Blood Secrets

CHAPTER 16

BEFORE (there's a lot of changes in POV, try not to get confused!)

ROB

Besides the  sound of cutlery screening on plates and slow chewing, no one says a word and no one has since the talk last night. Only a few "Good morning"s and "How are you"s have been exchanged but everyone's mostly keeping quiet. We've all clearly had the time to mull over things overnight but things seem better left unsaid and thoughts remain just that.

After a few minutes, everyone's cleared their plates and collect the dishes and leave them in the sink. Do I say anything? I'm sure we've gotten through the worst of it but we need to move fast before Valerie makes a move. I brave it. "Emma?"

"Hmm?" She jumps a little at the sudden break of silence.

"So, and I'm sure I speak for your uncle here too, but I was wondering if you'd properly thought through what we spoke to you about yesterday and if you were feeling any different or ready for the next step?"

Emma hesitates and I can tell she'd been hoping to avoid this conversation. She looks at me with a startled expression on her face: with the eyes of a deer about to be hit by a truck. Eyes making the decision of whether to freeze or flee, and fear clouding the expression as it knows it's life depends on its decision: that making the wrong one would be fatal. I can see her mind running a mile a minute and can almost see screws whirring around in her head, trying to think of an answer.

"Em? Why don't we go outside for some fresh air, eh?" Andy asks with his hand on her shoulder. She nods and follows him out leaving me unpleasantly surprised and irritated at Andy for not sticking to the plan and moving things along.

EMMA

I'm not quite sure how long Andy and I walk for but by the time we stop, we're next to a river. I sit beside it and look at how beautiful the waves look as they crash onto rocks and think about how easily my issues are simplified and related to the waves'. They're crashing towards rocks and branches and with each gust of energy, they must make the decision of whether to go around the rocks and whether to do that taking its course to the left or the right of the rock. Or whether to face the rock head-on and go right into it knowing it's more painful yet the simplest way to continue its course and overcome the rock.

As I go into unecessary detail in my mind about how I relate to the river, I realise I'm not the only part in the equation. The energy the waves have to tackle anything coming at them, for me, are Andy and my Dad. They're gonna support me but I have to make the first move.

ANDY

I watch Emma's blank expression as she looks deeply at the water splashing past us. I know I have to give her space to make her own decision but I pray she chooses the right one. That said, I'm not sure what I mean. The right one for her or the right one for everyone else?

EMMA

"Andy? I've... Made my decision. And I wanna go back." I give him a smile to let him know I'm alright and we make our way back to the cabin. We all sit where we were this morning but there's something different in the air: anticipation.

Well, here goes nothing! "I appreciate that both of you took the time to explain as much as you could and I know Mums planning something so bad you need my help so the least I can do is... Accept and agree. I'll let you teach me how to fight and I'll let you prepare me for the worst when I'm taken. And I know you're itching to start so, I guess we can start today?"

I study their expressions and Andys a little surprised but I definitely see a look of pride on my dads face. "I'm glad you've made a decision sweetheart" Dad starts, "and you're right, we should start today. Why don't you wait in your room for a bit and I'll call you down when we're ready?"

I nod and go straight to my room. Making an actual decision for myself and saying it out loud takes a weight off my chest and I know the easy bits over and it's only going to get harder but I enjoy the peace and quiet while I still can in the privacy of my room.