Rise from the Ashes

Chapter 26: Secrets Out

Weaver laid a gentle hand on Em's shaking shoulders while Kristie stood utterly still. A statue looked more lifelike than the blank expression that glossed over her face and limp limbs that dangled as her mind fought to comprehend everything.

"Do you remember when I told you Emerald was in my care until the end of her trials?" Weaver wondered.

"I do," Kristie replied, as though his words restarted her mind. "I just didn't think-"

"Nobody does," Em finished. "I kept my name out of everything. My face was never shown. The attorneys who represented me didn't know anything more than they needed to."

"Even with all the precautions we took, Mike still attempted to get to her," Weaver added, keeping his stable grip.

"What do you mean?" Kristie wondered, stepping closer with her eyes wide as though the current was pulling her further out to sea. "What happened?"

"He tried to kill me," Em sighed. "Twice."

"Oh my God," Kristie muttered, holding her breath while cupping her month.

"Tried," Weaver repeated. "Keyword."

"Hu," Em huffed, forcing her body to turn around and face Kristie. "Sure."

"Did they hurt you guys?" Kristie questioned.

Em stood silent, picking at her nails, staring at the floor while Max leaned against her leg, reassuring her with a comforting warmth. Weaver wrapped his arms around her shoulders in a supportive father side hug, but Em leaned in closer.

"Emerald? Matt?" Kristie asked, stepping until she was right in front of them. "What happened to you two?"

"I don't fully know," Em forced out, her voice trembling. "They had me for nearly a month, and out of it, I can only recall maybe a week."

"Child-" Kristie breathed.

"The closer police got, the more threats were placed," Weaver took over, giving Em a moment to regain her voice. "If it weren't for Phoenix, IceWings, and Steel Shield, things could've gone very differently."

"Differently," she repeated. "How?"

"He would've bombed the courthouse," Em whispered.

"And his men would have shot Judge Gómez and the Jurors," Weaver continued, gently rubbing Em's upper arm. "They saved everyone in that courthouse, found The Underground Arena, and rescued all of Mike's captives."

A tense silence hung thick in the air to the point that a single breath could snap it. Wheels turned, and smoke whirled out of Kristie's ears as she fought to understand everything they dumped on her.

'That's not even half of it,' Em thought, grateful that Weaver's arm hid her shaking muscles. 'Wait until you catch a glimpse of my scars, see images of the cages Mike held people in, or hear the name New York knows me by.'

"I'm so sorry," Kristie muttered. "I'm sorry I dotted you. Let me talk to my mother. I can set everything straight."

"Don't," Em requested. "If she didn't care then, she won't care now."

"Plus, no offense," Weaver added. "Your mother doesn't exactly have the greatest outlook on Inhumans."

"True," Kristie admitted. "Maybe I could appeal to reason."

"I'm pretty sure she doesn't have any," Weaver contoured.

"Then what am I going to tell her?"

"You heard our story and understood why we made a big deal about it," Em offered.