Awakening

12: Emergence

"This is torture..."

Blake couldn't agree more. With the school cancelling and kicking everyone out of the building well before lunch, one would think that all the students would be nothing if not thrilled. But the nervous taps of feet and frequent gaze shifts told him Amelia and Cameron were just as apprehensive as he was.

Amelia lifted her phone off the rock next to her, stared at the screen for a good ten seconds or so, and then set it down.

"Anything?" asked Blake, even though he already knew the answer. Amelia responded with a silent shake of her head.

Cameron looked between the two of them with furrowed brows. "What now?"

"The ambulance took Amelia's phone number as a contact, you know, when they took Jenna and June," explained Blake.

The befuddlement did not leave Cameron's face. "Why Amelia? What about her parents?"

Blake and Amelia exchanged a glance, realizing that the latter's brother had been standing too far back in the crowd to have seen what happened. Not only that but Blake and Amelia both stayed longer to exchange info with paramedics, while everyone else, Cameron included, was escorted out of the building. The two met Cameron in the nearby park but hadn't yet explained what happened in that hallway.

Blake still remembered the brief exchange all too clearly, and the unsettling memory forced a tiny shiver onto his back.

"Blake...it's just like what happened to mom."

"Wait, what? What do you mean?"

"She was...she coughed up blood too."

"Hold on, when did this happen?"

"Last, last night."

"Why didn't you tell me?! This morning, something was wrong. I didn't ask...you should have told me, June."

His hand was already on his shorts, and soon his hand was taking hold the denim with tightened fists. More than anything, he was frustrated with himself.

Good thing Amelia recanted the whole story to Cameron, since she'd been close enough to hear the exchanges.

"Oh my-" Cameron stopped himself before he could finish that statement. His furrowed brows and gaped mouth said it all even prior to his question, "And she didn't say anything about all that? Not to either of you?"

In silence, both Blake and Amelia solemnly shook their heads.

"Damn. Just...damn."

"We agree on that." Amelia let out a heavy sigh.

Blake did also, but he had no interest in showing as much. Mostly, he was frustrated with himself. He knew this morning, during their walk, that something was off. June told him as much. But he didn't press her further, nor did she reveal what really transpired last night with her mother. Why was that? Was she...losing trust in him?

I know I keep secrets from her. Maybe she's doing...no, she wouldn't. That's not June.

A jerking motion caught Blake's attention. Only afterwards did he hear a melodic ringtone as Amelia pressed a couple of buttons on her phone before she brought it up to her ear.

"Hello?"

Both Blake and Cameron leaned forward in their spots; the former held his breath momentarily and waited for something concrete.

"Oh; hey Mom."

Blake puffed out some air. Not the call any of them were hoping for, he was certain.

"Sorry, no. I was thinking it could be a different call."