5th Excerpt from ELLORY, a Fiction Novel
Ellen Effy Su. August 8, 2025.
“Do you think Sfera was involved in something sinister?” Ellory cautiously brought up to Elliot.
“Why do you suspect it? Even if she was, she’s been gone for a while. We shouldn’t dig up old skeletons. It could be dangerous,” Elliot slowly turned his head toward her. The air stilled with intrigue and a hint of untied ends.
“As you know, I preoccupied myself with research to find the perfect companion for my cousin Kellen. I found a young woman named Vivian, and she is set to fly out to JFK next Monday. I discovered over twenty brothels in Roppongi, called over fifty sketchy pimp-like business agents, and I have this itchy feeling inside my chest that maybe my sister knew something she should not have known. What if she felt compelled to lie to hide what she saw?” Ellory’s eyes glazed over as she squinted at her MacBook screen.
“Did she write anything about human trafficking, pimps, drugs, or nightlife? I know you kept her diaries somewhere. You mentioned you hid those secrets from the police and your parents,” Elliot’s eyes scanned the kitchen and the living room before they met Ellory’s eyes.
“I saw a symbol that was drawn onto several pages. I thought it was a sign Sfera created, but maybe it is a mark for girls who are trafficked. You know how gangs have secret symbols to tell other members which gang they are from?” Ellory remembered.
“Any other specific details about nightlife? Was she going out for parties at night? Did she come home late often? Were there any suspicious signs of cash influx?” Elliot fired off several questions.
“She came home on time each day after school, but she did sneak out a few times around ten o’clock. I know because she had to tiptoe past my bedroom door with her stiletto heels in her hand. I thought she had a secret boyfriend she was meeting. I never doubted my sister. I idolized her. I would never spill her secrets,” Ellory answered in remorse.
“So she kept big secrets from you and your dad, right? That is not normal for a fifteen-year-old girl to be spending those late hours outside, meeting people her parents don’t know about. She kept you all in the dark for a reason. Did you read anything explicitly discussing what she saw or did?” Elliot’s concern vibrated off his tapping fingertips.
He sat down on a barstool at the counter after hearing Ellory’s pondering.
“She did not need extra money. I don’t understand why. She wrote about feeling burdened and alone. She wrote that she went out to spend time with Aiden, and they were going to see the city from a rooftop. I don’t know who Aiden is. I think he was older than her, not in high school. Aiden got her into the coolest clubs, so maybe he was a club promoter or linked to certain staff. She began mentioning Aiden’s name in October of 2007. She died in March of 2009. That means they had a friendly relationship for over a year. I do worry he convinced her to do things she did not want to do.”
Ellory’s worry grew, noticeable by her sudden dizziness. Her blurry vision distracted her.
“Wow, that is a lot to process. Do you want to go down the rabbit hole to hunt down this pervert and his group of men, who likely sold and traded impressionable teenage girls and young women? Let’s focus on helping the Roppongi girl, Vivian. Getting her out of sex work is doing something to help. We can’t save them all, but we’re giving Vivian a chance at a new life,” Elliot’s eyebrows raised while he stood up to shake an espresso martini.
Elliot worked quietly at making the drinks. He liked listening to Ellory rant on her hypotheticals and stories. He learned a lot about the dark side of growing up privileged. His concern amplified as he struggled to understand why adolescent girls rebelled from regulations by purposefully putting themselves in physical danger.
“I’m not trying to get anyone arrested. I need to know what happened to Sfera because I never received answers. I loved my sister, but I think she was in over her head. She was likely being blackmailed by these lowlifes. She must have been terrified to tell us, out of shame. My dad still believes Sfera died a virgin. I don’t want to ruin their image of Sfera. I need to know, so I can punish those men in anonymous ways. The people who destroyed my sister will rot in hell, and I will make sure of that,” Ellory chewed on her bottom lip.
“I’m telling you we should not look into this because you won’t be able to control yourself. You will want to hurt them. You will want justice. You will want the impossible. We cannot go against the criminals who sell people’s daughters for profit. They’ll come after us. Your family changed your name to Arnold to protect yourselves. Don’t endanger the ones who remain alive. Sfera wouldn’t want you to become this vengeful.”
Elliot’s quiet pleas for Ellory to drop this were utterly useless.
