"No!" Em shouted, getting to her feet. "I'm not going there."
"Em," Heth attempted.
"I know nothing about him, where he lives," Em rambled, pacing in circles. "Will I be close to Kida or Luke?"
"Em," Heth repeated.
"I can run now. Nick will keep me hidden."
"Emerald Arnal, that's enough," Heth decided in a stern voice.
Turning back to Heth, Em's eyes were struck with untamed fear.
"If he finds out, he'll kill me," she whispered in a trembling voice.
"Child, he's seen your reports. He knows what the Gas did to you," Heth pointed out, trying to calm the situation.
"And about the things my reports don't show," Em fearfully reminded.
Heth reached her hands out again. Em took them for stability, hoping that everything would go back to normal if she clenched onto her tight enough. The cops would remain an annoyance that she dealt with every night, she would never know the name Cyrus, and every weekend she'd curl up close to Kida, forgetting about any and all troubles.
"You've kept it hidden all this time," Heth breathed. "Part of me forgets you even have it."
'Oh, if you only knew the half of it,' Em thought, not comforted by her words. 'The Police Chief declared war against us, easily half of New York hates us for more than one reason, and Weaver . . I don't know where he stands in all this.'
"Whatever happens, we will be here," Heth encouraged. "And Max gets to go with you."
"Really?" Em asked, perking up as she glanced back at Max, laying on the opposite end of the bed.
"Yes, Captain Weaver suggested that Max stays with you," she clarified.
'Hum,' Em thought, looking back at Max. 'Curious and curiouser.'
"Oh, before I forget," Heth mentioned reaching down to grab the bag. "Brought you something."
"Heth," she sighed with a smile. "You didn't have to."
"Just open it," Heth pleaded, happy to see Em smile.
Reaching into the paper grocery bag, her fingers brushed up against something smooth yet tough and surprisingly cool. The piece of fabric unfolded into a dark black leather jacket.
"Heth," Em beamed, rubbing her fingers over the leather.
"New jacket, a new beginning," Heth assured as Em slipped it on. "And it fits like a glove."
The dark sleeves hid her scars, the glistening metal zippers were not yet dulled by time, and the soft hood easily laid on her head.
"Thank you," Em breathed, pushing the hood down.
"Of course dear," Heth smiled as a soft knock came from the door. "Come in."
Captain Weaver slowly walked in, wearing a pair of denim jeans and a black t-shirt covered by his navy blue NYPD jacket.
"Aw, Captain Weaver," Heth breathed, getting up.
"Sister Heather, if I'm interrupting, I can wait," Weaver suggested.
"No, we're all good here," Heth determined before Em could get a word out.
Em bit her tongue, knowing there was no way out of this situation, and her snotty comments would only make it worse.
YOU ARE READING
Rise from the Ashes
ActionAfter Emerald gets kidnapped by her adopted parents, Nichole and Mike Cyrus, better known as The Shadow, Luke, and Kida, are hunting to find her. Yet, the police continue to get in their way, cut the investigation short, and even begin to integrate...
