STILL

Chapter twelve

Emma and Tom made their way out of the woods. They sat next to Tom's car until another Uber arrived since the first one left. Their ride arrived after a few minutes of awkward silence; they were both shocked by what they saw.

How did Shawn not burn? How did that mark just appear and disappear? Questions piled up in their head, however, Emma still had a few questions she was dying to ask Tom.

"Tom," Emma whispered, getting his attention, "why did he say death was around the corner for you?" Shivers ran down Tom's spine, she asked the question he hoped she would never ask.

Tom sat in silence as she looked at him, he could feel her eyes burn through his skin.

"I don't know," He lied. He knew he was lying and so did she.

"Cut the crap," She demanded, she was too worried to care if she's being pushy, "First the doctor talks to you privately." She counts on her hand, "Then you have this secrete with Markus," She raised her voice, "now this maniac says death is around the corner?" She said in a puzzled tone,

"Three is a pattern, Tom," she paused, "you always use this damn phrase." Tom looked out of the window, holding back tears, he shut his eyes closed hoping this is just a dream he can wakeup from.

"Look, I-" He opened his eyes to see his house in the distance, "I have to go. Stop here please," He asked the driver to stop.

"Your house is down the street," Emma said, trying to stay as calm as she could.

"Well, I want to walk." Tom swung the door open and got out of the car, "bye, Emma," he said before closing the door.

He watched the car drive away. broken down, he felt a tear fall from his eyes, only thing he didn't realize is that this tear was the first of many.

Emma grunted in the back of the car, she was furious at him and at herself. He never hid something from her, not for this long, not something that is big enough for him to storm out of a conversation. A few minutes later she finally reached her house, she left the car and thanked the driver before going into her house. She put a smile on her face as she turned her doorknob and walked into her home.

"I'm home!" She announced. She could hear her brother upstairs laughing loudly.
"We're upstairs!" Her mom said. Emma walked up the stairs, following her brother's voice. She made her way to her mom's room, the door was slightly opened, Emma opened it with a smile on her face, grabbing Elliot's attention. "Em," he said as he shook his hands in the air.

"E M M A," Emma pronounced the letters slowly as she held him in her arms, "he keeps saying one half of my name," She grunted.

"Give him some time, he's going to get there," Her mom said. She got off the floor and made her way out of the room, "I need to go make dinner," she said.

"We'll join you," Emma said, "Right Elli?" She said as she tickled him. They walked downstairs and sat in the kitchen. Emma played with her brother while their mom cooked them dinner. Elliot's laughs helped pass time and entertain both of them. "So, what are you cooking mom?" Emma asked. "Food" her mom replied sarcastically.

"Shocking answer, isn't it Elli?" She asked him.

"Emm" He tried to say her name.

"Come on it’s literally one more letter." She was met with loud laughter.

"Changing the subject, smart move Elli, smart move," Emma said with a smile on her face.

"But for real mom, what are you cooking?" Emma asked again.

"Ten." the smile on Emma's face faded away.

"W-what," she stuttered.

"Nine." She approached her mom, only to see what she feared most.