Whenever Elena did remember something from the life she was supposed to have had in the strange town no one could leave, it was usually prompted by seeing something or someone related to the memories. Whether they were across the street or standing right next to her, the result was the same - images, impressions, feelings rising to the surface like they were emerging from the deep ocean, becoming clearer the closer they got. It seemed like not everything would come back, some of the memories still caught in the underwater current, but each one helped her gain better footing in the life she'd found herself in. That's what had happened with Nyx, the brother she hadn't had until two days earlier, and that's what happened with Randel now.

Before her gaze settled on him, Elena had absolutely no recollection of the man who towered over the crowd of people, but once she'd caught sight of that little wave of greeting, it all came bubbling up. Randel Oland, who had been Katherine's friend for the longest time, was kind and sweet, and worked at the animal shelter. They'd never really spoken even just in passing, because while she and Katherine were close as sisters, they didn't share all the same friends. But Elena found nothing but fondness in her for him, so she smiled brightly and lifted her hand to wave him over to her table seconds before a mother and young child stepped up to make a purchase.

This is what they were supposed to do, right? Blend in, pretend those lives that weren't real actually were, and carry on as if they weren't being held in this town against their will. Elena had always been pretty good at going along with the charade when necessary, so she gave in to the memories now and did what those emotions wanted her to.