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SILENCE FOLLOWS AS DARCIE'S hands cup her ears, stuck in a state of shock, especially as she can still feel the sharp point of her ears. Oblivious to Embry opposite herself, Darcie misses his eyes soften with his fingers wrapping around her wrists gently.
"Darcie, listen to me, okay?" Embry tells Darcie, trying to calm her down. "This doesn't change anything. You're still Darcie. I know you don't trust me right now, but I'm not lying, am I?"
Darcie shakes her head, realising that Embry wasn't lying to her.
"Is this a cruel trick?" Darcie whispers, letting Embry pull her hands away from her ears as he holds onto them, being cautious of her cut hand. "As this is too much."
"I wish it was," says Embry. "You don't deserve this, Darcie."
Hearing her sister's voice causes Darcie's breathing to hitch as the tears topple down her cheeks again. Darcie can't bring herself to look at Rochelle — who isn't her sister. Realising that, Darcie ends up panicking. If Rochelle's not her sister... then her parents...
Darcie might be sick.
"Oh," Rochelle realises. "No. This... where's Sam? This wasn't supposed to happen."
"Chasing an intruder," Embry explains, not breaking his stare from Darcie.
"Darcie," says Rochelle, crouching down before her as Darcie pulls her hands away from Embry, burying her head in her arms to hide herself. "Hey, it's gonna be okay. Come inside, yeah? We'll tell you the truth."
"I already know," Darcie cries. "I-I'm not your sister."
Rochelle falls silent, hesitating about reaching for Darcie. "Maybe not by blood," says Rochelle. "But...you're still my sister, Darcie. I haven't treated you recently how a sister should and I'm so sorry, but I've done everything I can to protect you. Just come inside, please. You're hurt. It's cold. And you're in shock. Let us help you."
"No!" Darcie shouts as Rochelle reaches for her, which causes Darcie to scurry away from them, forgetting about her bike close by. "I'm not going inside."
Not when everyone hates her. Not when Sam could come back. Darcie's terrified, unknowing who she can trust or who actually cares for her. But, Darcie can't exactly go back home, can she? The thought of facing her father...who isn't her father...
"We can go back to mine," Embry suggests. "I have to tell my mom anyway, Darcie. Would you feel safe there?"
Darcie's eyes fall on him with their irises colliding. While Darcie didn't trust him, she didn't doubt for a second that Embry would hurt her. Then, Tiffany... Darcie feels safe around her, but how would she react? But that would be better than the alternative.
