Symbiosis: When a Girl Meets an Alien (V.6)

Chapter 12: What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas

Monday, October 5, 2020

Redding, California, United States of America

Redding had been turned into a movie. The national guard patrolled the streets, checkpoints had been established, schools had been shut down. It wasn't just in Redding to be fair - all of California was being turned into a prison with each passing day. All because of one... single... person.

Emily Belle Nicholson.

John Sr. and Isabelle had been just as confused about this whole thing as the rest of Redding. Their other children, Chloe and Scout had made the trip, gone through the blockades with their partners to see their parents. Chloe brought her young daughter Summer to avoid leaving her at home.

In the dimly lit living room of the Nicholson family home, the atmosphere was heavy with tension. John Sr. and Isabelle sat huddled together on the couch, their faces drawn and pale, the weight of their concern etched in their eyes. Emily was in danger. She was being hunted. Yet, despite that, she felt suddenly as though they were after her too, that they had malicious intent. They had no idea if this was related to the Venom thing they had been hearing about - or if it was the parasite rampaging through her body, nesting in her brain and spinal cord. They had so many questions, to which they had gotten zero answers.

Across the room, Chloe and Scout sat apart from their parents, their expressions guarded and distant, their minds filled with a mixture of concern and resentment. Even when she wasn't there, Emily absorbed all of the attention, all of the worry and fear. She was able to steal hundreds of thousands in cash, steal cars, hurt people, yet to their parents she was still "frail, little Emily".

Beside Chloe, her partner Jayce tried to offer comfort, his arm draped around her shoulders as he whispered words of reassurance. Scout's partner, Ellie, sat quietly beside him, her eyes filled with worry as she reached out to hold his hand. Neither Jayce nor Ellie knew Emily too well, and they hadn't heard anything good from Chloe or Scout since knowing them - but they considered John Sr. and Isabelle second parents... and if they were this stressed about their child, they felt it too.

The silence was deafening, broken only by the occasional sniffle or sigh as each family member grappled with their emotions, the strain of the situation taking its toll on their relationships and their ability to cope. People were dying, and even as an Army grunt Scout was in the dark. Isabelle looked up, finally, having finally found the courage too.

"Chloe, Scout, I know things have been difficult between you and Emily," she began, her voice filled with regret. "But she's our daughter, and your sister, and we need to find her. We need to put aside our differences and come together as a family."

"She's in trouble, and right now she needs people she can trust," John Sr. added.

Chloe's eyes filled with tears, her heart aching as she met her mother's gaze. No matter how much she disliked Emily, no matter how much attention she took up, she was still her sister, and deep down if she was in trouble she wanted to help.

"Alright, we're still Nicholsons, and we're still a team. I'll help," Chloe nodded.

"Chloe's in, I'm in," Jayce smiled.

They all turned to Scout who grimaced. His time in Afghanistan had broken him down, made him cold, distant, angry. His distaste for Emily also played a role

"This is a matter of conflicting loyalties. I am going to look for Emily... just not with you," Scout stood up, "My loyalty is with the United States Army,"

"Scout! They're going to kill her! They're going to kill our baby!" Isabelle tried to get through to her son, being held close to her husband.

"You're asking me to risk my career, and betray my country mom," Scout replied sternly, "My decision is final,"