Selected

Twenty Fifth

An alarm went off beside me, waking me with a start. I hadn't remembered setting the clock last night. There was a thud and the alarm stopped. Arms wrapped tighter around me. Vox was here. I smiled at that. It felt like centuries since I had woken up with Vox laying next to me.

He sighed, his breath grazing my neck. He gave me a kiss on the cheek before making a move to get up. I rolled over and grabbed his arm. "Go back to sleep, Emmary."

"No." Everything was still a little hazy. I didn't know what time it was or if we were in my room or his. All I knew was that Vox was leaving me again. "Don't go."

He chuckled, "I have to, Sweetheart." He gave me another kiss on the cheek.

"I never get to spend more than a few minutes with you."

"I know." He sighed. "I know. And I'm sorry." His voice sounded as though he was carrying the weight of the world. I could tell he was tense and stressed.

I sat up, the fog clearing from my mind. I was officially awake. We were in my room and the clock read 5:45 am. Did he really get up this early every morning? I know it was at least midnight when I had drifted off to sleep. What time had he gone to bed last night? "Come here."

"I have to get ready."

I patted the spot next to me, "Will you just humor me, please?"

He smiled and sat down beside me. I started to massage his shoulders. All of his muscles were rigid and tense, but they started to relax under my hands. After a few minutes he turned to face me. "Thank you, but I really have to go. I already hit the snooze button four times." He gave me a quick kiss and got up and left before I could protest anymore.

I laid back into all of the pillows. I closed my eyes and tried to drift off, but sleep wouldn't come. I rolled over into multiple positions, but it just wasn't going to happen. I gave up trying at 6:30 and decided to take a shower.

I trailed my hand along the banister as I descended the stairs. "- leaving."

"You can't leave now. Everything is right on track." I stopped in my tracks when I heard Addeck's hushed voice.

"You don't understand. I'm leading the investigation-" Was that Captain Pike?

"Exactly. You're in the perfect position to throw the detectives off our trail." Investigation? Detectives? They weren't talking about Mr. Bly's murder where they? It was the only ongoing investigation that I could think of.

"I have been, but they are starting to get suspicious."

"And how will it look when you just suddenly vanish? You need to stay where you are, and just gently guide them off our trail. No one will suspect a thing." My head started spinning.

Were Addeck and Captain Pike involved in Mr. Bly's murder? Captain Pike was a decorated soldier who dedicated his life to the Bly's. Why would he suddenly turn on the family? What reason would Addeck have to kill his own father? I knew that they, like all Blys, were distant, but surely not so distant to warrant a murder, right?

"Fine, but as soon as the investigation is closed, I'm gone. You know I've wanted out of this for a long time. I'm not doing your dirty work any more." I heard the stomping of feet and the slam of the front door.

Before I could move, Addeck rounded the corner and started up the stairs. "Oh, Emmary. Good morning. I didn't think anyone would be up at this hour."

"I, I um, couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd go for a morning ride."

He nodded, "Very well, I won't stand in your way." He stepped to the other side of the stairwell. "I hope you have a wonderful day." Addeck smiled but it didn't comfort me in any way. In fact his smile was terrifying.