hand shaking as she gave the letter to him. From how the professor read the letter, he must have known who it was written by because of the handwriting.
"Helen, why didn't you show me this before?" the professor asked as he looked at Helen.
"I was scared, father. I thought you wouldn't let me stay if you knew I was an orphan. I thought you would be angry with an orphan at your house. I'm sorry about it though. Do you have any idea who wrote the letter though?" Helen expected to be yelled at, but was glad that there was a different ending.
"Claire. She had left for family business thirteen years ago for six months. She came back home Christmas, and didn't tell me anything about her trip, only that she missed someone in her family. I didn't ask who, and it seemed like she had gotten over it one day. I believe she meant that someone was you, Helen. I wish she had told me about you. And then, two years later, she went to work and died because of a time machine. I wonder if she would go back in time to get you, now that I think about it. Although the time machine exploded, it did work. She was shot forward to our time last year, claiming herself to be a woman named Celeste, the little sister of Claire. A man named Clive had built a machine to destroy London, because his parents died in the explosion. We stopped him, he was arrested, and it was revealed that Celeste was Claire. But she had to return to her own time at the moment of the explosion, and so she died." Hershel told Helen with a tear rolling down his cheek.
"Celeste is my middle name." Helen said as she looked at the professor. "Henry's mother died in that explosion too. Mother must have had the letter with Marie, or Aunt Marie now, to be sent to me when I was thirteen, along with the dress I wore yesterday. Maybe mum really did care about me if she used my middle name, and sent me birthday gifts." She glanced at the picture of a couple and two children beneath them. "Those kids are you, Aunt Marie,and my grandparents, am I right?" The professor looked at the picture and nodded.
"Yes. When I went to college, Marie was seventeen at the time and looked up to me greatly. She wrote to me each month, telling me how much she missed me. When she and Claire met, she was jealous of me and hardly wrote to me again. The same year when the time machine exploded, she fell in love with a man who was terribly injured on the explosion. We saw each other at Claire's funeral, and began writing to each other much more often after she and I had someone we loved injured. She's married now, and apparently woks at the orphanage you live at with Henry. Does she have any children?" Helen nodded to Hershel's question.
"I never met her though." Helen said simply. She paused for a moment when she looked at the professor again. "Can I stay with you Father?"
Hershel thought for a moment as he watched Helen. "Why would I leave my own daughter as an orphan, Helen? I'll go to the orphanage tomorrow to tell Marie, alright Helen Celeste Layton?" A smile beamed on Helen's face whens he heard that, and her eyes welled up with tears as she hugged the professor. She loved the sound of Helen Layton, not Helen Walter.
"Thank you, Daddy! Thanks so much! Dad, I'll be the best I can for you. I promise."
Chapter 8
Dear Henry,
Hello Henry! I've found out who my father was, and I met your's as well. I was really scared of your dad, and I stood up to him for you. My father is Professor Layton, the one from the paper! It was really surprising, but he's a really nice dad. I've also got a sister, though not by blood. She was adopted before me. We went to the orphanage yesterday to tell Marie. Turns out, she's my aunt, and she has a somewhat funny nickname for Father! "Hershey." I almost giggled when she and my father talked yesterday, Marie called him Hershey the whole time. I never knew she had somewhat of a sense of humor. I wanted to go see you, but you were out in town with the other children. I wish I could've seen you again. But anyways, my father adopted me, and got my last name changed to Layton. How do you like the sound of Helen Layton, instead of Helen Walter? I really like it, and I'm sure I'll get used to it in no time.
We went to go get flowers for my mother's grave, since I had pleaded Dad to take me there. We got beautiful red roses, and put them at her grave. I told him if I ever died young, I wanted to be surrounded by red roses and be next to my mother. Now, you know I've never cried before, but I cried when I found out who my father was, when I stood up for you, and when I saw my mother's grave. We left to go get some food, and the rest of the day was great. I talked tons about you, since my father already knows I was an orphan and Marie told him all about me, how I was 'tough rascal' but a sweet kid. I've never heard anything more confusing in my life, Henry! I found out my mother died in that same explosion your's died in too, except my father didn't even know I existed. We got my picture taken yesterday, and it's on a shelf right next to Flora's, my sister. My father has also made me his apprentice, since I'm quite like him when it comes to puzzles and such things like that.