“Sfera is not alive to be my guiding light anymore. She had her issues. She refused to admit she had a problem, and instead of asking for help, she chose to end her life. It was bloody selfish of her to leave me all alone, screaming at the wall for answers. Now, I have to go set up the guest bedroom for Vivian to stay in. She will be living with us for at least a month,” Ellory gulped from her martini glass, which Elliot placed on the counter while speaking.
“Refreshing, like you, my love,” Ellory kissed Elliot quickly.
“Hold on. Vivian is staying here? Are you insane, Ellory? You can’t let a stranger move into our space. She’s a former courtesan,” Elliot vocalized.
“Elliot, have some faith. She is a good girl gone bad. I can change her back into the wholesome, smart girl she once was. My friends are at college, far away from Manhattan. I would enjoy living with a friend. I feel like Vivian is similar to my sister in some ways, except my sister could not adapt to the nightlife. Maybe in an alternate universe, Sfera became a warped version of herself. I think she could not forgive herself for opening up to various people in an intimate way. Our family believed in purity culture, and that pressure cost my sister her life. I would have comforted her and accompanied her to therapy or whatever doctor she needed to see. I would have healed my sister from her indescribable pain,” Ellory lamented.
“Alright, fine. We’re basically taking in an adult orphan who happens to be a survivor of assault and abuse. I hope you’re prepared for what you signed us up for. I love you. I support you. I will always be here to hold you,” Elliot reassured Ellory.
“Let me help you insert the duvet into the cover. Vivian is going to have a safe bed to sleep in for the first time in a long time. Let’s hope she likes us, and we get along,” Elliot reached for the goose down duvet and tied the corners to the interior of the linen cover.
“I love you lots, Elli. I’m proud of you for your sensibility,” Ellory patted Elliot’s left arm lightly.
“Yeah, my sensibility. It’s more what did I get myself into by falling in love with you? This is quite dramatic compared to my previous girlfriend’s life,” Elliot rolled his eyes while shaking his head.
“Are you not entertained? Are you not having fun? We are rewriting a young, troubled woman’s present by changing the narrative! We are doing something extraordinary. An average person would run away from this. We are lifting an injured dove, so she can soar again,” Ellory refuted humorously.
“Okay, Ellory. My short-term lease ends in two months, so can I move in with you? I’ll cover our monthlies, groceries, and utility bills,” Elliot dipped his toes into visualizing a permanent residence at Ellory’s condo.
“Yes. My parents were generous in purchasing this two-bedroom condo for me. They said I needed to move out and learn to live independently. I finally live on the Upper East Side! East 75th Street is such a good location to be. I’m near everything, and when I miss my parents, I can walk across the park to see them. Are you sure you want to see my face every day?” Ellory inquired curiously.
“I want to see you every day. Half of my stuff is here. I rarely sleep at my place now. Midtown is so far away from here. I dislike taking the tube here. It’s filthy,” Elliot expanded his train of thought.
“Yes, the tube here needs a demolition and upgrade. My favorite train system is the high-speed monorails in China. I had the most divine meal last summer on the train. Midtown is nice for working, but I prefer the residential neighborhoods here. It’s quieter and safer. We have the best restaurants in the area, in my opinion,” Ellory giggled as she noted her boyfriend’s disdain for the New York City subway.
Next Monday, 3 PM
“Hi Vivian! My name is Ellory, and this is my boyfriend Elliot. We’re here to pick you up. You’re staying with us from now on. I set up your room! I hope you had a nice flight on the way over. I know it’s a long thirteen hours, but New York is worth it! I’m sorry, I’m rambling. How are you?” Ellory frantically looped a minute of talking until she realized she was talking at Vivian, not to her.
“Hi Ellory, we spoke on the phone last week. I had a good flight. It was kind of you to let me fly first-class. It was my first time sitting in the front of the plane. I am thankful you’re sponsoring me like this. I was surprised to hear of this kind of request. I don’t usually meet people with kind intentions. I’ve made a lot of mistakes, but I want to make the best of my life, moving forward. Thank you for setting up a room for me. I was expecting to sleep on the floor. Can I hug you?” Vivian seemed unsure of herself.
Vivian Adachi acted like a little girl who was separated from her mother and desperate to fill that maternal love with affection from anyone. A stranger might believe she had mommy issues, but Ellory knew that pain-stricken depression anywhere. This was the result of physical and psychological abuse. It cut Ellory deep to see how the fast life affected Vivian because she saw pieces of her sister in Vivian’s darting eyes.
