ELECTRIFY ME• aaron warner

13|HOME

A little boy with dirty blonde hair and blue eyes that matches Adam's is standing in front of us. He hugs Adam tightly.

"Adam! You're home!"

Out of the corner of his eye, he spots Kenji and hugs him just as tight. "I didn't know you were coming home."

Adam seems like he might cry of happiness.

He then looks at me. "Are you Emilia? Adam told me all about you. Can you really shoot electricity out of your hands?!"

Adam chuckles. "This is my brother, James."

I smile. James and his curiosity is honestly adorable. "Nice to meet you, James. I'm Emilia."

"How old are you?" James asks.

"Seventeen." My voice softens. "How old are you?"

"Ten."

My heart suddenly aches, thinking about how Warner and his army could easily hurt James. If they did, it would be all my fault for leading them here.

"This is dangerous, Adam."

"I know he would be Warner's target... but I'll protect him. We should all be safe here for at least a bit."

Kenji leans against the doorframe. "About that. There might be somewhere safer we could go."

Adam turns from James to Kenji. "How can I trust that? How can I trust you?"

Kenji almost snorts. "Man, what the hell? I literally helped you escape with Em. Why would I lie?"

I feel Adam's arm slip around me. "The only people I can trust for sure are Emilia and James."

I can see Kenji's and Adam's eyes darkening with distrust. I step inbetween. "It's late. Why don't we sleep on it and talk about it in the morning?"

Both of them sigh in agreement. Adam gently takes my hand, leading me to a small room with a bed and a nightstand in it.

Once I sit on the bed, I almost immediately collapse. Today is the most tired I've felt in a while.

I feel the weight of Adam next to me, but I hardly even register it. My eyes are near closing, and any sound around me sounds like a quiet murmur of nonsense.

I'm asleep.

It's Kenji who wakes me up. I feel my body shaking in a repeated pattern and groan. I look up to see Kenji smiling.

"I could electrocute you right now," I threaten, knowing I would never really do that.

"You wouldn't, princess. You'd miss seeing a handsome face like this."

Adam comes from behind Kenji, shaking his head. "I'm right here, you know."

"What do you like her or something?" I hear James's voice call from the other room.

Adam's face suddenly flushes pink. All of us notice it, and makes me feel warm inside. There's only one problem. 

I don't think I return the same feelings.

Adam has always been there to protect me and to make me feel loved. He's pretty, and he's strong. It almost feels wrong that I don't love him like that.

I love him, but as my friend.

I still have yet to face the awful truth of my romantic feelings. There's only one person that gives me butterflies that I can't seem to get rid of. I've tried to fight it so hard, and I can't quite explain why I always feel so giddy around someone I hate.

Warner makes me feel a certain way. I don't like or love him, but he makes me feel so nervous inside. I always push it away.

"James," Adam warns.

"But can't we get back to the topic of the super super safe place I want us to go to?" Kenji says.

"How do I know you're  telling the truth?"

"Listen, I'm tight with the person that runs it. They also happen to want to meet you and Emilia."

I think about it. Kenji has never done anything to hurt me or Adam. He's done nothing but make jokes or be on our side. If he really has a place we can go to be safe from all of this forever, it might be for the best.

I realize that I must have slept for a while if James is already back from school.

"We can trust Kenji, Adam."

Kenji claps his hands together. "Finally! Thanks, Em."

Adam breaths. "Fine. I'll do it. But I need you to stay with James, Kenji."

Kenji's eyebrows scrunch. "What? Don't you need me to come with you?"

"Listen, we'll come back for both of you. They're after me and Emilia and I can't put either one of you at risk. I need you to keep James safe in the bunker and then we will come back and get you guys."

Kenji wants to argue, but I just look at him with pleading eyes. "Kenji, please."

"Fine."

James pouts, clinging on to his older brother's side. "But you just got here. And you're already leaving?"

"James, we'll be safe together soon, ok? Kenji is going to take care of you."

I give James a reassuring nod. "You will be alright. Adam and us wont let anything happen."

I hardly know James, but I know that I can never let Warner hurt him. He's only ten, and he has a life ahead of him. He's all that Adam has left and that means something to me.

I hug Kenji and James. Adam and I are holding guns when we're heading towards the door. Adam's suddenly drops.

His hands cup my face. I feel like I know what he's going to say, and I hate it. I don't want to let him down because it will hurt him. I don't want to hurt Adam.

"I'm so sorry you have to go through all of this, Emilia. I'm going to do everything I can to protect you from that psychopath. He'll never deserve you."

His hands are in my hair. "He never will," Adam whispers.

Adam's lips press against my forehead. "I'll always love you."

I'm speechless and I don't know what to say.

Thankfully, the announcements coming from the loudspeakers outside are my saviors.

Rebels are on the loose. They are armed.

We both take deep breaths before stepping outside.