Speaking of puzzles, Henry, my father got a letter this morning about a missing artifact, written by a woman named Yvonne. I'm hoping he takes me with him, it looks like something as exciting as last year's mystery! Flora says he'll be too protective, but I'm ignoring her and going to ask him about it today! I wish you could come too. That would be a perfect day. Well, I better be off now, so I'll see you someday Henry!
From your best friend,
Helen Layton.
"Writing to Henry now, Helen?" The professor asked with a smile on his face as he walked in her room.
"Yeah, dad. I just finished writing to him, Hershey." Helen giggled when she said Hershey, putting the letter in an envelope and stamping it shut. "Can I please go with you to the mystery with Yvonne?"
"I'll think it about it, dear. Now, just get some rest and we'll see about it tomorrow." The professor sat down besides Helen's new bed and kissed her on the cheek.
"I love you Dad. I'll see you in the morning!"
Chapter One
Helen looked at the letter in her hand. Over and over she had read it, and a she was sent to do a task. Her red hair flopped on her shoulders as the clunking bus had finally stopped. She had gotten off of it, knowing people were looking at her and thinking of how much she resembled her mother. She knew it because she never heard she looks like his child, only her child. Wearing a green sweater and blue pants, she listened to the sound of her shoes to try not to think of what the other people may think. But she always did listen to them, no matter what the young girl told herself.
"But, she's much too young to be her, and she couldn't of had a child!" were whispers Helen heard all the time. It had kept several people from adopting her. Helen never knew who her parents were, and that was what she was going to find out now. She was going to find her father, just as the letter had said for her to do. But she was not told of his name, where he worked, or if he had a new family already. She was only told he lived in London. Her heart raced as she began to walk on the streets, knowing that some stared at her, some only shrugged and ignored her, and some had also whispered about her when she walked by. But she was solving a mystery about who this mysterious father was, and she had to focus on that. Of course, she needed a place to stay, some place to eat, to sleep. Shelter would be hard to come by for an orphan like her, but she'd find it sometime.
"Well, this will be quite difficult." Helen muttered as she looked around for some sort of friendly person, or people. She remembered in her letter how her father was quite a gentleman and never knew about her, so if she found a gentleman, she'd know sort of what her dad would be like, right? She glanced about, noticing one specific man with a top hat upon his head. She expected him to be like all the others before, stare at her and quickly know who her mother was. It had always happened. But there was just a feeling that he would be different. "Sir?" Helen felt frail, small and fearful of what he would do for speaking to him. "Sir, I need a place to stay. I just got here and I need to find a place to stay. My name is Helen, and my mother wanted me to find somewhere I could stay."
The man turned and looked at Helen, looking at her for a short time before answering. "There is a hotel that's not far from here." he said as he watched Helen for a little while longer. He noticed something about her. Something familiar. He wanted to know more about her, to know if she was related to someone he knew. "But, I am Professor Layton, and I believe it would be fine for you to stay with me for a short time. How long do you plan on staying?"
"I just have to find someone and get back home, Professor. I'd say about a week would do, since mother wasn't so great with directions." Helen said. She was lying a bit, but as long as he believed her, it would be fine. "I suppose I could stay with you, mum won't mind. In fact, she'd rather have me stay with someone rather then at a hotel on my own. I mean, I don't have much money, mum's too sick to come with me. That's probably why the directions to find the person I must find is a bit difficult to understand."
"Ah, I see. Well, come along then my dear, it shouldn't take long to get used to where you'll be staying. It won't get lonely there when I'm away, and I'm sure Flora would enjoy some company. Now, come with me, I'll show you where you'll be staying."
Helen nodded and followed after the professor, thinking about if it really would be fine to go with him or not. But shelter was shelter, and what would be so bad anyways?
Chapter 2
"So, this is where I'll be staying then?" Helen had asked as she stood beside the professor. She watched him nod and set her bag down, her eyes looking about in wonder. Living in an orphanage all her life, she thought just about any place looked better without any orphaned children, even a prison would look better to her. I hope my father's home is like this. Speaking of my father, or much rather thinking, I wonder who he could b-
"Who is she?" Helen quickly looked over at a girl about her age standing in front of the door, staring at Helen. Helen was surprised and frightened by the girl, because she expected to now be thrown out because of her. Back into the streets, having much less of a chance to finding out who this mysterious father she searched for was. She quickly snapped her head to the professor, hoping he'd say something to help her.