“Of course, you can hug me. You’re safe now. I kind of bought your freedom. You don’t have to worry about Julian Vélasquez ever again. I’ll help you find a job after we help you adjust to normal life. You were a ballet dancer, right? I was a dancer, too! Maybe you’ll enjoy teaching little kids how to dance,” Ellory warmly smiled and pulled Vivian’s frail, thin body into her arms.
She patted Vivian’s back gently and felt her protruding spine. She told herself she would nourish Vivian back to health. Mind, body, and soul; she would fix Vivian the way she wished she could bring Sfera back to life.
“Hi Elliot, it’s nice to meet you. Thank you for changing my life,” Vivian politely nodded toward Elliot’s direction.
She looked timid and scared of men. Her fear was palpable. Her heartbeat increased abnormally in close proximity to men. She was a textbook example of a sexual abuse victim. It broke Ellory’s heart to see Vivian as a reflection of what her teenage sister became. All of the vanity and money in the world could never be enough to alleviate Vivian of her misery. The daunting memories haunt people in reeling nightmares.
Ellory found a new target to project her fury onto: Julian Vélasquez.
“Hi Vivian, I’ll grab your suitcase. You can walk with Ellory to the car. Our driver’s name is Mark. You travel light,” Elliot let out a nervous laugh. He rolled Vivian’s 26-inch Away gray suitcase to the vehicle before setting it into the trunk.
Ellory held Vivian’s hand while they walked. She didn’t want to let go of Vivian. There was this inexplicable emotional connection. Ellory felt attached to Vivian. Vivian reminded her of Sfera’s ghost. Ellory needed to rebuild someone to ease her mind off the torment she experienced in her youth.
Altruism is often mistaken for narcissism. True narcissists do not help anyone. They fear everything, so they pretend to have a Godly complex.
The driver held the door open for Vivian to slide into the left backseat, and Ellory climbed in to be next to her. Mark looked to Elliot to silently ask if he should open Elliot’s cockpit door as well. Elliot glanced at him for a millisecond before pulling on the door handle. Mark smiled faintly. Mark usually drove for affluent men who rarely touched doors. Doors magically opened for them, but Elliot was weirdly humble.
“Mark, please take us to my condo on East 75th. Thank you,” Ellory asserted.
“Yes, Miss Ellory. Would you like to play music?” Mark asked.
“Sure, anything by Celine Dion,” Ellory replied.
Mark tapped on his phone to connect the Bluetooth to the audio system. He put a Celine Dion playlist on. Celine was the queen of his heart. Mark had not seen Celine Dion at any concert, but Ellory would arrange for Mark to meet Celine once. Ellory’s idea of showing care was through acts of service.
“The way you live is glamorous, Ellory. I appreciate you giving me a chance. I will try my best to be good to your cousin, but I do not think he would love someone like me,” Vivian steered the discussion to her situation.
“You are a good person, Vivian. We are not defined by our mistakes or our past. We are constantly evolving. We cannot dwell on the past. We must continue living, for there is beauty to be discovered in this world. You don’t need to win over Kellen. My main priority is to make your life beautiful again. I know what our original plan was, but it is understandable if you find out you and Kellen don’t fit. I’ll still be here for you,” Ellory encouraged.
“I am grateful to know you, Ellory. You are much more gracious than any noble woman I have met in the past few years. I love this view. This is a gorgeous city. It is reminiscent of Tokyo, with people who don’t know me or my past. This city is healing me,” Vivian smiled the way children’s faces lit up at the sight of an ice cream sundae at Serendipity’s.
“You will always have a safe place to sleep in my home. You are not a burden. You deserve to feel joy again. I think you’re exactly the kind of girl Kellen should date,” Ellory grinned as she swept a tendril of Vivian’s hair out of her eyes and tucked the strand behind her right ear.
“Is there authentic sushi in your city? The food is the only thing I miss from home,” Vivian changed the topic to an optimistic tone.
“Yes, there is! We’re going to eat out. Sushi for dinner, later. It will be like a homecoming celebration of you joining us,” Ellory adjusted her Quince sunglasses to the crown of her head.
Ellory wore her sunglasses in a headband style. She adored channeling her inner Blair Waldorf, except she learned to cool off her easily irritable personality. It pricks others to be prickly, so adapt.
“Alright, we’re here! Vivian, wake up. We’re home. Look up,” Ellory nudged Vivian’s shoulder with three taps of two fingers on her left hand. She was careful not to scare Vivian. The poor girl has been through the unimaginable.
