Cora

Chapter Sixteen

Emma broke the death stare with a frown. "E- excuse me?"

"I think you heard me, Emma." Leah's voice made my blood run cold. Which was unusual, because she was normally so sweet.

"I'll be right back." Emma stood up and ran abruptly out the door.

Leah shifted her gaze to me, still giving me a look of death. I uncomfortably turned away and stared to fiddle with my thumbs.

If you listened closely, you could hear the hushed voices of Emma and Dylan.

It seemed like hours later when the door opened. Emma and Dylan stepped through, a look of agreement on their face.

"Show us where Luke is, and we'll give back Shai." Dylan said.

Leah shifted her horrific grin from me to them. Her eyes batted back and fourth between Emma and Dylan.

"That was not the agreement, I believe." Leah spoke standing up. She looked at Dylan, then at Emma, then back at Dylan. She smiled a wide grin, concealing a giggle.

"Excuse me?" Emma asked. Leah stood grinning at Dylan.

"Excuse me?" Emma repeated, louder this time.

Leah's smile faltered as if just remembering Emma standing right there.

"That was not the deal," I spoke in realization.

"Cora? What are you talking about? Just- just stay out of it." Dylan spoke with irritation.

"Oh but she's right, dearie," Leah turned to Dylan. "Our agreement was to find out where Luke is, then to give me my Shai."

There was a pause as Leah took in Emma and Dylan's expressions.

"Am I wrong?"

Another long pause.

Before I knew it we were heading into the basement where the cells were. We passed rows of rusty metal bars.

Crazy people rattled the bars, begging to be let out. Others counted the tally marks they put on their walls. The rest of them sat in a ball in the corner of the room and cried.

We walked past them and to Shai's cell. She sat in front of the bars and looked up at us, a horrifying smile put on her plaster face.

"Hey, Leah."

Leah looked at her with no expression. Then she looked over to Emma and Dylan.

"Let her go." Her voice was shaking.

Dylan and Emma shared an unsure glance. Then slowly, very slowly, Emma took the keys out of her pocket. She started walking towards the door, her hands shaking. Dylan put his hand over Emma's, whispered something in her ear, and took control of the keys.

He stepped up to the door and put the key into the lock. He closed his eyes, unsure if he should let her go.

Giving one last apologetic look at Emma, he turned the lock.

Click.

And he slowly opened the door.

Shai stood up and smiles at Dylan.

"Thank you, mister." Shai bounced over to Leah, where there was no embracement.

"Are we ready now?" Leah asked.

"Of course, Leah."

"Ready for what?" I ask.

This.

Leah pulls out a taser and shoots Emma and Dylan in the leg. Screaming in pain, they fall to the ground.

"Emma! Dylan!" I scream, reaching for them. A strong force pulls me away and smacks me across the face. It's Leah.

"Let's have a little discussion, shall we?" Leah pulls me through the doorway with Shai close behind, leaving Emma and Dylan screaming in pain.