"This is Helen, she's in town for a week or so to search for a friend. She'll be staying with us until she can find her friend." Professor Layton explained to the other girl. He looked over to Helen as he finished. "Helen, this is Flora. I do hope you two will get along well for this week." Helen nodded quickly as he said to get along. If she could look good to him, she may be able to go with him just to visit. But perhaps Helen was only thinking of a fantasy, a fantasy that would never happen. These people hardly knew her already, why would they want her to keep coming? If she got to know them over the week she was with them, maybe, but she doubted it. Her father probably didn't even want her anyways, so it'd be right back with the orphans.
"Hello, Helen." Flora said as she watched the other girl carefully. Something was vaguely familiar about her, but Flora was unsure what it was. "Who's the someone you're looking for?"
Helen felt a bit anxious and fearful about what to say. If she said it was her father, it would make them suspicous. "Um, a friend of my mom's." Helen said as she thought of something to say.
"Who's your mother? We might be able to help."
"I'd rather not talk about her right now, and I'll consider your offer of help." Helen spoke quickly now, in fear of Flora finding out that Helen was truly an orphan. "I should go rest now." Helen had walked away from the professor and Flora, into Flora's room, sitting down and getting a notebook out. She began to write in it, watching letter after letter form.
Dear journal,
I am fearful that these people I've chosen to stay with will find out my secret, that I am an orphan searching for the mysterious father I've never known, that they will kick me out on the streets if they do find out. I do hope whoever this father is, will love me and let me stay with him. I can't stay with the professor my whole life, so if my father leaves me out on the streets, I have no choice but to return to the orphanage. I didn't tell Marie I was going to leave, or she would have beaten me right then and there like all the other children who told her that. If I go back, that's going to happen to me too, and I will probably starve for a day or two. How horrifying it would be if I went there again! My only friend there, Henry, is the only person who knows I've left. How I miss Henry's happiness and laughter. I suppose it won't be bad here with the professor though, as long as they don't know where I live, or who my parents are. I don't even know that! But, I hear someone coming, so I shall end this entry right here.
Signed, Helen Walter.
P.S. According to the letter I have gotten, Walter is not my true last name, only the name Marie had given me. But my first name and middle name are. How peculiar.
"Helen? Would you like some tea?" Helen shut her journal and looked up at the professor.
"Yes please, Professor. I would enjoy some tea to help me relax." Helen wouldn't relax for long this week though. That was something she did not know at the time.
Chapter 3
Helen slowly got up, waking up with a yawn and a stretch. She looked around, not used to places being so empty like this. The orphanage was always filled with kids rustling about, or that despicable lady that had to take care of them, Marie. Her skin was pasty white, her eyes a pretty blue somehow, her hair was greasy and always put up in a sloppy bun. She was also on the 'big' side, as Helen enjoyed saying. She finally noticed Flora asleep, looking around to see if someone watched her. She flinched slightly when she heard a familiar voice, surprised he was awake.
"Good morning Helen. It's not often someone wakes up as early as I do now that Luke is away. How was your sleep?" Helen looked over at the professor who was drinking tea with a newspaper in his hand. At least she was only staying here for about a week so he wouldn't always ask her things like that.
"Oh, I slept fine. I should go look for mum's friend today." Helen said as she watched the professor drink his tea. "Everybody says he's quite a gentleman, or so I've heard.I don't really know him, and without mum's help, this might be difficult."
"I see. Who's your mother's friend?"
Helen thought of what to say for a few moments. If she said her dad, something bad would happen. "I'm not really sure, all I know is that he's a friend of my mom's. Don't know what he looks like, where he works, where he lives." And my father, can't forget that. Helen added in her head. She could never forget that fact. "But what about Luke? Who's he?"
"My apprentice, but he had to leave. He was quite good at puzzles."
"Like Henry?" Helen wanted to stop herself, but she had already said it. Henry, the only friend she had, Helen wished he was there because she now told a stranger who her friend was. Well, she might as well say who Henry was. "Henry's my friend, and he was really smart. But I think I'll have to move away and never see him again."
"I see. Well, I guess we can go out to look for your mother's friend, once Flora wakes up." Helen nodded as she glanced at Flora, hoping the girl would wake up soon. Her hair was a bit messed up from sleeping, but to Helen it didn't matter, just as long as she could find the mysterious father sometime that week. She watched as Flora finally woke up, her heart pounding as she thought of finding her dad now. She would probably now get dressed, fix her hair, look good for her dad since Flora had woken up. Well, if she found her dad and he saw her look pretty, maybe he would still want her. Henry met his father only a few years ago, and Henry's father yelled at him, telling him he wasn't going to ever let him see him again. Marie took Henry because his father worked with the law, and Marie wouldn't say no to the law. Henry came back to the orphanage crying, would Helen be just like Henry when she met her father? What if she saw Henry's dad? From Henry's description, his dad was mean, had his dark hair and yelled like crazy. What if her father was like that, not the gentleman in the letter? These thoughts ran about in her head as she got up from her bed.