“Hm? Oh, Ellory, hi, again. I’m up,” Vivian blinked while she steadily stood up from the Lincoln SUV and stepped out onto the pavement. Ellory stood outside the car while she held Vivian’s hand to help her out.
The doorman, Pete, rushed over to bring Vivian’s suitcase into the building.
Vivian held onto Ellory’s arm with a tight grip. Vivian may appear to be an adult, but she was afraid of being left alone, especially in a foreign location. She walked in a straight line, even drunk, a skill she was forced to rehearse in dancing to please men back in Roppongi. Dance should not be weaponized for sexual intent. Lust ruined the beauty of it.
“My friend is staying with us for the time being. Please add Vivian to the names on my resident household list. Thank you,” Ellory instructed the superintendent.
The trio stood quietly in the gold-colored elevator. The mirrors in the lift reminded Ellory of the house of mirrors her sister once chased her through. She shook the memory out of her mind by focusing on today’s mission of getting Vivian settled in their home.
“We’re on the 30th floor? The view must be magnificent,” Vivian mused to herself out loud.
“You’ll fit right in. Dolls belong in magnificent places,” Ellory attempted to joke.
“I’m no doll. Dolls do as they’re told, no matter how they feel,” Vivian rebuked.
“I meant it in a good way. You look like a doll, but your purpose is to discover your passions, not service men. I want to know if you and Kellen are a match. If it doesn’t work out, you’ll still be supported by me,” Ellory advised.
“I can do that. I always follow through on my promises. This is the shortest elevator ride I’ve ever been on,” Vivian noted.
“30B is our home. 3378 is the password to unlock the door. I’ll give you a metal key once we’re inside,” Ellory announced.
Elliot held the door open for Vivian and Ellory to enter.
“We take our shoes off in the entryway and store shoes in this cabinet. I know it looks like it’s meant to store wine, but we use it to store sneakers. These pink slippers are size 6; they should fit you. There are shower slippers in the bathroom,” Ellory set the slippers down on the stone-tiled floor, next to Vivian’s feet.
“Thanks, I love the setup of your home. It’s incredibly neat and artistic. You set a good example in Japanese customs,” Vivian smiled.
“Thank you! I’m Chinese, German, and French, but I do speak some Japanese. I want you to feel comfortable here. My mom is Chinese, and we grew up in an orderly home. Nothing could be out of place, or she would start angry cleaning,” Ellory chuckled.
Vivian stepped out of her black and white Adidas trainers and into the plush UGG pink slippers. It was a long day of traveling. All she wanted to do was sleep. Two weeks ago, Vivian was prepared to sleep forever. Ellory’s phone call to Julian shifted Vivian’s mindset into a positive one. Ellory shone an illuminating light. A novel revelation hit Vivian— life did not end when her parents died.
“Down the hall, this is your bedroom! It’s covered in blue floral silk wallpaper. I hope you like it! It’s my favorite color. The sheets are organic cotton, and the duvet cover is linen. It’s a new set, and I washed it yesterday. I took the liberty of purchasing some clothes for you. The closet has Uniqlo basics, underwear, bras, socks, and four pairs of shoes. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask me. I can take you shopping. I made a reservation at 7, so please get ready for dinner by 6:30. You can call me Ella,” Ellory recited a heap of new information.
Ellory redecorated the plain apartment the week they closed on the place. She added blue floral wall coverings to the bedrooms, dimmable soft lighting, her Bösendorfer upright, and her guitar. She chose Arctic blue and eggshell color tile for the two bathrooms and routinely skipped happily on the Porcelanosa aquamarine marble floor. The furniture and furnishings were sourced from Roche Bobois, CB2, and Rove Concepts. No trace of IKEA appeared in Ellory’s pristine condo. Each piece was hand-selected by Ellory, and her love for interior design was exposed to all guests.
“I love it! Blue is a calming color. I understand why you like it. This is kind of you. Thank you, Ella. I’ll shower and nap for an hour. I haven’t slept in a bed like this, ever,” Vivian pursed her lips before widening her eyes and smiling joyously.
“Take your time to rest. I’ll be in the kitchen, making a snack. Welcome to our home, Vivian,” Ellory scanned her face for any sign of unhappiness. Satisfied with their interaction, she closed the door and walked into the living room.
“We’re doing this. We’re adopting an adult,” Elliot scrunched his nose childishly.