For The Sake of Science

Chapter 13: The Turning Of A Page

Emily woke up naturally, sliding out of bed and slipping off to the showers before Lola.

It was a much needed day off after a week of uncertainty. How had it only been eight days? It felt easier now, knowing what she was walking into. A routine, with familiar faces. Darius said a couple weeks, and if he meant that literally, next Monday she'd be back at Kepples.

She'd get to hug Star, roll her eyes at Amanda's bitchy commentary. See Cole.

It felt possible.

Real.

She dried off, got dressed, and floated through the morning routine. To her surprise, there was even Fruity Pebbles in the kitchen pantry. Fruity Pebbles could make any morning better.

"Morning," Piper seemed equally cheery.

"Fruity Pebbles!" Emily signed, gesturing to her bowl.

Piper chuckled, "I know. I told Mara to request them for you."

"You snooped in my files, didn't you?" Emily rolled her eyes.

Piper merely shrugged, "No. I'm just an accomplice."

"Salem snooped through my files?" Emily's head tilted, mock-offended.

Piper smirked. "For research purposes, of course."

Piper found it ridiculous that Salem refused to engage in any sort of flirtatious activity. They officially had proof Emily and Matt weren't a couple. But then there was Cole.

Salem was looking for excuses to resist the temptation. He was too noble, too tortured, and selfless to ever consider crossing that line. Yet he couldn't help but get involved in her case. He obsessed day and night over her files, looking for anything Darius could use to break her.

"I plan on raking in the candy from my subpar math skills again today." Emily changed the subject, "Who knew I'd be praised for that? My mom would be proud."

Emily hesitated, "You know, except for the whole getting kidnapped part."

Piper shook her head, "You're funny."

Emily smirked, "Dark humor is my specialty."

The rest of the girls trickled in for breakfast, the others less lazy than them, cooking a full-blown meal. Emily decided to leave the quad early, see if anyone was hanging out before class in the hall.

She organized her locker, grabbing her math binder and beat-up textbook.

A hand gently rested against her back, and she turned.

"Salem–"

But before she could say good morning, or a cheery anecdote, she saw the look on his face.

"What's wrong?" Her hand tapped her chin, the sign lingering.

He hesitated.

She'd never seen Salem shaken up before. But his deep brown eyes were heavy, and his brows were knit together.

"I came by the quad, but Piper said you'd left already." He swallowed, "There's something I need to tell you."

She shook her head.

It was Matt.

She knew it was Matt. She held her breath until Salem could work up the courage to break whatever bad news would come next.

"I think we should go back to the dorm. wait for Piper and–"

Emily's throat tightened, eyes burning.

"M-A-T-T." She fingerspelled, "They got to him, didn't they? They broke him."

Salem shook his head.

"No." He took a deep breath in, running a hand down the back of his neck before continuing. "I woke up this morning and his bed was made. His belongings, gone. Dresser, empty."

Emily's stomach twisted.

She shook her head, "No. He's not gone."

He reached into his back pocket. "The bedding was stripped. This was all that was left."

Emily reached out for the book her best friend had clung to the day prior, the pages still crumpled from splashing him.

"He wouldn't–" Tears filled her eyes, "He wouldn't just leave without me. Not without saying goodbye."

Salem watched as she unravelled in front of him. His chest ached, unable to do or say anything that would make the situation any less painful. It was unfair and calculated. They waited until she finally felt steady, safe. Then they ripped the one constant thing from her. Her one tie to home.

"I'm not going home. I'm not going to see them again..." Her hand hid her sobs. Her signing cut short by grief.

He quickly reached for her, following her to the floor as she crumpled. The books spilling onto the floor around them. Darius had played a cruel game, intentionally breaking her now.

"We're going to keep you safe for now, okay?" Salem tried to soothe her, "I promise I'll keep you safe until we can get you home."

Her lashes were wet with tears, "I didn't get to say goodbye..."

"Oh, Emmie. He knows."

"No." She shook her head, "To my mom, dad. Jonathan..."

"Who's Jonathan?" Salem signed, then wiped at the tears streaming down her cheeks.

"My brother."

Salem winced.

He honestly didn't have a clue what Darius was up to. This was a new game, something he hadn't seen or predicted before. If Emily was truly his last shot to impress the board, what lengths would he go to in order to make that possible?

"How about we get you back to the dorm?" Salem asked, "I don't think you should be out and about right now."

"I'll take it from here." Darius's voice lingered, both Emily and Salem looking up to catch the end of his signs.

Salem protectively placed himself between Emily and Darius as he rose to his feet.

"What are you doing, Darius?" Salem's jaw tightened.

"I moved Emily's testing schedule around. We have a lot of work we need to get done."

"This is unusually cruel, even for you." Salem's signs were sharp.

"Don't test me, Salem. Or I'll remind you who's in control."

Salem's face contorted, "So you're threatening me now."

"I think you've forgotten your place, and if you don't move out of the way, both you and Miss Blackwell will live to see the consequences of your disobedience." Darius's voice was low, making it clear in both ASL and English what would come from Salem's heroism.

Darius rounded Salem, grabbing Emily's arm, bringing her to her feet. "C'mon,"

He stared directly at Salem, forcing the small, broken girl down the hall and toward her worst nightmares. It broke him to watch, unable to prevent her from what he knew would be an excruciating week.