"I'm going to get dressed now, and fix my hair." Helen picked up her bag and went to the bathroom, coming out with her hair in a ponytail as well as a dress. The dress was a light shade of blue, with short sleeves on it. She had gotten it on her thirteenth birthday, the same day she had gotten the letter. "Shall we go to town now, Professor?" She saw Flora and the Professor stare at her a few moments before the professor finally spoke up.
"Yes, we can go. What's the occasion for the dress though? You look very pretty in that dress." the professor said as he watched Helen.
"Just so I can surprise my mother's friend. And thanks. I've been told I look very much like my mother." This fact would help her find her father, hopefully, since her father must remember who her mother was, he would ask her who her mother was. She knew the answer, but told only Henry of it. "My hair, my eyes, my face, everyone says I look just like her. I don't think so though. Marie says my mom was always around her brother." Helen had now just mentioned the girl of the orphanage who always yelled at the kids! I really need to stop saying things like that. she thought as she looked at the professor.
"Huh. I had a sister with that name." the professor said. "But we should be on our way out, we have a man to search for." Helen sighed with relief that the professor didn't ask about Marie, only mentioning his sister had that name. And that Marie had a brother that was with her mother quite a bit. Helen discarded the thought and went on to thinking of who her dad was, walking outside with the professor and Flora. As they walked outside, Helen thought this was going to be a good day. At least, that's what she hoped would happen.
Chapter 4
Helen stood on the sidewalk with the professor, looking around at people who walked by. "Have you met a girl that looks like me? Did you ever see someone with my hair?" she would ask as men walked by. Many people stared at her like she was a freak, and Helen didn't blame them. This wasn't really going anywhere at the moment. She didn't ask the professor any of these questions, since he may ask her why she would ask him if he had no idea who her mother was. Then many other questions would come up, and Helen would give herself up as an orphan. She sighed as an hour passed with no luck. "Professor, is there somewhere we could go to find files about people who knew my mother?" Helen stopped for a moment, thinking of what she just said, then changed her mind about it. Then someone would know what her mother's name was, and then the professor would have to kick her out. "No, no, we need to go get something to eat. That may help a lot! Where do you think we can go, professor?"
Hershel looked at Helen, thinking of a place to go. "Well, we could go there to have some food this morning. I suppose that sounds just fine." the professor said as he pointed to a nearby restaurant. Helen, Flora and the professor all went inside, with Helen taking a deep breath of the aroma of food. She closed her eyes as she breathed in, opening them again as she looked at the woman at the counter. And then, that's when she noticed them. Her eyes looked directly at a table with two men sitting there, one that might have been smaller then Helen, and the other had such a familiar face that Helen thought Henry was just older and creepier. Henry's father. Helen gasped when she saw him, then quickly turned away, trembling in fear. Henry's dad, Henry's father! He must be Henry's dad, they look so alike! But this man seems much, angrier, so unlike cheery and filled with laughter Henry. Helen thought as she glanced back at the man. The professor heard Helen gasp and looked down at her. "What is it Helen? Are you afraid of Inspector Chemley and Barton, his bobby?"
"The inspector reminds me of Henry, my best friend." Helen whispered as quietly as she could.
"Hm. Strange." Hershel said as he looked at Helen. "Well, let's go get some food, Helen. You must be starving." Food. Actual food, like last night, when the professor had made her food. Not a small bit of food like at the orphanage. Henry always got more than anyone else, which was really odd. Perhaps Marie thought he had a good chance of getting adopted, so she fed him well, and Henry gave some extras to the other children, especially Helen. The three sat down at a table, Helen's eyes looked at each choice like it was the food, sitting right in front of her, waiting to be eaten. When a waiter had got their orders, Helen waited for her food and stared at the inspector and Barton. How could this scary person be father of one of the nicest kids she knew? When they looked at her, she quickly looked away and looked at the professor.
"Wouldn't it be funny if the person I've been searching for this whole time was you, Professor Layton?" Helen asked, trying to think of some way to start a conversation to not think about Henry or the inspector. "I doubt it, but it would still be pretty funny. Like I did all this work, and the answer was right in front of me. What do you do for a living, professor? What's your favorite color, what do you like to eat, why do birds fly, are we going to get arrested?" Helen shook from being so nervous, her voice quivered with each word she said, fearing that the inspector would walk up to her and ask her who she was.
"Well, Helen, I think you just need to relax and wait for some food. Is that fine with you?" Hershel said as he looked at the frightened thirteen year old who nodded. "You must just be really hungry if you're shaking."
"Yeah yeah yeah, I'm just really hungry, so hungry I could eat twelve meals today. I can have quite an appetite." Helen smiled as best she could. "Because it's not Henry's fault his mom died and his father was terrible to him."
"What did you just say?" Helen gulped as she looked up at the inspector, fearful that he was going to do something terrible to her from the fierce look in his eyes.
Chapter 5
"Henry's my best friend, the nicest person I know and the most loved kid at home! You didn't even get to know him!" Helen said as she looked at the inspector. She knew what she had done when she got out of her seat and pointed at him. She made a scene, of course, which happened a lot at the orphanage at dinner. She remembered the finger pointings at people, saying that aliens invaded their food, or Marie chewed the food already, which usually got her into a beating. That was quite normal for her though. And she had made a scene right in front of the professor too, so she couldn't go back now. Something bad was going to happen to her because of her loyalty to Henry, and she would fight for Henry if she had to. He and one other boy were the only two people she would fight for, but if things got bad here, she'd retreat. If this man was Henry's father, she remembered what Henry told about him. Angry, seemed like he would punch you as hard as he could, and Helen didn't have the money to end up in a hospital. In fact, she hardly even had any money.
"How would you even know who his father was? Doesn't he already have parents?" the inspector said, raising his voice slightly. Helen felt her heart pound at what he said. She was really in trouble now. She would have to tell them he was an orphan, and she was an orphan, and everything would go downhill from there. Of course she was in quite the predicament. Oh, why did she have to have a strong loyalty to Henry?
"I-I met him at the orphanage one day. We saw each other again and again, slowly becoming best friends. He told me he was going to meet his father, and came back home bursting in tears. I thought to myself, I will help Henry whenever I can, if I can prove he's the greatest, nicest person you would ever meet, he would always laugh that laugh, smile that warm, gentle smile, and be one of the greatest people you would ever meet." As Helen spoke, she spoke softer, and tears welled up in her eyes. "And you rejected him, you rejected him because Henry is like his mom. You didn't want a constant reminder of what slipped through your fingers, what was it, eleven years ago? When he was two you left him. He told me he remembered Susan, he remembered you hardly though."
Helen watched the inspector's face when she said the name Susan. She thought she could predict the future when she heard the next words he said. And it wasn't a happy prediction either.
"You know nothing of that day, nothing about her, and you should watch yourself next time you go accusing people, kid!" Helen was quite scared of what the inspector had said, watching him and Barton storm out. Her eyes were wide when she watched them go. Well, now what would the professor say to her? To get out of his home?
"Well Helen, it seems that you've met your best friend's father. Not the greatest encounter either, but it appears you knew his father with just one look at him, and what knowledge you had from your friend. I am impressed, though you shouldn't be accusing people like that, Helen." Hershel said as he looked at the girl. She hung her head down for a while, wondering if he would say anything else. "And if you plan on coming again, perhaps you could be my apprentice? You seem to be quite intelligent. All you would have to do is not accuse anyone." Helen looked up, blinking a few times at what he said. Because she was right about who Henry's father was, he was interested in making her his apprentice.
"Well sir, that's something to think about you know. But, if I can, I certainly will become your apprentice." Helen told him after thinking for a few moments. She watched as food was given to them by a waiter, and the group began to eat. If Helen's dad left her to fend for herself, would she stay with the professor as his apprentice? That was something she wanted to look forward to, but would she ever see Henry again? What would she do without her best friend? She probably would be able to visit him, or write. Helen had to think long and hard about it over the next few days she would be staying with the professor. When Flora, Hershel and Helen finished eating, they went outside again. "I suppose we'll be trying again, right professor?" Helen's voice was a bit more upset now, feeling quite discouraged about finding her father.
"Helen, we can relax a bit today if you want, or try to figure out puzzles instead." the professor told her as he looked over at Helen. She smiled and nodded, and they began walking back to Hershel's house to look through his book of puzzles to see if Helen and Flora could get the answer right. It had seemed that Helen was a bit smart when it came to puzzles, and she wished she knew her parents so they would be proud of her. So proud she would be the happiest child on Earth, but she thought it would never be. She would always be Helen Walter, the orphan who was loyal to an orphan boy, and a heart for a different child.
Chapter 6
As Helen awoke the next morning, she noticed Flora was up as well, and the professor must have still been in his room. Helen yawned and blinked a few times, looking over at some pictures. She saw the professor in one picture, a couple that seemed to have been old now, and two children in front of them, a girl and a boy. She thought that they both looked familiar somehow, and noticed another picture. The professor knew Luke? Oh, that was right. Luke mentioned the professor several times before. And she believed when she had just woken up, she heard the professor mention Luke. And then, that's when her heart raced. The professor and a young woman. She was so pretty, with her hair, her smile, everything seemed to be perfect in the picture. She noticed a picture of Flora as well, and it seemed to be fairly new. "Hey Flora, do you know who that girl in the picture is?" Helen called to the kitchen. Flora looked up, walking out to see the picture. She looked at the picture for a while, then a Helen for a while, studying both the girl and the picture. "She looks so pretty."
"Claire. She was here a year ago when that catastrophe happened. You know, the one with Clive, Dr. Allen, and the underground London. She's dead now." Flora said as she looked at the picture and Helen. Helen heard about that day. Marie had let them read newspaper, but no one read about Claire, or even saw anything about her. "She loved the professor and was his college sweetheart. It was a romantic story, but one with a very sad ending."
"Oh. Well, it's a shame then, because she seems like she was really nice, very pretty. I bet the professor misses her a lot." Helen sighed as she looked at the picture for a bit longer. Would she ever look like that? She then caught whiff of whatever substance Flora was cooking. She didn't even think it was food anymore. "You want me to help you with some food, Flora? I've always wanted to cook." She turned to Flora, awaiting her answer.
"Well, I suppose so. You could show me what I could do." Flora smiled as she said this, watching Helen walk with her to the kitchen. "You know, you look a lot like Claire. Your hair, your eyes. Are you related to her, or are you her?"
Helen was unsure of what to say. "Oh, I'm sure it's 's dead anyways, right?" Helen wished Claire was her mother, though. If she were her mother, the professor would be her father and she would stay with him forever. But what Flora said after, are you her, seemed a bit strange. "But, let's continue with breakfast, alright?" Flora worked on food while Helen worked on the tea. She heard the professor walk into the kitchen, a grin on her face. "Professor! I made you tea!" She poured a cup of tea and smiled at him. "For your hospitality, a good man deserves a cup of tea you know. I really want to be your apprentice, but I'll have to ask about it." Oh, no. Marie. She would have to ask Marie, and instantly get into trouble. But hopefully, that would not happen.
"Why, thank you Helen. Now, I must work today, so you'll have a day to spend with Flora. I'll be on my way now." the professor was gone out the door, and Helen helped Flora with the rest of breakfast.
"Flora, is the professor your father?" Helen asked suddenly as she looked at Flora. Flora didn't look a bit like Hershel, but she may have just looked a lot like her mother.
"Yes and no. He adopted me." Helen felt her heart pound when she said that. She was adopted, something Helen thought she never would be.
"What's it like to be raised by someone other then your family?"
"Well, it's a bit different. I do see him as a father, but why do you ask?"
"My best friend's an orphan. He wishes he had a family, but once you hit thirteen, you're done for. No one wants you, and they adopt the young children first."
"Who's 'they'?"
"The couples who walk in, the ladies, the gentlemen. Anyone, either getting rid of a kid, or adopting one. Life is quite hard there." Helen was a kid who was taken when she wasn't very old, kind of like Henry, except she was there before him. She stared at a wall instead of at Flora, trying not to think about life as an orphan. "Henry may still have a chance. Me? No." She sighed and looked back at Flora.
"But, I thought you said your mother was just ill." Flora said with some suspicion. "Or do you mean something else?"
"You can't tell the professor, alright? I'm an orphan, OK? I'm not searching for a 'friend' of my mother's, I'm looking for my father. I'm looking for him because of a letter."
"You can trust me. I won't say anything. But, can I at least see the letter?" Helen nodded and walked to her bag, grabbing the letter and sitting at a table with Flora, breakfast at the table as well. Flora looked at the letter, reading it in her head.
Dear Helen,
I'm sorry I couldn't stay with you. I wish I could, but because of what I did, I never will. But, now that you're old enough, I want you to find your father soon. Helen, you're last name isn't your true name, and once you find your father, show him this letter and he'll know who you are. I want you to have his last name, and for you to stay with him until you are an adult. I want you to live a good life with your father, but it may be impossible. If he can not take you in, you must go back to your orphanage. I will give you some clues about him, but I want you to figure out the rest of the puzzle. He is a very kind gentleman, he misses me, and he is very smart. Your father also enjoys tea, but that may not help, since many people love tea. You're a great kid I would say, though Marie said otherwise the last time I ever spoke to her. She said she gave you the last name Walter because she didn't want your father to find you. I told her to she could do so, but she will find him. I know you can do this, Helen. You are just like your father, but you look just like me.
Since you're thirteen now, I sent a dress with you to surprise your father. He loved to see me in a dress, and he may recognize you to look quite a bit like me. Happy birthday, Helen! You can find your father at any time you wish now, and I'm sure Marie won't mind that you're finding your father. After all, she is your aunt, and if she hasn't shown it yet, she loves you a lot. Haven't you noticed you get a bit more food? Not by much, but still. You're not beaten as much, and she holds back some of her anger on you? It's because you're her brother's daughter, and that is why she doesn't look at you often. I must finish writing this letter, and wish you luck.
Love,
Mother.
After Flora finished reading the letter, she looked back at Helen. "So, all you know about him is that he's your dad, he's a gentleman, he likes tea and he's smart?"
"Yes, that's all I know about him. Now, where could I find a man like that? Besides the professor of course." Helen said, thinking for a while. "Unless, the professor IS my father! I look like my mum, he's a gentleman, he loves tea, he's smart, but now, the question is, who's my mother?"
Chapter 7
As lunchtime rolled around, Flora and Helen talked about how Helen was going to stay with the professor. "Hey, you know, we're pretty much sisters now. Because you're the professor's daughter. I wonder how shocked he's going to be when he finds out about your mom's 'friend,' it's making my heart pound!" Flora said with a giant grin upon her face.
"Yeah, sisters." Helen said. The word seemed strange to her, for she thought she would never have a sister. She was shaking a bit as she looked at Flora. Would she ever see Henry again? She doubted she'd see Luke, since he had gone away somewhere. "But what if he doesn't want me around? What if he leaves me back at the orphanage?"
"I'm sure the professor would want you around. After all, you are his long-lost daughter." Flora said, and then the smile on her face faded. "Claire. Claire must have been your mother." When Helen heard this, everything seemed to click together in her head. The stares she got from people, the whispers she heard, why Marie acted like she did, and how the answer was staring at her the whole time she was with the professor. She was smart like him, and she had the face of her mother. Why couldn't she have figured this out sooner? "I'm so sorry about your mother, Helen."
"It's fine. I didn't even know her. The important thing is that I've got my dad, and I can't wait to see him again. He and Marie are the only family I have now." Helen said as she looked at Flora with an emotionless expression across her face. She began to eat, and the rest of lunch went silent. It wasn't quite true what Helen said. Henry was like family, too. He was abandoned as well, sent away by his terrible father, and she thought she would never see him again. The only way she could ever talk to him again was by letter if she stayed with her father. When the two finished eating, Helen went to look at the picture of Claire and the professor again. "Her hair, her eyes, and his nose. Hm. When he comes back, I'll be glad." She muttered to herself. She then saw a figure walking towards the door and her heart pounded as the door opened. When she saw the professor, she instantly ran up to him and hugged him. "Welcome home, sir. I found out who the friend of my mother's was!" She could tell by the expression on Hershel's face he was surprised.
"And who was that?" the professor asked as he looked at Helen.
"You, Dad." Helen felt her stomach churn when she said that. "I'll go get the letter." She went to grab her letter and gave it to the professor before he had time to say anything else, her hand shaking as she gave the letter to him. From how the professor read the letter, he must have known who it was written by because of the handwriting.
"Helen, why didn't you show me this before?" the professor asked as he looked at Helen.
"I was scared, father. I thought you wouldn't let me stay if you knew I was an orphan. I thought you would be angry with an orphan at your house. I'm sorry about it though. Do you have any idea who wrote the letter though?" Helen expected to be yelled at, but was glad that there was a different ending.
"Claire. She had left for family business thirteen years ago for six months. She came back home Christmas, and didn't tell me anything about her trip, only that she missed someone in her family. I didn't ask who, and it seemed like she had gotten over it one day. I believe she meant that someone was you, Helen. I wish she had told me about you. And then, two years later, she went to work and died because of a time machine. I wonder if she would go back in time to get you, now that I think about it. Although the time machine exploded, it did work. She was shot forward to our time last year, claiming herself to be a woman named Celeste, the little sister of Claire. A man named Clive had built a machine to destroy London, because his parents died in the explosion. We stopped him, he was arrested, and it was revealed that Celeste was Claire. But she had to return to her own time at the moment of the explosion, and so she died." Hershel told Helen with a tear rolling down his cheek.
"Celeste is my middle name." Helen said as she looked at the professor. "Henry's mother died in that explosion too. Mother must have had the letter with Marie, or Aunt Marie now, to be sent to me when I was thirteen, along with the dress I wore yesterday. Maybe mum really did care about me if she used my middle name, and sent me birthday gifts." She glanced at the picture of a couple and two children beneath them. "Those kids are you, Aunt Marie,and my grandparents, am I right?" The professor looked at the picture and nodded.
"Yes. When I went to college, Marie was seventeen at the time and looked up to me greatly. She wrote to me each month, telling me how much she missed me. When she and Claire met, she was jealous of me and hardly wrote to me again. The same year when the time machine exploded, she fell in love with a man who was terribly injured on the explosion. We saw each other at Claire's funeral, and began writing to each other much more often after she and I had someone we loved injured. She's married now, and apparently woks at the orphanage you live at with Henry. Does she have any children?" Helen nodded to Hershel's question.
"I never met her though." Helen said simply. She paused for a moment when she looked at the professor again. "Can I stay with you Father?"
Hershel thought for a moment as he watched Helen. "Why would I leave my own daughter as an orphan, Helen? I'll go to the orphanage tomorrow to tell Marie, alright Helen Celeste Layton?" A smile beamed on Helen's face whens he heard that, and her eyes welled up with tears as she hugged the professor. She loved the sound of Helen Layton, not Helen Walter.
"Thank you, Daddy! Thanks so much! Dad, I'll be the best I can for you. I promise."
Chapter 8
Dear Henry,
Hello Henry! I've found out who my father was, and I met your's as well. I was really scared of your dad, and I stood up to him for you. My father is Professor Layton, the one from the paper! It was really surprising, but he's a really nice dad. I've also got a sister, though not by blood. She was adopted before me. We went to the orphanage yesterday to tell Marie. Turns out, she's my aunt, and she has a somewhat funny nickname for Father! "Hershey." I almost giggled when she and my father talked yesterday, Marie called him Hershey the whole time. I never knew she had somewhat of a sense of humor. I wanted to go see you, but you were out in town with the other children. I wish I could've seen you again. But anyways, my father adopted me, and got my last name changed to Layton. How do you like the sound of Helen Layton, instead of Helen Walter? I really like it, and I'm sure I'll get used to it in no time.
We went to go get flowers for my mother's grave, since I had pleaded Dad to take me there. We got beautiful red roses, and put them at her grave. I told him if I ever died young, I wanted to be surrounded by red roses and be next to my mother. Now, you know I've never cried before, but I cried when I found out who my father was, when I stood up for you, and when I saw my mother's grave. We left to go get some food, and the rest of the day was great. I talked tons about you, since my father already knows I was an orphan and Marie told him all about me, how I was 'tough rascal' but a sweet kid. I've never heard anything more confusing in my life, Henry! I found out my mother died in that same explosion your's died in too, except my father didn't even know I existed. We got my picture taken yesterday, and it's on a shelf right next to Flora's, my sister. My father has also made me his apprentice, since I'm quite like him when it comes to puzzles and such things like that.
Speaking of puzzles, Henry, my father got a letter this morning about a missing artifact, written by a woman named Yvonne. I'm hoping he takes me with him, it looks like something as exciting as last year's mystery! Flora says he'll be too protective, but I'm ignoring her and going to ask him about it today! I wish you could come too. That would be a perfect day. Well, I better be off now, so I'll see you someday Henry!
From your best friend,
Helen Layton.
"Writing to Henry now, Helen?" The professor asked with a smile on his face as he walked in her room.
"Yeah, dad. I just finished writing to him, Hershey." Helen giggled when she said Hershey, putting the letter in an envelope and stamping it shut. "Can I please go with you to the mystery with Yvonne?"
"I'll think it about it, dear. Now, just get some rest and we'll see about it tomorrow." The professor sat down besides Helen's new bed and kissed her on the cheek.
"I love you Dad. I'll see you in the morning!"
